by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — There’s yet no definitive answer if a Junior B hockey team will be playing out of a Whitewater Region arena.
Councillor Chris Olmstead noted there are still ongoing discussions going on between Dale McTavish, who owns the Pembroke Lumber Kings and recently purchased the Prescott Flyers, and the Cobden Recreation Association.
“There are ongoing negotiations and hopefully the team is coming to Cobden,” he said at last night’s council meeting.
He noted no players from the current Prescott team would be coming to Cobden. There are 22 cards (positions) to be filled and there’s a push on for local players to fill those positions, he said.
If the team relocated to Cobden, it will benefit all levels of hockey, noting there is no junior hockey team in the middle of the Upper Valley.
“This can be a central team making for good rivalry between Arnprior and Pembroke,” he said.
The Saturday night games, if that’s agreed to, would draw in between 300 and 400 people each week, Coun. Olmstead said. It’s hoped the upstairs hall would become licensed, which means it could be rented out more often.
“That would benefit Cobden and the entire Whitewater Region,” he said.
The small amount of ice time that would be allotted to the team for games and possibly a practice or two, could be shared between Beachburg and Westmeath for those hockey teams who may not get the Cobden ice hours they previously had, he said.
Coun. Olmstead said it could be another two to three weeks before an answer will be known.
Mayor Hal Johnson said this team coming to the Cobden arena “is a great thing for Whitewater Region. It’s great to see a future for our arenas.
“We’ve been banging our head against the wall to keep the facilities going. This is a great gift from heaven.”
Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay said a full report of what has been happening will be provided at the next council meeting later this month.
