It didn’t take long for Sylvan Lake Minor Hockey to drop the puck at their new home ice at the NexSource Centre.
A day after the soft opening of the building at 8 a.m. on Friday, March 31st, current and former Lakers alike laced up the skates for a friendly hockey game. The game was held to ensure that Laker squads opened the new building - as a tournament with other teams playing was set to begin at 10 a.m.
“It was an idea that happened,” Deputy Mayor Graham Parsons said. “We knew the tournament was coming. We got the draw and I noticed that it was open at 8 in the morning. I checked for some guys and we put together some high school kids and former Lakers/Tigers. It is something special and we wanted to make it special.”
A ceremonial puck drop was held to commemorate the occasion, with a Kraft Hockeyville puck being dropped by NexSource Power’s Darnell Dakin dropping the puck.
Many of the Lakers playing were ecstatic to get at least one game on Sylvan Lake’s new home ice.
“That’s what it is all about,” Parsons said. “They have been waiting a long time for this and it was something we wanted to do.”
Also present for the illustrious occasion was Sylvan Lake Mayor Sean McIntyre.
“It is just so exciting to see and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate way to have the first public event in the new NexSource Centre to be between our own Sylvan Laker squads,” he said.
”It is just amazing to see the smiles on everyone’s faces, the players are excited, the coaches are excited and the fans are excited. It is a great way to start making memories in the NexSource Centre.”
McIntyre was pleased to see that so many user groups of the NexSource Centre were able to come home.
“Minor Hockey, Figure Skating, the Seniors Centre, the nautical Swim Club, the Curling Club - the NexSource Centre is home to so many user groups and I’m sure many more new user groups,” he explained.
“I’m so excited for the joy that will be out of this place; the hope that will come and the memories that will be made. This has been such a long time coming and I am so excited to see it serve our community and this region for generations to come.”
McIntyre was grateful for the patience that all these groups showed in the creation of the NexSource Centre.
“These are the groups that have been waiting so patiently for this place to open,” he said. “To have the wait finally end like this with a friendly game being the very first public event I think is perfect.”
McIntyre also took the time to thank everyone who put so much work in behind the scenes.
“I am so grateful to all of the sponsors and donors that have made this possible, and also the volunteers,” he said. “This is a facility that is for the community by the community. We have all put so much into this and now it is time to start coming and making memories here.”
todd.vaughan@sylvanlakenews.com