The Calgary Canucks hosted their spring camp over the weekend at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.
Hockey players hungry to reach the next level came from all across Calgary and area to take part in the hopes of fulfilling the goal of playing for an Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) team.
“There are five teams in the league who had their roster camp this weekend, and two who had theirs the week before,” said Canucks president Pat Loyer. “We were asked to follow suit, so we had these digs paid for six months ago.”
The camp brought together eight teams of prospects, and around 120 players.
“Our scouts identified the best players on teams in the area, and invited them all here,” Loyer said. “This is the end result of a lot of hard work on their part.”
Since the team played a regular-season AJHL game at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre on Feb. 21 against the Whitecourt Wolverines, there have been whispers the team was considering moving to town. Some speculated that the reason for the game was to gauge how Cochrane would react to Junior ‘A’ hockey, and what kind of crowd would support an AJHL team.
While around 500 spectators made it to the game – a packed house for the facility – it appears making a move to Cochrane was never in the cards for the Canucks, despite persistent rumours in the hockey community.
“We’re not moving out here,” Loyer confirmed. “We’re staying at Max Bell. We just came out here to try and sell our brand. We did the same thing in Strathmore as well.
“It was nice to get the crowds we did in both places since we don’t get big crowds in Calgary. Financially, these special games were rewarding, but moving has never been an option. We’ve just been trying to get more people to know who the Calgary Canucks are.”
If that is the case, then why host a camp outside of a city where hockey arenas are a dime a dozen?
“Mainly because it’s a very good facility, and easy to get around,” Loyer said. “Also, the ice costs here are a lot cheaper than in the city. In terms of Max Bell, the ice plant is already shut down since they use the place for lacrosse in the summer.
“This was the next best option.”
