(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D'Andrea

Provincial support to hockey

Sask. government to provide $4 million of funding to WHL teams, SJHL

Jan 15, 2021 | 11:50 AM

The Prince Albert Raiders haven’t played a game in over 10 months, and a lot of their biggest fundraising events have been forced to be cancelled. They’ve also had to stop selling season’s tickets, as they don’t know how many fans can come into the rink if and when games can resume.

But as the Raiders and the rest of the junior hockey teams in the province wait for their sport to return, they’ve received a big cushion from the provincial government. The Government of Saskatchewan is giving $4 million to junior hockey teams and leagues in the province.

The five WHL-based teams will get the bulk of the financial support from the government, as they will split up $3 million of the funds. The Prince Albert Raiders with receive $600,000 of the provincial funding, as will the Moose Jaw Warriors, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, and the Swift Current Broncos. The other $1 million will go towards the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, which has 11 Saskatchewan-based teams and the Manitoba-based Flin Flon Bombers.

“It’s been incredibly hard and I know we’re not alone in business, business is struggling at different levels,” Raiders business manager Michael Scissons said. “But this helps us continue to have a future here moving forward.”

When asked how difficult it would be to go on without the government’s aid, Scissons did not want to think about it.

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“It’s a scary thought to even try to figure that out. A lot of sweeping, massive cuts and changes would have to exist that we don’t want to do, because it very well could mean the existence of junior hockey in multiple markets in Saskatchewan without it,” Scissons said. “I think as a whole, the Raiders have an economic impact on Prince Albert of over $10 million, and that’s on an annual basis. A loss of an organization to a market like Prince Albert, or in Swift Current, or in La Ronge, or the one in Humboldt—there’s a massive gap that I think isn’t easily filled.

“I see what Raider hockey does to the community, it brings it together. It bridges gaps. It does all sorts of things,” added Scissons. “It may look like a gift from the government, but I think the larger picture is we have an extended role in the City of Prince Albert to provide that.”

Trevor Redden, voice of the Raiders on CKBI, sees firsthand every day how important the Raiders are to the community of Prince Albert.

“These days, I can’t go many places in my sales role at the radio station, pretty much every person you talk to, every business you walk into, the first thing people want to know is ‘what’s going on with the Raiders? What’s going on with the WHL?,” Redden said. “I think in a lot of ways, the fact that there’s been no hockey whatsoever means people want it even more than ever.”

After cancelling last season, the WHL has tried on multiple occasions to start the season this year to no avail. Target dates in October and December have been pushed back. A “firm start date” of Jan. 8 was also cancelled. The latest news on the WHL’s start has been the league’s “commitment” to a 24-game season at some point this season, with start dates still reliant on the green light from health authorities across Western Canada and in Oregon and Washington state.

“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on our five Saskatchewan-based WHL teams and we commend the Government of Saskatchewan for providing this assistance at such a critical time,” WHL commissioner Ron Robison said in a statement. “Our WHL Clubs are a vital source of community pride and major economic driver in Swift Current, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina, and Saskatoon, and the support from the Government of Saskatchewan will not only allow the teams to remain viable but will ensure we can continue to provide a world-class development and educational experience for our players.”

The remaining $1 million of funds will be given to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, the 12-team Junior A league in the province.

“The SJHL, which consists of community owned teams, has been in a state of uncertainty due to COVID-19 during the past several months,” SJHL president Bill Chow said in the release. “The financial support that has been provided by the Saskatchewan Government creates a more positive outlook for our teams.”

Trade and export development minister Jeremy Harrison said junior hockey teams are vital to the communities they are in, and COVID-19 has put them all in a tough spot.

“Our junior hockey teams are a critical part of the cultural fabric and local economies across the province,” Harrison said. “Necessary restrictions due to COVID-19 have had a significant impact on these leagues and their teams and this support will help them address these financial challenges.”

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW