Sports
Medicine Hat News
Five league championships and two Memorial Cup titles later, the Medicine Hat Tigers hockey club is closing out their 40th season of play in the Western Hockey League. The Tigers have been an entertainment outlet for local hockey fans, young and old, for the past four decades. In that time span, they have produced such future NHL stars as Lanny McDonald, Trevor Linden and Jay Bouwmeester.
In the past 10 years, the Tigers have won more regular season games in the WHL and have made two Memorial Cup appearances.
“I think we’ve been very fortunate to have a great bunch of coaches and players come through. It’s a honour to stage and put on a show when you’re surrounded by quality people,” said Tigers owner Darrell Maser.
“You look at sport organizations and franchises that are successful, and they have great people and continuity and we’ve been fortunate that way.”
Achievement on the ice has translated in success at the box office. The team has consistently sold out the 4,006 seats at the Arena since the turn of the century.
NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT Medicine Hat Tigers' Emerson Etem battles against Spokane Chiefs' Jared Spurgeon during a game at the Arena.
“It’s been a pleasant surprise, but I’ll keep going back to what I believe and that is we have the best junior hockey coach (Willie Desjardins) and hockey fans in Canada, that has been a tribute to our success,” said Maser.
“We always thought we were doing the rights things and putting the right things in place to
be successful, but you never know until you get there. You can do a lot of things to make you successful, however, something could get in the way and some things are unforeseen. Sometimes you pinch yourself. I know Brent (Maser) and I sit around here and say ‘it’s sure nice to win hockey games,’” added Maser.
The Tigers have been so successful on and off the ice the past decade that other teams around in the WHL have modeled their franchise around them.
“We didn’t invent this and we certainly copied some teams that were successful in sports in general and to have other teams copy us - yes - I’m flattered,” said Maser.
Tigers ownership isn’t taking anything for granted and realize, with it being junior hockey, teams eventually hit hard times, but Maser is optimistic the team’s winning can continue.
“I guess we would always like to think that’s the way it going to go and you would like to believe that the things you’ve put in place today, you’ll be able to reap the benefits down the road and we’re always looking forward to being better next year and the year after.”
It wasn’t that long ago the team wasn’t that good on the ice or at the gate. Back in the late 90s the team struggled and failed to make the playoffs five consecutive seasons. So, do those days seem so long ago?
“That’s a good question. Probably the best way to answer that is, some days it seems like a long time ago and some days, not so long ago. We’ve always been blessed with good people and believed we would get out of it.”
68 — REPORT ON SOUTHEAST ALBERTA 2010 ■ Celebrating our Community
Tigers have long history of accomplishment
impacLack of event centre ts city
Medicine Hat News
Despite city council’s January vote to not proceed with the proposed Regional Events Centre, there remains some optimism in the community.
“Right now the last hurdle is funding as we’ve approved every other aspect of building, the only thing holding us back now is the dollars and we need to come up with a funding option that abases everybody in the community,” said alderman Jeremy Thompson, who chaired the regional event centre committee.
“We don’t want to rush and hurry because it has to be the right thing. We don’t want another hiccup and then you’re into another election,” added Thompson.
Currently, Medicine Hat has the Arena, which seats just over 4,000, and is 68,000 square feet. Blue prints for the proposed facility would be 175,000 square feet with restaurants and luxury boxes.
“Obviously we have a hockey rink now, but this facility would have removable seating so you have a footprint of a building that is more user friendly. Hockey takes up about 45 dates of the year, but we’re looking at 110 event dates,“ added Thompson, who envisions seeing events like monster trucks, trade shows and concerts..
“It has been tough that we haven’t had the swell of the user groups come forward, but it may be the fact it’s been five years and the groups that had come forward back in 2007 may have felt a little stung for not moving ahead. We’re still in touch with these groups and bringing them in, meeting with our staff, including the Tigers, who have always been a part of the process,” said Thompson.
Unaware of city council’s decision until six weeks later, Warren Hanson, director of event operations and media for the Canadian Curling Association, said the decision has a direct impact on the CCA’s decision to hold certain curling attractions in Medicine Hat.
“Without question, it does restrict us in awarding such events as the world men’s and Scotties tournament. Right now, there just isn’t the size and space to host those competitions,” said Hanson.
“We’ve always approached it as, that it’s a decision the city has to make and we have always respected that and allowed them to go about the process and come up with the right conclusion,” said Tigers president and team owner, Darrell Maser.
“I don’t feel the Tigers had to be driving force behind this, because it would put them in a tough situation with people who aren’t hockey supporters and don’t like hockey. People would feel we are doing it for them and in reality, this is a community facility and would be for every user group and not just for hockey,” said Thompson.
“Eventually, probably, the city is going to need a new facility, but again I will refer to city council and they’ll come up with the right decision,” added Maser.
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