Jr B Canadiens to take on Liquor Sales at WJAC Exhibition Game

Town will use WJAC game as test run to see if Jr Bs should sell liquor at season games

At Monday’s Town Council Meeting, St. Paul Council was asked to make a decision as to whom would run the liquor sales at the World Junior A Challenge exhibition game that will be held at the Clancy Richard Arena on December 9th. Council was given the option of either awarding it to Minor Hockey or the Jr B Canadiens. Mayor of St. Paul Glenn Andersen says there were a few factors that lead to Town Council voting in favour of the Jr B Canadiens running the liquor sales; including, the Jr Bs hope to sell liquor at regular games, upcoming Provincials, and the Town does not reduce the ice fees for the Jr Bs.

“Both organizations are very good,” Mayor Andersen and Council had a healthy discussion as to whom to award the sales to. The mayor explains his stance, “I do agree with the St. Paul Jr B Canadiens getting [the sales]. They’re hosting Provincials. It’s a team that has come a long ways, in a short period of time.” Mayor Andersen says the team is doing very well right now, in the community, as well as on the ice. “I can remember when they had a lot of fans and then they didn’t have fans for years and years. They have a lot of fan support now and I think this is something we should be supporting.”

The Jr B Canadiens approached Town Council to host liquor sales at their regular games. Some Councillors felt the WJAC exhibition game would be a good tester to see how liquor sales go over at a hockey game and how well the Jr B Canadiens run the operations; as well as, the clean up to follow.

Councillor Norm Noel explains, “I’d like to see the Jr Bs [have the liquor sales], for the fact that they can do a test run for us.” Earlier in the same meeting Council decided to hold off on allowing the Jr Bs to sell liquor at regular season games until they had more information; including, who would hold the liquor licence, what type of liability would liquor sales hold on the Town, and how would liquor sales affect the atmosphere in the rink (children and families).

The Jr B Canadiens are hosting Provincials this season, which is a huge undertaking. Council wanted to support the tournament and the club’s fundraising efforts and felt this would be a good way to assist. “It’s a huge expense,” explains Councillor Ken Kwiatkowski, “it would be a fundraiser that would work with them.”

The Town already reduces Minor Hockey’s ice fees, whereas the Jr B Canadiens pay full price for ice time. “We do support Minor Hockey,” explains Mayor Andersen, “we give them reduced ice rates. We support them in numerous other ways.”

Part of the agreement will be for the St. Paul Jr B Canadiens to handle to entire liquor sales process; including ensuring enough workers are on hand, that they have the required pro-serve licencing, logistics of how much and how to get the alcohol and clean-up. “Just as an example,” Mayor Andersen says the clean-up process might be a lot more than anyone would really anticipate, “we cleaned up after the rodeo. There were 20 of us and it took over an hour.” Security will be handled by the fire department.

The World Jr A Challenge will be held in Bonnyville December 11-17th, for tickets visit the Bonnyville Centennial Centre or online hockeycanada.ca