Collingwood’s junior hockey team would like to host a “bubble” tournament at the town’s Eddie Bush Memorial Arena this November.
Collingwood Blues owner David Steele and board member Terry Geddes pitched the idea to council on Monday night.
The team was asking for council’s support “in principle” of the tournament idea, which has the support of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).
Rick Morocco, director of business development and events for the OJHL also appeared via video conference during the Sept. 21 council meeting to support the pitch.
The potential tournament will follow similar protocols to what the NHL is doing now.
“We’re scaling it,” said Steele. “We’re just cutting off the outside world and risk of infection and we’re trying to go for testing every two days.”
Steele said a bubble tournament could be a way to play hockey even if it doesn’t come back this season.
“It could allow us to play the game we love,” said Steele.
Though not all the details have been worked out yet, Steele said players will have accommodations all at the same place, and they will be eating there. They will share transportation, and drivers, cooks, cleaners, players, coaches will stay in the bubble.
Though there would not be fans in the stands, Steele would like to use the enclosed lounge at the top of one end of the rink for “about 30” fans per game.
Asked whether the team would be requiring exclusive use of the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena for the month of November, Geddes responded those details haven’t been worked out yet. But the team would speak with staff further about it.
“We will ensure those answers are forthcoming,” said Geddes.
Currently, there is no ice installed at the Eddie Bush arena, and all of Collingwood’s arena user groups are sharing ice time at Central Park Arena.
Neither OJHL or the Blues have determined how many teams will be permitted at the tournament yet.
Council voted unanimously in favour of supporting the proposal in principle, but asked staff to review the feasibility of the tournament and impact on arena users. Council also directed staff to get approval from the region's health unit.
The tournament has not yet been pitched to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, but Geddes said that was the team’s next stop after getting support from council.
