from attackhockey.com & Greg Hoddinott on the CFOS Morning Show
The Owen Sound Attack are excited to name the P & H Centre in Hanover, Ontario as the neutral site host for our Wednesday, September 20 pre-season game against the Barrie Colts. Gates will open at 6pm, with game time set for 7pm. Details surrounding tickets for this game will be released separately. The Attack also announced today that due to the overwhelming interest in hosting a neutral site game from the surrounding communities that the club plans to make this a regular event on its pre-season schedule with a new location being selected each season.
The Town of Hanover will partner with the newly formed Saugeen Valley Minor Hockey Steelheads (formerly the Hanover Minor Hockey Association and the West Grey Minor Hockey Association) and the Hanover Barons to help put on the event.
“We are very exited to be have had so many great options for a neutral site host in this region” said Attack Manager, Marketing & Communications Greg Hoddinott. “In the end, we decided that Hanover’s facility and it’s central location within our fan base was a great starting place for what will now be an on-going community outreach project for our team.”
“We were thrilled that the P&H Centre was selected to host the Owen Sound Attack game. Thank you for this amazing opportunity. We are honoured to welcome players, staff and fans to our facility” said Laura Christen, Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture for the Town of Hanover when asked about being selected the host for this years neutral site game.
“This September marks the exciting beginning of another season for the Owen Sound Attack. September also marks the beginning of a newly amalgamated hockey organization, The Saugeen Valley Steelheads. This year we’re proud to pair with the Owen Sound Attack to bring you the fans, an opportunity to watch an exciting OHL game in the Hanover P&H Centre Arena.” said Jeremy White, President of Saugeen Valley Minor Hockey Association when asked about being a part of the group hosting the Attack’s pre-season game. “Please join us on Wednesday September 20th to come together as fans of Saugeen Valley Minor Hockey and the community to watch the Owen Sound Attack.”
“The Hanover Barons Junior Hockey Club are proud to be partners with the newly formed Saugeen Valley Minor Hockey, Town of Hanover and are extremely excited to bring OHL hockey to Hanover. We want to thank the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack for picking our bid as the successful one” said Mike Myers, President of the Hanover Barons when asked about hosting the OHL in the Barons home arena. “This is an exciting announcement for all parties involved, it’s great for the Community, it’s great for the kids, and it’s great for this awesome building we call our home! The P&H Centre will hopefully be rocking on Wednesday September 20th!”
The Process
In response to a request from the City of Owen Sound to move their September 20 pre-season game, due to the RCMP Musical Ride event at the Bayshore in early September, the Attack put out a call for potential neutral site hosts in mid-May. The Attack were overwhelmed by the response of surrounding communities who were interested. A total of ten centres applied for the right to host the Attack this pre-season including, Durham, Dundalk, Goderich, Kincardine, Listowel, Mount Forest, Shallow Lake, Thornbury, Wingham, and our 2023-24 host Hanover. As part of the application process members of the Attack staff visited all potential neutral sites and evaluated their viability. The majority of the sites met the requirements to host an Ontario Hockey League pre-season game which has turned what was planned to be a one off type of event into an on-going community outreach project for the club.
The Attack will now contact these centres each season to see if they are still interested in hosting and pick one each season to host a neutral pre-season game with a date and opponent to be determined each season. If there is a municipality that did not apply this year but would be interested in future years they can contact Greg Hoddinott at ghoddinott@attackhockey.com.
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