Mustangs look to Strathmore as possible new home

By Mario Prusina Times Editor

Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) action may be making its way to Strathmore for the 2019-20 season.
However, the addition of junior A hockey to town will most likely mean the end of junior B hockey in Strathmore – specifically the Wheatland Kings of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League.
With limited amount of ice time already available, the Mustangs would absorb the Wheatland Kings precious ice time at the Strathmore Family Centre.
The long-rumoured move of bringing the AJHL to Strathmore hit fever pitch when the Mustangs spoke with the user groups at the Strathmore Family Centre who, for the most part, accepted the relocation under the condition it would not impact their programs.
Since then, Calgary Mustangs president Mike Cartney made a presentation to Strathmore town council on March 6, looking to get their support as the final step before making the presentation to the AJHL board of directors to approve the move.
Despite many people who encourage the move, town council stressed they did not seek the Mustangs and they are proceeding like they would with any other user group.
“Just before we get going, I know a lot of people in the audience and it has become a discussion on Facebook as far as the process that has gone on,” said Mayor Pat Fule prior to the Mustangs presentation. “This concept of relocation of the Calgary Mustangs was not initiated by the Town of Strathmore – we did not drive this.”
The town did receive inquiries from both the Mustangs and the Calgary Canucks about a possible move to Strathmore.
The Mustangs met with the user groups and Strathmore Minor Hockey, with Fule in attendance.
“I stated (at the meetings) that town would support the relocation of the Calgary Mustangs if that’s what the groups decided,” said Fule. “Or we would also support the Wheatland Kings staying, but it was not up to us.”
With most user groups, such as Strathmore Minor Hockey, the Strathmore Skating Club and Strathmore Minor Ringette, are OK or reluctant with the move, Cartney asked for the town’s blessing.
“Our primary goal is to become a future growth of junior A hockey in Strathmore beginning in the upcoming 2019-2020 season,” said Cartney to council. “Through a partnership with minor hockey, our intent is to establish a solid foundation of cultivating local talent (and) building a legacy in Strathmore we can all be proud of. This culture of fostering talent can only be augmented by local residents and businesses, which future strengthens the threads that binds a community.
“What we do need is the support of the town, minor hockey and the user groups of Strathmore to present to the AJHL. This is in preliminary talks at this point in time. Once we can garner that support, certainly that makes our application to the AJHL for relocation that much stronger.”
Some of the requirements the team would need from the town to proceed are a dedicated dressing room, a coach’s area and the use of the ice for games and practices.
The team would like to support Strathmore Minor Hockey Association, Strathmore Minor Ringette Association and the Strathmore Skating Club by having the Mustangs help the three associations by giving back their time to help coach and mentor the young boys and girls.
“If we can make this happen – and it’s a big if still, we have to get approval from council and then we have to get approval from the AJHL – but if that happens, my vision for this team is for the players, the organization, to become community leaders,” said Wayne Hansen, incoming vice-president of operations, scouting and recruitment for the Mustangs. “With 23 players billeted here every year, they will become part of the community. Unlike the (former triple-A midget) Bisons, most of these kids don’t go to school (right now), so during the days they’ll be in the schools helping with elementary kids, dealing with junior high, they’ll be at seniors’ lodges and helping out there.
“They will be doing many things around the community, trying to become a part of the fabric here. We are trying to make the Strathmore Mustangs, (that’s) what they would be called, a part of the community.”
Hansen, who was the general manager of the CFR Bisons, was part of the Strathmore Minor Hockey Association when they took control of the Wheatland Kings from its previous owners. He said he would love to see the local junior B team relocated somewhere nearby, where they can be a type of “farm system” for the Mustangs.
However, despite being the odd team out in this relocation, the Kings are not packing their bags quite yet.
“I’m not against a higher level of hockey; however, the town should consider the community impact – and the junior B team is a community-based team with community-based players,” said Wheatland Kings president Mark Bishop. “Whereas a junior A team with the current facilities is going to be subpar, I believe, to the other rinks in the junior A league. Having said that, it could happen, and I’d like to see them co-exist for at least a year and see if the junior A team is actually viable.
“I think there is a bunch of stuff that has to happen too – it has to be approved by the (AJHL) league and I think they’re going to do their homework as well. Are you just moving the problem to another town, right?”
The Mustangs and the Kings were once again slated to meet council on March 13. Results were not available as of press time. If approved by the town, the Mustangs would present their relocation bid to the AJHL on Friday, March 15.