Mother Nature shuts out local hockey teams

Times Editor

 

The blinding weekend snowstorm forced the postponement of several sporting events in and around the Strathmore area.

The Wheatland Kings junior B team was scheduled to play a pair of games this past weekend, including a home game Saturday night against the Rimbey Rock, but the brutal driving conditions forced the game to be postponed.

“It is something that our league does not have a policy on,” said Kings Head Coach and General Manager Doug Murphy on the postponement of games. “I think we’ll push that (issue) at our annual general meeting.”

According to Murphy, the traveling team can suggest a postponement – usually at the discretion of the bus driver, if the weather is too severe. The home team can also call the traveling team and suggest the game be postponed if the conditions are unsafe.

In the case of Saturday’s game, the Kings tried to contact Rimbey to suggest a postponement, but the Rock had already departed. However, when the team encountered the storm on their own, they turned back.

The Kings were slated to travel to Okotoks on Sunday, but that game was also postponed. In this case, the Kings looked at the AMA Road Condition and the RCMP advisory and called Okotoks to suggest they reschedule the game. Unfortunately, the home team declined and the Heritage Junior B League had to get involved and they agreed with the postponement.

According to Murphy, the number one concern is the safety of his players and staff.

“Absolutely, we told them we’re not coming – we’re not going to risk our players lives,” said Murphy. 

The UFA Bisons triple-A midget team was also slated to hit the ice in Calgary at the Acadia Arena on Saturday evening. However, postponing that game was a much easier procedure for the Bisons.

“Some of the parents contacted us and said that it was unsafe for them to leave where they lived,” said Bisons General Manager Neil Glionna. “I contacted the manager for the Buffs and told him and he said ‘okay.’

“It was all done within ten minutes – we contacted the league (president) and told them what we’ve done and he said okay, ‘make sure you get that reschedule ASAP.’

“I was actually shocked that we were the only game that was cancelled.”

Meanwhile, two of the three teams under the Wheatland Athletic Association had leagues games slated for the weekend. The Peewee Braves played on Saturday night, losing 5-1 to Bow Valley in Cochrane, before cancelling their road game in Taber on Sunday. The Bantam Warriors played Friday night, winning 3-1 in Hussar, before postponing Sunday’s game versus the Airdrie Lightning.

The Midget Chiefs schedule was unaffected, as they were not schedule to play this past weekend.