Prince Albert deserves new multi-use sporting complex

The Raiders celebrate a WHL title winning goal by Dante Hannoun (#17).

    The City of Prince Albert took a bit of a gut punch this week thanks to Canada’s federal government.

    On Monday, Francois-Philippe Champagne, who is the federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, announced with a tweet that included a letter to SaskBuilds that 13 of 25 projects submitted through the Integrated Bilateral Agreement (IBA) have been approved.

    This deal could potentially bring $896-million into Saskatchewan for infrastructure projects over the next 10 years.

    The minister added approvals for 11 other projects are expected shortly.

    Only one project was not approved, which was a sport multiplex facility for Prince Albert. The proposed multiplex would include an aquatics centre, two smaller rinks and a larger rink that would be the new home of the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders.

Sean Montgomery takes a lap with the Ed Chynoweth Cup last May.

    The letter in Champagne’s tweet said the multiplex in Prince Albert was ineligible for funding under this agreement because it would be the home to a “semi-pro sporting franchise.” The letter said portions of the multiplex may become eligible for funding if an appropriate revised application is submitted.

    The IBA states ineligible projects include a professional or semi-professional sports facility that is primarily a commercial operation and lumped in facilities for major junior hockey teams into that classification.

The Bears celebrate their Western regional win in 2017.

    The IBA also states Saskatchewan has to confirm the primary rational for taking on a sports infrastructure project is to not serve as a home for professional or semi-professional teams.

    The City of Prince Albert is reworking the proposal in order to qualify for funding under the IBA.

    This development has sent off a firestorm between politicians over mainstream media line and social media lines and Saskatchewan citizens over social media lines.

    The bottom line is Prince Albert deserves these facilities. That small city has given extraordinary support to its sports community over its entire history.

The Bears are all smiles after their Western regional win in 2017.

    Prince Albert also needs these facilities.

    The Frank J. Dunn Swimming Pool that is part of Carlton Comprehensive High School and the Marion Aquatics Centre, which is part of the former Rivier Academy, are both aging facilities that are past their due dates. They are the only indoor pools in Prince Albert, and they are ready to be replaced.

    The minor hockey arenas in Prince Albert like the Dave G. Steuart Arena and the Kinsmen Arena are old barn style facilities. The Dave G. Steuart Arena is likely passed its due date and the Kinsmen Arena is older than the Raiders current home rink - the Art Hauser Centre - which was built in 1971.

    The 2,580 Art Hauser Centre has a great history and will always be looked upon in an iconic way as a junior hockey facility and for the memories the Mintos midget AAA and the Northern Bears female midget AAA hockey teams have made there. 

The Mintos have created many great memories at the Art Hauser Centre.

    Still, the Hauser has likely reached the end of its line for all the upgrades you can do to it.

    At the moment, the Bears don’t even have their own permanent dressing room and team facilities in that rink like the Raiders and Mintos do.

    On top of everything, the Raiders are a community owned amateur team. They are the type of franchise that wouldn’t be able to play in a new facility without some sort of federal funding.

    That facility is constantly busy throughout the calendar year too.

    On the hockey side, the Raiders, Mintos and Bears are all first class organizations that play an integral part in the community being known as “Hockey Town North.” I myself would never be opposed to creating the opportunity for those clubs to play in upgraded facilities.

The Mintos celebrate a home ice win last February.

    They all have rich championship histories playing out of the Art Hauser Centre. Of course, the Raiders provided the biggest high last May, when Dante Hannoun scored the WHL championship winning goal in Game 7 in overtime at that storied facility.

    The sports multiplex that is being proposed could act as a central sports training facility for Prince Albert and surrounding area. It would be ideal gathering spot in northern Saskatchewan for hockey, speed skating, figure skating and swimming.

The Art Hauser Centre has seen its share of great history.

    During the spring and summer months, the bigger rink could be used for concerts, rodeos or community events like the Art Hauser Centre holds now.

    A new sports multiplex would bring Prince Albert and I dare say the surrounding area communities in northern Saskatchewan into the future in a big way.

    It is a great idea with vision. Here is hoping it doesn’t succumb to rivalries and ego in the political world.

    If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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