Cubs find a home at Co-op Place
By JAMES TUBB on September 25, 2021.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb The Cubs are back in their cave. Well, sort of. The team announced late Thursday night that Sunday’s home opener would be held at Co-op Place. Earlier in the week the Cubs had no place to play the game as they awaited a restriction exemption program for their home rink, the Kinplex. Now, they will play the home opener at Co-op, and will be able to play home games at the Kinplex starting Oct. 1 – which would make their first game in the Kinplex Oct. 9 against the Rocky Rams. Cubs president Troy Sandau says finding a rink for Sunday’s game against the Sylvan Lake Wranglers calms his and the team’s nerves. “Knowing our boys will get on the ice, it’ll keep the vibe going with our guys,” he said. “We missed a little bit, a week of practice there, but I think the boys are still hungry.” Sandau thanked the city for figuring the REP out and getting the team what it needed to get the season fully underway. “It’s nice to put it behind us. The club is grateful that the city acted as quick as they did and accommodated what we needed and we’re very grateful for what they provided for us,” he said. “Working with the staff at Co-op Place just this little bit has been an absolute joy. They’ve accommodated our tailgate party and we respect their policies and rules we have to follow.” Before Sunday’s game, the Cubs board will be putting on a tailgate barbecue in the west side of the Co-op Place parking lot. The lunch requires a donation to the Canadian Mental Health South Eastern chapter which gets anyone interested their choice of a burger or hot dog with a drink. The Cubs have been intently focused on mental health awareness with their team as a whole. They hosted a mental health seminar on one of the team’s first days of training camp for all players. Medicine Hat has extended free admission to Sunday’s game to all minor hockey players from the surrounding area such as Irvine and Redcliff. Anyone attending the game will have to follow the province’s mask mandate and will be required to show proof of either: double vaccination, first vaccination two weeks prior to Sept. 20, or a negative rapid test done by third party 72 hours before the game. For Cubs head coach Randy Wong, he likes the idea of kids who haven’t seen their program before getting the opportunity to witness the action now. “We’re hopeful we’ve got some young hockey players that will come watch our home opener,” he said. Wong says he is just glad his guys could get back on the ice and that they are excited for the season and home opener to get underway. “Tailgate party is a go, home opener and big arena, we just want a lot of fans to come out and watch our guys play,” Wong said. The first hot dog goes on the grill for the tailgate party at 11:30 a.m. and puck drops at Co-op Place at 2:45 p.m. 17-16
