Growlers score deal to host U17 Atlantics in Paradise
Paradise will host some of the most talented U17 hockey players Atlantic Canada has to offer next spring.
The Growlers won a bid amongst the Atlantic provinces to host the 2027 U18AAA Atlantics and will use the Double Ice Complex as the venue, councillor Jennifer Hiscock noted at a recent committee of the whole meeting.
The tournament will run from Wednesday, March 21 to Sunday, April 4, 2027 using approximately 37 hours worth of ice time.
One of the event’s requirements is that Paradise provide exclusive access to dressing rooms for all five teams so players can leave their gear at the facility to dry between games. This means no other teams can avail of the ice surface during the duration of the event.
In a bid to keep costs down, the Growlers asked the Town to only charge for the actual ice time used rather than charge for the duration of the event. The organization also requested the option to pre-sell up to 200 tickets to friends and family to generate revenue to cover upfront expenses.
The Town previously hosted the tournament in 2022, as well as the U13AAA Atlantics in 2023. At the time, the Town offered the organizers a 70/30 box office split, the community group rental rate of $170 per hour (which has since increased to $185), and the chance to pay for hours of ice time used.
The recommendation of staff this time was to offer the same discounts and allow the pre-sale of up to 200 tickets. Council agreed.
The event will follow a five team round robin structure. Teams representing Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island will compete for the chance to represent Atlantic Canada at the U18 National Championship.
Councillor Sheldon Antle asked how local community groups might be impacted by the tournament.
Hiscock explained that while the Paradise Minor Hockey Association typically books ice time during that same time slot for an Easter weekend provincial tournament, the association supports the town hosting the U18AAA competition and will work around the schedule.
The matter was moved for a formal vote of council and approved during the August 11 public meeting.