Supporters of the St. Albert Steel are concerned the Alberta Junior Hockey League team will leave the city like the Saints did in 2005 when the league’s board of governors approved their relocation to Spruce Grove.
Craig Holmes, a Steel season ticket holder the last four years, wants junior A hockey to remain in St. Albert.
“We certainly have the population to support it if it’s managed and run properly,” Holmes said while watching the Steel lose 7-4 Tuesday at Performance Arena.
The St. Albert resident also has season tickets for the Edmonton Oilers.
“I enjoy coming to the Steel games more than probably going to the Oilers games. It’s just more fun for me to watch,” Holmes said. “They’re kids playing hockey, they’re playing for fun and they make lots of mistakes. The biggest thing for most of them is getting an education because they can get scholarships.”
Among the 200 spectators at what could be the last home game in Steel history was Thomas Wielobob, a season-ticket holder for three years.
“I’m going to miss them if they do move. I hope they don’t. I’m definitely going to buy my season tickets for next year. I like the entertainment. The value is good. It’s very inexpensive,” said Wielobob, wearing an autographed Alex Perkins’ Steel jersey. “I come out to all the games. I love the hockey here. It’s a nice arena and a nice facility. I also like to support St. Albert first over Edmonton.”
The St. Albert transit driver also attends AJHL games in Sherwood Park and Spruce Grove to watch the Steel.
“The hockey is better than the Oilers. The kids work hard,” Wielobob said.
Unfortunately, he saw the Steel win only five games at home this season.
“I just wish there were more supporters. I think it has to do with marketing. They need to do a better job of that.”
Goal judge Steven Kennedy also wants the Steel to stay and believes city council should take an active role in keeping the AJHL team at Servus Credit Union Place.
“I’ve wrote a couple of councillors and the mayor on this matter. One councilman told me they don’t want the Steel because they can’t afford to keep a losing team, but they’re playing in a building that’s losing money so why not have both of them in one place,” Kennedy said. “They should be here for people to come out and watch them. If we get 200 people a night, it’s great.”
Kennedy has been a Steel volunteer since their inaugural 2007-08 season in St. Albert.
“It’s just great helping the kids out and seeing their smiles and seeing them improve every day,” he said.
St. Albert hockey historian Larry Mitchell is encouraged by the abundance of local talent on the Steel but doubts the team will be in the city next season.
“I would like to see the Steel remain here because of the St. Albert content. There are seven or eight players who are playing on the team this year that could play for them for the next couple of years. Unfortunately they’re now going to have to go to wherever this team is going to go to and from the way it looks right now it will probably be Whitecourt and those kids are going to have to move out of school here and get billeted there,” Mitchell said.
“It’s just unfortunate, especially after having a team here for five years. However, they have yet to have a winning season and the owner thinks that he can do better elsewhere and there is not a whole lot we can do about it.”
