QUESNEL – Quesnel hasn’t had a Junior A hockey team since the Millionaires left town in 2011.
The rink where the team used to play is gone too, although the interest to play in the city has not left.
This past winter, for the first time in a decade the BCHL almost made a return when the Wenatchee Wild were looking for a place to play on this side of the border because of the pandemic.
“There’s interest, it’s a matter of the right fit,” said Mayor Bob Simpson.
The Wild never ended up playing in Gold Pan City because BC’s COVID-19 restrictions changed before the season could even start.
Even though a game was never played, the interest of the Wild itself generated a lot of positivity about future possibilities for junior hockey in the community.
“Hockey is a really important component in the culture of our community, and the fact that we have a world-class arena now for the size of our community, it’s no wonder that we’re on the radar,” said Mitch Vik, small business owner.
But the interest in the community doesn’t end there.
The Greater Metro Hockey League (GMHL), a Junior ‘A’ Tier 2 league, tried expanding to the Cariboo this past spring.
Following concerns from local minor hockey groups in the area, the GMHL decided to withdraw their application to expand to both Quesnel and Williams Lake.
With interest continuing to be generated over the amenities of the West Fraser Centre and the City of Quesnel, many in the community say it’s only a matter of time before junior hockey is back.
