INNISFAIL – Paul Begg rolled out the pallet and waited patiently for the town’s glorious birds of hockey to arrive.
These birds are members of the Innisfail Eagles hockey team, and they want to be fully energized for a new season, their 77th as one of western Canada’s premier senior men’s hockey teams.
The team representatives were about to receive 1,080 bottles of Gatorade, the famed sports power drink that has been replenishing athletes since 1965.
However, the 2024–25 season will be different.
The Eagles hockey team has moved from its longstanding stint as a AAA squad in the fading two-team Chinook Hockey League to the AA level in the robust 10-team North Central Hockey League (NCHL).
Begg, the owner of Paul’s No Frills Innisfail, wanted to give the town’s hockey heroes a decided boost as they head into the new season that started with an exhibition road game on Sept. 21 against the Wetaskiwin Longhorns.
“This is something different. I know I give a lot to the local food bank and help out in other ways but the chance came up to do a donation with the Gatorade, and I jumped into it,” said Begg, aware of the Eagles’ new season in the NCHL. “It’s great to be a part of it, seeing the Eagles going places and starting in a new league.
“And being in a partnership with them to push them forward and show that we take everything in the community seriously and help out as much as we can.”
Kent Wing, co-head coach of the Eagles, called the donation an example of the ongoing “huge community support” the team receives every year.
However, with the team soon to be on the road far more often this year than in past seasons, the donation will help cut costs in other crucial areas.
“All of a sudden that money can go to travel, and taking care of our players on the road a little bit better,” said Wing. “You know, 1,080 Gatorades to us is just huge. We like to provide our players with the best rehab as possible, and Gatorades during games is a big part of that, and it helps keep them hydrated and healthy.”
Longtime Birds defenceman Joe Vandermeer is entering his 20th season of senior men’s hockey; 12 with the Eagles and eight with the now defunct Bentley Generals.
The veteran is now 47 years young and he can barely wait for the new season in the new league to start.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to look after my body for the most part, and I just love the game. That's why I keep coming back,” said Vandermeer.
“Hopefully we will get some rivalries going, with some closer teams like Lacombe and Red Deer, and then Stony Plain in the north.
“It should help benefit everybody to get more competition going, and hopefully put some people in the building to watch some good hockey.”
