INNISFAIL – The Innisfail Eagles senior men’s hockey team has received a badly needed financial break from the Town of Innisfail.
At town council’s regular meeting on Aug. 23, Erica Vickers, the town’s director of corporate services, said the hockey club had an outstanding account dating back to December of 2019. Council was told the account balance was $5,545.97 to July 3 l, 2021, with $4077.10 of that amount from original ice bookings and dressing room lease charges, and the remaining $l,468.87 for penalties.
Council was told the Eagles senior men’s hockey team has not played or been able to conduct fundraising since March 2019.
The hockey team lost all its revenues when the 2020/21 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As well, the club lost its ability to fundraise, which included the cancellation in 2020 of its annual Sportsman Dinner at the Innisfail Royal Canada Legion.
“We have not been able to host a major fundraiser and so many of our sponsors are in such a tough place and struggling to keep their own business going let alone sponsor anything,” said an email from the hockey club to the Town of Innisfail that was included in the council meeting agenda package. “We are hoping to be able to have a major fundraiser this year and plans are already in the works for a joint golf tournament with the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.”
Vickers told council the hockey club requested the $l,468.87 penalty component of the account be cancelled. Council was also told the Eagles would pay the $4,077.10 by the end of 2021 or the town would once again charge penalties.
Vickers told council the Eagles do have 2021 ice bookings and dressing room lease payments at $300 per month that will begin in September.
Following Vickers’ verbal report council unanimously approved a motion to cancel $1,468.87 in penalties on outstanding invoices, with no further penalties being applied to these invoices until January of 2022. Council also approved a second motion to direct administration to not accept ice bookings from the organization if invoices for current ice bookings are not paid in full within 30 days.
Following the Aug. 23 council meeting, mayor Jim Romane said he was pleased to resolve the issue with the hockey club, noting the team needed a break after enduring many cutbacks and its inability to fundraise due to the prolonged pandemic.
“And they came up with a shortfall. We are understanding of that situation,” said Romane. “They had a tough year for obvious reasons. It’s an expensive game when you start tripping 25 guys around the country in buses and buying them hockey sticks and paying for ice time.”
The Eagles announced on Aug. 5 the hockey team will begin a 20-game regular season in the Senior AA Ranchland Hockey League (RHL) starting Oct. 16, and will begin to prepare for their new season in mid-September. The RHL 2020/21 season was cancelled last year due to the pandemic.
The RHL announced on July 26, 2020 it would be admitting the Innisfail Eagles into the league. The Eagles said at the time it would still declare itself as a senior AAA team, which would make them eligible to compete for the Allan Cup. The Innisfail squad won’t be eligible for the RHL playoffs. Results against the Eagles will count in the RHL’s regular season standings.
