OLDS — The new Grizzlys Den has been a hit with Olds Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) members, past-president Rich McDonald says.
The Den, a facility where players train, hang out, view game videos, and more is now located behind the Eye Wearhouse on the north side of Highway 27.
The Grizzlys and OMHA moved there in late January/early February after their previous space in Uptowne Olds near 50th Avenue was sold.
The 3,000 square-foot space is used for a variety of things, including off-ice training, reviewing game video team meetings or functions as well as team meals. It has a board room and a space for coaches to do their work and meet with players or others.
In addition, it features a party room/player’s lounge with a kitchen and space for minor hockey or others to hold birthday parties.
“I think it’s been great,” OMHA past-president Rich McDonald said during an interview. “We've had nothing but good things said.
“We actually did a survey about halfway through the season, just to get a feel for what the membership thought; if they enjoyed having it, if they wanted us to continue down that path.
“And the survey came back with I think, almost 80 per cent in favour of continuing on to have a facility like that to use for things like dryland (training) and for the younger divisions birthday parties, team building events. The older teams could do video review and so on.
“It’s definitely been, I think, a good facility that’s been utilized by the association, so I’m sure it will continue to be around for the next little while, for sure.”
