TRURO - The Truro Bearcats will have to wait until late this month to play a home game.
A delay in renovations at Colchester Legion Stadium has pushed the Bearcats' Maritime Junior Hockey League home opener back to Sept. 25 when the Campbellton Tigers visit the Hubtown. The team was supposed to open Saturday against the Pictou County Weeks Crushers.
"It's just not going to be ready," Bearcats president Keith MacKenzie said. "There will be no washrooms available or the ticket booth."
The $1.2-million project was originally scheduled to start in May and be completed before the ice went back into the rink, which was built in 1965. But work didn't start until two months later after the original tender came in over budget.
Work was cut off the project, including siding for the outside of the building and expanding the dressing rooms, but it still came in too rich for the town's blood. Eventually the town started negotiations with the contractor, North River's Flagship Construction, to get as much work done as possible with the available money.
Among the work being done is the installation of an elevator, a room for the zamboni, washroom and ticket booth renovations, windows, boilers, lighting and several smaller related items.
Doug MacKenzie, the town's director of parks, recreation and culture, said he expects the rink will be able to host the Sept. 25 contest.
"It's operational now and if you or I rented the ice for an hour with 15 guys, there are no issues," he said. "But it's when you have 700 to 800 people in the rink that makes it difficult."
The money for the project comes from government funding for the new civic centre, which was allocated to be used at Colchester Legion Stadium.
Keith MacKenzie said he's disappointed the team can't play a home game for another two weeks, especially after last weekend's preseason game against the Pictou County Weeks Crushers drew a large crowd with the lure of free admission.
"We went through camp and had a good crowd on Saturday," he said. "Now we have to play four games on the road before we have a home game."
Despite the delay, the president wasn't concerned with how it will affect the team's performance at the box office.
"It's probably not going to hurt all that much because if the weather is good, people aren't much interested in hockey in September anyway," he said.
Doug MacKenzie said although the rink should be ready for the new home date, work will continue into December to complete smaller work associated with the project.
The Bearcats open the season Friday in Halifax against the newly named Marauders.
sports@trurodaily.com
