With two days to go until the first game, the Memorial Cup festivities are officially underway in Saint John.
It all began on Saturday morning with the grand opening of a brand new ball hockey pad near TD Station.
“This is what we dreamed about from the start, and to see it materialize in person is good,” said Mark-Anthony Ashfield, chair of the tournament’s host organizing committee.
The legacy project is designed to leave a mark on Saint John once the tournament is all said and done.
Ashfield said they saw the ball hockey pad as an opportunity to engage with young people in the community.
“One of the things we talked about for ages is making sure that this event is really inclusive and try to eliminate some of the barriers to entry,” he said.
“To play ball hockey, you don’t need to have a lot of expensive equipment or rent expensive ice time. You need a stick and some sneakers.”
Mark-Anthony Ashfield, chair of the Memorial Cup host organizing committee, speaks during the opening of a new ball hockey pad on June 18, 2022. Image: Brad Perry
The ball hockey pad will be the site of a tournament being hosted by J.D. Irving, Ltd. over the next few days.
It cost between $400,000 and $500,000 to build — a cost that is being covered by the organizing committee. They have also given the city $35,000 to support the operations and maintenance of the facility for five years.
With more than 60 individual events taking place over the next 12 days, Ashfield said he does not think people truly appreciate what is about to happen.
“I think the biggest challenge for people is going to be to plan their schedule,” he said.
You can find the full event schedule by clicking here.
The first game in the Memorial Cup tournament begins Monday night as the Saint John Sea Dogs host the Hamilton Bulldogs at 7 p.m.
The ceremonial ball drop marks the official opening of this new ball hockey pad. pic.twitter.com/rzoiJWBSuc
— Brad Perry (he/him) (@BradMPerry) June 18, 2022
