By Tina Comeau
THE VANGUARD
The local host committee was a not-for-profit entity but the local hockey scene will profit from the success of the World Junior A Challenge held in Yarmouth two years in a row.
The announcement of a legacy fund was made during a May 28 volunteer appreciation event. Mitch Bonnar, chair of the host committee, says because of the two event years – 2012 and 2013 – it’s anticipated that somewhere in the vicinity of $130,000 will be channeled into a legacy fund. This is due to the fact that the event itself generated a profit in both years.
While the details of the fund are not yet finalized – the accountants have not yet completed the audit to determine the exact final financial figure – Bonnar said the legacy fund will support hockey. He said minor hockey is one area that will obviously benefit. He also said there will likely be scholarships set up for junior A hockey players as part of the Yarmouth Mariners club.
The two week-long World Junior A Challenges saw the same six teams competing each of the two years – Canada East, Canada West, USA, Russia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Both challenges were won by Team USA.
A CJHL prospects two-game series also coincided with the challenge.
Bonnar says in 2012 the deal was that a third of any profit from the event would go to Hockey Canada.
“They didn’t think there was going to be any, well, we surprised them. There was in the area of $160,000 in profit before we started sharing,” Bonnar says. “The CJHL took their share and Hockey Canada actually gave us back their share, that was around $50,000.”
While the profit from year one was applied to covering the cost of year two, the 2013 event realized a profit as well.
“At the end of the day we’ve got around $130,000-plus dollars kicking around,” Bonnar said. “(As a host committee) we’re not for profit so our agreement was to leave it as a legacy for something. The accountants haven’t finalized the numbers, but having said that all of that money, every cent of it, will go into a legacy fund and it will go to support hockey.”
While people came out to the Mariners Centre to watch the teams on the ice, Bonnar said the success of the two events couldn’t have happened without the team that was working off the ice. In 2012 there were 125 volunteers involved. In 2013 there were 150.
Volunteers served as host ambassadors, drivers, ushers, ticket collectors, 50/50 sellers, coordinated events with schools, coordinated team meals, etc.
“Without you guys this never would have happened. We really appreciate it,” he said during the volunteer appreciation evening held at Brunswick Bowling Lanes. As part of the volunteer appreciation evening draws were made of autographed team jerseys from the World Junior A Challenge.
Oh, and there were draws for World Challenge water bottles too.
“I’ve got nine of those at home,” said volunteer Paul Brittain just seconds before his ticket number was drawn to win another one. “Now you have 10,” laughed volunteer Sonya Breton, president of the minor hockey association.
The mood during the volunteer appreciation evening was a festive one and the majority of those who gathered said they’d gladly volunteer again.
They may get that opportunity if Yarmouth is successful in its bid to host the 2016 RBC Cup, a national junior A championship held annually in May.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen there, we may or may not get that,” Bonnar said. “If we do there is going to be a lot of work to do.”
By Tina Comeau
THE VANGUARD
The local host committee was a not-for-profit entity but the local hockey scene will profit from the success of the World Junior A Challenge held in Yarmouth two years in a row.
The announcement of a legacy fund was made during a May 28 volunteer appreciation event. Mitch Bonnar, chair of the host committee, says because of the two event years – 2012 and 2013 – it’s anticipated that somewhere in the vicinity of $130,000 will be channeled into a legacy fund. This is due to the fact that the event itself generated a profit in both years.
While the details of the fund are not yet finalized – the accountants have not yet completed the audit to determine the exact final financial figure – Bonnar said the legacy fund will support hockey. He said minor hockey is one area that will obviously benefit. He also said there will likely be scholarships set up for junior A hockey players as part of the Yarmouth Mariners club.
The two week-long World Junior A Challenges saw the same six teams competing each of the two years – Canada East, Canada West, USA, Russia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Both challenges were won by Team USA.
A CJHL prospects two-game series also coincided with the challenge.
Bonnar says in 2012 the deal was that a third of any profit from the event would go to Hockey Canada.
“They didn’t think there was going to be any, well, we surprised them. There was in the area of $160,000 in profit before we started sharing,” Bonnar says. “The CJHL took their share and Hockey Canada actually gave us back their share, that was around $50,000.”
While the profit from year one was applied to covering the cost of year two, the 2013 event realized a profit as well.
“At the end of the day we’ve got around $130,000-plus dollars kicking around,” Bonnar said. “(As a host committee) we’re not for profit so our agreement was to leave it as a legacy for something. The accountants haven’t finalized the numbers, but having said that all of that money, every cent of it, will go into a legacy fund and it will go to support hockey.”
While people came out to the Mariners Centre to watch the teams on the ice, Bonnar said the success of the two events couldn’t have happened without the team that was working off the ice. In 2012 there were 125 volunteers involved. In 2013 there were 150.
Volunteers served as host ambassadors, drivers, ushers, ticket collectors, 50/50 sellers, coordinated events with schools, coordinated team meals, etc.
“Without you guys this never would have happened. We really appreciate it,” he said during the volunteer appreciation evening held at Brunswick Bowling Lanes. As part of the volunteer appreciation evening draws were made of autographed team jerseys from the World Junior A Challenge.
Oh, and there were draws for World Challenge water bottles too.
“I’ve got nine of those at home,” said volunteer Paul Brittain just seconds before his ticket number was drawn to win another one. “Now you have 10,” laughed volunteer Sonya Breton, president of the minor hockey association.
The mood during the volunteer appreciation evening was a festive one and the majority of those who gathered said they’d gladly volunteer again.
They may get that opportunity if Yarmouth is successful in its bid to host the 2016 RBC Cup, a national junior A championship held annually in May.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen there, we may or may not get that,” Bonnar said. “If we do there is going to be a lot of work to do.”
