The Georgian Bay Applekings will be back on the ice for their first game of the season this Saturday.
The Applekings kick off their season at the Beaver Valley Community Centre with a game against Creemore with a start time of 5:30 p.m. The game will feature a banner raising ceremony.
Applekings President and star forward Mackenzie Fleming made a presentation to council at its committee of the whole meeting on Oct. 7. Fleming reviewed the senior hockey team’s successful first season, which culminated in them winning the Hugh McLean Trophy for the “A” championship of the league. Fleming also provided a preview of the coming season.
“We had a really good year,” he said. “We hope to take the next step on and off the ice.”
Fleming said in season one the team averaged 450 spectators at their games played each Saturday afternoon. He said the goal for the coming season is 550 to 600 fans each game.
The team also was able to raise $10,000 for its youth fund. Fleming said the organization is still getting the youth fund set up, but the eventual goal is to assist at least five local children with the costs of playing hockey.
In his presentation, Fleming asked that the town consider providing the Applekings with their own dressing room and for a letter declaring the team’s games events of municipal significance in order for the team to get a liquor license for the games.
He said a dedicated dressing room would allow the players to keep their equipment at the rink and would be a great help for the players on the team.
“We’d love to have a space to call our own,” said Fleming.
Council unanimously passed resolutions directing staff to prepare the letter and to include the Applekings in plans for upgrades to the arena facility.
Fleming said this year the team will be upping the amount of ice time it uses to 58.5 hours. Fleming said the team’s goal is to win the Paxton Trophy for the double A championship for the OEHL (Ontario Elite Hockey League) within five years.
Fleming said in the first year the team was involved with a number of community organizations like the Kinettes, Events For Life and Georgian Shores Minor hockey and is planning to host a major event in the summer of 2025 that would feature a baseball tournament. The event would be called “Kings Fest.”
The team will also be hosting a number of theme nights through the season such as: front line workers appreciation, a fundraiser for My Friends House, teachers and civic works appreciation, trades worker appreciation, agriculture appreciation, military appreciation and others.
More information about the Applekings is available at the club website here.
Members of council were supportive of the team and the efforts made to bring senior hockey back to the town.
“I appreciate the spirit you have brought to the community,” said Mayor Andrea Matrosovs.
