Hamiltonians rally for NHL franchise next Friday
June 19 rally at Jackson Square
By Kevin Werner/News staff
News
Jun 11, 2009
http://www.ancasternews.com/news/article/178115
Hamilton politicians want the city to be the centre of the hockey universe June 19.
Councillors are encouraging residents to “flood†the city’s downtown area in a rally to bring NHL hockey to Hamilton at Jackson Square starting at noon.
“We want to set a high water mark,†said Ward 8 (west Mountain) councillor Terry Whitehead. “Hamilton is where everybody will be looking at.â€
The rally will be part of Research In Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie’s call for Canadians across the country to hold Make It Seven hockey rallies on June 19. In a statement through the
www.makeitseven.ca website, Mr. Balsillie said Canadians should show their support for a seventh NHL team in the country.
“It is at a very interesting junction,†said Coun. Whitehead. “There is a pent-up crisis developing in the community. We want to take all this emotion and show our support.â€
He said the noon to 1:30 p.m. rally on Friday is an appropriate time because it allows children from schools to get involved, and it catches business people on their lunch breaks and encourages them to join in.
“We have a built-in crowd,†said Coun. Whitehead.
A bankruptcy court is determining whether Mr. Balsillie can relocate the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton over the objections of the NHL, and the city of Glendale.
Businessman Chris Ecklund, who has been beating the drum for an NHL franchise for Hamilton through his own website, said Hamiltonians need to party “like its 1972 all over again.
“We need to recreate that feeling,†he said.
Mr. Ecklund is referring to the 1972 hockey summit showdown between Team Canada and the former Soviet Union, when Paul Henderson scored the winning goal to give the Canadians a series victory, and seemingly all Canadians were glued to their television sets or radios listening to the sports drama.
“I want to flood the downtown with people,†he said.
Hamilton mountain resident Michelle Febers, through her Facebook page, has also been involved in organizing a rally to show support for an NHL team in Hamilton.
Not only did councillors this week proclaim Make It Seven Day, which Hamilton councils do not approve because of the political repercussions, they also agreed to establish a $20,000 contingency fund to cover any costs associated with the rally.
Hamiltonians travelling to the rally will ride for free on the HSR from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The city’s HSR will absorb the cost of the transit rides.
People are also encouraged to drop off a donation to the food banks when attending the rally.
“The food banks’ shelves are getting real low now,â said Flamborough councillor Robert Pasuta.