City approves lease agreement with Mustangs

Meadow Lake city council has authorized the signing of a lease agreement with the new Meadow Lake Mustangs Junior A hockey team.

The deal, which was approved at Monday’s council meeting, covers the team’s use of the community arena for their inaugural season with the Western Provinces Hockey Association. The ice time is expected to be a boost for city coffers.

“We’re a hockey town and there’s excitement about having a new team,” City Manager Diana Burton told meadowlakeNOW. “They’re paying a lease rate for the ice time they book and it will generate revenue for the city.”

Burton said the team would book two-hour practice sessions in the middle of the day on weekdays when minor hockey didn’t need it, and along with their game nights, figured revenue would outweigh any losses incurred due to some minor hockey games moving to the neighboring Flying Dust First Nation arena. But she added minor hockey games would also be played at the Meadow Lake Arena.

It wasn’t immediately clear how much revenue the new team would generate at the arena.

Trades in Sask.

Skilled trades need not limited to building homes

Apr 17, 2024

Raising concerns

Battlefords and Meadow Lake MPs weigh in on new federal budget

Apr 17, 2024

Tragic events

Sask. Gov't confirms investigation after former Pine Grove inmate passes away in hospital

Apr 16, 2024

“We have a rough idea,” Burton said. “But we’ll know much better once we have their schedule in place.”

In the meantime she said the prospect of hosting a new hockey team was exciting.

“This is new for the community and we’ll be excited to see the arena used and filled with spectators,” she said.

The co-owner of the Mustangs Brad Huziak said he was happy another hurdle had been overcome in making the team a reality.

“We’re thankful the negotiations with the city were so easy,” he said. “Right now our coach [Jason L’Heureux ] is working on recruiting players and signing up an assistant coach so we’re nearly all systems go.”

Huziak said the season schedule should be ready and finalized by the end of the week.

As for the lease agreement he said the city would be quite happy with the 21 home games plus all the practice time the team would bring to the arena.

Initially there were six teams planned for the new league which would have accounted for 27 home games but only four will suit up this year, Huziak said. He added there was the hope of up to eight teams by next year.

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca