Road to new St. Catharines puck place just got a little rockier

[AlphaDog]

Originally Posted by Dog Party

It really seems like we have only one or two more years left of IceDogs hockey. Lets enjoy it while we have it.

Once the Dogs move, we should be able to throw away our computers because we will have paid for a new library. And we can all drive there because like 98% of the residents of St. Catharines, we will never use those bike lanes we all paid for that screwed up traffic in this city.

Maybe the performing arts center sells season tickets, and maybe we can have a curling champtionship or figure skating nationals after we freeze the water in the new aquatic center.

I can't wait for the next municipal elections just so I can vote against everyone who was unable to do what other cities smaller than us have already done.

Hey GM just threw $245M into the Glendale GM plant. Maybe we can get them to erect a new building - a place for all those workers with now-secured jobs to buy season tickets at They could have "GM PLACE" in Oshawa, and "THE FOUNDRY" here in St. Kitts Heck build it right on their front lawn - they leveled that black office building that was there.

[Chipperdog]

Exactly how much money does this sorry excuse for a city throw away to keep the Jack running every year?..this city is messed up...stop voting for those crooked old geezers at city hall people its time for some changes...Bye Bye Doggies dam this makes me sickI am so embarressed to call St. Catharines my home...lol

A post from someone after the article........

What is the value of a hockey team in this city. Judging by the willingness of a cynical few to let another leave so easily, I'd guess not very much. They seem to be stuck on dollars and cents that they can clutch not silly pride and joy that they can feel. The very thought of father and son cheering together, or grandfather telling grandson “I saw him play when he was your age”, means so very little to them. They claim to be safeguarding our community and protecting it but, a strong community cannot be built through artificial means. A strong community needs something to bond it, something that everyone can be a part of and support. The day will come when Jack Gatecliff and Rex Stimers arena will close. Age will catch all of us one day. When that time comes the City of St. Catharines will be forced to build an empty hollow building that will serve a purpose, not serve a community. There will be no new memories, no father/son moments, no civic pride. Just a building. The day they begin construction on that arena I'm sure there will be a young child out front watching as the workers begin to pour the foundation dreaming of the day he can tell his son, I never saw anyone play here but at least it didn't cost very much.

What is a cynic? A man who knows the cost of everything, and the value of nothing.
-- Oscar Wilde

[Chipperdog]

That about sums it up....

[Chipperdog]

The Garden City? what a joke more like "If its free or cheap weve got it here if you want more move somewhere else"

[AlphaDog]

This city doesn't understand the morale boost that having an OHL team brings. Having our residents able to say "We have an OHL hockey team." is a thing of pride.

If councillors follow Doillete's bogus report and scrap plans for a new rink, this city will become even more stagnant than it already is.

The just changed tons of roads to put in bike lanes - but it's becoming more evident each week that these are meant to actually be electric stroller lanes for seniors.

Maybe we can at least get city councillors to change our city moto from the Garden City to "Canada's Fastest Growing Retirement Community"
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Of course, we shouldn't complain about the city gov't yet. Only the report's findings have been given. They haven't decided on it yet as far as I know. And there's always the private option. Of course, with all the big business having already packed up and moved out of the city, there's not a lot of that left either.

[BonesBuddy]

So if the city doesn't understand why don't we give them an idea of how we feel? Why don't we band together and each write a short one page letter on why the Icedogs are important to us? Why we need a new arena, how having an OHL team here means something to the residents, how we pride ourselves by having the team here, how we support the owners, let them here what the players do for the community with free skates in the winter, visiting schools and how children look up to the players. Writing how you feel and what you want on this forum (as great as it is) stays on this forum. No city counsillers comne here to read it. Perhaps this is what we need to do. Perhaps if we bombarded the city with letters on how we feel about this maybe it will open a few eyes? But how many would really do this? I would. Perhaps an email addy could be set up where letters could be received and then send them as a group. Our voices need to be hear or they may not even realize we are here.

[the octopus]

Its too bad. The OHL is a wonderful brand of hockey and great entertainment. Without a new building the rest of the Niagara Region will not get "hooked". The current facility is simply old and needs to be replaced. Unfortunately on the whole, St. Catharines is not a hockey town. Niagarans typically will only support a team if they're winning.

[AlphaDog]

And it's not just that our OHL team might have to find a new home in another town, it's also that venues will CONTINUALLY skip over us as a destination, leaving St. Catharines and Niagara left behind while other cities movie forward. A large building like that can be used as a hub for the community to come together for events. We've never had anything like that.

[mookie johnson]

Hey guys this definately is not a good thing. I remember going to Thunder games with my dad and the dissapointment when they left. The icedogs i feel should be important to this region. I myself cannot afford to go to a leaf game, but with the icedogs here i don't really feel the need or want to go to one. We fans should do something to express these thoughts and opinions to the proper people. Lets no give up guys and girls lets see if we can do something, lets see what we can accomplish by standing up for something that means alot to us and keep the icedogs here for years to come.