Sailors set for jersey giveaway
The Port Colborne Sailors are giving fans a unique opportunity to receive a free replica jersey Saturday at the Steele and Clover Public House on Steele Street.
As part of a season ticket campaign, the Sailors will be unveiling their new jerseys — home, away and alternate — starting at 5 p.m. The first 40 fans to purchase a season membership will receive a jersey. Season passes are priced at $120.
Single game tickets will be on sale for $10. Children under 10 do not require a ticket. A number of Sailor players will be on hand to sign autographs as well.
The team is about to begin its second season in Port Colborne after moving from Thorold last year. The team made the move permanent this summer and rebranded the team Sailors, complete with a new double blue colour design and logo.
Sailors owner/coach Scott Barnes is thrilled to become more integrated in the community.
“The biggest thing is we want to be a Port Colborne team and promote Port Colborne and want to be community involved,” Barnes said. “We’re trying to get involved with as many local businesses as we can.”
Barnes, who played for the Sailors in the late 1990s before the team moved to Pelham, has secured WestPier as the team’s title sponsor for the upcoming season through a former teammate on the Sailors.
Ex-Sailor Rick Rick Huneault is president of WestPier and is enthusiastic about adding his company’s name to the team.
“I was vice-chair on the committee when the Vale Centre was built and the rink was designed to have a junior B team,” said Huneault, whose younger brothers Greg and Chris also played for the team. “We didn’t have a team for the last little while. It was a little bit of a disservice so when I heard they were coming back to Port Colborne — we’re a big community member and support lots of things in the community — I couldn’t think of something better to be part of to have that team come back here, stay here and be successful here.
“Once I knew there was a potential to come back here, the stars aligned.”
Rick Huneault has fond memories of both playing and attending Sailors games at the old West Side Arena.
“I remember as a kid going to the games and then playing. There has been a deficit in the community. I have younger kids in hockey and they want to go watch the junior B game. Hopefully they’re here for a long time and having that same kind of experience for the kids.”
Barnes is excited to have WestPier on board.
“Rick’s a former teammate and I thought it would make sense to get with one of the bigger local businesses in town,” he said.
The Sailors open the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League season Friday, Sept. 15 at home versus the Fort Erie Meteors.
Barnes indicated the team has been selected and a captain will be announced next week
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