Read original story here: St. Catherines Standard

 

 

The Thorold Athletics have come up with a unique way for fans to experience their product.

The Allan Cup Hockey organization will be offering complimentary admission to home games with a donation at the door. All money collected will be donated to charity.

The Athletics are able to offer the complimentary admission thanks to a different corporate sponsor for all 12 of the senior team’s home games at Thorold Community Arena.

"We want to give people value and provide great, affordable, family entertainment ”Athletics president Dave Marrone said. “The sponsors buy in because it’s a great brand of hockey and there is a substantial amount of money that can be raised for a charity.”

Marrone, who previously was part of a group which owned the Thorold Blackhawks junior B team, is well aware how saturated the hockey market is in Niagara.

“We want to be a community-based team,” he said. “We’re a team for Niagara. Even though we’re Thorold, we’re a regional team. We have to go outside the box. There is a lot of competition with regional junior B, the IceDogs and pro hockey.”

“We looked as some successful models like an Art Park or Pelham bandshell-style, where they have a lot of people, the admission was free, and they partnered with a charity.

The Athletics, who have secured Mountainview Homes as their major sponsor, are currently holding training camp. The season opener is Friday, Oct. 14 versus Whitby at 7:27 p.m.

“We’re way ahead of where it was last year,” Athletics general manager Rocky Venditti said. “About 60 per cent of the players are coming back. (We're) looking to add some new guys. Quality players, not just fillers.”

“The biggest thing is we now know the calibre of hockey it takes to win. Going into it maybe we didn’t understand the quality it took to be a successful franchise. We have a idea now. We’re seen the good teams and what they’ve added to be successful. That’s where we want to head as well. We don’t just want to be in the middle of the pack. We’re here to win.”

Among those expected back are familiar names such as Chris Risi, league most valuable player J.J. Martin, league rookie of the year Steven Dol, Tyler Turcotte, Brandon Roshko and former Brock Badgers Kaine and Anthony Geldart.

“We have a very unrealized calibre of hockey in our community,” Marrone said. “Guys have played D1, CIS, semipro and they’re still close to the prime of their careers and the calibre of the league — you can’t have any weak players — last year we had three good lines and four good defencemen. As much as you need top end guys, you need to have depth of players of the right calibre.”

“We need four lines and six defence that can play. We need consistent good goaltending game in and game out.”