Latest news with #NHL-sized
Vancouver Sun
04-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Canucks: Top brass takes a look at a Burnaby practice rink
Could the Vancouver Canucks really go back to Burnaby in their search for a permanent practice facility solution? The NHL team's senior managers — president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, general manager Patrik Allvin, president of business operations Michael Doyle and Dax Aquilini, son of team co-owner Roberto Aquilini — were spotted at Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre in south Burnaby on Wednesday, taking an apparent tour of the facility. Opened in April 2024, the facility boasts two NHL-sized rinks, an obvious item on the Canucks' required list. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The Canucks have spoken openly of their need for about 20,000 square feet of floor space to use for medical space, for gym space and for offices, over and above the need for a practice rink and changing rooms. To the west of the centre is Byrne Creek Secondary School and just down the road is the SkyTrain maintenance yard. It's in a part of Burnaby, bordering on New Westminster, that's seen a fair bit of development in the last 20 years. A number of townhouse and condo complexes have been built. A large development, called Southgate City, is in the works, and there is also some city owned land as well. There are also some underused multi-purpose rooms inside the facility, though presumably those spaces would get busier as the neighbouring development grows. It's about a 30-minute drive from Rogers Arena and about a 25-minute drive to Vancouver International Airport, so the location makes some sense. Along with securing 20,000 square feet of floor space, proximity to the airport and the arena are on the Canucks' list of priorities. It would be a commute for the players: most live in Yaletown or on Vancouver's west side, so a drive from Kitsilano could take an hour, depending on time of day. The Canucks have mostly practised at the University of B.C. in recent years and are understood to have had talks about a permanent arrangement at the university's Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, but those appear to be at an impasse. Burnaby was previously the NHL club's practice home: from 1996 until 2010 the team had a permanent base inside Burnaby 8-Rinks, now called ScotiaBarn. From 2019 until 2023, the team made occasional visits to ScotiaBarn, but it was never a popular destination for the players. pjohnston@
The Province
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Province
Canucks: Top brass take a look at a Burnaby practice rink
In their search for a permanent practice facility, the Canucks are taking a look at south Burnaby. Get the latest from Patrick Johnston straight to your inbox Vancouver Canucks' President of Hockey Operations, Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Alvin. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO / 10107788A Could the Vancouver Canucks really go back to Burnaby in their search for a permanent practice facility solution? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The NHL team's senior managers — president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, general manager Patrik Allvin, president of business operations Michael Doyle and Dax Aquilini, son of team co-owner Roberto Aquilini — were spotted at Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre in south Burnaby on Wednesday, taking an apparent tour of the facility. Opened in April 2024, the facility boasts two NHL-sized rinks, an obvious item on the Canucks' required list. The Canucks have spoken openly of their need for about 20,000 square feet of floor space to use for medical space, for gym space and for offices, over and above the need for a practice rink and changing rooms. To the west of the centre is Byrne Creek Secondary School and just down the road is the SkyTrain maintenance yard. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It's in a part of Burnaby, bordering on New Westminster, that's seen a fair bit of development in the last 20 years. A number of townhouse and condo complexes have been built. A large development, called Southgate City, is in the works, and there is also some city owned land as well. There are also some underused multi-purpose rooms inside the facility, though presumably those spaces would get busier as the neighbouring development grows. It's about a 30-minute drive from Rogers Arena and about a 25-minute drive to Vancouver International Airport, so the location makes some sense. Along with securing 20,000 square feet of floor space, proximity to the airport and the arena are on the Canucks' list of priorities. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It would be a commute for the players: most live in Yaletown or on Vancouver's west side, so a drive from Kitsilano could take an hour, depending on time of day. The Canucks have mostly practised at the University of B.C. in recent years and are understood to have had talks about a permanent arrangement at the university's Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, but those appear to be at an impasse. Burnaby was previously the NHL club's practice home: from 1996 until 2010 the team had a permanent base inside Burnaby 8-Rinks, now called ScotiaBarn. From 2019 until 2023, the team made occasional visits to ScotiaBarn, but it was never a popular destination for the players. pjohnston@ Read More Vancouver Canucks Local News Crime Vancouver Canucks News
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'We're getting expressions of interest': Gary Bettman hints NHL's keen interest in coming back to Atlanta as expansion negotiations intensify
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman (via Getty Images) NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has stoked new rumors surrounding the league's plans for expansion, affirming current talks with prospective groups of ownership looking to pursue a third time to bring pro hockey to Atlanta. With investor Vernon Krause closing in on presenting a complete expansion bid in Forsyth County, Georgia, the NHL is monitoring closely what may become the league's 33rd franchise—if all key factors fall into place. Operation Sindoor 'Common sense prevailed': Trump on India-Pak ceasefire on Truth Social 'Pakistan initiated call; both nations agreed to stop military action after direct talks', says India Ceasefire took effect at 5pm; top India, Pak military officials to talk again on May 12 Vernon Krause-led ownership group makes case for NHL franchise in Forsyth County while league awaits full expansion proposal NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's exclusive one-on-one interview with Sara Orlesky The National Hockey League soon could add another chapter to its complicated history with Atlanta, as there is increasing momentum behind a bid to bring a franchise to Forsyth County. Commissioner Gary Bettman admitted Friday that the city is highly on the radar of the league as a future expansion possibility. 'It's a different place than when the Flames and the Thrashers left, in terms of how big the city is, how robust it is, the sporting interest,' Bettman said. 'I don't think the prior two visits have any bearing on whether or not we would go back—if all the other pieces that are referred to were put together.' The most popular bid is being led by Vernon Krause, an Atlanta-area entrepreneur who recently informed 11 Alive News that his group is in the 'homestretch' of finalizing a detailed expansion package. That package includes municipal support, financial backing, land acquisition, and zoning approvals—essential ingredients for NHL consideration. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo 'The next step is for us to go up to New York and meet with the commissioner of the NHL and show them what we have in place with the county in hopes that they vote for expansion,' Krause said. 'There's certain criterion that we have to meet to even apply for an expansion franchise. And that was purchasing land, getting the zoning that we needed. Both of those have been accomplished. Once we got the county vote, getting definitive documents done, which our lawyers are working on, that we can present to the NHL, talking with our investors that we've been talking with over the last couple of years, being able to present what I would call a completed package to the NHL.' Vernon Krause is confident thanks to a palpable head start—his team already holds land zoned for an NHL-sized arena and has county-level support. In contrast, another competing bid, headed by former NHL player and broadcaster Anson Carter on behalf of the Alpharetta Sports & Entertainment Group, is also under construction but is not as transparent about land or local commitments. Though no formal NHL expansion timeline has been released, Bettman affirmed that his office is actively engaging with parties interested in launching teams. 'We're getting expressions of interest. We've talked to a couple of groups,' Bettman confirmed Friday. 'There have been some civic leaders that have been in with people who are expressing an interest in owning a team and creating a facility.' Also read: Hockey fans demand '4 Nations' return as Gary Bettman rethinks NHL all-star plans ahead of Olympics For Atlanta, however, the ultimate decision again depends on execution. Ownership fortitude, financial health, a new world-class arena, and league-wide strategic alignment continue to be non-negotiable standards. But following two unsuccessful attempts, Bettman's willingness and Krause's readiness imply that the third time could be the charm for hockey in Atlanta.
Associated Press
09-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Utah Hockey Club's future trending in a positive direction after first NHL season in Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Reaching the NHL playoffs is a long shot for the Utah Hockey Club in its inaugural season in Salt Lake City. Beyond Year 1, though, things are trending upward for the franchise. Utah has plenty of draft picks over the next three years and has $21.5 million in projected cap space for the next season. Many key contributors are signed to long-term, team friendly deals. Starting goaltender Karel Vejmelka signed a five-year deal in March to stay. Fan support has also been consistently robust throughout Utah's first season with hockey-capacity sellouts of 11,131 unobstructed seats for all regular-season home games. 'Everyone sees where we are from a roster standpoint: the youth that we have, the future that's ahead of us and then the intrigue of this market,' Utah owner Ryan Smith said. 'Honestly, the way the community has rallied behind everything that we're doing, it's super powerful.' Smith faced a major challenge when he bought the Arizona Coyotes roughly a year ago and moved players and front office personnel to Salt Lake City with no previous hockey infrastructure in place. The Utah Olympic Oval from the 2002 Games, primarily a speedskating venue, had to be converted into a temporary practice facility and Delta Center, home of the NBA's Jazz, was primarily designed for basketball and not built for hockey. The quick fixes even extended to what to call the team. Utah Hockey Club was designated as a placeholder name for the franchise while fans voted on a permanent team name that will be rolled out ahead of the 2025-26 regular-season opener. Still, the season played out on the ice and behind the scenes how Smith hoped. 'It was pretty daunting a year ago ... walking into a room and then not knowing what to say to the guys besides: 'Trust us. It's going to be OK,'' Smith said. 'I think people do good with change in life. I think uncertainty is really hard for people, and that was probably one of the more uncertain moments.' Utah quickly won over many new fans with an energetic and physical brand of hockey. While making a late playoff push, Utah has scored 21 goals over its past five games while allowing only nine. Utah is not likely going to wrestle the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference from Minnesota. Still, the team's late-season form of play bodes well for its ability to be competitive beyond April in future seasons. 'That's what you want to raise, that's what you want to be as a team … a team who will never quit,' Utah coach Andre Tourigny said after a victory over Calgary on April 1. 'There's no quitting in that room. There's no quitting in those players.' Smith is quickly building up infrastructure that the team lacked when he purchased the team. Utah will open a new, 115,780 square-foot practice facility in the southern suburb of Sandy in September. It will house two NHL-sized ice sheets and serve as the team's official headquarters. Training, medical, and dining facilities, offices, and a locker room will also be part of the facility. Utah's practice facility will also be open for public use starting in January 2026. 'This is the place where we're going to inspire the next generation of kids in Utah to play the game of hockey,' Utah president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said. 'And this is where we're going to put down all the habits and the identity of this team for the future as we pursue a Stanley Cup for Utah.' Delta Center will be remodeled within the next three years to improve sightlines for hockey games and bring the arena up to NHL standards. It will also serve as the anchor of a new $1.8 billion sports and entertainment district in downtown Salt Lake City. 'This is the next step,' Smith said. 'There's a lot more. The arena remodel and everything else that's coming around there, it's all just part of a big puzzle that we got to go put together.' Smith is trying to grow hockey in Utah by funding the construction of up to 20 new community rinks. Through Smith Entertainment Group, he plans to donate up to $500,000 per rink to help build out the sport across the state. ___
Fox Sports
09-04-2025
- Business
- Fox Sports
Utah Hockey Club's future trending in a positive direction after first NHL season in Salt Lake City
Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Reaching the NHL playoffs is a long shot for the Utah Hockey Club in its inaugural season in Salt Lake City. Beyond Year 1, though, things are trending upward for the franchise. Utah has plenty of draft picks over the next three years and has $21.5 million in projected cap space for the next season. Many key contributors are signed to long-term, team friendly deals. Starting goaltender Karel Vejmelka signed a five-year deal in March to stay. Fan support has also been consistently robust throughout Utah's first season with hockey-capacity sellouts of 11,131 unobstructed seats for all regular-season home games. 'Everyone sees where we are from a roster standpoint: the youth that we have, the future that's ahead of us and then the intrigue of this market,' Utah owner Ryan Smith said. 'Honestly, the way the community has rallied behind everything that we're doing, it's super powerful.' Smith faced a major challenge when he bought the Arizona Coyotes roughly a year ago and moved players and front office personnel to Salt Lake City with no previous hockey infrastructure in place. The Utah Olympic Oval from the 2002 Games, primarily a speedskating venue, had to be converted into a temporary practice facility and Delta Center, home of the NBA's Jazz, was primarily designed for basketball and not built for hockey. The quick fixes even extended to what to call the team. Utah Hockey Club was designated as a placeholder name for the franchise while fans voted on a permanent team name that will be rolled out ahead of the 2025-26 regular-season opener. Still, the season played out on the ice and behind the scenes how Smith hoped. 'It was pretty daunting a year ago ... walking into a room and then not knowing what to say to the guys besides: 'Trust us. It's going to be OK,'' Smith said. 'I think people do good with change in life. I think uncertainty is really hard for people, and that was probably one of the more uncertain moments.' Utah quickly won over many new fans with an energetic and physical brand of hockey. While making a late playoff push, Utah has scored 21 goals over its past five games while allowing only nine. Utah is not likely going to wrestle the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference from Minnesota. Still, the team's late-season form of play bodes well for its ability to be competitive beyond April in future seasons. "That's what you want to raise, that's what you want to be as a team … a team who will never quit,' Utah coach Andre Tourigny said after a victory over Calgary on April 1. 'There's no quitting in that room. There's no quitting in those players.' Smith is quickly building up infrastructure that the team lacked when he purchased the team. Utah will open a new, 115,780 square-foot practice facility in the southern suburb of Sandy in September. It will house two NHL-sized ice sheets and serve as the team's official headquarters. Training, medical, and dining facilities, offices, and a locker room will also be part of the facility. Utah's practice facility will also be open for public use starting in January 2026. 'This is the place where we're going to inspire the next generation of kids in Utah to play the game of hockey,' Utah president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said. 'And this is where we're going to put down all the habits and the identity of this team for the future as we pursue a Stanley Cup for Utah.' Delta Center will be remodeled within the next three years to improve sightlines for hockey games and bring the arena up to NHL standards. It will also serve as the anchor of a new $1.8 billion sports and entertainment district in downtown Salt Lake City. 'This is the next step,' Smith said. 'There's a lot more. The arena remodel and everything else that's coming around there, it's all just part of a big puzzle that we got to go put together.' Smith is trying to grow hockey in Utah by funding the construction of up to 20 new community rinks. Through Smith Entertainment Group, he plans to donate up to $500,000 per rink to help build out the sport across the state. ___ AP NHL: recommended in this topic
