After over a year away from fans, the Revelstoke Grizzlies are finally welcoming spectators back into the Revelstoke Forum on Sept. 7.
There is a lot of work to do before the puck drops. According to Ryan Parent, the Revelstoke Grizzlies general manager, this is a year of “bouncing back.”
“I hope we’re creating a bit of a buzz around it, but we’re needing volunteers. We’re needing people to help, and in a lot of different areas,” says Parent.
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Reaching out for new volunteers
On June 2, the Revelstoke Grizzlies Junior Hockey Society is hosting an open house to help recruit those volunteers, and establish an advisory/operations committee. Additionally, the club will explain policies given by B.C. Hockey and Hockey Canada about how the season will operate this year.
Although Parent says a few people have reached out so far, he explains that it takes approximately 30 volunteers to make each game day run smoothly.
“Running a junior team is a large operation. It’s not done with just a couple of people,” explains Parent.
In addition to game day volunteers, host families, also known as billet families, are crucial for each season. This past season has been difficult for the billeting department, according to Parent.
Looking forward to the next season
While they played a few games this last year, the Revelstoke Grizzlies have mostly practiced on their own this season. However, training ceased in February when COVID-19 cases spiked in the province.
Many teams in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) are in the same position, facing shortages in the volunteer and sponsorship departments. However, Parent is confident that the 2020/2021 season will be memorable.
“We think we did the right thing last year and we’re moving forward,” he says. “I think everybody’s really excited about it.”
To get involved with the Revelstoke Grizzlies this season, attend their virtual open house on June 2 at 7:30 p.m. Login information can be found on the team’s official Twitter and Instagram accounts.
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