The Victoria Grizzlies are gearing up for the season and will be playing their annual exhibition game in Sooke against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Sept 3.
The event is hosted by Sooke Rotary Club, with proceeds going to local youth programs.
Victoria Grizzlies coach and general manager Craig Didmon said the B.C. Hockey League team is looking forward to coming to play in Sooke.
“Sooke is a great hockey community, it’s close by, and certainly we get a lot of fans from Sooke come out to watch our games so we always want to find time for a game out there,” Didmon said.
Didmon said the team is set to be fairly strong this year due to having 12 returning veterans on the team. He added that the game will be a good chance to showcase what this season’s starting roster will look like.
John Topolniski, past president of the Sooke Rotary Club and this year’s organizer of the game, said the event is a great, and affordable way for families to spend an afternoon.
“It also advertises the team (Grizzlies) to the Sooke community so it’s a win win for everyone,” said Topolniski.
Topolniski said hosting the game each year is a good way to fundraise, as the Grizzlies will be playing for free and approximately 15 Rotarian volunteers will be working the game covering the concession and front gate.
“The players have had great support all throughout their careers to get to where they are, so we like to give back every chance we get,” said Didmon.
The puck drops at 2 p.m. at SEAPARC arena. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12, and children under two are free and are available at SEAPARC and Shoppers Drug Mart.