Big time hockey returned to Brantford for the first time in almost 40 years and local fans like Dave Jensen couldn’t be happier.
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“I’m super excited,” Jensen, who along with his son Hunter, was first in line waiting for the doors to hope for the Brantford Bulldogs home opener at the newly renovated Civic Center on Saturday. “We got here at 4 p.m.
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“We wanted to get here in time for the party and we wanted to make sure we got good seats.”
“This is great, it’s a chance to enjoy big time hockey with my son and I’m really looking forward to the season.”
Jensen wasn’t alone.
Hundreds of people descended on the civic center on Saturday night to enjoy a pre-game party and thousands filled the seats to witness local history. The last time a Major Junior A game was played in the Civic Center was in 1984 and team was the Brantford Alexanders.
For Jay and Becky Lesky, the home opener was a family affair as they attended the pre-game party with their children Jett, 6, and Jaxson, 10.
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“This is something that Brantford really needs,” Lesky said. “This is something that can really bring the community together.
“This is Canada, this is Brantford and hockey brings everyone together.”
Lesky, a season ticket holder, was looking forward to the game but also the civic center.
“I wasn’t able to wait for the season ticket night reception on Wednesday but I’ve read about the renovations and I watched the video and from what I’ve seen so far, it looks great,” Lesky said. “I remember playing here when I was a kid and well, it was pretty bad.”
Nic Murray of Brantford and his son Carson have seen the before and after version of the civic center and gave the renovated version a huge thumbs up.
“It was a dump,” Murray said of the civic center before the renovations. “Now, it’s looking great.
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“The lighting is way better that’s for sure and it looks a lot like The Aud, where the Kitchener Rangers play.”
Murray is also a Kitchener Rangers season ticket holder and, like Lesky, was eagerly anticipating the sale of Bulldogs season tickets when he heard the Bulldogs were coming to Brantford.
“I put my deposit in that night,” Murray said. “I really like OHL hockey and I’m really looking forward to enjoying the games with my son and now it’s only a 10-minute drive home after the game.”
Mike Spicer, a long-time local fan, was thrilled to be in the civic center to see the Bulldogs.
“It’s phenomenal,” Spicer said. “It’s so nice to see Brantford getting a Junior A team again. “This is exactly what Brantford needs.”
Team owner Michael Andlauer said the reception from the city has been incredible and he thanked Mayor Kevin Davis, city council and others including Vicano Construction Ltd., for their efforts.
“Everyone worked really hard to make sure tonight happened,” Andlauer said. “I’m excited.
“The facility looks great, there’s a lot of buzz and it’s wonderful too see it all come together.”
The Brantford Bulldogs have become a supporter of Brant Food For Thought through the Bulldogs foundation.
“To me, it’s about on and off the ice,” Andlauer said. “We want these young men to be professionals on and off the ice.
“They’re representing this city and the foundation has been around for 10 years now in Hamilton and now we’re in Brantford as well.”
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