The CEO of St. John’s Sports and Entertainment (SJSE) believes the Mary Brown’s Centre could see the return of pro-hockey, but it won’t be next season.
Brent Meade says the board is looking at the possibility of more minor or major junior hockey to help fill some of the 36 nights left vacant by the loss of the Newfoundland Growlers.
Meade, meanwhile, remains optimistic about the possibility of pro hockey returning to St. John’s. He notes there is a solid fan base in the metro region that is hungry for it, but he says what that might look like remains to be seen.
“I think there is still the opportunity, although I know there is commentary otherwise on that,” says Meade. “But based on what I’ve seen with the Growlers this year, and the historical success here, I believe pro hockey can potentially return.”
Meade says SJSE is also exploring junior hockey opportunities similar to those seen in Halifax and Moncton.
“If you look at markets of our similar size across this country, junior hockey thrives,” he said, noting he recently spoke with reps of the Halifax Mooseheads and Cape Breton Eagles, during a conference in Halifax, about their success in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The city has iced a team in the QMJHL before.
The St. John’s Fog Devils played in the Q from 2005 to 2008.