Town of Wasaga Beach Scores Junior A Hockey Team

Inaugural Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League game scheduled for February 12th to celebrate: Bradford Bulls vs. the Meaford Knights

Wasaga Beach – The Town of Wasaga Beach is thrilled to announce that it is now home to a Greater Metro Hockey League (GMHL) Junior A hockey team.

Mayor Brian Smith made the announcement today on centre ice at the Town’s new twin-pad, NHL-size Wasaga Stars Arena.

“We are excited to announce that the Town of Wasaga Beach is now the proud home of a yet-to-be-named Junior A hockey team. This team will be playing their home games out of the new Wasaga Stars Arena, right here at 544 River Road West in Wasaga Beach,” said Mayor Smith. "There's amazing passion for hockey in the Wasaga Beach community. Our residents have wanted a local team to identify with for a long time, and Council made that a priority. Today, our passion and persistence has paid off."

“Our new Junior A hockey team will provide opportunities for our community’s young players to develop their skills close to home, and it will help bring our community closer together as we watch, support and celebrate their hard work and success,” concluded Mayor Smith.

The yet-to-be-named Wasaga Beach GMHL Junior A hockey team was awarded to Brandon Billie, who is also the owner of the GMHL Bradford Bulls. He will be bringing in a coaching staff behind the bench with years of playing experience at the Pro and Junior levels.

“We're excited to be here, and look forward to building a great team that the community can call their own,”” said team owner, Brandon Billie.

Inaugural GMHL game: February 12 at 7pm
To celebrate, the team’s owner in partnership with the Town of Wasaga Beach will host the Towns first GMHL hockey game at the new Wasaga Stars Arena on February 12 at 7pm, as part of the Town’s Breaking the Ice Festival. This game will pit the Bradford Bulls against the Meaford Knights.  Tickets are $10 and will be sold at the door. 

Here’s what happens next:

• On February 12, 2024 the Town will launch a contest to help name Wasaga Beach’s new GMHL Junior A team. Stay tuned for details!
• In spring 2024, a special prospects tournament will be organized where the coaching staff and general manager will be able to identify local players ready to take the jump to junior 'A' hockey when the team officially begins playing games next September.

Background
The Town of Wasaga Beach aims to be a place where people come to create memories that will last a lifetime. The twin-pad arena and library project – together with other tourism and sport-related projects, including recruiting a Junior A hockey team to Wasaga Beach – supports this vision and Council’s priorities: to create opportunities to diversify the economy, create jobs and build a complete community. It’s part of the Town’s plan to become a leader in sustainability, creativity, innovation and fun – a place with thriving businesses and safe, inclusive and complete neighbourhoods where we celebrate our rich history, diversity of cultures and natural beauty, including the Nottawasaga River, Georgian Bay and the longest freshwater beach in the world.

Media calls:
Contact: Sandra Watts, Director of Strategic Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs, sandra.watts@wasagabeach.com
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