When Tom Bachynski and a group of community members set out to build the South Cariboo Recreation Centre in 2000, they knew junior B hockey could thrive in 100 Mile House.
Fourteen years later, the 100 Mile House Wranglers are in the throes of their second season and the dream has come to fruition.
“The hockey has been unbelievable,” said Bachynski, the team’s president, before the Wranglers faced off against the Kamloops Storm in 100 Mile House on Friday, Oct. 3.
“The first year was absolutely magical.”
100 Mile House has embraced the Wranglers with open arms. Bachynski described the community as one starved for events and, since coming to town, the Wranglers have been not just a draw, but THE draw. Some nights, there isn’t a ticket to be had in the 1,700-person town.
The Wranglers’ home barn has a capacity of 810 — 328 seats, more than 300 bench spots and standing room. The team has 314 season ticket holders, filling all but 14 of the venues seats.
Come November, when the community is finished hunting and fishing and the season is in full swing, the team will average more than 650 fans.
“It has been a real community glue for us, I think,” Bachynski said.
“The kids, to see them have role models that are local . . . you can actually see them trying to aspire to a higher level,” said Margaret Ramsay, a Grade 5 and 6 teacher in attendance on Friday.
“Half my class is here. They look forward to the weekend. They’re talking about the players and who they’re watching.”
Long-term, the hope is the Wranglers will grow minor hockey in the community. It has already motivated the local association to ensure there is always a rep team in the both bantam and midget levels, in order to ensure the Wranglers have players to draw from, if needed.
Bachynski grew up in Nelson, where playing for the junior B Leafs was the goal for most of the community’s high-end hockey players.
One day soon, he hopes kids grow up dreaming of playing for the Wranglers.
“It was a rite of passage,” he said.
“It might be 10 years from now but I think we’ll see that as time goes on.”
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