Hockeysaurs vacate the Padre for mysterious competition

By Jon Roe

Four of the five remaining University of Calgary Dinos men’s hockey team’s home games have been moved from the Father David Bauer Arena to the Max Bell Centre.

“We found about it through the City,” said Dinos assistant sports information director Ben Matchett. “As far as I know, it’s an international figure skating competition, that’s all I know.”

Both the Father David Bauer Arena and the Max Bell Centre are owned and operated through the City of Calgary.

“With rinks, typically you can’t book the coming year until January,” said Matchett. “Through our connections and our established relationship with the city we’re able to book in advance.”

The games affected are the contests Jan. 26-27 against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, and Feb. 16-17 against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. The game Sat., Feb. 10 against the University of Alberta Golden Bears will still be played at Father David Bauer. All games start at 7 p.m.

The Max Bell Centre holds 2,121 spectators, while the Father David Bauer holds 1,750. Through nine home games this season, the Dinos averaged 329 spectators per game, including a season high of 507 on Oct. 21, 2006 against the Pronghorns.

The Dinos sit fifth out of seven teams in attendance, with the nationally second-ranked Bears leading the way with an average of 830 Deadmontonians per game.