It was only a matter of time, and perhaps the worst kept yet most talked about secret in Abitibi. But once Resolute Forest Products announced that it was closing its paper mill in Iroquois Falls, everyone knew the Eskimos would be losing there larges corporate sponsor, and the employer that allowed for many people to be able to afford to purchase tickets.
Moving from a market of 4,500 people to a market of 45,000, just makes a lot of good business sense. Its not as though the Eskimos are any stranger to Timmins either. Playing a handful of games there over the years, and actually having its NOJHL origins in Timmins.
In order to accommodate the NOJHL franchise move, improvements will be made to McIntyre Arena. The improvements scheduled are a dedicated dressing room for players, shower facilities, dedicated team office space0, a ticket booth, the removal of the portable portion of the gondola constructed for the U-17 tournament to help restore sight lines, relocation of the shot clock, high-speed Internet access, removal of the spectator netting from both sides of the arena, maintaining snow removal from the back parking lot and reinstallation of heating in the main entrance of the arena.
Speaking to the local press team President Scott Marshall said the following:
“From a player perspective, it will be a better experience,” he said. “For our post-secondary students to go to practices now is like a four-and-a-half hour ordeal. We will be able to practise at times that are better for their education. The plan is to have a daily practice from 3 to 4:30 p.m. To come to the Jus Jordan Arena for a 7 p.m. practice, they get into the team van at 5:30 p.m., have their practice and then at 8:30 p.m. having another hour drive home after their shower back to Timmins.
“It will result in a better quality of life for our post-secondary students, for sure, and it will be better from a team perspective in that it will be much easier for the team to do things together, whether it is participating in a community event or just going to the show.”
It is expected that a name the team contest will be announced at the conclusion of the current NOJHL season.
