The President of Petrolia Minor Hockey is hopeful but cautious about a move that would bring a Junior C team to town.
Nick Salaris says he's behind the movie and is excited about the potential it brings for his players, having a junior team at home, but is concerned about the impact it could have on ice time.
The Petrolia Squires Sr. AA team already play their home games at the Greenwood Recreation Centre.
Pending OHA approval, the Alvinston Flyers are set to play in Petrolia beginning next season.
The move would bring a junior hockey team to town for the first time since the junior B Jets moved to Lambton Shores following the 2007-2008 season.
Salaris says finding ice for all the arena's users could be a challenge.
"It can be done but back then (when the Jets played) we didn't have as many teams," Salaris says. "I'm not sure about the other user's numbers, there's private users, there's figure skating. I'm not sure if their numbers are the same but our numbers have gone up."
Salaris says when the Jets were playing out of Petrolia they had no girls teams in minor hockey, they now have nine. In total, they have 26 teams and about 400 players signed up.
He says that minor hockey is supporting the move, his only concern is what impact it will have on ice time availability.
The OHA will vote on the move during a meeting in April.
The Flyers host Essex Friday night in what could be their final game in Alvinston. They face elimination in their first round series against the front running 73's, trailing the best-of-seven series 3-0.
