Mayors Blake and Hamdon add a ‘Mayors Challenge’ to heighten Northern Classic fever in their communities
The Northern Classic, Canada’s first outdoor junior hockey game will take place on November 26, in Fort McMurray, Alberta, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo announced today.
The game will see home team, the Fort McMurray Oil Barons face off against long-time rivals the Drayton Valley Thunder.
To add another level of excitement and fun to this history-making event, Mayor Melissa Blake offered a challenge to Mayor Moe Hamdon of Drayton Valley; that the Mayor of the losing team will have to personally attend the winning team’s next hockey game on home ice, and perform the puck drop while wearing the winning team’s jersey.
“I am very pleased that Mayor Hamdon has accepted our bet,” said Mayor Blake. “And I think he should know that I am so confident our Oil Barons will win, I have already booked a room for him in Fort McMurray to attend the Thunder’s next game with us!”
Mayor Hamdon did not back down to the challenge. “This is almost too easy. The Thunder always come through when it really matters, so I’m sure they will come home with the win,” said Mayor Hamdon. “I hope Mayor Blake looks good in green and silver, because I think she’s going to be wearing a new Thunder jersey when the game is over.”
In addition to being the first junior hockey game of its kind, the Northern Classic will also set an attendance record for the Alberta Junior Hockey League. A total of 5,000 tickets were sold out for the event in only 54 minutes. The game is set to take place on a regulation size ice surface which has been built especially for the occasion.
“Through our big dreams, big opportunities, and most of all, our collective Big Spirit, our region has the unique ability to turn the most ambitious goals into realities. This is the type of event that makes me so proud to call this community my home,” said Mayor Blake.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and the event features a variety of entertainment including a performance from Canadian band, The Trews. For more information and event details, please visit www.northernclassic.ca .