Joe Hordyski is the mayor of La Ronge. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

town council

La Ronge mayor reacts to Ice Wolves relocation

Feb 27, 2025 | 12:00 PM

“We wish them all the best.”

Those are the words of La Ronge Mayor Joe Hordyski when asked for his reaction about the Ice Wolves relocating from the Mel Hegland Uniplex to the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre (JRMCC) next season.

“I know we haven’t been able to promise a new facility based on funding, so there was always that option that they couldn’t wait forever,” he said.

“I look at it as we had 26 seasons here with the Ice Wolves. They were looking for a better venue to operate out of and the band was able to comply.”

While it didn’t come as a complete surprise to him, Hordyski noted that council was only made aware of the Ice Wolves’ decision to relocate on Wednesday afternoon. Prior to that in April 2024, the team’s board sent a letter to the town council advising them that the Uniplex no longer meets their needs to provide fans and players with the best quality entertainment and skill development possible.

junior hockey

SJHL's La Ronge Ice Wolves relocating to nearby First Nation next season

Feb 27, 2025

Snow clearing

Snow clearing efforts continue in Melfort as warmer weather arrives

Feb 26, 2025

Playoff Hockey

Trojans set for first-round matchup with defending champion Blazers

Feb 25, 2025

In July 2023, the Town of La Ronge and Ice Wolves inked a multi-year funding agreement stipulating a base rate of $15,567 plus GST (2023/2024 season) for the team, in addition to $650 per game after March 31 during the playoff season with an annual increase of 2.5 per cent.

Hordyski noted there won’t actually be much lost revenue to the facility considering the town was subsidizing the Ice Wolves about $30,000 per year.

“We’ll certainly look at the operations and see what we can do to refocus our program delivery to accommodate the community and utilize the space that is available to us now,” he said.

“I’m hoping the fans and the businesses will continue the same support they have given us over the last 26 years. The team could have left the community when we didn’t have the facility in place. I know Warman was plotting along looking for potentials to bring into their community and now they have the Notre Dame Hounds.”

The Mel Hegland Uniplex was built in 1976 and has a seating capacity of approximately 1,000 people. The JRMCC was built in 2005 and has a seating capacity of 304 plus standing room.

That may become an issue for the Ice Wolves as the team has a 10-year attendance average of 451, according to a 2022 report from RC Strategies. The Ice Wolves 2024-2025 home opener attracted 691 fans, while their most recent game on Feb. 15 brought in 401.

Currently, there are no formal plans in place to replace the aging Uniplex. In 2022, it was determined a new facility would cost $22 million without curling facilities or additional space such as a multi-purpose hall.

–

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com