THUNDER BAY – An issue with the refrigeration system at the aging Fort William Gardens has forced the Lakehead Thunderwolves to cancel their opening two games of the preseason.
The city on Thursday issued a late afternoon release indicating the rink will not open on Sept. 20 as planned, but instead a week later, on Sept. 27.
The Wolves were scheduled to host the Laurentian Voyageurs for a pair of games next Friday and Saturday.
The refrigeration system has been undergoing required capital renewal work this summer,” general manager of community services Kelly Robertson said in the release.
“This is a complicated job that requires a specialized engineering design, made-to-order components, and specialized contractors. Progress on the job was negatively affected when a problem was discovered yesterday evening.”
City staff are in the process of notifying users the ice won’t be ready on time.
“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” Robertson said.
Lakehead athletics director Tom Warden said it's unfortunate, but there was no way around the closure.
"Our apologies to the community, our season-ticket holders and our corporate sponsors for having to delay the start of our season. We appreciate your support and understanding regarding this unfortunate situation with our venue," Warden said in a release issued by the team.
The city said ice bookings beyond Sept. 27 are not expected to be impacted. The city is discussing alternatives with affected users.
Lakehead will host Guelph in pre-season play on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28 at the Gardens.
