After years of trying to arrange an interlocking schedule in the senior hockey circuit, Hockey NL says it will finally become a reality this weekend.
The Southern Shore Breakers and Conception Bay Blues from the new East Coast Senior Hockey League will play two games each against the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts and Gander Flyers of the Central West Senior Hockey League.
Hockey NL senior chair Gary Gale believes the structure will build new rivalries.
“The fans are in for great hockey when the teams roll in this weekend,” he said in a news release.
“These interlocking games this season are really a precursor to the Herder as all teams will get a better idea as to the skill level.”
The East Coast Senior League is made up of the Blues, Breakers, St. John’s Capitals and the Northeast Eagles. The third team in the Central West League with the Cataracts and Flyers is the Clarenville Caribous. Each East Team will play three games in Central West for a total of 12 games this season.
East Coast League president Jack Casey is very excited about the first round this weekend.
“With both our leagues playing for the Herder in the spring, these games are very important in our preparations,” he said.
“We look forward to the remainder of the games this season and the potential for expanding the interlocking games in future seasons bringing the Central West teams to our rinks.”
Likewise, Central West Senior Hockey League president Neil Norcott is also eager for the first-ever interlocking games.
“We anticipate that fans will be exposed to some exciting hockey over the weekend and look forward to the remaining interlocking games taking place over the course of the season,” he said.
A full interlocking schedule can be found on the Central West Senior Hockey League’s website.
