Outlaws are to keep senior hockey in Erin this winter
ERIN – There’ll be senior hockey in Erin this winter after all.
The Erin Outlaws are one of two expansion teams named for the inaugural season of the Ontario Elite Hockey League, a senior AA league operating under the Ontario Hockey Association banner.
The Erin Blitz played their inaugural season as an expansion team in the Western Ontario Super Hockey League last winter, but moved to Orangeville immediately after the conclusion of their season. They’ll play this winter as the Orangeville Blitz at Orangeville’s Alder Street Arena.
The OEHL’s first season is to include the Outlaws, Minto 81s, Creemore Coyotes, Durham Thundercats, Lucknow Lancers, Milverton 4 Wheel Drives, Ripley Wolves, Saugeen Shores Winterhawks, Seaforth Centenaires, Shelburne Muskies, Tavistock Royals and Georgian Bay Applekings that will play out of Thornbury.
All but the two expansion teams, Erin and Georgian Bay, played in the Western Ontario Athletic Association’s senior AA league last winter.
With a population of 11,439, Erin will be the second-largest centre in the league behind Saugeen Shores (16,268). The other centres in order of population are Shelburne (8,989), Thornbury (3,474), Tavistock (3,171), Seaforth (2,673), Minto (2,599), Durham (2,500), Milverton (1,797), Creemore (1,194), Lucknow (1.154) and Ripley (440).
The Outlaws are to play their home games at the Centre 2000 arena.
The league’s schedule hasn’t been released, but the regular season is to begin Oct. 6 and Erin’s home opener is slated for Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
- Guelph Sports Journal