For a club that had a pre-season practice rink smaller than many back yards, the Arnprior Packers are off to a perfect start, winning their season opener in Winchester Friday night, 5-2 over the host Hawks.
Packers President Dustin Dorken knew last Friday the home opener slated for the 26th was a pipe dream, as the infrastructure underscoring the Glenn Arthur rink won’t be ready for what was to have been a match against 2024 Champs the Ottawa Junior Canadians.
Dorken is looking forward to a great year, after the team were prepared to go stand-pat with much of their lineup before being left in the lurch last season.
Never mind the challenges the Packers have already faced preparing for 2025-26!
It’s not like the club didn’t know the Nick Smith Centre renos were coming, it’s just there were no alternative ice surfaces available.
Tryouts were limited, so the club relied heavily on scouting reports even before last year’s season closed.
Dorken says the prospective team members squeezed in some drills at management’s Stittsville head office.
Packers did win three of four exhibition games they played.
The Packer Club President says there’s a strong local contingent in green jerseys this year.
Dorken says there are other players with Valley accents as well.
The Club President says the league will continue to nurture an historic rivalry now that the Junior B Timberwolves have returned to Renfrew’s myFM Centre.
Even Tom Sidney and Lisa McGee are into the club rivalry.
(Although Sidney would be the more visibly embarrassed donning the Green Shirt).
So what to expect for 2025-2026? We give the Arnprior Team President the final word.
By Rick Stow
