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Hockey teams denied grant-in-aid

Penticton city council turned down a request from South Okanagan Minor Hockey for help with travel costs
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Two minor hockey teams aren’t getting any help from the City of Penticton as they fight to get to B.C. provincial championships coming up in Dawson Creek and Terrace.

Both the peewee rep and midget rep teams from South Okanagan Minor Hockey had successful seasons. The peewees won a berth in their playoffs and, at the time of the request, the midgets were in a playoff battle with Kelowna.

Osoyoos and Oliver both put up $500 grants, but Coun. Andre Martin pointed out the grant request is coming after council just finished considering grants for the year, there is only one Penticton player on the two teams.

“The bulk of the players are from outside Penticton, so I am not sure why we would support this,” said Martin, whose concerns were echoed by Coun. Helena Konanz.

Konanz said she supported minor hockey and all sports, but was concerned about council establishing a precedent of the city granting funds to all teams that make it to their provincial championships.

“I’d like to say congratulations to them, but i just can’t see giving a grant for those teams,” said Konanz.