By Corey Fischer

Shine Put On Civic Arena For Big Night

Jan 5, 2018 | 4:15 PM

The Civic Arena appears to be ready for its final big event.

The Vernon Vipers will host the Prince George Spruce Kings Saturday night in the final junior game at the 80 year old facility that is due for demolition.

Vernon’s Arenas Manager Stan Mitchell says staff have been getting the building ready, including giving it a good cleaning.

“We’re just polishing some windows and stuff that haven’t been polished in a while. Just getting it ready, doing a thorough cleaning of the stands,” Mitchell tells Beach Radio News.

Mitchell says the building is getting a bit of technology upgrade with an high speed internet connection added, along with wireless mics for the PA system.

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Mitchell says they can’t make everything perfect, like the ice.

“The ice will be the ice. It will be smooth but wavy. There ice there is not exactly flat because the floor isn’t exactly flat (due to heaves in the concrete). ”

Vipers assistant coach Kevin Kraus — who played a few games in the “old barn” himself — says the team is looking forward to it.

“I think it’s pretty exciting. Kind of a special moment for the City of Vernon, to kind of pay their respects to this building. I was fortunate enough to play two games here in the Doyle Cup in 2009, and definitely have some fond memories in this building,” says Kraus.

It will be the first Vipers game at the facility since a scheduling conflict at Kal Tire Place forced them to play part of the Doyle Cup at the Civic in 2009.

Vernon resident Ron Howard — who attended the first event at the rink when he was 7 — will also be there Saturday night.

“I took a lot of interest in it being built because we lived about two blocks from the arena, and my dad used to take me over to watch the guys building it, so he promised me that when they had the first game there, he would take me. We saw Spokane and Vancouver,” Howard told CBC Radio.

The 2,200 tickets for the game sold-out weeks ago.

Seating is all general admission, so season ticket holders will be allowed in at 4 pm to get their seats, with everyone else allowed in at 5 for the 6 pm game.

by Corey Fischer