The completion of Spectra Place brings a myriad of opportunities to the Energy City, ranging from big-name concerts to a great venue to watch a hockey game.
The pre-game ceremony for the Bruins' season opener on Saturday was a sign of things to come.
It was an elaborate show to match all the work that this community has put into making this building reality.
It had the spectacular pyrotechnics to welcome the players to the ice, but it also had a focus on tradition, with original Bruins' coach Gary McKechney and manager Ray Frehlick and their wives present.
One can only imagine the goosebumps Michael Hengen had as he accepted the torch from McKechney at centre ice, marking the transition from old Bruins to new Bruins, old arena to new arena and, they hope, old banners to new banners.
The magnitude of it all probably kicked in during the team's promotional video for the season, shown on the new scoreboard's video screens. The production combined facts about the construction of Spectra Place with highlights from last season.
Then the screens flashed the message "This is our house" and the roar was deafening as the years of sweat and the dreams and ambitions of so many were captured in one emotional, exuberant moment.
To gaze at the roughly 2,000 faces dotting the building that night was to stand in awe of how one determined community could create a place so magical.
This was a celebration done right, from the entertainment in the lobby to the glitzy player introductions.
That the Bruins did their part by doubling up on the Melville Millionaires made the party that much better.
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Speaking of the Bruins, the regular season has begun and head coach and GM Keith Cassidy still has some very tough decisions ahead of him.
The return of winger Austin Daae from the Saskatoon Blades gives the Bruins a group of 15 forwards, including nine veterans and six highly touted 18-year-olds.
Speedy winger Ben Johnstone of Carlyle sat out Saturday's opener and Cassidy acknowledged that the rookie deserved to play as much as anyone else, but fell victim to the numbers game.
And that was with 20-year-old centre Derek Whitehill banged up, and before Daae was cut by the Blades.
Even after the lineup is set, Cassidy will have to figure out how to dole out the ice time to a deep and balanced group.
He mostly rolled four lines in the opener, on a night when the fourth unit listed on the lineup sheet included skilled rookies Matt Brykaliuk, Jesse Bernard and Tanner Froese.
It's a good problem to have, but a difficult one to resolve while keeping everyone happy.
That's not even to mention the looming situation in goal, where Shea Cooper should be back from injury within a week.
Derek Tendler acquitted himself well on Saturday behind a blueline with three players making their SJHL debuts, but Cooper will surely get a shot as well before any decision is made.
Josh Lewis can be reached by phone at 634-2654, by e-mail at [email protected], on Twitter at twitter.com/joshlewis306 or on his Bruins blog at bruinbanter.blogspot.org. Don't bring up the Riders or he might mention how they almost lost to his pitiful Argos.
