ANTIGONISH: It looks like an annual hockey tradition at a local university is back on.
On February 19, the StFX Student Union announced the annual BurMac Cup hockey game is set to return to the Keating Millennium Centre on March 25. This will mark the first time the annual hockey game will happen on campus since 2002.
“We all recognize the importance of BurMac – to the students, to alumni and within the community – and we knew that changes to the event had to occur for BurMac to go forward,” stated Taylor Chase, StFX Students’ Union president and chair of the BurMac working group, on the student union Web site.
“I am pleased that we were able to develop an approach that promotes a positive atmosphere and permits the game to proceed.”
Bob Hale, head of student services and co-chair of the BurMac committee, was also quoted on the Web site, noting he was impressed with “the recognition and commitment to accountability made by the students. They understand that the success of this event is in their hands.”
The game comes with several conditions, such as making the game non-contact, and ensuring first year students get priority for tickets.
On March 29, Antigonish Town and County Councils jointly announced the Antigonish Arena will not host the BurMac hockey game in 2017. The decision came after safety and damage concerns arose from the 2016 edition of the annual on-ice matchup of Burke and MacIsaac Houses.
The Antigonish Arena hosted the event for years until 2002, following the completion of the Keating Millennium Centre. After fans damaged the new facility, administration barred BurMac from taking place on campus and the event returned to the Antigonish Arena in 2003.
Following a meeting of council for the Municipality of the County of Antigonish last week, Warden Russell Boucher said he received word of the university’s decision to host the event.
“It is the birthplace of BurMac over there at the university,” said Boucher. “It’s nice to see that they’re initiating the restart of it at the arena on campus.”