KENSINGTON – With an eye towards helping a local hockey club and bringing additional tourism dollars into the area, Kensington town council donated $5,000 to a hockey event slated for April.

Mike Gallant, representing the Kensington Wild was on hand at town council Monday night to receive the town’s $5,000 donation to host the 2015 Major Midget Atlantic Championships at the Community Gardens Arena from April 2-5.

“One of the things that council had approved last year before the new council was sworn in, as request was made on behalf of the Kensington Wild for the Town of Kensington to come on as a corporate sponsor for the Atlantics program that is taking place in April,” said Mayor Rowan Caseley. “This is good for the town. It’s good for the community. It’s an investment on the part of the town for economic development. There will be good benefit from this. It helps the Kensington Wild in their efforts. It’s going to be bringing in a lot of people into this community.”

Gallant said everything is falling in place for the championship.

“Our plans are well underway,” he said. “Everything is all set. We’ve got a great board of directors around us. Now we’re out getting our volunteers. We need 30 to 40 volunteers. That’s the stage we’re at now. I must say, when I go around to the rinks in in Saint John and Moncton a lot of the hockey people know where the community of Kensington is now.”

The championship will crown the top Major Midget team from the region. Teams will include Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, a provincial representative from PEI (Charlottetown Islanders) and the host team Kensington Wild. 

Both the Kensington Wild and Charlottetown Islanders compete in the six-team New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget League.

The winner of the Championship will be crowned the Atlantic representative and will compete at the 2015 Telus Cup National Midget Hockey Championships April 20-26 in Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec.

The Kensington Wild was successful in their bid attempt, selected by a selection committee comprised of members of Hockey P.E.I. Minor Council.

mcarson@journalpioneer.com