Herder venue decision expected next week

A decision as to where the Herder finals will be played this spring is expected to be made by next week..

Representatives from all five teams in the senior hockey league along with Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador (HNL) senior council representatives and HNL president Jack Lee were in Gander on Thursday for a meeting.

The main topic up for discussion was where the Herder finals will be played. Earlier this month HNL announced that Mile One in St. John's and the Pepsi Centre in Corner Brook were to be the two venues for the Herder Memorial finals.

One team in particular that took exception to the decision was the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts.

They were adamant that should they make it to this year's finals they should be able to play their home games at their home rink.

The other teams in the league the Mount Pearl Blades, Conception Bay North CeeBee Stars, Clarenville Caribous and Corner Brook Royals have all been quiet on the decision.

Senior hockey league president Neil Norcott says while the meeting Thursday night was productive no decision was made at the meeting.

All parties involved will speak again next Thursday on a conference call in the hopes of having the issue resolved.

"We had a very productive meeting. There was a lot of discussion on the Herder venue. There was a decision made that we would work over the coming week and to come to some resolution and answer some of the questions that were tossed around the table last night, says Norcott. "This time next week there will be a decision made as to what will happen to the Herder venues.

"There is an intention to work towards a resolution that all parties involved are satisfied with and hopefully a decision will be made this time next week," he says

The core of the details was ironed out last night. Some follow up needs to be addressed over the next few days, noted Norcott.

Clarenville Caribous media liaison Todd Brett was at last night's meeting in Gander and is looking forward to next week's conference call.

"It was a very productive meeting and we were pleased with the outcome. There will be a decision made next Thursday by HNL," says Brett. It will be a conference and we're looking for a positive outcome from that."