Council allows beer sales at a Junior Crusaders game

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The Hudson Hockey Association has been granted a license to sell beer at a Nov. 22 game of the Crusaders Junior League team.

The City Council approved the temporary license on a trial basis at its Oct. 20 meeting.

In a letter to city officials requesting the license, Greg Sarno, chair of the Hockey Association Arena Management Board, said beer sales at Crusaders games are needed to fund the teams’ operations.

Sarno said consumption of the beer would be limited to a designated area of Gornick Arena and that sales would stop after the second intermission.

Mayor Dean Knudson reported that Junior League players are 16 to 20 years old.

He said the Hockey Association would like to sell beer at the remaining Crusader games of the 2008-09 season, but the temporary beer license up for consideration covered only the Nov. 22 game.

Alderperson Scot O’Malley moved to approve the temporary license even though he said he “wasn’t crazy about” having an on-going beer license in Gornick Arena, which is part of the Hudson Sports & Civic Center at 1820 Hanley Road.

Alderperson Lee Wyland, who seconded O’Malley’s motion, agreed that a one-night experiment was the place to start with the Hockey Association’s request for ongoing beer sales at Crusaders games.

Alderperson Randy Morrissette II said there have been fights at youth hockey games that no beer was sold at. He said he wanted Hudson Police Chief Marty Jensen’s input on the request.

Morrissette added that allowing the Hockey Association to sell beer at games could open the city up to a similar request from the Hudson Soccer Association.

Alderperson Lori Bernard, too, said she wanted a further review of the issue before another beer license is granted to the Hockey Association.

The council, nevertheless, approved the license for the Nov. 22 game on a voice vote with no opposition.

Alderperson Alan Burchill recused himself from the discussion and the vote.

Tags: news, hudson, citycouncil, hockey, beer_sales