Penticton doesn’t want the world’s largest hockey stick back

The call has gone out to find a new home for the world’s largest hockey stick that was built in Penticton almost 40 years ago.

The 62.48 metre long, 28.12 tonne stick was created by Structurlam Products Ltd. (now owned by Mercer Mass Timber) in 1985 and trucked in two pieces on one trailer to Expo ’86 in Vancouver.

In 1987, it was barged over to Duncan, on Vancouver Island, where it has graced the Cowichan Community Centre ever since.

READ MORE: The world's largest hockey stick was made in Penticton

But, it’s now a safety hazard.

Last week, the Cowichan Valley Regional District issued a news release saying it’s looking for someone to take it away.

“The World’s Largest Hockey Stick (WLHS) has reached the end of its serviceable life,” the news release says. “Ongoing maintenance and extensive repairs in the early 2000’s have extended its life, but the glulam Douglas-fir structure of the stick and puck have decayed to point that the structure must now be replaced or removed in order to ensure public safety.”

A public survey conducted last summer found local residents didn’t think it was important to keep the stick, that it “does not provide significant importance to the region” and they didn’t want to replace it.

As for Penticton where the giant hockey stick was built, the city doesn't want it back.

“I checked into it and the city has no plans to bring the stick to town,” Shane Mills, the City of Penticton’s senior communications advisor, told iNFOnews.ca in an email.

The Cowichan Regional District is asking for formal expressions of interest from any group or individual interested in acquiring the stick.

“We are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to have the World’s Largest Hockey Stick as part of the Cowichan Community Centre for so many years,” Tom Duncan, acting chair of the Cowichan Core Recreation Commission, said in the release. “It’s been a community icon and many will be sad to see it go. However, we are really excited to see what proposals come forward on possible future uses for the World’s Largest Hockey Stick.”

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