Troops, Bulldogs postponed
NORTH BAY, Ont. — The Ontario Hockey League playoff game between the North Bay Battalion and Brantford Bulldogs scheduled for Tuesday night has been postponed because of flooding in the area of Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens, the host club announced Tuesday.
Brantford has a 3-0 lead in games in the teams’ best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series after a 3-2 road victory in double overtime Sunday.
The fourth game has been rescheduled to 6 p.m. Wednesday. Game 5, if necessary, would be played at Brantford at 7 p.m. Thursday in keeping with the original schedule.
Only Gate 6, at the southwest corner of the arena, was considered accessible because of flooded thoroughfares.
“The current conditions present potential safety concerns, including limited access for emergency vehicles and challenges related to the safe entry and exit of those participating and attending the game in the event of an emergency,” the OHL said in a statement.
Widespread flooding resulted in the City of North Bay closing several streets, including Chippewa Street and Fisher Street, with the ground near saturation. Chippewa Creek, swollen from extended rainfall and snowmelt, has filled basements. Chippewa Street, where the arena is located, has undergone flooding.
“Water levels in Chippewa Creek have risen above the banks in some locations, and the storm sewer system is overwhelmed in certain areas, resulting in street flooding,” the City said in a release.
In an email to arena manager Melinda Fry, Gord Young, North Bay’s communications officer, said: “The City is recommending cancellation due to rising water levels and localized flooding restricting access to Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens. With thousands of vehicles relying on a single access route, significant congestion is expected, raising safety concerns and limiting the ability for emergency vehicles and evacuees to enter or exit the facility safely should an emergency occur.”
North Bay was under a yellow level rainfall warning issued by Environment Canada.
The forecast for Wednesday called for overnight rain with a 30 percent chance of drizzle in the morning, followed by a 60 percent chance of showers late in the evening.
