Broncos Welcome Outgoing Commissioner Robison to InnovationPlex
The Swift Current Broncos were honoured to welcome outgoing Western Hockey League Commissioner Ron Robison to the InnovationPlex on Friday night for their game against the Saskatoon Blades.
Robison is currently in his 24th and final season at his post and is making his rounds to all the markets of the league for one last time as the Commissioner.
“It’s really an opportunity for me to say thank you to so many people that have contributed so much to these teams over the years,” Robison told Mat Barrett in an interview on the broadcast on Friday. “And all of the people that have worked so hard. Whether it’s the Board Members of the Swift Current Broncos who I met with earlier today, or our education advisors, our liaison officers, our minor officials, all the people that go together to make it work.”
With 22 teams in the WHL, and numerous cities with various populations and different challenges along the way, he says each team has their own special connection to the community, including in Swift Current.
“I just look at the importance that this team plays in this community,” Robison said. “And the adversity this franchise has faced over the years, and to be able to deal with all that and yet come out and be such an important part of what people view Swift Current all about, it’s all about the Broncos and how do we support this team. It’s a great success story and a tribute to the people that have been behind this organization for years.”
Robison also met with local media prior to the game on Friday (Mat Barrett)
Robison says he has fond memories of being in Swift Current, namely during the 2018 WHL Championship run where he says he was able to sit in the stands with the fans, something that he doesn’t do very often but something Robison said was quite special.
As for his 24 years with the WHL, there have been a number of major events, and milestones for the league, but Robison said he’s very proud of how far they’ve come with the WHL Scholarship program.
“Every player that comes to the Western Hockey League gets a scholarship,” he said. “And many of those players move on and take full advantage of that, the majority of course do and many get the opportunity to play Canadian University Hockey.”
Robison said he hopes that continues to build and be a major piece of the WHL’s identity. He also said continuing to grow within the United States and continuing to supplement the Western Canadian players with U.S players as well, while still continuing to recruit the elite players in Western Canada.
“From there I think it’s just a matter of maintaining a high standard in which we operate,” Robison said. “Quality of our facilities, quality of our operations across the league.”
Robison said he will remain around as somewhat of a mentor for his successor to help ease the transition when it takes place.
The Broncos would like to thank Ron for his contributions to the WHL over his 24 years in the league and we wish him all the best in the future.
