Celebrating the Launch of the
Georgian Bay Islanders
Sep 5th and Sep 6th - Midland, ON
The YSMHL is thrilled to welcome a brand-new team to the league this
fall: the Georgian Bay Islanders (GBI). Born out of the merger between
the Midland Centennials and the Penetang Flames rep programs, the Islanders
represent a bold step forward for hockey in the North Simcoe region. This
September, they’ll hit the ice for their inaugural season — and they’re
throwing a celebration worthy of the occasion!
The GBI Launch Party
To mark this milestone, everyone is invited to the GBI Launch Party,
a weekend-long celebration of hockey and community centered at the North
Simcoe Sports & Recreation Centre in Midland, ON.
Friday Night Kickoff
The festivities begin with a pre-game street party featuring
family-friendly entertainment:
- Live music
- Face painting
- Temporary tattoos
- Food trucks
- Accuracy shooting game
- And the hilarious Dunk-A-Ref
fundraiser dunk tank, where hockey parents can put their money where
their mouth is and attempt to dunk a referee.
The excitement continues indoors with the first of two OHL exhibition
games, as the Sarnia Sting take the ice vs the North Bay Battalion.
During the opening ceremonies, the Islanders will proudly unveil their
brand-new uniforms for the very first time.
And when the final buzzer sounds, the party isn’t over. Upstairs at the
NSSRC, the celebrations shift into high gear with an after-party
featuring more live music, dancing, and a cash bar.
Saturday Highlights
The action keeps rolling on Saturday with:
- A Coaches Workshop to
support the growth of our minor hockey leaders.
- A free autograph session
where young fans can meet their OHL heroes.
- An open to the public OHL
practice, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at elite-level hockey.
That night, the community will gather again for the second of two OHL
exhibition games, as the Sarnia Sting take on the Barrie Colts. Before the
game, we will host the Red Hat Red Carpet ceremony, honoring Midland and
Penetang’s OMHA championship teams from the past 25 years. It’s a chance to
celebrate the proud history that helped shape this exciting new future.
Fundraising for Our Families
The GBI Launch Party is more than a celebration — it’s a vital fundraiser
to help offset hockey costs for Islanders families. Throughout the weekend,
fans can take part in:
- A 50/50 raffle
- Chuck’s Chuck a Puck during intermission
- A jersey raffle and auction
featuring signed OHL jerseys from the weekend’s teams
Every ticket purchased, every drink or snack bought, and every puck
thrown helps fund our teams and players. Together, we can ensure that every
family has the chance to be part of this exciting new chapter.
Be Part of History
This launch is the culmination of 16 months of dedicated volunteer
work, and it’s only the beginning of something truly special. We can’t wait
to share this incredible achievement with our community.
👉 Buy your tickets now: https://bit.ly/GBILaunchParty. Let’s fill
the arena, raise our voices, and celebrate the start of a new era of hockey in
Georgian Bay.
Go Islanders!
