A collection of automobile thefts this week has tainted a world AAA hockey match on the Pierrefonds Sportsplexe.
Groups with a number of the greatest 12-year-old hockey gamers on this planet have travelled to Montreal from throughout North America and components of Europe to compete.
“It is a vital match for this age bracket. The competitors is nice,” stated Roberto Gomez, ambassador for the Triple Crown Conflict Tremendous Sequence.
4 vehicles have been stolen on Wednesday and Thursday outdoors the world.
Guardian Joe Meyer stated he parked the automobile round 4 p.m., and after they left the rink at 7 p.m., it was gone.
“I went search for the automobile, realized the automobile wasn’t there, noticed a bunch of glass on the bottom, and assumed it was stolen,” he stated.
The entire vehicles had U.S. licence plates.
“You recognize, sadly, it’s what it’s. I simply have three children, attempting to determine how you can get dwelling, again over the border and get to and from the rink and resort,” stated dad or mum J.T. Caiazza.
Caiazza stated his insurance coverage firm will not cowl the price of a rental till he’s again in the US.
For now, his household of 5 is counting on different households for lifts to the match.
Organizers stated the ordeal has given the match a black eye.
“We have truly had some suggestions saying that groups will not be wanting to return to Montreal due to this. It isn’t an remoted occasion,” stated Gomez.
The world’s common supervisor stated an analogous incident occurred a couple of weeks in the past throughout one other occasion.
Whereas there are safety cameras within the parking zone, they do not present full protection and did not catch the thefts.
In response to the automobile thefts, the match organizers have taken speedy motion. The rear exit of the parking zone, the place the thefts occurred, has been closed off. Moreover, non-public safety has been employed.
Mockingly, there’s a police station subsequent door to the world — a patrol automobile is now parked outdoors.
“We admire the cooperation that the rink is placing collectively. And we’re going to have coaches and fogeys be extra vigilant and simply preserve a watch out,” stated Gomez.
Caiazza stated he nonetheless has no concept how you can get his household dwelling to New Jersey.
“When you may get away with it, you simply go and do it. So I am not shocked about something anymore. These are the instances we reside in. Sadly, nobody cares about something,” he stated.
The match runs till Sunday.
