A local junior-B hockey team will allow fans to enjoy a beer in the rink during the coming season.
At its meeting Tuesday night, LaSalle Town Council approved a plan to expand a pilot program allowing alcohol sales at LaSalle Vipers home games.
Last season, the team worked with the G.O.A.T. Tap and Eatery to allow alcohol sales in a specific area of the Vollmer Centre, but away from the rink where the Vipers play.
Alcohol consumption will now be permitted in designated spectator areas of Rink A's bowl.
"The G.O.A.T. Tap & Eatery has submitted a proposal outlining the proposed operating model for the pilot project, including age verification procedures, alcohol service practices, staffing and security measures, and other operational controls," read the report submitted to councillors.
The report outlined the success of the pilot program that ran during the 2025-26 season, while recognizing that alcohol sales at sporting events are common.
"Administration recognizes that the current Municipal Alcohol Risk Management Policy was not developed with arena-wide alcohol service in mind," read the report. "As such, the administration is recommending a pilot project that maintains key risk management requirements while allowing exemptions from certain provisions that are not operationally appropriate in this setting."
The Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL), in which the Vipers compete, allows alcohol sales at games, but only at the discretion of the home team.
The Municipal Alcohol Risk Management Policy can be viewed in the agenda on the Town of LaSalle's official website.
