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Jack Eichel returns to Buffalo: A timeline of his events as a member of the Sabres | Sporting News Canada
It was just a few short months ago in November that Jack Eichel’s time in Buffalo came to an unceremonious end, with Eichel getting dealt to the Golden Knights. For the first time since the trade, Eichel will step back into the KeyBank Center, the place where he called home for the first six seasons of his NHL career.
Eichel was supposed to be the piece to get the Sabres back over the top. While the center did his part on the ice, the Sabres continued to be a bottom-tier team, failing to reach the postseason in any season Eichel was there. Tension rose with disagreements over treatment for a herniated disk, boiling over with public comments of displeasure and turning what was supposed to be a bright future in Buffalo into an ugly bruise on the franchise.
While both sides were happy to put the Eichel saga behind them, the two meet up once again, as the Golden Knights travel to Buffalo on Thursday. Eichel will get back in front of the home crowd that cheered him on vigorously since he entered the league as an 18-year-old in 2015.
With Eichel’s return, here’s a timeline of the events during his time with the Sabres.
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Jack Eichel timeline as a Sabre
Sabres draft Eichel No. 2 overall in 2015 NHL Draft
In any other draft class, Eichel likely doesn’t fall to the Sabres at No. 2. He was fresh off a sensational freshman year at Boston University, becoming the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top player. He was first in the NCAA in goals (26) and points (71), earning Hockey East’s Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
But a player by the name of Connor McDavid was also in that class and was selected by the Oilers at No. 1. There was some debate going into the draft if the Oilers would elect to take Eichel instead of McDavid, but Edmonton selected the 18-year-old from the OHL’s Erie Otters.
As a result, the Sabres landed Eichel with the No. 2 pick, considered to be a generational talent.
Eichel scores in his NHL debut
After signing his entry-level contract in July of 2015, Eichel made the team out of camp and was expected to immediately play a big role for the Sabres.
Eichel and the Sabres could not have asked for a better start from the 18-year-old. Eichel made his NHL debut on Oct. 8, 2015, in the first game of the season for Buffalo. He scored his first goal in the second period of the game, roofing a shot over Senators goaltender Craig Anderson.
#NHL NEWS: Buffalo Sabres Forward – Jack Eichel scores his FIRST #NHL GOAL! What a goal it was.
RT/FAV If you agree pic.twitter.com/UICHCmU0iP
— The Hockey Press (@TheHockeyPress) October 9, 2015
He became the youngest player in Sabres history to score his first goal.
Eichel signs an eight-year, $80 million extension
The first two seasons were very successful for Eichel in Buffalo. He finished his rookie season with 56 points in 81 games and ended up fourth in voting for the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year. In his second season, he missed the first two months of the season with an ankle sprain, but concluded the season producing at nearly a point per game clip, 57 points in 61 games.
The summer heading into the 2017-18 season, the Sabres rewarded Eichel with an eight-year, $80 million extension, looking up their young superstar to a long-term deal.
🚨 We’ve agreed to terms with @Jack_Eichel11 on an 8-year extension with an AAV of $10 million. pic.twitter.com/9L8hLcVFzP
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 3, 2017
At the time, Jim Botterill had just taken over as general manager and viewed Eichel as the centerpiece of the team. While the Sabres as a team were not finding success, they had their young stud to build the club around.
Eichel scores his first NHL hat trick
It took over two seasons, but Eichel finally secured his first career NHL hat trick on Dec. 15, 2017, against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Sabres forward scored Buffalo’s first goal of the game in the second period, cleaning up a rebound in front. He cut the Hurricanes lead to one halfway through the third with a shot from the slot before showing off his patience with the puck, out-waiting Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward and beating him to tie the game just 10 seconds after his second goal to complete the “Jack-trick”.
Sabres name Eichel captain
Before Eichel began his fourth season with the Sabres, the team announced him as the 16th captain in franchise history in October of 2018.
He was just 21 years old when the club gave him the “C”, following Brian Gionta as the next Sabres captain.
The moment when Phil Housley named Jack Eichel the captain of the Buffalo Sabres @WKBW pic.twitter.com/xuYzbzVUoz
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) October 3, 2018
Eichel suffers a neck injury in a collision with Nico Hischier
While the team was not finding success, Eichel continued to play at a high level, recording a career-high 82 points in the 2018-19 season and setting a new career-high in goals with 36 in 2019-20.
However, just 21 games into the 2020-21 season, Eichel collided awkwardly with Nico Hischier during a game on March 7, 2021, against the New Jersey Devils. Ralph Krueger, coach of the Sabres at the time, announced less than a week later that Eichel would be out “for the foreseeable future.”
It later was announced that Eichel had a herniated disk and that would keep him out of the remainder of the season, as he was placed on long-term injured reserve.
Eichel voices his displeasure with the Sabres’ approach to his injury
This is where the drama starts.
In May of 2021, Eichel met with the media to discuss the injury, where he expressed a “disconnect” between himself and the organization over the treatment of his neck.
“I’ve been a bit upset about the ways things have been handled since I’ve been hurt. I’d be lying to say that things have moved smoothly since my injury. There’s been a bit of a disconnect between myself and the organization. It’s been tough at times. Right now, for me, the most important thing is just trying to get healthy, figure out a way to be available to play hockey next year, wherever that might be.”
Eichel wanted to get disc replacement surgery for his neck, while the team’s doctors were advising against it, suggesting he go for fusion surgery instead. The disagreement created a rift between the two sides.
Not only was Eichel voicing displeasure with the Sabres, but also insinuating for the first time that his future may not lie in Buffalo. At the time, he did not confirm or deny that he had asked for a trade.
“There’s a lot I have to consider. But for now, I’m here. I’m the captain of this hockey team. My goal is to be available and to try to help this organization to win hockey games. I’ll do that as long as I’m here.”
Sabres strip Eichel of captaincy after failing training camp physical
Having gone the whole summer with no surgery to heal the herniated disk, Eichel failed his training camp physical in September. The team also decided to strip him of the “C”.
General manager Kevyn Adams met with the media to discuss the decision, in addition to the future of Eichel in Buffalo.
“To this point, Jack is not willing to move forward with the fusion surgery that our doctors are suggesting. So we’re going to continue to work towards solutions … If we have an opportunity to (improve our team), and we feel it’s the right thing for the franchise, then we’ll do it. But if there was a solution over the summer, and we thought it made sense, then we would have done it. Obviously that’s not the case.”
Sabres trade Eichel to the Golden Knights, ending the Eichel saga in Buffalo
After months of speculation and rumors, the Sabres finally pulled the trigger, trading Eichel and a 2023 third-round pick to the Golden Knights for Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, conditional 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick in November of 2021.
The Golden Knights got a top center in the league to solidify an already deep top-six group while the Sabres acquired a promising prospect in Krebs, a bonafide NHLer in Tuch and two draft picks that will help the team long-term.
Vegas was welcoming of the disc replacement surgery for Eichel, as GM Kelly McCrimmon stated the team would allow Eichel to get the surgery of his choice.
“The decision of the surgery is one that we respectfully defer to Jack and his representatives. Why wouldn’t his people want what’s best for him?”
Eichel discusses ending his time in Buffalo and the months leading up to the trade
Outside of the May press conference, Eichel had kept things quiet about what was going on in Buffalo. He didn’t waste much time after the trade was done to dissect the situation.
“It’s been a long process. It’s been dragged out. Quite honestly, I feel a little bit embarrassed. As a hockey player, you want to be in the media, and have people talking about you for your performance and…your team winning games.”
Eichel confirmed what many had speculated — that he had in fact requested a trade from the Sabres.
“It just seemed that we were heading towards another…I don’t want to say rebuild but, we weren’t really in a position that we were going to try and win. I went to the team and said I wasn’t really happy with the idea of that. If that’s the route they wanted to take, maybe it would be better to move me, to use me as a jumpstart.
“Obviously that didn’t go over well. I’m a competitor, I want to win and obviously we hadn’t won. This is a business. (That’s) pretty apparent to me over the last eight months. I looked at that as a decision I was making strictly because I thought that was the best business decision for me as a hockey player.”
Surgery and Eichel’s time in Vegas
Eichel underwent successful surgery on Nov. 12, getting an artificial disk replacement procedure done at the Rocky Mountain Spine Clinic. It was expected that he would need about three months to fully recover from the surgery.
He began skating in a non-contact jersey with the Golden Knights on Jan. 11. Just over a month later, Eichel made his season debut with Vegas on Feb. 16. Since returning to the ice, Eichel has recorded seven points in 10 games, potting his first goal as a Golden Knight on Feb. 20.
Jack Eichel gets his first goal with Vegas, and the @GoldenKnights are up 2-0! pic.twitter.com/y3jACGWtNt
— AT&T SportsNet™ | RM West (@ATTSportsNetRMW) February 21, 2022
The Sabres remain near the bottom of the standings while Eichel is now playing top minutes on a contender. It was a bitter way for the relationship between the two to end, but it’s one that both teams are looking to put behind them.
Selma Jubilee returns with in-person and virtual events to mark 57th anniversary of Bloody Sunday
After a 2021 virtual ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee has returned with a mix of in-person and virtual programs to commemorate the 57th anniversary of Blood Sunday.
The Bridge Crossing Jubilee has resumed its annual series of programs, including celebrations honoring the civil rights foot soldiers who crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965, voter education programs, concerts, and its traditional street festival. Tickets for educational programs and entry to the street festival are available for purchase on the Selma Jubilee website (tickets for the street festival are also available in-person).
Events kicked off on Thursday with the annual mass meeting at Tabernacle Baptist Church, followed by a day of educational programs and public conversations on Friday.
VIEW THE 2022 SELMA BRIDGE CROSSING JUBILEE SCHEDULE HERE
Saturday’s programs kick off with annual Foot Soldiers Breakfast, followed by the Battle of the Bands, the Jubilee parade, an intergenerational hip-hop summit, and the Jubilee street festival. Saturday’s educational series includes virtual voters issues workshops and a “Restoring the Right to Vote” workshop at Wallace Community College.
On Sunday, March 6 events will commence with the Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast and Sunday services at various churches around the city. The annual commemoration of Bloody Sunday kicks off at 1:00 p.m. with a pre-march rally in front of Brown Chapel A.M.E Church on 410 Martin Luther King St., followed by the march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Vice President Kalama Harris is expected to attend and speak at events on Sunday, as well as participate in the annual event’s symbolic march across the bridge. According to the Associated Press, several other members of President Joe Biden’s administration will also attend the event, including Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan.
Attorney General James Returns Over $1 Million to New Yorkers for Events Canceled Due to Pandemic Shutdowns
Thousands of New Yorkers to Receive Refunds from Westchester Broadway Theater
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that her office has recovered more than $1 million for thousands of customers who bought tickets to Westchester Broadway Theater (WBT), but were denied refunds when performances were canceled due to pandemic-related closures. The WBT, a live theater company formerly located in Elmsford, has agreed to refund tickets and gift certificates purchased prior to the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Customers have already begun receiving their refund checks.
“After the Westchester Broadway Theater took its final bow, thousands of theatergoers were unable to get refunds for tickets they had already purchased,” said Attorney General James. “For months, theatergoers were stuck in the wings, but today, my office helped put more than $1 million back into New Yorkers’ pockets. While the curtains are finally closed on this saga, we will continue to go after companies that refuse to reimburse consumers.”
The WBT provides dinner and live theater performances of popular musicals and concerts on an open stage. As of March 2020, the theater had sold more than 30,000 tickets to upcoming performances which were canceled when WBT was forced to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the shutdown, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) received numerous complaints from ticketholders that WBT refused to issue refunds for canceled shows. In October 2020, OAG opened an investigation into WBT after it was reported that the theater was permanently closing and would not reimburse patrons. Instead, WBT created a ticket exchange policy with the White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC), whereby WPPAC would honor tickets and gift cards bought for WBT shows. However, no refund option was offered to WBT ticketholders, and the ticket exchange did not honor the value of the dinner portion of WBT tickets. Only 930 WBT ticket holders participated in the ticket exchange.
WBT has agreed to refund a total of $1,127,258.84 to thousands of customers, even the ones who participated in the ticket exchange with WPPAC. Gift certificate holders who show a receipt may also be eligible for a refund or may use the gift card at WBT’s new location in Chappaqua.
Today’s agreement is the latest in Attorney General James’ ongoing efforts to refund New York consumers for events canceled in the wake of the pandemic. Last year, OAG returned $427,000 to New Yorkers who paid deposits for events at Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle, but had their events canceled. To date, Attorney General James has recovered millions of dollars for New Yorkers in refunds for pandemic-related shutdowns.
“Once again, Attorney General James has helped consumers get the refunds they deserve,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “Many Westchester residents and others bought tickets to the Westchester Broadway Theater and because of COVID restrictions the performances were canceled, but the tickets were not refunded. I thank the Attorney General for her continued successful efforts on behalf of New York’s consumers.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an ultimate shutdown of all entertainment facilities and activities, including a cancellation of all programming at the Westchester Broadway Theater,” said State Senator Alessandra Biaggi. “However, it is unfair and dishonest for the Westchester Broadway Theater to refuse customers refunds for canceled programming due to circumstances beyond the customers’ control. I am incredibly grateful to Attorney General James for fighting for patrons of the theater who were denied refunds, and ensuring that New Yorkers receive the reimbursements they are owed.”
“The pandemic caused widespread economic despair to many businesses statewide, but in the case of the Westchester Broadway Theater, that is no excuse to withhold ticket refunds from customers for cancelled performances,” said State Senator Pete Harckham. “Attorney General James deserves thanks for making sure these customers finally got their money back.”
“The closure of the Westchester Broadway Theater was an incredible loss for our community, but that does not mean we should sacrifice consumer protections,” said State Senator Shelley Mayer. “I thank Attorney General Letitia James for her work to secure reimbursements that patrons deserve for canceled performances and meals.”
“I applaud the Attorney General’s persistence on behalf of our residents. The Attorney General has demonstrated that consumer protection is an important part of what we do as elected officials,” said Assemblymember Tom Abinanti. “The pandemic is no excuse for businesses to take advantage of their customers.”
“I applaud Attorney General James for her strong and successful efforts to return money to our local residents,” said Assemblymember Sandy Galef. “When theater events were canceled due to COVID, you would expect a refund to be available to the ticket purchasers. With the Attorney General’s involvement ticket holders will receive those refunds. This is a win for consumers.”
“One cannot understate the importance of returning money to consumers who likely had given up hope that they would be repaid,” said Assemblymember Steve Otis. “We are all thankful for the good work of Attorney General James in protecting these customers and having their payments returned.”
“People deserve to get their money back for canceled events,” said Assemblymember Amy Paulin. “I applaud Attorney General James for securing reimbursement funds for the thousands of consumers who purchased tickets to Westchester Broadway Theater shows which they didn’t get to see due to the theater’s closure.”
“The Westchester Broadway Theater brought joy to many in our community until it was forced to shut down due to the pandemic and unjustly denied refunds to thousands,” said Assemblymember J. Gary Pretlow. “I applaud Attorney General James and her office for putting money back into the pockets of our community members.”
“Westchester residents supported the Westchester Broadway Theater for years, only to see the organization shut down and then ticket refunds to thousands of our residents,” said Assemblymember Nader Sayegh. “I applaud Attorney General Letitia James for steadfastly pursuing this case and securing more than $1 million in ticket refunds for patrons who deserved not only their money back, but better treatment for their support of Westchester Broadway Theater for many years. It is good to see justice prevail.”
If consumers are having issues receiving a refund on a deposit for an event cancelled due to COVID-19 statewide regulations, they are encouraged to fill out an OAG complaint form or call the office’s hotline at (800) 771-7755.
This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Sandra Giorno-Tocco and Senior Consumer Fraud Representative John Katzenstein, under the supervision of Assistant Attorney General In-Charge of the Westchester Regional Office Gary Brown. The Westchester Regional Office is a part of the Division for Regional Affairs, which is led by Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs Jill Faber. The Division for Regional Affairs is overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
World-class squash event returns to Calgary after year off due to COVID
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Professional squash players from across the world are suiting up — masks optional, of course — for what’s hoped will be a smashing return to Calgary courts after a year away.
That’s thanks to the Professional Squash Association swinging through the city for the first time in 24 months after COVID squished the annual stop in 2021.
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“This will be our eighth year hosting the event, and we are known quite well on the international pro tour for our Calgary hospitality,” said Meghan Glenday of the Calgary Women’s Squash Week committee. “It’s been a bumpy ride for the pro players these past couple of years … with travel restrictions, visa delays, billeting restrictions and tournament cancellations, in general.”
But it’s a go in 2022.
The Calgary CFO Consulting Services PSA Women’s Squash Week serves up play beginning Wednesday at the Calgary Winter Club, one day after COVID masking protocols are being lifted in Alberta.
The PSA Challenger 20 level tourney — one of five worldwide this week and the only one scheduled for North America — runs through Sunday. The Calgary stop is the biggest of those events in terms of prize money, with a $20,000 purse up for grabs.
“We usually have an amateur women’s tournament alongside the pro event,” Glenday said. ”But with club capacity restraints leading up to this year’s event, we had to drop the amateur side, which brings in approximately 70 amateur women players. We’re hoping to host the full pro-am event in 2023.”
For this year, however, the spotlight is solely on the 24 high-profile players in pursuit of PSA glory.
And topping that list of world-class women is Calgary’s own Danielle Letourneau, the world-ranked No. 20 talent. Fresh off finishing top 20 in a Chicago tour stop, the Cornell University graduate gets a bye through the first round in her bid to defend the crown she won 24 months ago at the Calgary Winter Club. The local hope is Letourneau is — at very least — in Sunday’s 2 p.m. championship match.
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“We are thrilled to have Danielle as our top seed,” Glenday said. “Seeded fourth back in early March 2020, Danielle managed to win our tournament title, and since then her world ranking has moved from No. 39 to now No. 20.
“She has been training in Egypt, so it will be interesting to see how her style of squash and techniques and strategies have evolved since then.”
Australia’s Donna Lobban — the No. 2 seed here and ranked 29th on the world list — and the Hong Kong duo of Tze Lok Ho — at No. 3 — and Liu Tsz-Ling round out the rest of tourney’s top four seeds. Meanwhile, the 28-year-old hometown star Letourneau will be joined by three fellow Canadians — Regina’s Nikki Todd (No. 99), Winnipeg’s Hannah Blatt (No. 154) and 17-year-old Calgarian Jana Dweek, who is ranked fourth among under-19 Canadian phenoms.
“For us, this week is all about celebrating and promoting women in squash,” Glenday said. “And what better way to inspire and motivate everyone in the squash community than watching some of the top female players in the world.”
PSA Challenger tourneys are entry points for up-and-coming squash pros looking to a more international level of competition.
“The Calgary Winter Club and the city-wide squash community look forward to this event every March,” Glenday added. “Being absent for the last two years has everyone excited, including the players, to see top-level squash back in town. Players from around the world — as far from England, Egypt, Australia and Hong Kong — will play in this tournament.”
Hay Festival unveils events as in-person programme returns for 2022
The Hay Festival has revealed some of the 500 events taking place this Easter as the annual literary celebration runs in-person for the first time in three years.
Organisers have marked 100 days until the festival takes place with 22 early-bird events on sale now.
Returning for its first in-person spring event since 2019, the programme, which runs from 26th May to 5th June, will offer insights and debate in a range of topics featuring more than 600 award-winning writers, policymakers and experts.
Among the line-up of 500 events, the festival’s “10@10” series will showcase debut writers at 10 a.m. each morning on site, while a partnership with Publishing Wales spotlights Welsh publishers and their work.
Collaborations with eight leading universities will showcase the latest research in the arts and sciences in a Lunchtime Lecture series. The festival has also partnered with various organisations which will feature throughout the programme including the Booker Prize, the Royal Society, British Council, the TLS, Prospect, BookAid International and the British Library among others.
Organisers said: “A series of #HayFestival100 events on site will explore the iconic publishing year of 1922 and the century of literature that has followed, including discussions and performances of James Joyce’s Ulysses and T S Eliot’s The Waste Land. The public will be encouraged to share the books that have most influenced them from this past century of publishing.
“The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be marked with a series of conversations on Women and Power, while anniversaries of the BBC, Marcel Proust, and Ferdinand Magellan will be reflected in discussions.
“Lunchtimes at St Mary’s Church will be given over to live music, Hay Castle will be transformed into an open air space for daily performances, and late nights will be given over to a dynamic programme blending music and comedy with theatre and poetry.”
There will be a strong focus for young people too. The festival will run family-themed events, called Haydays, to “give young readers the opportunity to meet their heroes and get creative throughout the festival”. The Programme for Schools strand on 26th and 27th May allows teachers and pupils to access festival events for free.
The BBC will return to Hay Festival bringing some programmes and podcasts to the site in free events, while a selection of main-stage sessions will be streamed live via the festival’s Hay Player video and audio platform.
Hay international director Cristina Fuentes La Roche said: “Our 35th annual event in Wales, Hay Festival 2022 is going to be a return to remember and we look forward to welcoming friends – old and new – to our revamped festival site this May. As we put the finishing touches to this year’s line-up, we’re excited to preview some of this year’s themes: a promise of spring and a spark of hope for the year ahead.”
For more information, visit hayfestival.com/wales/home.
Art on the Line gala returns as an in-person event at UBCO
In its 20th year, the Art on the Line gala returns as an in-person event after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions.
UBCO’s annual fine arts fundraiser is a lively event that brings together the local arts community to celebrate the work of students, faculty, alumni, as well as artists practicing in town.
The black-tie gala evening on March 5th, raffles off original works of art donated by local artists, UBCO faculty and fine arts students all in the name of raising funds for student projects, activities and organizations.
This includes the Visual Arts Course Union, the 2022 BFA graduate exhibition and catalogue, the visiting artist program, fine arts student travel grants as well as local non-profit Cool Arts Society, which provides art opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.
“We invite people to join us for an evening of fine art and face-to-face fun,” says Abby Bloome, event co-organizer and a fourth-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) student.
“This is our chance to come together as a community and support our local artists. Art on the Line is an amazing event that gives students a chance to grow. And community members can collect one-of-a-kind pieces for their homes.”
Only 100 tickets are sold for the chance to choose from 150 works available in this one-of-a-kind juried art exhibition.
Tickets cost $200 for two people to enter and will guarantee one piece of artwork. Tickets will also be available for people who would like to attend, but not bid on artwork; they will be at the door for $20 or $10 for students.
Each year, 10% of the proceeds go to a local organization. This year, the Sncewips Heritage Museum will be the recipient.
Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS) Visual Arts Instructor David James Doody describes Art on the Line as a great opportunity to enjoy a beautiful selection of original art, fine food, refreshments and a touch of suspense.
“I have been taking part in this event for almost 20 years when I began my BFA in 2002,” he recalls “I still remember as a young artist the first time my art was chosen. It was absolutely the coolest feeling ever. Art on the line is one of the most important exciting events in our students’ calendars.”
Organizers are still collecting two-and three-dimensional artwork to be donated and raffled during the event.
Local artists who are interested in supporting this fundraiser can email aotl2022@ubcovacu.org for a submission form and submission guidelines. Donations should be of suitable quality and equivalent to the auction ticket price.
The event is planned to be in-person, but will also be live-streamed for those who cannot attend. If current public health measures change, this event will take place virtually.
To purchase tickets or find more information on the event, click here.
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Sneaker Con: Vancouver’s biggest event for sneakerheads returns in 2022
Before winter ends, sneakerheads of B.C. will get to indulge their souls (and soles) at an in-person event.
The travelling shoe show Sneaker Con is back in the Lower Mainland March 5, after being absent in 2021.
“Sneaker Con is trekking back to the Alps of Vancouver and we’re bringing all the heat!” say organizers online.
It would seem the “Alps of Vancouver” would be the Vancouver Convention Centre, as that’s where it’ll be happening.
Sneaker Con is one of the bigger events in the sports shoe collection world (they have 3.2 million followers on Instagram); the event travels to cities around North America, often with stops elsewhere, each year.
While Vancouver is often a destination, there was no 2021 event due to the pandemic. The 2020 show arrived just before the pandemic, taking place in late February.
While shoe sales will be central to the convention, there will also be an authentication booth set up by eBay (the event’s major sponsor) to check over shoes and give them their stamp of approval.
“There will be plenty of sneaker giveaways and live auctions going down throughout the day,” promise organizers.
Along with sneakers of all sorts, there will be other pop culture paraphernalia around, as well.
It’ll be an all-day event, with doors opening at noon and closing at 7 p.m. Tickets are $36.83 after fees.
