Headlines from the past is a recurring feature looking back at stories we've covered over the past 40+ years.
Darcy Rota played 11 years in the National Hockey League, for the Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Flames and Vancouver Canucks.
When Rota’s on-ice career ended, he worked in the Canucks’ front office for several years, before helping launch the BC Hockey League’s Burnaby Bulldogs junior team in 1998.
Two years later, Rota forged a three-year lease agreement with the City of Coquitlam that would bring a BCHL team to the old Sports Centre on Poirier Street beginning in the 2001-02 season.
Rota, who lived in Coquitlam, was the face of an ownership group that included NHLers Dave Lowry and, eventually, Dave Ranford.
BCHL president Ron Boileau was enthusiastic about bringing the league to Coquitlam, which would increase the league’s number of teams to 15.
“The demographics are perfect in this area,” he said.
Rota said to be financially viable, the new team would have to attract an average of 1,000 fans each game at the 1,394-seat Sports Centre. The facility would also need renovations, including an office for the team and a new main dressing room.
Boileau said he was confident Rota’s group would be successful.
“Once people come out and see the product, I think they’ll really enjoy it.”
The Tri-City News has covered civic affairs, local crime, festivals, events, personalities, sports and arts in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody since 1983. Bound back issues of the paper are available at the Coquitlam Archives, while digital versions of several past years can be found at issuu.com.
