On Feb. 7, the dogs were off to the races at McArthur Sport and Event Centre when the Kamloops Storm hosted their fourth annual wiener dog (dachshund) races in conjunction with their game against the Merritt Centennials.
The wiener dog races are now a tradition with the Storm. They were created by the Storm’s former general manager, Barry Deogr, who organized the inaugural event before the COVID-19 pandemic put future plans on hold. However, Matt Kolle, the Storm’s current General Manager and owner, decided to bring the races back shortly after restrictions were lifted.
“A hockey team is a form of entertainment to our fans and the public, and we’re always looking for themes and ideas to enhance our game day experience,” Kolle said. “We look back, and the wiener dog race had been fairly successful in the past when it was run, so we chose to restart it.”
While the races are the main attraction of the night, there are a few aspects that accompany it. Besides the Storm, who were also chasing a divisional title, the game featured a silent auction, 50/50, a red carpet for the dogs and even a wiener costume contest.
“ As far as the night goes, we have a red carpet that we take pictures of the dogs on, and a lot of these dogs come with amazing costumes,” said Kolle. Some of the racers were spotted dressed as piñatas, Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders and even lumberjacks with overalls.
Leading up to the game, the Storm posts all of the dogs on their social media to “hype them up like it’s the Olympics,” and ensure the fans get as excited as possible about the races each year.
All proceeds from entry fees, the 50/50, and the silent auction went to support the Angels’ Animal Rescue Society, based in Merritt, which operates on donations. They house between 25 to 35 dogs, cats and other animals, including farm livestock that have typically been abandoned, abused or neglected.
“The fact that it can help us raise funds for a good cause are generally the reason that we would choose this event over many other options,” Kolle said.
“ It’s a great event, raising money and awareness both for the animals and for the organization. And we truly appreciate the Storm taking an interest in the organization to be able to raise the money and create that awareness.” Angels Rescue member Una Kuzio said. “ [The money] goes to house animals, feed animals, vet bills, emergency services for them, transport, and just the day-to-day operational costs of running an on-the-ground rescue with that many animals.”
Around 30 dogs were entered for this year’s races. The dogs race in two heats during the first intermission, and the top three winners of each heat advance to the championship heat in the second intermission.
While most people enter their dogs for fun, some races can get competitive.
Malory Hugin, whose dog is nicknamed ‘Black Lightning,’ was the winner of the last two years. She said, “I think the best part is hearing the kids cheer in the crowd for the dogs when they win.”
Some dogs need more training than others. Charlotte Hutchison said of her dog, Murphy, “Last year he ran straight off the ice, so this year I’m hoping he at least runs to us.”
Hutchinson also mentioned that Murphy, who’s 16 years old, needs a lot of sleep to prepare for these races. He’s raced the last three years, and this would be his fourth and final.
By the time intermission came around, you could feel the anticipation building. When the first group of wieners was released, the crowd erupted with cheers as the dogs raced to the finish line. By the second heat, many in the crowd seemed to believe they knew which dog would win.
In the second intermission, the competition was tight, with just the top six dogs left for one final shot at winning it all. However, only one dog could take home the win, and that was Finely.
This year marked Finley’s third time competing in the races. Previously, he’d taken home the silver. Reacting to his victory, Kate, Finley’s owner, said, “ He’s not food-driven. He’s ball-driven, so if you have a squeaky ball, he’ll do anything for you.” And he did just that, by beating everyone to the finish line.
Congratulations to Finley, who is certainly a very, very good boy.