A life long love of the game and a desire to give back to the community are adding up to a smooth ride for the Princeton Posse.
The team recently took possession of a new bus to travel to games, and it wouldn’t have happened without significant donations from Princeton’s Rollo Ceccon and Copper Mountain Mine.
“It’s these people stepping up that made this even possible,” said Posse president Randy McLean.
According to McLean the team’s old bus was costing the organization too much money in repairs, and it wasn’t comfortable for the two dozen players who rely on it weekly.
He mentioned the problem to Ceccon over coffee one morning, and the former truck driver, entrepreneur and truck company owner talked it over with his wife Blanche and then put the wheels in motion.
Ceccon donated $25,000 to the team for the secondhand bus.
“I figured ‘ah heck you can’t just take all the time, you have to give back,’” Ceccon told The Spotlight in an interview.
A former Princeton Citizen of The Year, Ceccon said he has very fond memories of watching his brothers play hockey in Princeton.
McLean was able to match Ceccon’s gift with a $25,000 contribution from Copper Mountain Mine. That firm will be allowed to use the bus for tours and events like mining days.
Posse captain Drew Carter said the team is thrilled with the acquisition.
“All the movie screens work,” he said. “The other bus was kind of a rough ride…this is much smoother.”
New decals have been ordered to promote the team where ever it travels.
The total cost of the bus was $70,000 and McLean said the final $20,000 to cover the purchase will come from its sale.