Sarnia-Lambton's beleaguered tourism industry is absorbing another staggering body blow with the cancellation of Silver Stick.
Tourism Sarnia-Lambton Special Events & Sports Marketing Coordinator Vicky Praill said postponement of the local tournaments in 2020-21 represents a loss of more than $5 million dollars for the local economy.
She said it's disappointing but the safety of players and their families is paramount.
"It's obviously going to have quite an impact on our tourism impact in Sarnia-Lambton as well as effect many of our tourism partners. But, we know it will be back and we know when it does come back it will certainly be better and stronger than ever."
Silver Stick announced Wednesday that all area boys and girls events have been cancelled due to the pandemic.
Included are the finals in Sarnia, Mooretown and Forest as well as regionals in Alvinston, Lambton Shores, Petrolia, and Watford.
This year's Triple A Port Huron tournament is the only Silver Stick event still scheduled.
Thousands of hockey players and their families normally flock to the area in December and January each year, spending money in local restaurants, hotels and retail stores.
Overall, she said they're working on a number of things to entice some of the regional tourists to come to this area, and expects to have further announcements in the coming weeks.