[Rumour] Lethbridge Hurricanes and Kootenay Ice to relocate

[Lil Pedro]

Originally Posted by BigT112

That's a shame. I think Lethbridge is a great place to live. To each his own I guess. Although the town is full of Oiler fans. It's not that bad though, watching them have insanely high expectations only to be crushed year after year is pretty fun!

I went there for university and I knew tons of Flames Fans. As well, the two bars on the West Side (mojos and the Duke, which is now Pops) always put Flames games on the big screen. Furthermore we always had flames game specials on at the Zoo, the university pub.

Maybe it was just the west side that wasn't full of Oiler fans, but my experience there led me to believe that that town cheered for the Flames.

[zztim81]

Originally Posted by codynw

I rarely go to Hurricanes games. Haven't been to one in years, but if the Heat moved here I would probably go to every game.

Its hard to get excited these days to go to the Hurricanes games, I went regularly in the early 2000's when I was in college and university, loved watching Seabrook light it up, by far my favorite Hurricane. I have friends with young kids who go regularly still its less about the quality of the team for them and more about am affordable get away and entertainment for the kids. (off topic but I wish they would just change the team name to the Chinooks)

Much like many other small markets, if the product on the ice was better the Enmax centre would be close to full every night. its a great facility since the renovations a couple years ago, seats I think around 5000, and the city is growing very rapidly over 100,000 I believe if you include some of the adjacent commuter communities. Its a strong college/university town, and if the WHL pulled out I think it might work for an AHL club, the biggest problem I would see is the Airport, if teams especially from the US are charter flying in to play they might have to go to YYC first then connect to Lethbridge as the airport is no longer certified to deal with customs etc. and only flies domestic.

I remember going to a rookie camp game I believe the fall before the lockout season when the Flames rookies took on the UofL Pronghorns and the place was packed with a really good vibe in the building. I for one would consider season tickets again for a AHL team.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I've seen the same as Buff. Lots and lots of Flames fans that became hockey fans post-Gretzky.

Although when he says 50-50 I think he means equal amounts of Flames/Oilers fans. As this city is also a huge bandwagon town. So many Pens/Hawks and even Canucks fans its disgusting

That is indeed what I meant.

[Azure]

There are a lot of great fans in Lethbridge. When they went to the finals a few years ago the Enmax Center was rocking. Just a great atmosphere.

The fact that they can still draw more than successful teams like Kooteney goes to show that if you put a half decent team on the ice, people will come watch.

Lethbridge is a great hockey town. And you have the market to fill 5,000 seats every night IMO.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Buff

That is indeed what I meant.

Yup. In 2004, they all jumped on the Flames bandwagon. In 2006, all of them jumped on the Oilers bandwagon.

Normally I would agree that the split is 50/50 though.

[codynw]

Yea, that Subway Super Series game a few months ago was packed. Lethbridge has more than enough people to support a hockey team, we just don't care about the Hurricanes because they're consistently one of the worst teams in the WHL.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Azure

There are a lot of great fans in Lethbridge. When they went to the finals a few years ago the Enmax Center was rocking. Just a great atmosphere.

The fact that they can still draw more than successful teams like Kooteney goes to show that if you put a half decent team on the ice, people will come watch.

Lethbridge is a great hockey town. And you have the market to fill 5,000 seats every night IMO.

Can you believe that was 6 years ago? The next year nobody was in the building for the 1st round.

At the Enmax Center you can buy tickets and then go and sit just about anywhere you want. Except for games like the home opener, teddy bear toss and even a few weekend games... well, that used to be that way. The home opener was always a sell out as was the teddy bear toss, but not for a few years now. The people are disgruntled with the team. It is sad for the players that the town doesn't want to support them, but the message the fans are trying to get out is for change, and they don't mean on-ice (well, they do, but that will come with new ownership).

[dash_pinched]

I grew up in the Hat and the rivalry between the Tigers and at the time Lethbridge Broncos in the 70s/early 80s was terrific. It's a shame that the Hurricanes have fallen on tough times, once they get the ship righted and put a contending team on the ice, I have no doubt the fans will be out in full force.

[ToraToraTora]

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but it looks like this rumor is conpletely quashed now. The Hurricanes chairman and the WHL commissioner went before city council to present a new business plan.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1296881/wh...or-hurricanes/

The management will be under review (whatever that really means), and there may be some changes coming, but for now theyre staying in Lethbridge, and I will continue making the drive to Calgary to watch the Flames rather than the local product.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

[Fire_Dash]

As a Hitmen fan who goes to school at the University of Lethbridge I can't help but be a bit bummed at losing the few road Hitmen games I go to during school.

[Derek Sutton]

Now it sounds like it may Kootenay to Abbotsford, which makes sense.

The "presentation" was completely laughable. The Commish brought up Portland as a model that Lethbridge should be looking at, completely turing around their franchise from fifve years ago. Portland aslo did this after a change in ownership and has been punished (fined and draft picks lost)for providing "benefits" to players and their families.

The Hurricanes are "going to stay the course" and "buidl from within". They also concluded that a change in management is needed on various levels but stated that the GM and coach are the right guys to lead this gong show. The hope is that if the team continues to struggle off the ice the league will step in and force a sale.

Also read today that yet another player has left the team (not going to return next year). This is perhaps the biggest problem facing the club, attracting and retaining players. Parents will not want their kids to play here and you can't balme them, they don't develop players. It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow (bantam draft).

[Buff]

Two more players won't return to Lethbridge.

Many fans won't return until the team is privately owned. Just like with any team, if they start winning most of those fans will come back, but a few just will not return. However, with the current board and the state of affairs, the Lethbridge Hurricanes will not start winning anytime soon. Not even within 5 years like the GM said will happen. The only people with positive words and thoughts for the Hurricanes are young kids and board members.

[Pliddy]

I have 3 young boys so I attended 10 or so games last year and after talking to them, even they don't want to go to the games next year unless Versteeg owns the team. As my 8 year old said, If I'm going to watch a crappy hockey team, I would at least like the chance of seeing a Nhler

[Muta]

So I'm lazy and thought I would ask, instead of doing my own research..

... what is the problem with the Lethbridge franchise? Especially if players are personally leaving the team?

[Resolute 14]

Community owned organization with grossly incompetent management. Financial issues, recruiting and drafting has been a hot mess at times. Pretty much anything you can think of. It is an organization that only wishes it could reach Edmonton Oilers level of competence.

[ToraToraTora]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Community owned organization with grossly incompetent management. Financial issues, recruiting and drafting has been a hot mess at times. Pretty much anything you can think of. It is an organization that only wishes it could reach Edmonton Oilers level of competence.

Exactly. The only thing is that unlike Edmonton, there's almost total apathy. Pretty much all of my friends here used to go to Hurricanes games, now we just go up to Calgary. I can pay 25 bucks to go see awful hockey, or 50 to see hockey I care about at a Flames game.

With the Hurricanes, no one cares. Sad really, since I used to remember going when I was a kid and they were good. But, those Salvador/Ritchie days are over now, and aren't coming back in the foreseeable future.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Muta

So I'm lazy and thought I would ask, instead of doing my own research..

... what is the problem with the Lethbridge franchise? Especially if players are personally leaving the team?

Lethbridge is no good.

Spoiler!

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by ToraToraTora

Exactly. The only thing is that unlike Edmonton, there's almost total apathy. Pretty much all of my friends here used to go to Hurricanes games, now we just go up to Calgary. I can pay 25 bucks to go see awful hockey, or 50 to see hockey I care about at a Flames game.

With the Hurricanes, no one cares. Sad really, since I used to remember going when I was a kid and they were good. But, those Salvador/Ritchie days are over now, and aren't coming back in the foreseeable future.

This is pretty much the feeling of everyone, only games I have gone to were to see Flames prospects or because I got them for free.

There hasn't been a game where I cheered for the 'Canes in at least a decade

[Derek Sutton]

The last five years have been a downhill slide. Made league finals in 2008, lost in the second round the following year, turned out some NHL'ers Sbis, King, Sceviour. Haven't been .500 since. After 12/13 season coach and gm (Rich Preston) was let go. Former scout Brad Robson was hired as new GM, he immediately hired is son as head scout. New coach (drake Berehowsky) was hired after Robson said he received over 70 applicants. Team could have drafted Kale Clague (who's comparable is Doughty) but traded the pick for an overage goalie. Promises were made, lies were told and the team sucked. Top end players. A 30 and a 25 goal score asked to be traded and were both sent home, then trade. The teams best NHL prospect left and asked for a trade. Asst Coach Brad Lukowich was "sick", turns out he had gotten fired ( and it came out two days ago that he is suing for wrongful dismissal) the team had to borrow money to make payrol, while losing by 6 and 7 goals a night. People quit going to watch, the #canetrain became #trainwreck.

A lot of the public backlash started after the 2009 season when head coach Mike Dyck (a hometown guy) did not have his contract renewed by a GM (Roy stasiuk) who was let go. Then it was made pretty public that the Board of Directors (12 guys who are elected by the shareholders) are quite involved in the day to day operations of the club (this is a whole other story) Dick (ABSOLUTE CRAP!!) Gibson, who was one of the biggest Hurricanes boosters in the city, resigned from the BOD it's much speculation it was because of the bod involvement.

What I don't know I out of all of this is how the team could lose money. Teams like PA, Swift, Moose Jaw and Brandon all seem to be thriving while having similar attendance. The lease agreement the team has with the city/ enmax center hasn't been made public and they are negotiating a renewal, which I believe is part of the reason this presentation was made to the city council, though no terms of anything were brought up. Being community, there is no threat to move the team so this does work against the club in a situation like this.

[Alberta_Beef]

I read in the Lethbridge Herald that the Hurricanes are being sued by former assistant coach Brad Lukowich for wrongful dismissal.