Some more news on the Warriors front, in the run-up to the WHL's general meetings next Tuesday & Wednesday...
Turns out the league sent a letter to Moose Jaw city council on May 30, asking them to confirm their commitment to providing an acceptable arena. The letter states that in the absence of such a commitment, the league will have no alternative but to recommend that the franchise be relocated to another city for the 2009-10 season.
Ron Robison says the league won't settle for another verbal "yes, we'll build something" promise. They want some kind of contract in place between the City of Moose Jaw and the WHL...presumably this would allow them to seek damages from the City should the City continue to waste everyone's time getting something built. Sounds like the league is willing to be a little bit flexible on WHEN the arena gets built but they want it in writing that it WILL be done.
The WHL wants a response to the letter by Monday. I would say the league is really putting the screws to the City of Moose Jaw now. Either they contractually commit to building something by Monday, or the league could very well vote next week to relocate the franchise for 09-10.
The Warriors' reaction to the ultimatum is here. One of the things I find most curious about the whole situation is that the guy representing the Warriors in this mess - team president and governor Darrin Chow - is also one of the elected city councilors. Is he not in a conflict of interest position at both jobs when it comes to this issue?
So, which city that used to have WHL hockey will be the first in line to get a team again? Winnipeg? Victoria? Nanaimo? Billings? Tacoma? Great Falls? Portland?
3 comments:
Interesting choice of posisble new locations. With The Portland problem being what it is I am surprised to see it listed. Portland might need to relocate with new ownership also. I would think the US Division could use a another team. Just so the US can continue to kick Canadian butt!
LOL
Tacoma Fans will goto Kent to see hockey, Seattle fans won't (1+ Hour drive in traffic) Billings, Great Falls would both be good choices. Both have had team in the passed and have done well. Victoria being on a island might be an issue for team traveling there. Nanaimo to close to Vancouver and Chillwack.
LOST
Yeah, 2 Mcups from a US team in the past 20 years. Yer really kickin our butts not to mention, those teams being filled with Canadians. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense when you put it that way now does it?
Great Falls did well when? Please share with us what you are smoking. They have absolutely the worst building ever to host major junior hockey. Awful site lines, no accomodations for media, bleacher seating down both sides, plus rest room/concession facilities that would have to improve 100 fold just to reach the woefully substandard level. Virtually no one noticed the WHL team that was there for what, one half season? Get an idea what you are talking about before you punch the publish button.
Billings would be a better choice, but there needs to be some significant improvements to the building first, including replacing boards and glass in place since the Bighorns left for Nanaimo 25 years ago.
Billings currently has a Junior B team (I refuse to call it T3 Jr A)and Grerat Falls has no team at all that I'm aware of, after losing the Junior A team they used to have several years ago.
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