A recent report outlying ongoing financial concerns of B.C. Hockey League clubs and fears of possible losses of teams is not being overlooked by owners of the Victoria Grizzlies.
A story based out of Trail this week painted a bleak financial forecast, due to a drop in the numbers of fans across the Junior A league.
Hoping to make the league more viable, team governors will bring ideas to help improve the scenarios owners face to semi-annual meetings slated for January on the Mainland. According to the report, the BCHL executive board — which the Grizzlies are not a part of — met earlier this week to discuss the topic.
“I don’t believe there is a team in the league making money,” Trail Smoke Eaters president Tony Gawryletz told the Trail Daily Times. “The league has to make some changes if it’s going to survive.”
Attendance is down across the BCHL, except in Penticton. According to league numbers, Victoria is averaging 1,087 fans per game, fourth highest in the BCHL behind Penticton, Vernon and Chilliwack.
The Grizzlies recently brought a handful of new owners on board to help with their financial difficulties, including John Wilson, who is now president of the club.
“First of all, I must say that being involved in junior hockey at an ownership level is much more a passion and a community give-back than a path to wealth creation,” admitted Wilson, CEO of Wilson’s Transportation.
“Most who get involved — and certainly in the Grizzlies Ownership Group’s case — do so for the passion of the game and to give back to the community, and we are under no illusion that there will be a cash windfall at the end of the day.”
That being said, Wilson stated the team’s goal is to, at the very least, break even while providing junior-aged players an opportunity to generate scholarships toward bettering their education.
“The ownership group all realize to accomplish this objective we must grow the fan and corporate base within the community to make this happen,” said Wilson. “What was done in the past and, perhaps taken for granted prior, needs to be re-looked at.”
New ideas, possibly outside the junior hockey model or box, need to be explored, he explained.
“During our short time being involved in the team, it is very evident that the BCHL and the Victoria Grizzlies need to make changes to adjust to today’s hockey economy and business climate,” said Wilson.
“Our new local ownership group has made some changes immediately to lower expenses and have begun to look at new ways to reconnect with the community and, in particular, minor hockey associations to increase interest in the team and attract more fans to the games.
“We are beginning to develop what we believe is a great plan, that we hope will bring balance to the books as early as next season and are very excited with the long-term prognosis of the Victoria Grizzlies and the BCHL.”
Lowering the roster numbers, working closer with affiliates and a pay-to-play formula are some of the ideas and proposals owners will bring to the mid-January meeting to ensure BCHL franchises have stability moving forward, Wilson added.
“The product is a still a great sell and the quality of hockey is at a very high level that has developed NHL stars such as Kyle Turris in Burnaby, Tyler Bozak and Jamie Benn from right here at Bear Mountain Arena,” said Wilson, who believes the Grizzlies’ price point and venue are among the best in the league.
“The public have a lot of choices for their entertainment dollar these days and it is our job to entice them to choose the BCHL and, in particular, the Victoria Grizzlies as a team and entertainment they want to put their hard-earned dollars behind,” Wilson stressed.
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
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