The Grande Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League are struggling on the ice with a 9-31-3 record but more importantly they are fighting for survival.
The Storm held a news conference this week to announce the team is financially strapped and is looking for immediate support.
According to a story by Fred Rinne in the Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune, club President Chris Luhtala stated the team owes about $100,000 in bills outstanding and will need another 100 grand to cover expenses to finish the 2015-16 season.
The Storm’s average attendance this season is believed to be between 400 and 500 fans a game, down considerably from the approximate 1,200 of the previous season, and from the 2,400 a game 10 years ago.
The team has launched a #Save Our Storm initiative which targets selling more tickets, increasing sponsorship (which has dropped in half this season) and sales plus having more community involvement.
Grande Prairie was once considered a model AJHL franchise, winning a pair of league championships (2004 and 2009) and hosting the 2004 Royal Bank Cup national tournament.
One would assume that the financial struggles of the Storm are something that the Prince George Spruce Kings can relate to.
Both Junior A hockey teams are community owned and deal with a unique set of challenges with a Northern location.
The Spruce Kings, however, have a stronger fan base, with an average of just over 900, and are able to keep afloat thanks to their highly successful house lottery.
Should those house tickets ever falter, it’s not far-fetched to believe the Spruce Kings could very well end up in the same sinking boat as the Storm.
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This evening is a rarity on the Prince George sports scene.
For the first time this season, the P.G. Cougars, Spruce Kings and UNBC Timberwolves basketball teams all have a home game on the same night.
The Cougars have just 12 regular season home games left, including a visit from the Kamloops Blazers tonight in the first of a doubleheader at CN Centre.
The Spruce Kings, with only 10 home games remaining, entertain the Langley Rivermen for the second consecutive night at the Coliseum.
Langley won on Thursday, 5-4 in double overtime.
The Timberwolves are down to four home dates in the 2015-16 Canada West season and this includes a doubleheader at the Northern Sport Centre tonight and Saturday against the UBCO Heat.
With the Cougars obviously leading the way, it would not be surprising to see a total of over 5,000 Prince George sports fans in attendance for the combined games this evening.
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All the best to former Prince George Cougars captain Brock Hirsche who confirmed this week that he has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The 23-year-old Hirsche was one of the most popular and respected players during his four seasons in a Cougars uniform (2009-2013).
Hirsche is now captain of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.
Ironically, he is the third player on the Pronghorns team in the last year to face a battle with testicular cancer.
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I’m not sure any player on any pro sports team is more valuable than the 2014-15 NHL Hart Trophy winner Carey Price.
Remember when the Montreal Canadiens, with a healthy Price, began the season in October with nine consecutive victories?
Following the win streak, the Habs topped the odds to win the Stanley Cup at 15/2 at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Today, they have plummeted to 12th at 16/1, and those odds may continue to sink the longer Price remains sidelined.
The (24-19-4) Canadiens have lost their confidence without the backbone of their team and have slid out of a playoff spot.
They have dropped 17 of their last 21 games, including five in a row, since a 19-4-3 start.
Montreal is just 6-16-2 since Price was shelved by a lower-body injury in November.
Price isn’t due back for at least another three or four weeks, and by that time the team may only have 20 or so games left.
One might suggest, the Habs are paying a huge “Price” without their MVP.
From the Quote Rack:
New York Jets defensive back Antonio Cromartie already has fathered 10 children. Now comes word that his wife is expecting twins, even though Cromartie has had a vasectomy. So much for him being a shutdown corner.
Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader Post
Jets DB Antonio Cromartie and his wife said it’s a surprise to be expecting twins given his recent vasectomy — they thought sex was safe. In other words, they went to cover zero.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Seattle Seahawk fans are still wondering why Marshawn Lynch showed up in Carolina but not in Minnesota. He apparently told WSOC TV Charlotte “I’m only here so I won’t get fined”.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver http://alwaysfunny.com/
Trailing by 14 points late in the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots, the Kansas city Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to forego the two minute offense for the four corners offense.
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin
Kobe Bryant says he won’t pursue a spot on the next U.S. Olympic basketball team. Well, of course not, coach Gregg Popovich might expect him actually to pass the ball.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
And in case you missed it:
Jake Butt of the Michigan Wolverines has been named U.S. College football Big 10 tight end of the year. Meanwhile, Freddie Seatbelt won best safety.
Comedy Central
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. He also is the 94.3 radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games. His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller