Refocused and reenergized.
That was the main message at the Yorkton Terrier Junior Hockey Booster Club annual general meeting on Jun. 25. The local team is looking forward to a new hockey season while overcoming financial and management problems from the previous season.
“[Putting] a quality product on ice is [the] number one [priority],” said club vice-president Alan Sharp.
Club members filled the National Bank Convention Room on Monday to hear reports from club leaders and to voice their opinions and concerns.
The club laid out their financial state, which is not ideal. Their current liabilities outpace their current assets by $34,345. While the club made less overall revenue than last year ($544,367 versus $607,820), they also incurred fewer expenses ($530,959 versus $593,881). The club attributed the reduced revenue to low ticket sales (general attendance fell by 30 per cent this season). They claimed the Terriers inability to make playoffs contributed to the lower expenses.
On the hockey front, general manager and head coach Mat Hehr took to the podium to address the team’s future. He emphasized changing the Terriers’ culture and attitude.
“We’re still working on being one big family,” he said. “That doesn’t happen overnight.”
Hehr highlighted how the season was full of uncertainty and changes. He hopes to bring a sense of structure to the team in the fall.
“It was kind of a whirlwind,” he said. “Everyone’s excited for some kind of stability next season.
“We’re going to have a very good team.”
The club plans to involve past Terriers players more heavily in the team’s plans. The theme for the upcoming season is #Terriers4Life.
“It takes a lot of work to run the organization,” Sharp said.
Sharp was encouraged by the big turnout at the meeting. Even after an occasionally heartbreaking season, hope springs eternal in Yorkton.
“It’s obvious there’s passion for the club,” he said.
