Powassan on hockey league's expansion radar

by Keely Grasser

Nov 30, 2007

ALMAGUIN — Could Powassan soon be hosting Junior A hockey?

After a failed bid in a previous expansion, the friendly town is currently short-listed withthe Greater Metro Junior Hockey League (GMHL) as a possible expansion market for the 2008-2009 season.

Last week, the proposed team’s owner, Doug Sanders, made a presentation to the Sportsplex board, asking for their support.

He presented the team as an opportunity to help bring the town together, instill civic pride and be part of the revitalization of hockey in the area.

His vision, Sanders explained, is to develop players and give them the opportunity and exposure needed to learn, grow and achieve their full potential in the hopes of gaining a future scholarship or to move to higher major junior levels of hockey.

But community and town support, he said, is an important factor in his quest to bring the team to reality.

It’s just one of the steps Sanders is taking to make his proposed team look lucrative to the GMHL.

The GMHL is considering eight offers, including Sanders’, from possible team owners right now for the next season, explained league president Bob Russell. “We’re going to bring in two to four teams.”

The GMHL teams have private owners.

Sanders will be the owner, or one of the owners of the team, which he said he plans to call the Powassan Blazers.

He says the name relates to trail blazers, since Powassan was originally a sawmill-type of community.

It’s also a hockey-loving community and that’s why Sanders said he hopes to bring Junior A hockey back to it. Powassan was previously host to the Passports, later named the Hawks, which were also Junior A teams.

“I’m pretty excited, that’s for sure,” he said.

Sanders is originally from Sault Ste. Marie, where he said he “grew up at the arena.”

After moving to Powassan, he heard they were looking for coaches for minor hockey. He’s been coaching the Powassan Hawks midget rep team for two years.

Powassan had previously been on the shortlist for the GMHL expansion for the 2007-2008 season, but Sanders said the deal, which he wasn’t a part of, fell through.

Sanders said he had heard of the GMHL’s recent interest in the area and got in touch with Russell.

He went and visited with GMHL officials last spring and learned about the league and its mandate.

After expressing his interest, the next step was getting the arena deal and the support of the town.

Sanders sees the Sportsplex as a great home for the Blazers.

“Oh, absolutely. There’s room for 600 people in the stands. 600 plus. If we sell out, that’s fantastic,” he said.

Russell said he agreed. He and other GMHL officials have previously toured the facility.

“We’ve been to the rink and it looks like a good market,” he said.

Sanders made his presentation at the Sportsplex board’s meeting last week.

He asked for the board’s support, use of the big dressing room in the facility, use of the upstairs of the arena during home games as a box for fans, scouts and media and for team meetings, as well as for arena heaters to be turned on during games.

Sanders also asked the board for discounted ice time, which he said would mean the team wouldn’t have to rely heavily on ticket sales.

In return, Sanders explained that the team will allow minor hockey to hold skills competitions in between periods with proceeds going back to them. They’ll also give tickets to minor hockey to divide amongst the associations to allow parents and players to attend the team’s home games and assist local youth hockey teams and local youth hockey players. The Blazers will be a community-based franchise and participate in different community events, besides providing Powassan and the surrounding area with great entertainment.

The board in is support of the venture, said Sportsplex manager Mike Heasman, but will not give the team discounted ice time.

“He got everything from us,” Heasman said. “Besides the discount on ice time.”
Sanders said he considered their decision a victory.

His next step in the process is raising necessary funds.

He’s currently looking for sponsors, even co-owners, as well as people interested in being volunteers and coaching staff.

Sanders said he’ll also fundraise, adding that drives could be held in conjunction with other charity organizations, like area minor hockey teams.

“The deadline I’m putting on myself for fundraising is the end of March, beginning of April,” Sanders said.

Teams have their training camps at the end of August and the schedule begins in September.

A GMHL team, Sanders said, will allow local players to develop their skills without leaving the area.

However, Russell said, there will be some players imported from other areas.

The GMHL, which is not sanctioned by Hockey Canada, has a fully-staffed head office and also supplies experienced specialists who market players in local, national and international leagues.

The GMHL strives to help players find opportunities at the American college and Ontario Hockey League levels.

A team’s roster must include five 15-year-olds and eight 20-year-olds with a balance of 16 to 19-year-olds making a roster of 25 players. GMHL teams hold four practice sessions a week as well as annual showcase tournaments and all-star games to highlight player achievement.

They also have a no trade/cut policy, which means once a player is signed, he won’t be let go from the team that season.

The GMHL was founded in 2006, and played that season with seven teams, which included the South Muskoka Shield. Six expansion teams were added for the 2007-2008 season.

Russell emphasized that no final decision on the Blazers has been made yet, but added, “We’re looking at him (Sanders) favourably at this point.”

As a market, Russell said, “I think they would do well. You have the North Bay south market.”

West Nipissing has a GMHL team, the Nipissing Alouettes.

Russell said that the team’s owners are fine with an expansion team starting up south of them

Sanders said he doesn’t believe a lot of people from our area travel there to watch Alouette games and added, “I think it would be good for rivalry purposes.”

“If the community supports a team,” said Russell, “It will work anywhere….You’ve got to have the support of the community.”