Just minutes before the North Bay Skyhawks took to the ice for their spring training camp, the team’s president and general manager held a news conference to express their concerns over club’s future. G.M. Guy Blanchard says the team was notified on April 24th that Nipissing University has put forth an offer to the city of North Bay to bring University hockey to Memorial Gardens. Even though it would be a different calibre of hockey, Blanchard’s reaction to the plan was blunt - the Hawks would fold come the fall of ’09.
“We’re not sure at this time if both teams can co-exist, we’ve come to the conclusion that it is very difficult, so at this present time the city has made it clear to us, they’re in and we’re out, I guess the tax paying people should have a choice on that matter also,” said Blanchard.
Blanchard says Nipissing’s last hurdle is to have its offer approved by city council before May 9th. It’s the deadline for the University to apply to the Ontario University Athletics, to join the league in 2009. That leaves council less than a week to approve the deal. While Blanchard says scheduling could be worked out between both clubs, he cites marketing dollars as the biggest hurdle adding the Skyhawks can’t afford to lose any of its marketing dollars it gets from selling advertising at the Gardens. He says Nipissing also needs most of that revenue to survive, therefore only team will be able to stay afloat.
“The other big issue of co-existing is we need another dressing at Memorial Gardens is the city prepared to put another dressing room in, that is the biggest road block to move forward at this point, we don’t have a dressing room for the 2009 season.”
Blanchard also added the deal with Nipissing will mean no recognized junior hockey in North Bay, because his group will maintain its junior rights to the area.
“We are an established franchise that has been in this area for 19 years. What is more valuable and more stable for hockey? That is one of the decisions they (council) will have to make.” Says Blanchard.
The whole issue revolves around money. If the city can come up with financial support, then perhaps an agreement could be reached that would allow for the Skyhawks and Lakers to co-exist. But Blanchard says that figure is over $100,000.
Baytoday has tried to contact Nipissing University Athletics and the city with no success. When more information becomes available this story will be updated.
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