A last ditch effort to keep the West Kelowna Warriors where they are is underway.

Alex Draper, the team害羞草研究所檚 director of business operations, is among a group of dedicated locals putting their time toward drumming up interest for a new ownership coalition.

害羞草研究所淲e have a couple irons in the fire, but we need more investors,害羞草研究所� said Draper, who started the effort in earnest last week.

害羞草研究所淧eople started expressing interest and we thought, 害羞草研究所榣et害羞草研究所檚 do what we can then we can look in the mirror and say we did the best we could.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

In addition to private investors looking into the feasibility of a group-ownership plan, Draper said they害羞草研究所檝e also had support from the City of West Kelowna.

Bob Kusch, West Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Parks, Recreation and Culture Manager, on Tuesday submitted a report, that recommended council approve the application of 害羞草研究所淗ome of the 2016 RBC Cup Champions害羞草研究所� decals on all city vehicles should the West Kelowna Warriors remain.

害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克��They are seeking support from the city to express pride and support for the franchise and recognize the teams害羞草研究所� achievements,害羞草研究所� read Kusch害羞草研究所檚 report.

害羞草研究所淭he new proposed ownership group believes, that by doing so, the city would assist in their efforts to increase the fan base.害羞草研究所�

Draper said that害羞草研究所檚 just the tip of the iceberg. The city has also told them it害羞草研究所檚 open to releasing advertising space to the team in Royal LePage Place that could offer an additional revenue stream.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e told us, 害羞草研究所榃e want you guys here,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said Draper.

Draper acknowledges that keeping the team local isn害羞草研究所檛 going to be easy, but there害羞草研究所檚 precedence with three community-owned teams in the league.

害羞草研究所淔or these teams local investment has come together and they have a local board that can pass laws and that kind of thing,害羞草研究所� he said.

While the specifics are far from being hammered out, Draper said it害羞草研究所檚 clear there害羞草研究所檚 a contingent of hockey-minded residents who want it to happen and he wants to help.

害羞草研究所淭he other day a 10-year-old in Kelowna minor hockey come up to me and ask, 害羞草研究所榠f the Warriors leave am I still a Warrior?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 he said.

害羞草研究所淵ou hear that kind of thing and you have to do what you can.害羞草研究所�

The plan to move the team to Delta is still moving ahead, but Draper said that if something happens to keep the team local the current owner would support it.

害羞草研究所淗e always wanted to keep the team here, the three or four years he was selling it we hoped it was going to be to a local investor,害羞草研究所� he said.

Warriors害羞草研究所� owner Mark Cheyne signed a letter of intent to transfer ownership of the club to a Delta businessman last month, with the move subject to approval by the league害羞草研究所檚 board of governors.

The team was a money-losing venture since moving to West Kelowna from Langley in 2006, Cheyne took over sole ownership of the club in 2009.

With an RBC Cup championship run last season, Cheyne hoped the club害羞草研究所檚 financial fortunes would finally take a turn for the better. But with community support for the team and attendance remaining stagnant this season, Cheyne said the writing was on the wall.

害羞草研究所淲e were never even close to breaking even once and after awhile it害羞草研究所檚 just no fun anymore,害羞草研究所� Cheyne said. 害羞草研究所淭he last few years, you look for that light at the end of the tunnel, and when we won it all last year, we hoped that would be it.

害羞草研究所淚 was told once you get by Vernon, once you get by Penticton, once you win something big, it害羞草研究所檒l turn around,害羞草研究所� Cheyne added. 害羞草研究所淏ut the light at the end never came.害羞草研究所�

To get in touch with Draper email alex@westkelowna.ca.