Just 18 months after the West Kelowna Warriors reached the pinnacle of Canadian junior A hockey, the BCHL franchise faced the prospects of leaving the Central Okanagan for good.
In January 2017, Mark Cheyne said significant financial losses every season since he assumed ownership of the club in 2009, forced him to consider his options, including moving the Warriors to another city.
With an RBC Cup championship run in 2016, Cheyne hoped the club害羞草研究所檚 financial fortunes would have finally taken a turn for the better.
But with community support for the team and attendance remaining stagnant, 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害羞草研究所ut the light at the end never came.
害羞草研究所淚t was difficult,害羞草研究所� said Cheyne, 害羞草研究所渁 long, hard decision. It hurts me and I know some people will be hurt this. But there害羞草研究所檚 not much else we can put into it.害羞草研究所�
With the threat of the Warriors leaving town, a group of loyal fans stepped up to rally behind the team.
In the end, a consortium of new investors came forward to help keep the club in West Kelowna for the 2017-18 season and, if all goes as planned, well beyond.
害羞草研究所淚 appreciate these guys stepping up,害羞草研究所� said Cheyne. 害羞草研究所淭his was the easiest and best of the options I had and I think it害羞草研究所檚 good for the community that it stays here,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 nice for me to still be a part of it and see how we can make things work down the road.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 happy we害羞草研究所檙e going to continue to have hockey in West Kelowna.害羞草研究所�
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