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IceCaps Moving to Thunder Bay

Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 10:10 pm
by Spider-Man NL
http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&ID=42696


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Danny Williams says he is already exploring opportunities to bring another hockey team to St. John's when the IceCaps leave after next season. Williams, who is the President and CEO of the St. John's IceCaps, says he has been told by the team's parent company that it has been chosen as a preferred partner for a new rink in Thunder Bay, and the team will in all likelihood be moving to Ontario after next season. Danny Williams says he got the call last night, but was not surprised.


Williams says he has already begun the process of trying to find another team to play out of St. John's and is even considering buying a franchise.


And a footnote to the story: the team may move, but the name and brand belong to Williams, so that would still be the name and look of whatever team plays here.




Jets Owner Mark Chipman calls talks about the move to Thunder Bay very preliminary. Chipman tells the Winnipeg Free Press that the earliest the team would move would be for the 2016-17 season, but he says it's more likely to be the 2017-18 season.



While he says fan support has been phenomenal in St. John's, the travel logistics have been difficult when moving players up and down.


St. John's city councillor Danny Breen says losing the IceCaps would have a significant impact on the city, both economically and in terms of the community.


He says there's a big impact on the community, when you see families attending games together. Economically, 48 games a year means 48 nights of people working at Mile One.



Breen says the city is hopeful it can help attract another team to St. John's.


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http://www.suddendeathhockeyforums.ca/f ... hunder-Bay

Re: IceCaps Moving to Thunder Bay

Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 6:09 pm
by NLHockeyTalk.ca
Big blow to the hockey community, but definitely looks like Williams is dedicated to getting a team here.

Re: IceCaps Moving to Thunder Bay

Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 10:44 pm
by superfan
Fan loyalty means nothing to these people .




.... the best attendance in the league and look what they get !!!! :roll: