OT: Prince George Cougars for sale, could relocate (Aquilini possibly involved)

[Mr. Canucklehead]

UPDATED: Cougars 'remain committed' to Prince George as sale talk spreads

Online petition launched to keep the team in the city

www.princegeorgecitizen.com

Pretty big bombshell here out of the North. Would be tragic for the Cougars - who have a long history and a hardcore fanbase - to move.

Click to read more...

 

[StreetHawk]

UPDATED: Cougars 'remain committed' to Prince George as sale talk spreads

Online petition launched to keep the team in the city

www.princegeorgecitizen.com

Pretty big bombshell here out of the North. Would be tragic for the Cougars - who have a long history and a hardcore fanbase - to move.

Langley, Chilliwack and Abby for 2 WHL and AHL club. Is that wise? Would reduce travel for the W BC division. But, still...... if PG supports them, like to see them stay.

Who knows what is going to happen with the CHL over the coming years. Seems like CHL kids are going to be allowed to go to the NCAA now and no longer have to choose between the 2.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Surrey?

 

[the big nobody]

God I hope they move to New West. Bring back the Bruins! The Bruins from the 70s, not the 80s. We don't speak of the latter.

 

[End on a Hinote]

That would be nuts of they did relocate. I remember back in the 90's and early 2000's they had arguably the biggest fanbase of all the BC teams. They have quite the history as well despite never winning a Memorial Cup. Hope they stay but if not, how about Nanaimo or Pentiction?

 

[Bubbles]

UPDATED: Cougars 'remain committed' to Prince George as sale talk spreads

Online petition launched to keep the team in the city

www.princegeorgecitizen.com

Pretty big bombshell here out of the North. Would be tragic for the Cougars - who have a long history and a hardcore fanbase - to move.

I hope a local owner or group buys and keeps it there. PG needs them more than any other town in BC. The travel costs alone makes the franchise not too profitable.

Who knows what is going to happen with the CHL over the coming years. Seems like CHL kids are going to be allowed to go to the NCAA now and no longer have to choose between the 2.

So there's a lot of misconceptions and downright bad reporting by a lot of media over this issue. The proposed rule change would only grant CHL players that have aged out (ie, over 20) to go the NCAA. A player from 15-18 still has to decide to either go CHL, Junior A, USHL or the new BCHL. They can't hop back and forth.

 

[lawrence]

Surrey?

Surrey cougars will be such a fitting name

 

[Hammer79]

PG got the relocated Victoria Cougars in 1994, the Chilliwack team moved to become the Victoria Royals, now the PG Cougars might move to Chilliwack and complete the future considerations deal.

 

[CanuckleBerry]

I grew up in Prince George. The Cougars were a big part of the community in the late 90s. I would hate to see them move, despite them being so isolated, northern BC really needs that team.

 

[WTG]

I grew up in Prince George. The Cougars were a big part of the community in the late 90s. I would hate to see them move, despite them being so isolated, northern BC really needs that team.

I also grew up in PG, I really hope they stay.

From what I heard, things have gotten rough in the city. Downtown isn't safe anymore, tonnes of break-ins. It's very depressing to hear.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

I also grew up in PG, I really hope they stay.

From what I heard, things have gotten rough in the city. Downtown isn't safe anymore, tonnes of break-ins. It's very depressing to hear.

Yeah, Prince George was always rough but it's gotten to a whole other level now. There were many high paying jobs back in the day but these have been significantly reduced due to outsourcing and reliance on migrant workers. There's way less disposable income nowadays.

Other communities (Kelowna) that have faced similar challenges in the past 30 years have heavily promoted tourism to keep on trucking but Prince George isn't a draw.

 

[Jyrki21]

PG got the relocated Victoria Cougars in 1994, the Chilliwack team moved to become the Victoria Royals, now the PG Cougars might move to Chilliwack and complete the future considerations deal.

The WHL version of the NJ Devils (Colorado Rockies) moving to Quebec City, I guess?

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

I mean, it all makes sense - but I also thought Aquilini had already closed on the purchase of that rink in Abbotsford, while the original article makes it seem like that transaction is far from complete.

 

[VictoriaJetsFan]

God I hope they stay...I was planning a trip up there next spring to see them. We have so many teams in the area now with Wenatchee close to Seattle.

 

[MS]

It absolutely sucks for the grassroots aspect of the sport and medium-sized communities across Canada that the CHL is trending to just moving teams to metropolitan areas to sell a few more tickets.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

It absolutely sucks for the grassroots aspect of the sport and medium-sized communities across Canada that the CHL is trending to just moving teams to metropolitan areas to sell a few more tickets.

This is the trickle down effect of not having a productive economy and being overly reliant on Tim Hortons to prop up the GDP. There's way less money flowing though the smaller communities in Canada nowadays.

I suspect this will get way worse as many youth hockey leagues in smaller communities rely on local sponsors to survive.

 

[CanuckleBerry]

It absolutely sucks for the grassroots aspect of the sport and medium-sized communities across Canada that the CHL is trending to just moving teams to metropolitan areas to sell a few more tickets.

I think it’s important to emphasize this. Not just as an inspiration for youth to play the game, but even just involvement as a fan. A cultural investment.

It’s easy to take things for granted as a kid, but one thing I did grow to recognize was the access I had to major junior hockey in Prince George. High level competition at a very affordable price for families. Now that I live in New Westminster, have a toddler, and another baby on the way, I’ve realized I simply do not have the same level of access I did in PG. The Canucks are way out of the reasonable price range. The Giants play in the middle of nowhere. The AHL Canucks are even further out. There are some BCHL options around but it’s just not the same level or experience. As a father who would love to take his kids to live hockey games a few times a season, what are my options? That seems bonkers for anyone that lives in Vancouver-Burnaby-New West.

Fingers crossed that Surrey really makes a central arena a reality and anchors a team there. Skytrain access would make it a reasonable option for a ton of families.

 

[PG Canuck]

I think the PG Citizen jumped the gun or got a bad source on this and published an article they shouldn’t.

It seems one of the six shares of ownership is for sale while all other involved owners are staying on. Rather than the entire team being for sale.

Cougars not for sale, have no plans to move team – Dakers - Prince George Cougars

By Will Peters – MYPGNOW The Prince George Cougars are not going anywhere. That is according to their Director of Business, Taylor Dakers, who spoke to My PG Now this evening (Tuesday). “The team is not for sale,” Dakers said, plainly. “There is absolutely no changes in store for the Cougars, no...

chl.ca

Could very well be lip service and you hope it’s not but I wouldn’t be shocked of the day they do move. The support isn’t there and anyone saying otherwise is just lying.

This past season was the best team this franchise has ever seen and the attendance was still in the bottom third of the league. It’s pitiful.

Just don’t think many can afford to go all the time anymore and even though the team has been better lately it seems the support still isn’t quite there. The last few years have been great but it feels like we all get a sense that this will be a flash in the pan and the team will be fighting for 8 seeds once again. Need to have more years of this caliber of hockey for interest to really be back.