All's well in Leaf land as Green and White begin preparation for upcoming season on solid financial footing
By Bruce Fuhr
Despite being knocked out in the first round of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoffs — in five games no less, meaning the squad hosted only two of the lucrative post season contests — the Nelson Leafs hockey franchise finished the campaign on solid financial footing according to treasurer Gord Davis.
“I’m happy with how the season went overall,” Davis told The Nelson Daily.
“We had a $17,000 improvement in overall revenue over (2010-11) and that’s after we paid out $9,000 in scholarships to players.”
Figures were released during the Leafs AGM last month.
It cost Leaf board of directors $235,700 to run the team for the recent season.
Hockey revenues, including admission, advertising and beer sales, totaled $179,700.
Davis said that was an increase of $27,000 due to an increase in advertising revenue, which includes board ads in the arena and program advertising.
There was also an increase in fans attending games during the regular season.
To novice mathematicians that’s a deficit of $56,000.
However, thanks to the Leaf recycling depot, the hockey team finishes the fiscal year in the black.
“It’s not uncommon for a junior hockey team like ours to have other sources of revenue to run the team and we’re just lucky to have the (recycling) center, which this year generated $64,000 for us,” Davis explained.
The meeting attracted only a few people.
The board remains intact from last season.
Back to lead the Good Leaf Ship is president Russell Stocks.
Joining Davis and Stocks is vice-president Chuck Brind’Amour, Lauretta Wilson as beverage services director, Grant Arcuri, in charge of education and Lori Stocks and Brenda Nystrom.
Back for his second season behind the bench is skipper Frank Maida.
Maida was thrust into the position late in last year’s recruting season after then coach Chris Shaw took an assistant coaching job in the BCHL with the Vernon Vipers.
Shaw has since been released by the Interior Division squad.
Now that the Leafs have completed internal business, the board focuses on the league as the KIJHL AGM this weekend in Golden.
Friday, team reps meet to begin setting the regular season schedule for the 2012-13 season.
Saturday and Sunday governors discuss league business, setting the course for the upcoming campaign and deciding the rep for the Cyclone Taylor Cup, hosted on Vancouver Island in April 11-14 of 2013 in Comox by the Glacier Kings.
OFF-ICE NEWS: Gord Davis said the Leaf recycling depot, which for years had been the place to drop off beverage containers, now accepts paint and other hazzardous products. New manager Grant Wilson is also working on accepting light bulbs in the near future.
