The WHL was to have made an announcement of some sort Wednesday regarding the situation in which the Portland Winter Hawks franchise finds itself these days. Coming off two abysmal seasons, and with all kinds of rumours circulating about unpaid bills, the Winter Hawks, who laid off a bunch of employees earlier this summer, suffered the ignominy of having the WHL bring in the accounting firm KPMG to do an audit of their operation. But neither the WHL nor Winter Hawks ownership has had much, if anything, to say about the situation of late. It was hoped the WHL would provide an update of some sort following the completion of its annual general meeting in Calgary on Wednesday, but that didn’t happen, apparently because parties who were to have been involved were traveling. And now word is that there will be an announcement sometime Thursday.
What is known is that at least two groups have expressed an interest in purchasing the Winter Hawks from the present ownership group. But that group, which bought the franchise for less than $4 million in 2006, has put a US$7-million price tag on its operation. It seems fairly obvious, though, that no one would pay that kind of money for the Winter Hawks.
So we shall see what comes out of the WHL office in Calgary on Thursday.
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Former WHL coach Perry Pearn thought he might have had a chance at being the next head coach of the NHL’s Florida Panthers. Geez, Louise, he didn’t even get a call back from Florida GM Jacques Martin. . . . Good story in the Edmonton Journal about the situation and you can read it right here. . . .
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Things are looking up in Red Deer where the arena will be fitted with a new scoreclock, courtesy Brent Sutter and the Rebels. You are able to check it out right here and that includes a peak at the clock. . . .
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You knew that things involving Moose Jaw and a new arena would never be as simple as having (a) city council approve it, (b) tenders go out, and (c) construction begin. This, folks, is turning into one of those soap operas — How Moose Jaw’s World Turns — and it’s going to be worth following right here on the Moose Jaw Times-Herald website. Good story there Wednesday involving debate over a previous referendum. . . . The 2,501-seat Moose Jaw Civic Centre, or the Crushed Can as it is affectionately known, was built for $525,000 and opened in 1959. A new facility right now is tabbed at $61.3 million, but that also includes an eight-sheet curling rink and an indoor soccer facility. The city is on the hook for $34.53 million. . . .
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JUNIOR JOTTINGS: Former NHL tough cookie Peter Worrell is into the coaching game. He has been named head coach of the Miami Toros, who play in the Southeast Junior Hockey League. . . . Hardy Sauter will be back for a second season as an assistant coach with the Memorial Cup-champion Spokane Chiefs. Sauter signed a one-year contract Wednesday. . . . With the WHL having outlined the bid process for the 2010 Memorial Cup, the Saskatoon Blades are the first team to indicate an interest. Blaces president Jack Brodsky told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix that his organization is keen on playing host to the 2010 tournament. Bids have to be into the WHL office by Aug. 15. With Saskatoon/Regina having bid on either the 2010 or 2012 World Junior Championship, the Blades will wait to see the outcome of that — Hockey Canada is expected to make an announcement in July — before deciding whether to get involved in the race for the 2010 Memorial Cup.
