BCHL team interested in move to Kamloops

This story appeared in Saturday's Kamloops Daily News . . .

By MARK HUNTER
Daily News Sports Reporter
Barry Dewar, the owner of the KIJHL’s Kamloops Storm, said Friday that a BCHL franchise has approached him about relocating to Kamloops.
Dewar said that Al Glendinning, the general manager and head coach of the Merritt Centennials, has asked him about the possibility of their teams switching locations, the Centennials moving to Kamloops, and the Storm to Merritt.
According to Dewar, the BCHL approved the sale of the Centennials by the Merritt Centennials Hockey Club Society at a meeting in Vernon earlier this week.
Dewar said he does not know who is involved in the group that bought the franchise.
Dewar also said the BCHL at that same meeting approved the relocation of the franchise to Kamloops.
BCHL commissioner John Grisdale was not made available for comment.
Jeff Dubois, the BCHL’s director of media services, said Grisdale was not in a position to make a comment at this time.
“That’s something that there would either be an announcement through the league or through the club,” Dubois said. “That’s not something that I would comment on and John . . . he told me that there was nothing to comment on.”
Glendinning, a former assistant coach with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, couldn’t be reached for comment.
The Centennials, who have the BCHL’s poorest record (7-34-0-3), lost 9-0 to the Warriors in Westside last night.
According to Dewar, he was contacted by Glendinning, who at first suggested the franchises swap towns and later asked if the Storm was for sale.
“I said everything is for sale if the price is right,” Dewar said from Sicamous, where the Storm beat the host Eagles 5-4 in overtime. “The team is not actually for sale, but it’s business. If someone makes you an offer you have to look at it seriously.”
Dewar said that he gave Glendinning a figure, but added Glendinning has yet to respond.
Although Dewar is not looking to move his team, which relocated to Kamloops from Osoyoos prior to 2006-07, he said he doesn’t believe Kamloops could support three junior hockey teams.
“One of them would die,” Dewar said.
If the BCHL were to move a franchise to Kamloops it would need a place to play.
The Blazers play at the 5,464-seat Interior Savings Centre, while the Storm plays at McArthur Island Sports and Events Centre, in the 1,200-seat Olympic rink. In the same building is the 2,000-seat NHL rink.
Dewar has an ice-rental contract for the state-of-the-art Olympic rink, and a marketing contract for both rinks.
“We have an agreement with the city for marketing at McArthur Island, which includes both sides,” he said. “We also have an ice-rental contract, for our annual use of ice.”