By John DeCoste
KingsCountyNews.ca
It’s official: there will be Junior A hockey in the Valley, starting this fall.
Cambridge businessman Graham Baxter confirmed May 9 that a group he is heading up and the existing owners of the Metro Shipbuilders will operate a Junior A franchise in the Valley for the 2013-2014 season.
The partnership is pending approval by the Board of Governors of the Maritime Junior Hockey League.
Baxter is already president of the Summit Hyundai Valley Midget AAA and Kings Mutual Bantam AAA Wildcats. He sees this as “a tremendous opportunity” to both grow hockey in the Valley and to enhance both existing Valley AAA teams.
“We are very pleased to be working with the current owners of the Metro franchise, John Patterson and Rodi Saarloos, in relocating the team,” Baxter said.
He confirmed the team will concentrate on drafting local players, as well as players from the Metro area and throughout the Maritimes.
“We want to stress that we still require approval from the league, and we are working to get all the necessary information together,” he added.
The group, however, is moving forward on the assumption that approval will be forthcoming.
“We have assembled a solid executive, and see the junior team as an extension of the bantam and midget programs, which we are very proud of,” Baxter said.
He admitted in a conversation Wednesday that negotiations around the move “have been ongoing for some time, but we wanted to wait until everything was in place before making any kind of official announcement.”
Ken Barrett, owner of Summit Hyundai, has agreed to assume the role of title sponsor for the Junior A team as well as the Midget Wildcats.
“Ken brings a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and marketing knowledge to the program, and we look forward to working with him.”
In addition, an advisory board has been created, chaired by Paul Hughes, a partner in the accounting and business advisory firm Grant Thornton.
Baxter confirmed the group “is currently in discussions” with both Kentville and Berwick to determine the eventual home for the Junior A team.
“We are looking at both locals and trying to determine the best home for the team, and one that can comply with league specifications,” he said, adding he is confident “we will have that nailed down within the next couple of weeks.”
Asked about the team’s potential competitiveness, Baxter pointed out that the Shipbuilders had a young team last year and will have a lot of returning players.
“Together with the draft picks we will have this year, including the first overall pick, we are confident the team will be competitive.”
Baxter didn’t expect the Junior A team to have any conflict with the Valley Maple Leafs Junior B team.
“We’re two separate franchises, and two different levels of hockey,” he said. “I believe there’s a market for both.”
As part of building the team, the Valley Wildcat Hockey Group is seeking interested individuals to join the organization.
“Plans are underway to build an energetic and positive team to assist in the operation of this very exciting opportunity for our area,” Baxter said.
The positions the group is seeking include the coaching staff – head coach, assistants and trainers – a marketing co-ordinator, a player billet coordinator (and billet families), a team equipment manager, a chairperson for a Booster Club and scouting staff.
Any interested individuals should forward their resumes to Rhonda Baxter at [email protected]. Only those applicants advancing to the interview stage will be contacted.
By John DeCoste
KingsCountyNews.ca
It’s official: there will be Junior A hockey in the Valley, starting this fall.
Cambridge businessman Graham Baxter confirmed May 9 that a group he is heading up and the existing owners of the Metro Shipbuilders will operate a Junior A franchise in the Valley for the 2013-2014 season.
The partnership is pending approval by the Board of Governors of the Maritime Junior Hockey League.
Baxter is already president of the Summit Hyundai Valley Midget AAA and Kings Mutual Bantam AAA Wildcats. He sees this as “a tremendous opportunity” to both grow hockey in the Valley and to enhance both existing Valley AAA teams.
“We are very pleased to be working with the current owners of the Metro franchise, John Patterson and Rodi Saarloos, in relocating the team,” Baxter said.
He confirmed the team will concentrate on drafting local players, as well as players from the Metro area and throughout the Maritimes.
“We want to stress that we still require approval from the league, and we are working to get all the necessary information together,” he added.
The group, however, is moving forward on the assumption that approval will be forthcoming.
“We have assembled a solid executive, and see the junior team as an extension of the bantam and midget programs, which we are very proud of,” Baxter said.
He admitted in a conversation Wednesday that negotiations around the move “have been ongoing for some time, but we wanted to wait until everything was in place before making any kind of official announcement.”
Ken Barrett, owner of Summit Hyundai, has agreed to assume the role of title sponsor for the Junior A team as well as the Midget Wildcats.
“Ken brings a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and marketing knowledge to the program, and we look forward to working with him.”
In addition, an advisory board has been created, chaired by Paul Hughes, a partner in the accounting and business advisory firm Grant Thornton.
Baxter confirmed the group “is currently in discussions” with both Kentville and Berwick to determine the eventual home for the Junior A team.
“We are looking at both locals and trying to determine the best home for the team, and one that can comply with league specifications,” he said, adding he is confident “we will have that nailed down within the next couple of weeks.”
Asked about the team’s potential competitiveness, Baxter pointed out that the Shipbuilders had a young team last year and will have a lot of returning players.
“Together with the draft picks we will have this year, including the first overall pick, we are confident the team will be competitive.”
Baxter didn’t expect the Junior A team to have any conflict with the Valley Maple Leafs Junior B team.
“We’re two separate franchises, and two different levels of hockey,” he said. “I believe there’s a market for both.”
As part of building the team, the Valley Wildcat Hockey Group is seeking interested individuals to join the organization.
“Plans are underway to build an energetic and positive team to assist in the operation of this very exciting opportunity for our area,” Baxter said.
The positions the group is seeking include the coaching staff – head coach, assistants and trainers – a marketing co-ordinator, a player billet coordinator (and billet families), a team equipment manager, a chairperson for a Booster Club and scouting staff.
Any interested individuals should forward their resumes to Rhonda Baxter at [email protected]. Only those applicants advancing to the interview stage will be contacted.