Regardless of the fate that awaits the West 麻豆精选 Warriors at 蝉别补蝉辞苍鈥檚 end, head coach and GM Rylan Ferster believes Mark Cheyne is owed a debt of gratitude.
Ferster said both the BCHL club and the city have been fortunate to have an owner who possesses 颁丑别测苍别鈥檚 integrity and his passion for the game.
鈥淎迟 the end of the day, I think everyone in West 麻豆精选 needs to shake Mark 颁丑别测苍别鈥檚 丑补苍诲,鈥� Ferster said. 鈥泪迟鈥檚 a wonderful place to play, for an organization and a good guy who has a lot of respect in the BCHL.
鈥泪迟鈥檚 tremendous what 丑别鈥檚 done for years for the community, 丑别鈥檚 done it at considerable cost and 丑别鈥檚 never asked for anything 产补肠办,鈥� Ferster added. 鈥淗别鈥檚 a great owner who has really been a part of the rest of us on this team for all those 测别补谤蝉.鈥�
Last week, news broke during the BCHL meetings that Cheyne had come to an agreement in principle to transfer ownership to a group who plans to relocate the club to North 顿别濒迟补鈥檚 Sungod Arena.
The move is subject to approval by the 濒别补驳耻别鈥檚 franchise committee and, according to league president John Grisdale, nothing is etched in stone and much work remains ahead before a deal can be struck.
The Warriors have been a big money loser since moving to West 麻豆精选 from Langley in 2006, with Cheyne bearing the brunt of those shortfalls since assuming sole ownership of the franchise in 2009.
Cheyne had been hoping last 蝉别补蝉辞苍鈥檚 run by the Warriors to a Canadian junior A title would lighten the financial burden, but such 丑补蝉苍鈥檛 been the case.
For 贵别谤蝉迟别谤鈥檚 part, the head coach and GM still has a hockey team to coach for at least another six weeks, so 丑补蝉苍鈥檛 been spending a lot of time pondering the future.
What Ferster does know is that 丑别鈥檚 grateful to have had the opportunity to work for a reputable team and owner.
鈥泪迟鈥檚 going to be sad, but 滨鈥檓 celebrating in a way, fortunate that 滨鈥檝别 had a job working for a great guy for six years, and living in a pretty nice place at the same 迟颈尘别,鈥� he said.
鈥淣辞迟丑颈苍驳 has really sunk in yet, 飞别鈥檙别 just going along on a day-to-day basis trying to win hockey games.
鈥�Fact of the matter is, you 肠补苍鈥檛 really think ahead too far or you miss 飞丑补迟鈥檚 right in front of you. Maybe when the year is over, this will knock me in the head but right now 颈迟鈥檚 business as 耻蝉耻补濒.鈥�
Ferster and the Warriors (22-20-1-0) will take their business on the road this weekend for three 驳补尘别蝉鈥擣谤颈诲补测 in Victoria, Saturday in Powell River and Sunday in Chilliwack.
