A new era has begun for West 麻豆精选 hockey as faces were put to names in the team鈥檚 introduction of the new owners and the team鈥檚 new president.
Earlier this week, the Warriors announced that Boston-based business man John Murphy and West 麻豆精选 local Rod Hume had purchased the team from the BC Hockey League. On Wednesday, the ownership team introduced another West 麻豆精选 local, Chris Laurie, as the Warriors鈥� new president of both hockey and business operations.
Murphy said that the new management team is ready to bring the Warriors out of the proverbial gutters after a financially challenging and dramatic three years under the previous ownership.
鈥淚 think West 麻豆精选 deserves and can support a junior hockey franchise,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e want to grow a fanbase and we鈥檙e going to grow it everyday; we have a plan. We think strong ownership with professional management and a winning culture can bring a successful franchise here to West 麻豆精选.鈥�
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New and professional management comes in the form of Laurie, who served as the team鈥檚 marketing director from 2006 to 2008. Now, over 10 years later, Laurie returns with experience under his belt and ready to make the necessary hockey and business changes to bring back a hockey-loving and winning culture to the Warriors.
Laurie had a three-year run as the general manager with the North American Hockey League鈥檚 Armarillo Bulls where he won a league championship in his final year and is ready to reignite the passion for his hometown team.
鈥淚t starts in the community,鈥� said Laurie.
鈥淲e鈥檒l be looking to build and rebuild any relationships that maybe aren鈥檛 where they should be right now and really start with the grassroots.鈥�
Laurie said there is plenty of work ahead where the Warriors will be looking to earn back the fanbase鈥檚 loyalty and patronage.
New @BCHLWarriors president Chris Laurie and owner John Murphy said they look forward to the clean slate after the new management changes coming to #West麻豆精选's BCHL team. Read more @麻豆精选CapNews pic.twitter.com/NQa0MiLlCt
鈥� Mack Britton (@MackBrittonBC) November 13, 2019
While changes are coming to the top, both Murray and Laurie said that though the Warriors are struggling for wins this season, there will be no changes to the team鈥檚 coaching staff and that there is 100 per cent faith in coach Brandon West.
鈥淏randon and his group of done a good job in keeping the guys competitive and keeping them focused,鈥� said Laurie.
鈥淲e look at this as an opportunity for a clean slate for us and our group and we want to build on that.鈥�
Murphy, who鈥檚 son played for the Warriors two seasons ago, said that they have complete confidence in West.
鈥淗e has our support,鈥� said Murphy.
鈥淗e鈥檚 thinking every day how to make the team better, how to coach the team better. Brandon鈥檚 a professional coach and that鈥檚 what we want.鈥�
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The team鈥檚 last year under former owner Kim Dobranski was riddled with bad press, lawsuits and left a sour taste in many West 麻豆精选 fans鈥� mouths which led to a steady drop in attendance.
Despite the past struggles, the team鈥檚 new management is ready for the opportunity to reinvest into the Warriors.
鈥淲e want to look forward, that鈥檚 our goal,鈥� said Murphy
鈥淲e鈥檙e putting a team in place to do that and we don鈥檛 want to look backwards. This team has had a lot of peaks and valleys, but we want to reestablish a winning franchise and a franchise that connects with the community. We鈥檙e not going to talk much about the past.鈥�
The Warriors will return to Royal LePage Place on Nov. 22 for their first home game since the end of October.
Laurie has promised new features for the Warriors home return, including a 2-for-1 drink happy hour, and invites the entire West 麻豆精选 community to come experience the new look, new cultured Warriors.
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