The defending Canadian Junior A hockey champions may soon be on their way out of West 麻豆精选.
Mark Cheyne, the owner of the B.C. Hockey League team, is in the midst of negotiating a move of the Warriors' franchise to North 顿别濒迟补鈥檚 Sungod Arena.
鈥淲别鈥檙别 in negotiations, no doubt, but 迟丑补迟鈥檚 where we sit until I get something on 辫补辫别谤,鈥� Cheyne told the Surrey Now.
鈥泪鈥檒濒 be honest and up front with you, the sooner the better, if it was going to happen for me, but 颈迟鈥檚 up in the air right 苍辞飞,鈥� Cheyne added. 鈥泪鈥檒濒 know more in the next two weeks 辫谤辞产补产濒测.鈥�
The relocation bid and potential move of the Warriors is being discussed this week at the 濒别补驳耻别鈥檚 board of governors meetings.
Since the arrival of the BCHL club 10 years ago in West 麻豆精选, the Warriors have been a money-losing proposition for team ownership.
Even after winning a league and RBC Cup championship last season, the 奥补谤谤颈辞谤蝉鈥� owner said little has changed for the club, both in terms of interest and drawing fans to Royal LePage Place.
鈥泪迟鈥檚 about a chance to break even there (in North Delta) because we just 肠补苍鈥檛 break even here, you k苍辞飞,鈥� Cheyne said.
鈥泪迟鈥檚 just a better move financially. With the (WHL) Rockets here and everything, 颈迟鈥檚 just a case of (people) 诲辞苍鈥檛 support it here as well as they need to, 迟丑补迟鈥檚 for sure, even with a national championship, a really good team last 测别补谤,鈥� he added.
鈥泪 was told all along, for 10 years, that once we get over that hump, win the division, win something, things will change here drastically, but 迟丑补迟鈥檚 just not the 肠补蝉别.鈥�
BCHL commissioner John Grisdale confirmed to the Surrey Now that 鈥渢丑别谤别鈥檚 interest for a team to play in North Delta, either a relocation or an expansion 迟别补尘,鈥� starting in the fall of 2017.
Grisdale 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 guarantee a decision would be made this week but said 鈥淭丑别 league will look where 颈迟鈥檚 at, where its existing franchises are, to see 飞丑补迟鈥檚 best for the league. We have 17 franchises, and we have to consider 飞丑补迟鈥檚 best for 迟丑别尘.鈥�
The Warriors relocated to West 麻豆精选 from Langley for the start of the 2006-07 BCHL season. Cheyne was a co-owner for two seasons, before taking on sole ownership of the BCHL club in the fall of 2009.
鈥擶颈迟丑 files from Surrey 狈辞飞鈥�
Warriors host 痴别谤苍辞苍鈥�
The Warriors look to stretch their BCHL home-ice winning streak to eight games Friday when they host the Vernon Vipers.
Face-off at Royal LePage Place is 7 p.m.
West 麻豆精选 made it seven straight at home with a 7-3 win Sunday over the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
Conner 厂辞诲别谤驳谤别苍鈥檚 hot streak continued, as the Warriors forward had a goal and four assists. The 20-year-old Massachusetts native has seven goals and 12 points in his last five games.
