Nipissing Lakers folding?

[SnipeShow91]

Heard a few rumblings today browsing the world wide web, was on facebook when a guy said the Lakers were folding, cause the privately funded ownership group didnt want to fork over the money to run the team anymore. Guy used to work for the Lakers in its inception so its a pretty good source. Then I came across this canoe article from a month ago.

http://blogs.canoe.ca/randyrusson/ge...y-rumours-are/

So, are privately funded university teams good for CIS hockey? If they flame out in 3 years then its not good at all. If this is true, back to 18 OUA teams and the weird scheduling of games can stop.

[Rob]

I feel bad for the players. (if true)

[nosl]

Please note this is a journalist's blog, not an article. Nugget reporter Ken Pagan made some interesting points in the blog though:

Randy, you’re right about there being no private business involved in the Lakers next season. . . but private business partners are not required to operate an OUA hockey team. It is the university’s team and the university board of governors’ decision to continue operating the team, which they will continue to do.

The current business partners became involved in the Lakers’ initial three-year lease at Memorial Gardens, but with the team up and operating successfully, the business partnership is not likely to continue with the expiration of the current lease.
It simply means the Nipissing Lakers will operate under the university athletic department next season just like 18 of the 19 other OUA teams (Lakehead requires business partners because they fly everybody in). The gate revenues from Nipissing games will become part of the team’s operating budget and private partners will no longer be involved.

The university team will continue to operate.

Having also talked with some of the staff & partners involved with the team, they were making preparations for 2012-13 so I'm not exactly sure where this originated from.

I believe that unless a major junior hockey club sets up shop in North Bay, you will continue to see a CIS mens hockey entry at Nipissing University.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by nosl

Please note this is a journalist's blog, not an article. Nugget reporter Ken Pagan made some interesting points in the blog though:

Randy, you’re right about there being no private business involved in the Lakers next season. . . but private business partners are not required to operate an OUA hockey team. It is the university’s team and the university board of governors’ decision to continue operating the team, which they will continue to do.

The current business partners became involved in the Lakers’ initial three-year lease at Memorial Gardens, but with the team up and operating successfully, the business partnership is not likely to continue with the expiration of the current lease.
It simply means the Nipissing Lakers will operate under the university athletic department next season just like 18 of the 19 other OUA teams (Lakehead requires business partners because they fly everybody in). The gate revenues from Nipissing games will become part of the team’s operating budget and private partners will no longer be involved.

The university team will continue to operate.

Having also talked with some of the staff & partners involved with the team, they were making preparations for 2012-13 so I'm not exactly sure where this originated from.

I believe that unless a major junior hockey club sets up shop in North Bay, you will continue to see a CIS mens hockey entry at Nipissing University.

Glad to hear it!

It would be tragic if a CIS hockey team with great fan support were to fold up.

[nosl]

Lakers hockey program secure
http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/c...rogram-secure/

Lakers hockey program secure
February 29th, 2012

Changes may be coming to the Nipissing Lakers hockey program, but the hockey team is alive and well and will continue to be that away. That comment from Mayor Al McDonald who has been one of the two major investors since the Lakers began operating in 2009. The other is Dennis Latham. They both signed on for three years and that commitment ended with the just completed season. McDonald says an official announcement on the changes will be revealed in a couple of weeks. McDonald says the hockey program is successful and the Lakers will be a viable program for many years to come.

[SnipeShow91]

Originally Posted by nosl

Lakers hockey program secure
http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/c...rogram-secure/

Lakers hockey program secure
February 29th, 2012

Changes may be coming to the Nipissing Lakers hockey program, but the hockey team is alive and well and will continue to be that away. That comment from Mayor Al McDonald who has been one of the two major investors since the Lakers began operating in 2009. The other is Dennis Latham. They both signed on for three years and that commitment ended with the just completed season. McDonald says an official announcement on the changes will be revealed in a couple of weeks. McDonald says the hockey program is successful and the Lakers will be a viable program for many years to come.

Awesome! Now with the rumour that Laurentian might be back in for the 2013 season, Nipissing FINALLY has a rival team now.