The Yorkton Terriers are very much a business which has a positive impact on the city.
That was the message Terrier president Lyle Walsh had for those attending a breakfast meeting of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce Thursday.
"We believe the Terriers are an important component of the community," he said, adding they play an economic role too.
"The Terriers are an economic asset to the city. We are a small business."
Walsh said the team has an annual budget of three-quarters of a million dollars, and much of that money flows through the local community, and creates additional business spin-offs.
The spin-offs while difficult to track exactly, Walsh said they are significant.
"We feel the spin-offs of game day activities to be $5,000 to $10,000," he said, pointing to fans buying meals, gas, rink concessions and hotel rooms. He added that becomes more significant when based on more than 30 home games a season.
As for the team itself, Walsh said much of its budget is spent in the city too. For example the teams spends $75,000 annually on sticks and equipment "spent locally," he said.
Other costs within the city include $10,000 for groceries, $65,000 in game-day expenses, $25,000 to players, $60,000 for billets and $50,000 in ice and office rental at the Gallagher Centre.
In terms of billets, Walsh made a special plea to find some additional places for players this season.
"This year more than ever we're short of billets," he said, noting the July 1 flood impacted a number of basement rooms which were once billet locations. He said the situation is serious because the team doesn't want to have to turn a potential player "away because we don't have a house" for them.The need for player housing is just one issue for the Terriers.
"Like all Junior hockey teams the Terriers have some serious challenges," said Walsh, paramount among those, putting people in the seats.
"The Terriers need more people in the rink We don't sell enough season tickets or game-day tickets "One of the problems the league is experiencing right now is attendance is dropping off a bit."
Without selling enough tickets, the team is forced to do major fundraising beyond the action on the ice, including its annual golf tournament, lottery and advertising sales.
All the effort is so there is a Terrier team, and it's for the players, said Walsh.
"Our players are fine young men who love to play hockey," he said, adding they are also active in the community through school visits, helping with minor hockey practices and involvement in groups such as Yorkton Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
And, Walsh said the Terriers have a proud history in the city dating back to 1972. The league's career leader in goals and points is former Terrier Darrell Spelay, the career leader in assists Greg Thomson and career leader in penalty minutes is Grant Ottenbreit.
The team has also made the playoffs in 22 out of 38 seasons, and has played in the league final 11 times, winning four.
"So there's lot of entertaining hockey at that rink," said Walsh.
