小蓝视频

ESTEVAN — The Estevan Bruins reflected on what was a busy season during the team's annual general meeting on Oct. 16.

The meeting saw the club elect a new executive, discuss its financial statements and discuss other highlights from the past year.

The club also welcomed three new members to the board: Paul Carroll, Lauren Larter and John Park. The remaining members of the executive are Josh Biggs, Riley Tetreault, Amanda Wanner, Aaron Ludwig, Andrew Tait, Stephen Truman, who is the Estevan Minor Hockey Association's representative, Garrett Lasko, who is the Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears' liaison, and Coun. Tony Sernick, who is on through the City of Estevan member. 

Amanda Minchin and Cody Schrader have stepped down from the board.

Biggs, who has been serving as the team's president for more than two years, announced at the meeting that he would be stepping down as the team's president, effective the board's next regular meeting. He will be staying on as past-president.

Financial statements for the year ending April 30, 2023, show the club suffered a $119,932 deficit during the year. Revenues were at more than $1.22 million, up from $971,568 the previous year. But expenses were up to $1.34 million, compared to $995,642 in 2021-22, and most expense categories – regular season, corporate, fundraising and those classified as other – were up, while general expenses were down slightly.

Biggs said cost increases were for equipment and ice logos, among other needs.

When Estevan hosted the 2022 Centennial Cup national Junior A hockey championship, they had to replace the centre-ice Bruins logo and other graphics on the ice to accommodate Hockey Canada's sponsors.

"They shaved down the ice … with the Zamboni until all of the logos came out, because we had to do clean ice for the Centennial Cup. We couldn't have local sponsors' [logos on the ice]; it was all … Hockey Canada sponsors."

Biggs said it cost $18,000 for the centre ice logo and $14,000 for the others.

"We knew we were going to have to replace them. We didn't think it was going to have to cost $32,000," said Biggs. 

The club also had some cost overruns due to the roster turnover early last season.

"We're looking to increase some corporate sponsorship and other revenue now with [assistant coach] Drew Kocur taking on the sales role. He's been really good at that and has been actively out in the community," said Biggs.

The club is continuing to actively develop hockey in Estevan from a more "holistic approach", Biggs said, with minor hockey and the Bears having a representative on the Bruins board.

"The highlight from last year would be the start of the Bruins' breakfast program that Jason [head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic], Phil [former assistant coach Phil Fife] and now Drew have taken on," said Biggs.

An initiative of Tatarnic's, the Bruins' breakfast, from 7-8 a.m. twice a week, is with players ages 7-13 to help them develop.

"I think that's going to really show through, and already is showing through if you look at the success of our AA teams. Some of the players that are populating those … are kids that we see at the Bruins' breakfast program," said Biggs.