New Owners Say Lakers Not Leaving Wallaceburg, Eyeing Championship

The Byrne Laus Hockey Corporation were introduced as new owners of the Wallaceburg Lakers on Wednesday. Left to right: Joe Byrne Jr, Boris Laus, Joe Byrne Sr

Despite whispers and worry when rumors emerged regarding new possible owners of the Wallaceburg Lakers, the newly introduced Byrne Laus Hockey Corporation says the local junior “C” hockey club is staying put.

“We have no intention of moving the team,” said Joe Byrne Sr, one of the new co-owners and a well known business leader from Windsor-Essex. “We have one and only purpose. To make this the most successful team we can make it IN Wallaceburg and win a championship as soon as we can win it.”

The statement is music to the ears of Lakers fans who have toiled through troubled times, with zero playoff appearances since 2011. Did we mention the Great Lakes Junior “C” loop is a nine-team league where the top eight teams qualify for the post-season? Yes, these have been tough times indeed for the Laker faithful.

Joe Byrne Sr and his son Joe Jr, along with Boris Laus have come together to purchase the club and work together with the community-based organization. Joe Sr is a lawyer and farmer with deep hockey roots. His son Joe Jr, played competitive hockey up to the OHL and semi-pro levels. Joe Jr will now serve a role as an assistant coach for the Lakers, while bringing his unique development system to the ‘Burg, and potentially, Wallaceburg Minor Hockey. Laus owns a veterinarian clinic in Windsor and has a vast knowledge of the game, himself.

Byrne Sr told local media members that the new group will own the team but have chosen to continue to have the team community operated, utilizing a board of directors and executive much the same as it has in recent years.

“We have great respect for the board and the history of this town and the history of hockey in Wallaceburg,” said Byrne. “There’s a great base of knowledge here. We’re coming in as a team, and we want to partner with the current board and volunteers and all win a championship together.”

The ownership trio, along with head coach Derek Ellis, agree whole-heartedly that there is no reason this year’s Wallaceburg Lakers team shouldn’t be much more competitive than what we’ve become accustomed to in recent years.

“For this upcoming season, my goal is to be competitive,” said Byrne. “If we can do better than that, all the better.”

With the coaching staff and new GM Ritch Kanally busy at the helm in recent weeks and recruitment possibilities opening several new doors with the new financial structure of the team, some are expecting the 2016-17 Lakers to be more than competitive. A new drawing area map for the junior “C” league that will allow Wallaceburg (and all other eight teams) to attract players from a much larger geographical area, doesn’t hurt.

The Lakers also unveiled a new logo for the 2016-17 season. The logo is a throwback to the former ‘serpent’ logo, with a bit of an update.

Paying tribute to the history of the Lakers, the new owners and the current executive have agreed to bring back an updated version of the former ‘serpent’ logo from years prior. Lakers players will now also benefit from having equipment provided for them, including pants, helmets, socks, hockey bags and more. This has been status quo throughout the league. However, the Lakers have not been able to provide these essentials in recent years. Also new this year, the Lakers will actually get to skate on their own home ice for training camp for the first time in recent memory.

All three new faces to the Lakers organization agreed that their game plan stretches beyond putting a solid one-time product on the ice, and even beyond the Lakers club itself.

“We want this to be a development ground for not only players, but coaches and executive. Even into minor hockey,” said Joe Sr. “If we have people who work in this organization and move on and up in hockey, that strengthens our organization.”

Developing a system within Wallaceburg Minor Hockey is also an interest of the Byrne Laus Hockey Corporation. Creating a strong midget system and beyond is a high priority. Overall, Byrne Sr credits classic Canadian pride, passion and love of the game for his group’s interest.

“We have an opportunity to participate in that passion. It’s bringing not only our dreams (but) the dreams of all these kids to some level of reality.”

Byrne Sr added that many areas of the club will be under review immediately.

“We have a lot of work to do. We have (upcoming) camps. We have a lot of decisions to make. We have to meet with the volunteers and make sure everything is well organized. We want to take a good look at the arena to see what kinds of improvements we can make there. Just about every aspect of the team operation, we want it to be under review”

When pressed again about possible connections to the former Tecumseh Chiefs project and any possible move of the team, Byrne revealed his local hockey roots. Byrne’s own Junior “C” playing days brought him to Tilbury, as a member of the Tilbury Hawks.

“It troubles me there’s no team in Tilbury. I’d see it as a disaster if there was no team in Wallaceburg. We’re talking about hockey heritage.”

A heritage that many hope is soon to return to it’s former days of glory.