Wallaceburg Lakers Under New Ownership – Again
The PJHL’s Wallaceburg Lakers are back under local control and ownership.
After a trying and tumultuous season under the umbrella of the Byrne-Laus Hockey Corporation, the Lakers have been sold to a local group of Wallaceburg residents, who have donated 45% of the club’s ownership back to the Lakers executive.
Long-time executive member and Lakers President Jim McCrae and five local investors have purchased the club from the Byrne-Laus organization.
“All investors are from Wallaceburg,” McCrae told 99.1 CKXS morning man Greg Hetherington. “That’s the only way we wanted this to work.”
McCrae and the five investors will own 55% of the club, with the executive receiving the remainder while taking the reigns of control for the club under the leadership of interim President Skip Harvey.
“We’re very fortunate to have a strong and supportive fan base,” praised Harvey. “I think with the club being back in the hands of local ownership, we can continue to build on that.”
McCrae and Harvey; both long-time local hockey supporters, expressed their desire to establish the Lakers as very active in the community moving forward.
“We need to create a good environment for the kids and a strong foundation they can be proud of,” added McCrae.
Despite their recent woes, including a six-year playoff drought, Harvey is confident in new head coach Rick VanCoillie and General Manager Ritch Kanally. The Lakers have full intentions of bringing winning hockey back to the ‘Burg.
“We want to put a winning team back on the ice. If we can mix both the new and the old, we can put a winning team back on the ice,” added Harvey. “It might take a year or two, but hopefully we can establish a winning attitude and tradition once again.”
The Lakers are running spring camp Saturday, April 15 and Sunday April 16 at the Walpole Island Sports Complex from 1-4pm each day. This year’s annual general meeting will be held Tuesday, April 18th at the Wallaceburg Legion at 7pm. All are welcome to attend. There are positions to be filled and additional members to the executive and volunteer positions are always welcome.