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Klippers made nearly $45,000 last year |
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Monday, June 01, 2009
The Kindersley Klippers junior hockey club held their annual general meeting Monday evening, where it was revealed the team brought in just under $45,000 for the calendar year ending April 30, 2009.
With $419,968 in gross income and $374,971 in total expenses, the team came in at $44,997 in the black.
That’s up from a net income of $28,021 in 2008, despite a shorter playoff run.
The team made nearly $9,000 more from season tickets and gate admission, and its 2008-09 fundraising total of nearly $140,000 was a $50,000 increase from last year’s total.
The loss of playoff revenue was made up for largely by reduced costs for billets, player allowances, sticks, bus transportation, meals, advertising and league fees, which dropped from approximately $24,000 to about $15,000.
“I think we’re going to be at the point where we won’t have any league fees,” speculated team president Rod Perkins. “I don’t know if it’ll be this year or not, but (the SJHL) has increased their revenues by well over $100,000. They’re doing a very good job.”
He added that while the overall numbers are encouraging, the executive of a publicly owned junior hockey team can never rest idle.
“I’m reasonably comfortable, but we still have our job to do,” he acknowledged. “The small profit we had this year isn’t going to carry us through next year. You still have to do your fundraising and keep things covered.”
Fundraising will be key in the near future as the Klippers prepare for the massive undertaking of moving the team’s dressing room and fitness area to the northwest corner of the West Central Events Centre.
Team governor Terry Shea estimated the total cost of the project at $125,000.
The club is hoping to receive $66,000 from the town of Kindersley’s grant application and has been assured of at least $50,000 by the town. The board has raised over $30,000 privately, but would presently be more than $25,000 short even if it receives the full grant amount.
“There’s no way to sugarcoat it, we’re going to be short,” Shea told the board.
The team is looking at a loan to cover the remaining cost. A motion to go ahead with preliminary work, such as moving out of the team’s old quarters, was passed unanimously.
The Klippers should find out about the grant shortly, followed by a two-week tender period. They hope the project can be completed in two months.
The board also held its annual elections, with Les Aylward and Donna Neumeier resigning. Their replacements are Kevin Edgerton and Wendy Nargang. Edgerton will take over Aylward’s role as alternate governor.
Perkins will return for his third year as team president and vice-president Roger McKenzie is also back.
The board also passed a motion to sell season tickets at the trade show for a reduced cost of $200 for adults and $125 for students. After that, they will cost $250 for adults, $150 for students and $80 for children.
On the hockey side of things, head coach Larry Wintoneak reported that his search for a new assistant coach to replace Ryne McKinnon is down to two candidates.
“One possible assistant coach that we’ve talked to did play for me a while back,” he said. “He’s finished his schooling and his gig in pro hockey. Now he’s looking to stay in the game.”
“The other fellow is a little bit older,” Wintoneak continued. “I don’t know of him, but I was put on to him by a real good friend. He really wants to get into coaching. He runs his own ID camp, so he knows other players and he’s attached to the NCAA.”
The Klippers have 14 players eligible to return, and 13 of them, including Jordan Braid, have indicated their interest in playing next year.
“Braider’s coming back and we’ve had a few conversations over the past few weeks,” said the coach. “He’s in contact with a lot of the other guys too. It’s positive that everybody wants to come back, they’re working out hard and it’s important that they’ve already invested three or four weeks into that.”
Winger Andrew Herle, named the team’s top rookie for 2008-09, has been listed by the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders and will attend their training camp. The Klippers may lose him.
Wintoneak has been busy recruiting, attending the Telus Cup in Winnipeg in late April as well as an ID camp with 40 teams in Toronto.
“I’ve covered a lot of territory,” he said. “You try to sift through the players you don’t think are going to come because of age or other issues. I hung out with the right guys (in Toronto) and they helped me sort through a few teams and find the right players. We’ve always said if we can find one or two players from those events, it’s worth the trip.
“We’ve talked to a few parents and players from that trip and they’ll be making decisions very shortly.”
Wintoneak will attend the SJHL league meetings this weekend in Nipawin, where the 2009-10 schedule will be finalized.
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