Prescott Flyers President Kevin Harrison has revealed that the team’s financial struggles are what forced him to sell the franchise.
Harrison says the league demands for what is required of a team became too much. Staff wages between $16,000 to $18,000 for eight employees and mandatory player equipment packages costing $700 per player are just a few examples of where the team couldn’t keep up.
Harrison says the Flyers’ theory every year was to have as many local players who were qualified to play on the team, but rising player fees kept that local talent away.
Harrison says he is frustrated and disappointed with the decision to sell the team. He does remain optimistic though of competitive hockey returning to Prescott.
When asked if he was interested in starting a new Junior C team in the Fort Town, Harrison said he couldn’t as he had already made an obligation to a different organization.
Harrison hopes the community will remember the good times the team brought to the town over the years, rather than dwelling on the fact a team is no longer here. The Flyers won the Gill Cup in 2015.
The Flyers franchise will be moving to Cobden for the start of this upcoming year’s CCHL2 season, under the ownership of Dale McTavish, current Pembroke Lumber Kings owner and president.