The QMJHL will not be against the switch of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan

Will he go or not go?

The lengthy saga surrounding the sale (and potential switch) of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan continues to be being talked about.

The most recent chapter comes from the pen of Le Nouvelliste each day columnist and journalist, Steve Turcotte.

Within the column, we be taught, by way of Martin Lavallée, the explanation why QMJHL stated no to entrepreneur Steve Leal, president and proprietor of Repair-Auto, to accumulate the Titan.

Martin Lavallee, who has been working within the circuit for the reason that departure of former commissioner Gilles Corto, whereas awaiting the arrival of the brand new “boss” Mario Cecchini subsequent month, reveals, amongst different issues: “We aren’t towards the switch of the franchise. However we wish it to stay in Bathurst. That’s our place For all groups in our league.

What’s new about this newest assertion is the truth that the league says it’s not against the transfer. Even when it doesn’t essentially shock anybody, that is the primary time the QMJHL has spoken out frankly.

Martin Lavallee additionally instructed Le Nouvelliste: “There have been sure factors within the settlement that weren’t acceptable from the league’s viewpoint. Each events (Steve Leal and the Titan contributor group) have been taken again to the drafting board. They know precisely what was mistaken. It’s anticipated {that a} submission will probably be served.” A brand new settlement to us within the quick or medium time period.

Late Monday morning, Committee Safety spokesman Jacques Ouellet stated the brand new proposal, which nonetheless includes promoting 60% of the group’s shares, would be certain that the house owners have three years to attempt to promote the remaining 40% of the shares. It seems to be like stated shares might be bought to anybody within the subsequent 36 months, together with Steve Lyle.

“That’s what I used to be capable of finding out, besides I additionally knew that the house owners didn’t need to promote these shares,” says Jacques Ouellet. That stated, we now not know who to consider in all this. With all these rumors, we now not know what foot we’re dancing on. .

Within the details printed in Nouvelliste, it signifies that the sale of Titan might be achieved by a draft scheduled for Saturday, June 10, on the Palais des sports activities Léopold-Drolet in Sherbrooke.

Nonetheless, Martin Lavallee stresses that nothing is assured at this degree: “There is no such thing as a timetable as such. You must take the time to efficiently full such a transaction.”

Bear in mind, Steve Leal needs to maneuver the Titan to the Montreal space, extra particularly to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu the place the municipality is engaged on a brand new circuit undertaking. Nonetheless, we’re nonetheless removed from the primary shovel of land.

Steve Turcotte additionally provides that rumors give Steve Leal the need to maneuver the Titan to Trois-Rivières, pending the development of a brand new yard on the metropolitan space’s south shore.

Martin Lavallee replied that he had by no means heard of such a rumor and that “the title of the town of Trois-Rivières was by no means talked about”.

“Little hockey simply doesn’t work within the Montreal space,” Jacques Ouellet sums up on the matter.

He’s not mistaken as a result of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada is having a number of hassle drawing spectators to the Heart d’Excellence Sports activities Rousseau.

Along with Forurs de Val-d’Or (1585), Drakkar de Baie-Comeau (1617) and Titan (1654), Armada (1696) was one of many 4 groups that might not appeal to extra common. Greater than 1,700 spectators per match in 2022-2023.

We tried in useless to achieve Titan’s chairman, Serge Theriault.

Appeal to 2,000 spectators…like Bathurst Bears!

Reserve Committee Chairman of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan Jack Oleh says he has discovered from a great supply in latest months that businessman Steve Leal has proposed to shareholders that an East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) be constructed on the Ok-C-Irving Regional Heart if it holds. That the switch of the junior group is inevitable.

“We’re not near a rumor, nevertheless it’s one thing Steve Leal would have talked about to shareholders,” Ouellet confirms.

Nonetheless, the latter doesn’t consider that the ECHL group is an fascinating possibility for Bathurst. Nor for the American circuit, he was eager so as to add.

“Actually, would a league within the US be keen on giving a group to a metropolis that isn’t positive it might probably maintain its airport? The logic is to maintain Titan right here. It’s vital to the town and the area,” he stated.

In line with Jacques Ouellet, Titan’s presence at Bathurst is crucial.

He has already revealed in our pages that it’s potential, with good advertising and marketing, to get the typical spectator to exceed 2,000 followers per match.

“I used to be on the opening recreation for the Bathurst Bears skilled basketball group, on Sunday. We had been 2,900 folks within the area and eating places had been packed in all places after the sport. I do know the group is a Cinderella impact. It’s one thing new and folks had been curious to see this new product,” says Ouellet.

“However I actually consider we will carry again a mean of two,200 spectators to residence Titan video games. In addition to, should you evaluate our common to that of final season, the place we had a successful group, the numbers are virtually the identical (common of 1,654 versus 1,720 final yr) It’s virtually how how regardless of all of the unhealthy information surrounding the group final yr: “We’ve obtained so many new supporters in there and someplace that’s excellent news in itself,” stated Jacques Ouellet.

“We’re not giving up, we wish the group to remain at Bathurst.”

The Acadie-Bathurst Titan Safeguard Committee is a gaggle of residents providing to promote membership shares to residents, in addition to to small and medium-sized companies.

This neighborhood mannequin will not be new in itself as a result of 5 Canadian Hockey League groups function in a lot the identical method. They’re the Kitchener Rangers and Peterborough Petes within the OHL, in addition to the Moose Jaw Warriors, Swift Present Broncos, and Lethbridge Hurricanes within the WHL.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders within the CFL, the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the NFL and FC Barcelona within the Spanish Soccer Championship are different sports activities groups that run the identical sort of mannequin.

Within the case of the Kitchener Rangers, for instance, the group consists of a board of administrators made up of 39 people who find themselves elected yearly by season ticket holders who act as trustees. It stays to be seen what precisely technique Titan Backup’s committee proposes. The undertaking continues to be within the feasibility course of.

“It’s a irritating case as a result of lots of the group’s shareholders don’t know any extra about it than we do. There are such a lot of rumors circulating and it’s onerous to maneuver on. However we’re not giving up. We would like the group to remain at Bathurst,” says help committee chairman Jacques Ouellet.