A new era has begun for West Kelowna hockey as faces were put to names in the teamsa国际传媒檚 introduction of the new owners and the teamsa国际传媒檚 new president.
Earlier this week, the Warriors announced that Boston-based business man John Murphy and West Kelowna local Rod Hume had purchased the team from the BC Hockey League. On Wednesday, the ownership team introduced another West Kelowna local, Chris Laurie, as the Warriorssa国际传媒� new president of both hockey and business operations.
Murphy said that the new management team is ready to bring the Warriors out of the proverbial gutters after a financially challenging and dramatic three years under the previous ownership.
sa国际传媒淚 think West Kelowna deserves and can support a junior hockey franchise,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淲e want to grow a fanbase and wesa国际传媒檙e going to grow it everyday; we have a plan. We think strong ownership with professional management and a winning culture can bring a successful franchise here to West Kelowna.sa国际传媒�
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New and professional management comes in the form of Laurie, who served as the teamsa国际传媒檚 marketing director from 2006 to 2008. Now, over 10 years later, Laurie returns with experience under his belt and ready to make the necessary hockey and business changes to bring back a hockey-loving and winning culture to the Warriors.
Laurie had a three-year run as the general manager with the North American Hockey Leaguesa国际传媒檚 Armarillo Bulls where he won a league championship in his final year and is ready to reignite the passion for his hometown team.
sa国际传媒淚t starts in the community,sa国际传媒� said Laurie.
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檒l be looking to build and rebuild any relationships that maybe arensa国际传媒檛 where they should be right now and really start with the grassroots.sa国际传媒�
Laurie said there is plenty of work ahead where the Warriors will be looking to earn back the fanbasesa国际传媒檚 loyalty and patronage.
New president Chris Laurie and owner John Murphy said they look forward to the clean slate after the new management changes coming to 's BCHL team. Read more
sa国际传媒� Mack Britton (@MackBrittonBC)
While changes are coming to the top, both Murray and Laurie said that though the Warriors are struggling for wins this season, there will be no changes to the teamsa国际传媒檚 coaching staff and that there is 100 per cent faith in coach Brandon West.
sa国际传媒淏randon and his group of done a good job in keeping the guys competitive and keeping them focused,sa国际传媒� said Laurie.
sa国际传媒淲e look at this as an opportunity for a clean slate for us and our group and we want to build on that.sa国际传媒�
Murphy, whosa国际传媒檚 son played for the Warriors two seasons ago, said that they have complete confidence in West.
sa国际传媒淗e has our support,sa国际传媒� said Murphy.
sa国际传媒淗esa国际传媒檚 thinking every day how to make the team better, how to coach the team better. Brandonsa国际传媒檚 a professional coach and thatsa国际传媒檚 what we want.sa国际传媒�
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The teamsa国际传媒檚 last year under former owner Kim Dobranski was riddled with bad press, lawsuits and left a sour taste in many West Kelowna fanssa国际传媒� mouths which led to a steady drop in attendance.
Despite the past struggles, the teamsa国际传媒檚 new management is ready for the opportunity to reinvest into the Warriors.
sa国际传媒淲e want to look forward, thatsa国际传媒檚 our goal,sa国际传媒� said Murphy
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e putting a team in place to do that and we donsa国际传媒檛 want to look backwards. This team has had a lot of peaks and valleys, but we want to reestablish a winning franchise and a franchise that connects with the community. Wesa国际传媒檙e not going to talk much about the past.sa国际传媒�
The Warriors will return to Royal LePage Place on Nov. 22 for their first home game since the end of October.
Laurie has promised new features for the Warriors home return, including a 2-for-1 drink happy hour, and invites the entire West Kelowna community to come experience the new look, new cultured Warriors.
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