The Yorkton Terriers Junior Hockey Club held its annual general meeting for the 2016-17 season on Monday night at the Gallagher Centre. The meeting covered a number of topics, including the team鈥檚 finances, hockey report, a marketing/PR report, and more.聽
The financials were the most noteworthy after last week鈥檚 article in Yorkton This Week about how the Terriers are in dire need.聽
Although the Terriers鈥� treasurer Gerry Smysnuik originally predicted a deficit for the end of the year, they ended in a surplus of $13,938. But that鈥檚 solely due to $40,000 that the organization recently received from the Terrier Trust Fund.聽
The Terrier Trust Fund was formed after the Terriers hosted the Royal Bank Cup tournament in 1999. The committee in charge of that tournament set aside a trust fund from profits聽 the team made.聽
The trust fund was originally put together for something like new dressing rooms in the future, Smysnuik explained.聽
鈥淚t turns out this year, because our financials are so dire, we approached the Terrier Trust Fund to help out with operating expenses for previous years,鈥� Smysnuik told Yorkton This Week after the meeting. The accumulating deficits got worse and worse over the past few years, so the organization needed that money this year.聽
鈥淭he unfortunate part about that legacy fund is that now, if we ever do go ahead with something like new dressing rooms, that鈥檚 money that we don鈥檛 have,鈥� he added. 鈥淏ut at the same time, the viability of the club has to come first.鈥�
In his presentation in front of the approximately 40 people who attended the meeting, Smysnuik presented a series of financial information from the past season including assets, revenues and expenses.聽
While the team did technically make money this year (the $13,938 previously mentioned), they are still paying off a line of credit of more than $60,000.聽
The organization is still hoping to boost fan attendance for next season, so they discussed some ideas at the meeting with those in attendance.聽
The director of marketing and public relations for the Terriers, Eric Anderson, discussed some additions that he hopes to make next season to boost that fan attendance at home games.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 looking to do a lot more promotional nights, so through our social media following聽 - especially Instagram 鈥� there鈥檚 a younger audience. So, we can have more fun nights for younger people,鈥� he said. He has worked hard throughout the year to improve the team鈥檚 social media presence, as well as game day production, to draw in a younger crowd at games. 聽
On the hockey side, head coach/GM Casey O鈥橞rien took the floor to discuss the past season. He went over some highlights of the season, addressed some changes that will be made in the coming season including new player additions, and he announced the new captain for next season.聽
The new captain will be forward Dexter Robinson, who was an assistant captain last season.聽
Another noteworthy change to be put in place by coach O鈥橞rien is that each Terrier player will be required to spend eight hours of community service per week.聽
The board of directors got a few additional members at the meeting, and Dave Baron was voted in for another year as president of the hockey club.
