POWASSAN VOODOOS JR. A HOCKEY CLUB
Media Update
Release date: Monday, June 23, 2014
Voodoos introduced to Powassan
POWASSAN — The newest NOJHL team held it’s first ever press conference at the Powassan Sportsplex on Monday afternoon.
The 6-person ownership group including Marc Rivet, Sylvain Rivet, Dan Rivet, Ray Seguin, Graeme Bruce and Jim Bruce unveiled the new Voodoos name and logo. The Voodoos is named after the RCAF fighter that used to fly out of CFB North Bay.
The team will also sport the Olive Green jersey very similar to the one worn by their OHL affiliate, the North Bay Battalion.
Battalion head coach and GM Stan Butler along with Assistant GM Matt Rabideau were in attendance to show support for the newest NOJHL team.
While the team brass did acknowledge the late start to recruiting a team, they plan on announcing the dates of their first player development camp later this week. Meanwhile, the team plan on having season tickets available within two weeks, with hopes of selling upwards of 300 by the start of the season.
“Now we really have to put the rubber to the pavement,” said co-owner and team president Jim Bruce.
“We have a lot of work to do before opening.”
The organization was quick to point out their newly-secured affiliation agreement with the North Bay Battalion, setting the stage for the Voodoos to be the primary feeder system for the OHL club.
Battalion director of hockey operations and head coach Stan Butler also attended the press conference to mark the commencement of the affiliation between the two clubs.
“We’re excited about it; we think it was necessary,” said Butler. “We believe that if we’re going to be a Northern Ontario team in the Ontario Hockey League, then we want a Northern Ontario affiliate.”
“As an organization, we feel a strong obligation to help redevelop hockey in the North Bay and district area. The last little while, they haven’t produced as many elite players as they have in the past,” Butler continued. “We want to provide an opportunity for players from the area to get better. When Bert Templeton coached the North Bay Centennials, probably 20 per cent of their roster were North Bay and area kids, so that’s something we would hope to happen.”
The newly appointed Voodoo staff has been chosen based on the endorsement of Battalion personnel as well. Most notably, former Jr. Trappers general manager and president Chris Dawson has been named the team’s general manager and vice president of hockey operations.
The team owners said the head coaching position will not be announced until Tuesday.
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