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Hrudey gives thumbs up to season:
Says Clippers' future bright despite falling attendance numbers; denies ownership has WHL motives

Josh Aldrich, Nanaimo Daily News, December 20, 2011

One person who is more than impressed with the Nanaimo Clippers performance on the ice this year is part owner Kelly Hrudey, who was expecting much choppier waters as the team rebuilds.

Hrudey invested in the team in February and has since become one of its biggest fans and boosters. On Monday he assured the Daily News that the future was a bright and stable one for the franchise, despite slumping attendance numbers and a lack of scholarships finding their way into players' hands – one of his big stated interests when he came on board.

But there is only so much he can do while at home in Calgary or on the road with his day job as an analyst for CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.

Hrudey, who is just one of five part owners with Ken Wagner, Bill Galacher, Paul Colborne and David Moir, offers advice and consultation when he can, but mostly he just lives and dies with the team while following online.

"I find myself almost too emotionally attached to it sometimes, I listen and I'm pacing in my office," he said. "Because it's not the same as being there and it's not the same as being on the ice I find myself occasionally going upstairs to talk to my wife to get distracted. It's all encompassing to me."

Hrudey came clean when he said he thought his first full season would be a lot more trying after they cleaned house in the front office and on the ice.

But after 33 games the Clippers (16-12-0-5) are holding down the final spot in the B.C. Hockey League's Coastal Conference with 37 points, one point ahead of the Coquitlam Express.

The season has been a bit of a roller-coaster, but Hrudey is impressed with the progress.

"I'm thrilled. I'm really excited by what (coach and general manager Mike Vandekamp) has been able to accomplish," said Hrudey. "I think he has taken the organization and has moved it forward. The way in which he has performed has exceeded expectations. I really thought we'd be a lot more in a rebuilding role and I didn't think that we'd have the success we've had so far."

One of the most glaring issues the Clippers are dealing with, as are many BCHL teams, are fewer butts in the seats.

The Clippers' attendance was down more than 100 fans a game according to game reports on bchl.ca. In the first 30 games last season they played at home 18 times and averaged 1,161.2 fans a game. This year they are averaging 1,055.7 through 16 home dates. That's a drop of over 9% in ticket revenue, assuming the reported numbers are indeed correct. In a gate-driven league like the BCHL, that's a considerable hit to the bottom line.

It is a situation that Hrudey says the ownership group is taking seriously, but that he understands that every team and league goes through its cycles. He is just hoping that it is a short down cycle and that with a more successful team on the ice in the future, more people will come back to the Frank Crane Arena.

"We understand there is not a lot of disposable income," he said. "We're trying to make the experience great for everybody and hopefully our team will attract more fans as the season wears on."

One thing he did say is that talk of making a push for a Western Hockey League franchise for the city – understandable with the Victoria Royals moving to the Island from Chilliwack – is an issue that isn't even on their current radar.

"Everyone is aware of it, for sure, but all of our conversations focus on the B.C. Hockey League and our role in it and our contribution to it," said Hrudey.

The other troubling issue is a lack of scholarships on the team. Currently only Graeme McCormack (Bemidji State), Mike Sones (Mercyhurst) and Dan Correale (University of New Hampshire) have accepted offers from post-secondary institutions. And none of those occurred this season. There have been more than a dozen scholarships handed out in the league this year but none to the Clippers.

Hrudey says the focus goes beyond just developing scholarship players, but that they are dead set on developing good people, good citizens and ambassadors for the game and the team. He also would love to put a few in the professional ranks.

"I want to develop hockey players, whether they end up going a different route like school and making a pro hockey player," said Hrudey. "A number of players have gone through the Clippers' organization over the years and it's real exciting."

Being an owner living in a city a full province away means Hrudey spends a lot of time spreading the good word on the franchise. He even had a conversation with an ex-Nanaimoite about the Clippers at Earls in Toronto this past weekend.

"It really rejuvenated my weekend, that's how much I think about the Clippers," he said.

"My excitement level and enjoyment for it is through the roof. Even though I've been out there once . . . it's something I keep a close eye on."

He also does his best to take in as many junior A games as he can in the Calgary area to familiarize himself more thoroughly with the level of play.

He is also in regular contact with head coach and general manager Mike Vandekamp talking about the team and giving advice from his past experiences while playing for legendary New York islanders head coach Al Arbour.

He's even had some contact with the players, most notably taking an interest with goalies Billy Faust and Christopher Eiserman. But Hrudey does his best not to be too intrusive.

"I think what was more important to me over the course of my playing career was just somehow if I knew that they cared for me," he said. "I really care, I want everyone to have success . . . but I don't want to be overbearing, I don't want to be annoying and calling the guys every week."

For him it's all a part of the team's ultimate goal, another Fred Page Cup.

"Winning a championship is our number one goal," said Hrudey. "We want to continue to develop the kids and we're planning some things behind the scenes that will hopefully add a lot of excitement to junior hockey in Nanaimo."

Dean
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Game Intelligence Training
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