With great fanfare, the Elliot Lake Jr. A Hockey Club Board of Directors and the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced last week that the former Elliot Lake Wildcats have been renamed the Reds. Wings of Elliot Lake.

Next Monday, Coun. Ed Pearce plans to make a presentation to City Council on behalf of the Elliot Lake Junior Hockey Council. Coun. Pearce is the board representative on the board of directors.

Of the initial loan of $ 100,000 that the club obtained from the City in 2014, $ 50,000 remains due. The club also owes $ 25,000 of the money it borrowed from ELNOS.

The club still owns the franchise and used a management group from southern Ontario to take care of day-to-day operations.

Pearce is asking Council to approve an annual non-monetary sponsorship of the club consisting of an annual reduction of existing debt of $ 10,000 and compensation of $ 10,000 in ice costs, which represents $ 20,000 per year. That way, the Red Wings’ debt to the city would be canceled in five years.

Pearce wrote that ELNOS had previously agreed to a similar debt repayment program.

In an interview Coun. Pearce answered a few questions about it.

The team is also keen for city staff to work with the Red Wings, as Pearce wrote: “To improve the experience for fans and players, the items being considered are upgrades to locker rooms, special events (eg. example, the NHL Alumni Game) and improved canteen drink arrangements for the games. “

Pearce then listed economic benefits to the Red Wings community of over $ 700,000 per year (according to Hockey Canada’s Economic Multiplier), a weekly community socialization event, a strong marketing tool for Elliot Lake Retirement Living and support. hockey at all levels. , in addition to justifying the costs related to the creation of a community sports facility by increasing the use of this facility.

Coun. Pearce also responded to a number of other requests, including:

ElliotLake Today: Can you provide a management contract for five years?

Coun. Pearce: No. The management contract is a private matter between the team and the management group.

ElliotLake Today: Should the executive group fail, will the directors remain personally liable for the club’s debt?

Coun. Pearce: It’s a no-question. All of the team’s debts have been paid except for the remaining portion of the City loan and ELNOS advances. We do not anticipate any defect.

ElliotLake Today: Who will receive the revenue from the rental of signs?

Coun. Pearce: There is already an agreement on retailer revenues. We do not anticipate any change.

ElliotLake Today: Is the management group entitled to the franchise?

Coun. Pearce: The team is owned by the Elliot Lake Junior Hockey Team Corporation.

ElliotLake Today: Has your proposal been submitted to municipal committees or has it been approved by staff? (If not, why not?)

Coun. Pearce: Council asked the team to make a presentation to them. There was no request to submit it to a committee or need to do so. There is no staff “verification” required. Although we obviously keep them informed of our actions, decisions are made in the Council.

An anonymous email was sent to members of the news media on Friday morning in which a number of comments were made regarding the adoption of the Red Wings rebranding of the hockey franchise.

He also said that a second management management group with local connections was not allowed to make a presentation to the team.

“As for the anonymous email, I think if the person who wrote it is afraid to put their name on it, it’s either pure speculation or an outright lie,” Pearce said. .

“For the record, I am not making the presentation to Council as an individual alone. I am the Council’s representative to Council and it is my responsibility to keep them informed. Council may accept my recommendation or not. up to them to decide “. Pearce added.

“If you have any further questions, you should direct them to the club president who is authorized to speak on behalf of the council or to the mayor who is authorized to speak on behalf of the council,” Pearce concluded.

Red Wings president Len Kutchaw also weighed in on the letter.

“Like you, I don’t have time for anonymous concerns in whatever form they are obtained,” Kutchaw said.

People have until noon on Monday to submit questions to Council regarding the Monday evening meeting. They should be emailed to Clerk Natalie Bray.

The Red Wings presentation is on the agenda for the next Elliot Lake City Council virtual meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday evening.

This meeting will be webcast live on the Town of Elliot Lake website