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Post by curtis on Sept 3, 2008 20:46:51 GMT -4
I always appreciated his friendly welcome to home games. I'm glad he's decided to return.
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john99
Rookie
Part of a Winning Team!
Posts: 167
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Post by john99 on Sept 4, 2008 20:05:50 GMT -4
Well it's Official, here is the link People: THE CATS IS COMING BACK TO THE WILDCATS MONCTON, NB, September 4, 2008 - The Cat is coming back to the Moncton Coliseum. A familiar face around the team, the Moncton Colieum and the southeastern New Brunswick community is coming back to the tMoncton Wildcats this year but he doesn’t wear skates. He will be serving as the team's general manager.
“I am pleased to announce that Bill Schurman will be returning to the Moncton Wildcats as General Manager,” Robert Irving, president of the hockey team said in a team release Thursday night.. “Bill has five years experience with our organization which gives him the ability to step right in to the role,” Irving said.
Schurman, who took over as General Manager in 2002 left at the end of the 2007 season to return to his native Summerside to manage the City’s Community Services Department, including the new Credit Union Place.
“Bill’s greatest strength is his understanding of the community and the important role that plays in the Wildcats success in Greater Moncton,” Irving continued. “He is the face of the Wildcats in our community and has been a big part of our success in the past and will continue to be into the future.”
For his part Schurman says the decision to return was an easy one.
“I have so much respect for Mr. Irving and his organization that coming back was not a difficult choice. To be given the chance to once again lead the business affairs of this hockey club, working closely with Mr. Irving and head coach Danny Flynn, is something I look forward to. I can’t wait to get started.”
Schurman takes on the role of general manager full-time on October 1st but says even before then he’ll be helping out.
“I have some commitments to the City of Summerside that made a start date of October 1 ideal, but with the start of the season fast approaching I have already started helping out anyway I can.”
The Wildcats are entering their 13th season in the QMJHL and it promises to be an exciting year.
“Moncton fans have always been great supporters of the Wildcats and with the tremendous draft we had in June, this should be a very exciting young team for the fans to watch,” Schurman said. “Our theme for the year is Ready To Go Wild, something I think speaks to the players, the fans and the entire community, when it comes to the Wildcats.”
The Wildcats will open the season at home on Friday September 12 when they entertain the PEI Rockets and follow that up with a game on Saturday September 13 against provincial rival Saint John Sea Dogs. Tickets for both games are available from the Coliseum box office.
“Get your tickets early as it is going to be a great kick-off weekend in Moncton with lots of great hockey,” Schurman said.
http//www.hockeyscene.com
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Post by hockey1981 on Sept 5, 2008 10:16:23 GMT -4
It conjures up images of the cat with nine lives.
Bill Schurman is coming back as general manager of the Moncton Wildcats, the third time he's held this position with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club. Yesterday's announcement finally confirms several weeks of speculation that he would return to run the business side of the team.
Ray Delia resigned as Wildcats general manager on Aug. 1. He left for Louisiana to become president and general manager of the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in the Central Hockey League.
"There were several candidates that we talked to, but in the end we decided to go with Bill,'' said Wildcats owner Robert Irving. ``He was very keen and enthusiastic about coming back to work for the Wildcats and we're happy to welcome him back.
"When we looked at Bill's past success with the Wildcats it was due to his tremendous involvement in the community. It didn't matter if it was kids playing street hockey, the coffee shop or some event that Moncton was hosting. He was always there wearing the Wildcats colours and representing the organization proudly. He created a strong awareness of this team in the community.''
The Wildcats will open the regular season against the Prince Edward Island Rocket next Friday at 7 p.m. at the Moncton Coliseum.
"We're close to starting the season and Bill, of course, with his experience can come in and make a smooth transition,'' said Irving. "He can start making an impact from Day 1.''
Schurman was Moncton general manager twice in the period from 2002 until 2007. Part way through that five-year stint, he left for six months to become general manager of the CN Sportplex.
He left the Wildcats again in the summer of 2007 and returned home to Summerside where he took over as director of community services. He was responsible for Credit Union Place, the city's new $40-million building which has two ice surfaces, convention centre, gymnasium, swimming pool, bowling lanes, harness racing track, tennis courts, indoor soccer facility and beach volleyball court.
Schurman is back as Moncton general manager effective immediately, but he won't take over full time until Oct. 1 because he has commitments in Summerside.
"I'm very excited to be rejoining the Wildcats,'' he said. "I always enjoyed the way the people of southeastern New Brunswick treated me and the number of friends, associates and partners I was able to get to know during my time there.
"We had a great run in terms of winning the league championship in 2005-06 and going all the way to the Memorial Cup final. Hosting the Memorial Cup was a high we'll all never forget. I'm really looking forward to being part of the Wildcats family and continuing that quest to bring home the Memorial Cup some day.''
Schurman points out he remained a proud member of the Wildcats alumni in the past year.
"I've always kept in touch with Mr. Irving,'' he said. "I've always had a great respect for him and the way this franchise strives to be the best in the Canadian Hockey League. I have great respect for (head coach) Danny Flynn and I stayed in touch with him.
"The majority of the people that I worked with in the front office are still there and I'm looking forward to working with them again. I also believe the Moncton Coliseum is one of the most well maintained facilities of its age in the world and I've always had great respect for the people that work there.''
Schurman helped attract numerous events to Summerside in the past year. There were two national softball championships, a New York Islanders intrasquad game, the Atlantic arm wrestling championship and several concerts.
Upcoming events in Summerside include a National Hockey League exhibition game between the Islanders and Florida Panthers on Sept. 27, an American Hockey League regular season game between Binghamton and Bridgeport on Nov. 11, the Canadian junior A hockey prospects game on Dec. 17, the Maritime Junior A Hockey League Prospects Showcase for the next three years, the 2009 Canadian arm wrestling championship and the world para sailing and kite boarding championship.
"The decision to leave Summerside wasn't easy because Credit Union Place is a tremendous facility and thanks to many people we were able to attract a lot of things in a very short period of time,'' said Schurman. "At the same time, it's very exciting the challenge that lies ahead with the Wildcats. The Greater Moncton area is very happening and aggressive and I like to think that it fits my style.''
Schurman was chairman of the host committee for the 2006 Memorial Cup in Moncton and he spearheaded two years of preparation work. That event was deemed a major success.
The Wildcats had their highest season ticket base in franchise history under him with 4,127 in 2005-06. During his five seasons, their average attendance ranged from a low of 4,327 in 2003-04 to a high of 5,800 in 2005-06.
The Wildcats are looking to rebound both on and off the ice. They missed the playoffs last season and watched their attendance drop to an average of 4,019 per game.
"I missed the enthusiasm, the competition factor and the challenge of trying to fill the Moncton Coliseum,'' said Schurman. "We've got a good base of die-hard Wildcats fans and the goal is to keep growing that base.
"The good news is that while I certainly made mistakes with the Wildcats I would like to think I've learned from some of those mistakes. Yes, I have some faults and I have some strengths and I'll continue to work on both."
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