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Post by Score on Oct 2, 2007 0:06:23 GMT -4
Savard: no plans to sell, move Rocket
Charlottetown mayor wants to meet with team officials to discuss rumours.
The Guardian
The P.E.I. Rocket is not moving to Summerside, contrary to rumours, says the president and general manager of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Serge Savard Jr. said Monday he is not negotiating to move or sell the team and has no interest in doing so.
Rumours have been circulating in Charlottetown for weeks that Summerside native Doug MacLean and the city itself are interested in moving the team into the new Wellness Centre.
MacLean is currently in the process of fronting a group that is purchasing the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning for $200-million plus.
Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee has heard the rumours and has asked to meet with Savard Jr. this week to discuss the matter.
“That’s one of the things I want to talk to them about, to see if there’s any truth to the rumours that are out there,’’ Lee said Monday. “My understanding is that we have a five-year contract with them and I really, at this point and time, have no reason to believe they are leaving.’’
The Rocket has four years left on that contract.
Savard Jr. said he hasn’t talked to anyone from Summerside about selling or moving the team.
“There are no negotiations whatsoever and I’m not interested in negotiation. The only people I want to meet is the city (of Charlottetown) to make sure the team survives here forever or until I retire,’’ said the 39-year-old GM who turns 40 next week.
Savard Jr. said he hasn’t talked to MacLean but that he has heard through the grapevine there is interest in the team.
“I have heard through branches, not directly, that if there is some interest (from Rocket ownership in selling) that there would be somebody ready to listen, but my answer is there is no interest.’’
Savard Jr.’s father, former Montreal Canadiens legend Serge Savard Sr, owns the Rocket.
Savard Jr. said the rumours are further fuelled by the fact that Summerside has the new Wellness Centre.
“Obviously when you have a $30-million complex 40 minutes away from a major junior hockey team . . . of course there are going to be rumours. Obviously, they need a major tenant like the Rocket.’’
Lee said he has had discussions with both Savards regarding rumours of the team moving in the past.
“Last spring Savard Jr. and Sr. assured me that they have no intention of relocating and they have no intention of selling the team. I have no reason to believe today that it’s any different,’’ the mayor said.
Regardless, Lee wants a face-to-face meeting with the Rocket president and GM to clear the air once again.
“I’d much rather deal with it now then after something happens, if there is any truth to it,’’ Lee said, referring to the infamous P.E.I. Senators sudden exit out of Charlottetown in the mid-1990s.
Savard Jr. said his family moved the franchise from Montreal in 2003 because the team was losing so much money.
“Right now, it’s not working very well and we have meetings with Mr. Lee. We’ll see where it goes from there. It has to work (in Charlottetown), that’s my only concern.’’
Savard Jr. said his biggest concern right now is finding a deal with the City of Charlottetown that is comparable to other QMJHL markets and boosting attendance at the Civic Centre. The GM says the Rocket is near the bottom in terms of attendance around the league.
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Post by rocketlauncher on Oct 2, 2007 4:10:49 GMT -4
I did not think there would be any truth to that rumour. I mean, what else would Savard do if he was not running a Major A team
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Post by wingman on Oct 2, 2007 5:24:52 GMT -4
Well if Savard thinks that things aren't working very well and attendance is low, do something about it, don't just talk and whine about it. Get off your arse and make it happen. If the season continues on the way it is right now and he thought attendance has dropped already, well he hasn't seen anything yet because it's going to drop a whole lot more with the way things are going now.
People are losing interest and I don't blame them. I was at the Abbies last game and even though they got hammered on the score board, it was a good game to watch. There was good, clean hitting, good effort by all players, action both ends of the ice, etc. When leaving the rink after that game I was wondering when the next game was because I was interested in seeing it. Right now after leaving a Rocket game, people don't have that same interest and alot of them are season ticket holders, imagine how the walk-up fans are thinking/feeling.
Instead of Savard whining and complaining about attendance, he should be doing something to fix the problem because it's not going to get better by just talking about it.
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Post by rocketlauncher on Oct 2, 2007 5:56:34 GMT -4
I wonder if he reads this board. Perhaos if we make some suggestions on here he might try em
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Post by dogpound on Oct 2, 2007 6:40:02 GMT -4
People are being unfair here.
Serge is not "whining".
He's addressing a query he received about the Rocket moving to Summerside.
What is he supposed to do? Refuse to talk to the media? That would open him up to lots of other accusations.
Serge has always been open with Island fans, and he's replied truthfully to questions.
I have no reason to disbelieve him.
.......besides, he bought me a beer last weekend in Moncton...
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Post by hockeychick21 on Oct 2, 2007 7:09:19 GMT -4
Yes he did address the Summerside issue but at the very end he said..
"Savard Jr. said his biggest concern right now is finding a deal with the City of Charlottetown that is comparable to other QMJHL markets and boosting attendance at the Civic Centre. The GM says the Rocket is near the bottom in terms of attendance around the league."
Well if you wanna boost the attendance like somebody else said do something about it. You can't blame people for not wanting to go to the games....Do something to get the fans back to the rink.
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Post by bois on Oct 2, 2007 7:52:49 GMT -4
I know for a fact that this board is read.... maybe not by Serge directly, and many people have made suggestions here over the years
as for dogpound, you got a free beer, and suddenly management is great and fine? please tell me you can't be bought that easily
Serge is not always honest and direct with Island fans at all, although maybe he intends to be.... sure he occasionally goes to the media and answers some softball questions, but the in rink experience and more importantly on ice product gets worse each and every year, despite his annual post season rants about how next year will be better, results will always speak louder than words however
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Post by dogpound on Oct 2, 2007 8:30:18 GMT -4
I know for a fact that this board is read.... maybe not by Serge directly, and many people have made suggestions here over the years as for dogpound, you got a free beer, and suddenly management is great and fine? please tell me you can't be bought that easily Serge is not honest and direct with Island fans at all.... sure he occasionally goes to the media and answers some softball questions, but the in rink experience and more importantly on ice product gets worse each and every year, despite his annual post season rants about how next year will be better Bois, no, I never said "management is great and fine" - the team is a mess on the ice right now, so how could that be? What I said was that criticizing Serge for replying to a media inquiry and calling his comments "whining" is unfair, and I stand by that remark. Overall, I feel Serge has been honest with Island fans, so we disagree. A free beer isn't going to change my mind....it was a joke, dammit! As for this board, it's DEFINITELY read, we've known that for years......as is the Rocket section on "PEI Talk". Gary said they should have a promotion about "The Morgue" (what he called it), and the roster section on the Rocket site is now filled out....minus the question about "who was the biggest influence on you?".....and some people have been.....um....personally "challenged" by Rocket management about opinions expressed on the boards. So there. |
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Post by bois on Oct 2, 2007 8:41:41 GMT -4
Time to open the eyes and make the changes required
Or keep floundering along with status quo and watch attendance plummet even further
it's real nice they took your suggestion to fill out the silly little questions on their site.. i'd be impressed if they took the consensus suggestion to replace the incompetent coach behind the bench or to upgrade the roster by acquiring a solid overage puck moving dman or top 6 sniper
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Post by dogpound on Oct 2, 2007 9:07:32 GMT -4
Maybe he is honest... if so he's a worse manager than many out of towners criticized him for being for years. Time to open the eyes and make the changes required Or keep floundering along with status quo and watch attendance plummet even further it's real nice they took your suggestion to fill out the silly little questions on their site.. i'd be impressed if they took the consensus suggestion to replace the incompetent coach behind the bench or to upgrade the roster by acquiring a solid overage puck moving dman or top 6 sniper The Rocket WILL acquire a solid overage puck-moving D-man, I'm sure.....the track record is good when it comes to that. I really don't expect a coaching change, even though it might mean the difference between a good season and a poor season in 07-08. ....and that's really a shame. |
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Post by bois on Oct 2, 2007 9:19:44 GMT -4
not sure how you figure the track record is good
overage dmen acquired during the season by Serege have been
Michel Charrette (far from solid)
JC Milot (very good but was hurt much of his limited time here)
Travis Mealy (great heart and soul player not a puck mover tho)
Lucianno Lomanno (horrible)
Acquired in off season
P.M. Guilbault (great trade.. unfortunately was subsequently moved mid-season)
Nicholas Leduc (ughhhh can we forget he existed pls)
Jason Swit ( tries hard.. just isn't good)
Not nearly as solid as you purport.. even worse when you consider he traded a couple of 17 yeaar olds to make those deals
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Post by mboyan on Oct 2, 2007 9:22:29 GMT -4
I did not think there would be any truth to that rumour. I mean, what else would Savard do if he was not running a Major A team Don't you mean ruining a Major junior team?? ;D |
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Post by flipper on Oct 2, 2007 9:47:50 GMT -4
(Serge is not honest and direct with Island fans at all.)
A rather sweeping statement don't you think. I personally take exception to it, as I know Serge has gone out of his way to let the fans know where the team stands.
Simply because you personally do not like the answers or the comments he makes, does not give you the right to make accusatory remarks for which you have no proof or basis in fact.
Many of the contributors to this board seem to thrive on rumour and innuendo, and when they fail to materialize, they seem to be very down in the mouth about it, and then tend to lash out at everyone and every thing.
There is nothing wrong with free and open discussion, it is the basis of an open society. If the news you are getting does not appeal to you it is not necesary to stone the messenger in the town square.
No one likes to lose, and when the going gets tough, that is the time to rally around and show support, not denigrate every effort that is being made to correct the problem.
Until the next time
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Post by bois on Oct 2, 2007 10:07:48 GMT -4
what efforts are being made?
you're right presented the way you did it appears a sweeping statement.. not my intent... so i modified it
this board is for the fans who do support the team to express themselves, without intereference, something the rocket have never accepted or understood
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Post by mboyan on Oct 2, 2007 11:21:34 GMT -4
(Serge is not honest and direct with Island fans at all.) A rather sweeping statement don't you think. I personally take exception to it, as I know Serge has gone out of his way to let the fans know where the team stands. Simply because you personally do not like the answers or the comments he makes, does not give you the right to make accusatory remarks for which you have no proof or basis in fact. Many of the contributors to this board seem to thrive on rumour and innuendo, and when they fail to materialize, they seem to be very down in the mouth about it, and then tend to lash out at everyone and every thing. There is nothing wrong with free and open discussion, it is the basis of an open society. If the news you are getting does not appeal to you it is not necesary to stone the messenger in the town square. No one likes to lose, and when the going gets tough, that is the time to rally around and show support, not denigrate every effort that is being made to correct the problem. Until the next time While I agree somewhat with what you are saying, I also realize that there is a big difference in admitting that there is a problem.....and doing something to fix the said problem. I. for one, am happy to hear that the Savard's have no intention of selling at this point. But, really.......... He has yet to do anything to prove to me that he is actually taking steps to increase attendance. The old saying "If nothing changes....nothing changes" quickly comes to mind when I think of the Rocket, and especially Savard. Every year, it's the same story. Why did he not take this opportunity to address the poor start to the season, while he had the chance? It seems to me, that most fans are concerned about what's happening on the ice, and in the dressing room, as opposed to whether they are selling the team, or moving to Summerside. I'm sure that Savard is smart enough to know that. No, Savard has done nothing, IMO, to prove to me that he is trying his best to regain the confidence of the fans, or at least, this fan. This article, to me, is just smoke and mirrors, used to deflect away from the real issues that he is facing regarding other issues that should be addressed |
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