Post by dogcatcher on Dec 26, 2007 8:38:21 GMT -4
Sea Dogs aiming for a regional identity
Hockey Part owner of junior squad thinks the organization is headed in the right direction
MARY-ELLEN SAUNDERS
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Published Wednesday December 26th, 2007
Appeared on page C8
ST. GEORGE - When Doug Holland paid his share to get the Saint John Sea Dogs on the ice, he was hoping the team would be a regional team and provide Charlotte County hockey fans with a bigger team to watch and aspire to.
"To a certain degree, as the team develops it is developing a regional identity," said Holland.
"It takes time - it doesn't happen in a year or two years - but I think we are headed in the right direction."
The Saint John Sea Dogs, the biggest hockey team in the area, are part of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team was started three years ago with partners Scott McCain, Rick Watt, Wayne Long, Mike McGraw, Paul Chase and Charlotte County residents Doug Holland and Rod Card.
With two of the seven from Charlotte County, Holland said he thought it would help the rural residents feel as if the Sea Dogs were their team.
Holland's vision was for the team to represent all of southwest region. He said some of the diehard fans see it that way, but for the average person from Charlotte County who attends a few games a year it is Saint John's team.
"I think as it develops its identity and people from rural areas go to games then they accept the team, it becomes an integral part of the team. And our organization is doing as much as we can to be good citizens."
Holland said since starting the team three years ago it has made progress in reaching out to the rural communities through school visits, practising at Charlotte County rinks and visiting the young hockey players in the area during public skates.
But, he said, it will take time for the team to create the regional identity it hopes for and it's hard during the hockey season for the Sea Dog players to have time to visit the rural areas.
"My hope is that (the community) will support us more," said Holland. "Not that we are unhappy but we would like to see more people in the stands."
And if the team were thought of as representing Charlotte County fans, Holland said he expects the stands would be overflowing with rural fans supporting their team.
Holland, who owns an Irving convenience store and a home heating business, said hockey has been a major part of his life and in Charlotte County sports are an integral part of every community. With less to do in rural areas, everything that is going on becomes a focal point for the community, he said.
As an example, Holland said the senior men's hockey team in St. Stephen attracts more than 1,000 fans every Friday night, while a similar team in Saint John would have about 200 or 300 at each game.
"I believe we would be more boisterous fans than some other areas," said Holland.
"I think loyalty is a big thing in rural areas and if we can get them to be loyal in rural areas, I think they would be very loyal."
Holland said gaining fans and a rural base would be a lot easier if the team were winning big. He said it takes time to develop a team and with the team sitting at third in its division and fourth in the league, it is headed in the right direction.
"I don't want to put numbers on what we expect but if we continue to develop, we are going to be very strong team and someone to be reckoned with in the playoffs," said Holland.
He said he was a hockey player in his youth and his 23-year-old son Steve Holland played in the Quebec Major Junior League for the Victoriaville Tigres when he began working on getting a team started in Saint John.
Before the Sea Dogs were around, Holland said young hockey players in the area didn't have as much to aspire to if they hadn't travelled and learned about other levels of hockey in Canada.
"Kids may have aspired to play high school hockey but now kids can see it and aspire to play for the Sea Dogs. If you ask a seven-year-old where they want to play, they will say the Sea Dogs."
Hockey Part owner of junior squad thinks the organization is headed in the right direction
MARY-ELLEN SAUNDERS
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Published Wednesday December 26th, 2007
Appeared on page C8
ST. GEORGE - When Doug Holland paid his share to get the Saint John Sea Dogs on the ice, he was hoping the team would be a regional team and provide Charlotte County hockey fans with a bigger team to watch and aspire to.
"To a certain degree, as the team develops it is developing a regional identity," said Holland.
"It takes time - it doesn't happen in a year or two years - but I think we are headed in the right direction."
The Saint John Sea Dogs, the biggest hockey team in the area, are part of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team was started three years ago with partners Scott McCain, Rick Watt, Wayne Long, Mike McGraw, Paul Chase and Charlotte County residents Doug Holland and Rod Card.
With two of the seven from Charlotte County, Holland said he thought it would help the rural residents feel as if the Sea Dogs were their team.
Holland's vision was for the team to represent all of southwest region. He said some of the diehard fans see it that way, but for the average person from Charlotte County who attends a few games a year it is Saint John's team.
"I think as it develops its identity and people from rural areas go to games then they accept the team, it becomes an integral part of the team. And our organization is doing as much as we can to be good citizens."
Holland said since starting the team three years ago it has made progress in reaching out to the rural communities through school visits, practising at Charlotte County rinks and visiting the young hockey players in the area during public skates.
But, he said, it will take time for the team to create the regional identity it hopes for and it's hard during the hockey season for the Sea Dog players to have time to visit the rural areas.
"My hope is that (the community) will support us more," said Holland. "Not that we are unhappy but we would like to see more people in the stands."
And if the team were thought of as representing Charlotte County fans, Holland said he expects the stands would be overflowing with rural fans supporting their team.
Holland, who owns an Irving convenience store and a home heating business, said hockey has been a major part of his life and in Charlotte County sports are an integral part of every community. With less to do in rural areas, everything that is going on becomes a focal point for the community, he said.
As an example, Holland said the senior men's hockey team in St. Stephen attracts more than 1,000 fans every Friday night, while a similar team in Saint John would have about 200 or 300 at each game.
"I believe we would be more boisterous fans than some other areas," said Holland.
"I think loyalty is a big thing in rural areas and if we can get them to be loyal in rural areas, I think they would be very loyal."
Holland said gaining fans and a rural base would be a lot easier if the team were winning big. He said it takes time to develop a team and with the team sitting at third in its division and fourth in the league, it is headed in the right direction.
"I don't want to put numbers on what we expect but if we continue to develop, we are going to be very strong team and someone to be reckoned with in the playoffs," said Holland.
He said he was a hockey player in his youth and his 23-year-old son Steve Holland played in the Quebec Major Junior League for the Victoriaville Tigres when he began working on getting a team started in Saint John.
Before the Sea Dogs were around, Holland said young hockey players in the area didn't have as much to aspire to if they hadn't travelled and learned about other levels of hockey in Canada.
"Kids may have aspired to play high school hockey but now kids can see it and aspire to play for the Sea Dogs. If you ask a seven-year-old where they want to play, they will say the Sea Dogs."