The head coach, general manager and part-owner of the St. Albert Steel wasn't sure if Tuesday was the last home game in franchise history for the Alberta Junior Hockey League team.
The deadline for the Steel to renew their contract with Servus Credit Union Place is Feb. 28 and the lease expires Aug. 31.
"I have no idea if it is or not," said Greg Parks, after the last-place Steel (8-47-3) lost 7-4 to the Drayton Valley Thunder in front of 200 fans at Performance Arena. "We're still trying to negotiate in good faith. We want to be in St. Albert and we need a little bit of help from the city and so far they're not willing to do anything to step up and keep us here."
Parks said the current deal makes it nearly impossible to operate an AJHL team in St. Albert. The Steel have lost money since the Fort Saskatchewan Traders relocated to St. Albert in 2007. Season tickets sales have plummeted from 454 in the team's inaugural season to 117 in 2010-11. The Drive for Five campaign in June to sell 500 season tickets ended with about 75 sales.
Parks was also disappointed with the city's final offer in the summer concerning ice times and rates, sponsorship and advertising agreements, and repayment of dressing room costs.
Mayor Nolan Crouse has repeatedly stated council will not change its position. He suggested the Steel should do a better job of marketing their product to get more sponsors and fans on board.
"It's unfortunate the city isn't willing to sit down with us. We could've hammered this out one way or another a long time ago. I guess that tells me that they're not willing to budge, but hopefully before the end of the month they will. If not, we'll explore what is out there after that," said Parks.
Team for sale?
Leduc or Whitecourt are the prime relocation destinations for the Steel but Parks was tight-lipped about the team moving.
"I hear a lot of rumours but there are no discussions. Nothing," he said. "We want to stay in St Albert and we're going to exhaust all options to stay here before we explore our other options."
Last month Crouse said the city has been active in locating potential buyers for the Steel.
Landrex Developers Inc. has also been approached to buy the team.
"Not by the owners of the Steel but by concerned people in the community, people that would like to see the team kept here under proper management," said Landrex CEO Larry Andrews. "I have some interest."
Parks said the uncertainly clouding the Steel's future in St. Albert has affected the team on and off the ice.
"It weighs on the kids. They don't know where they're going to be. It weighs on the season ticket holders. We haven't had one person sign up for season tickets next year. It hurts the advertisers. It hurts everything," Parks said.
Despite the stalemate in negotiations, the Steel have scheduled their spring prospects camp for March 23-25 at Servus Place.
The Steel have major holes to fill in their line-up after missing the playoffs for the first time in team history. Their fate was sealed when Parks traded away all but one of the team's 20-year-olds for younger players, prospects and future considerations in early December.
The last four years the Steel never advanced past the best-of-five opening round in the north division and are 3-12 overall in the playoffs.
Their best season was 29 wins and 65 points for sixth place in 2008-09.
Tuesday's loss was the 24th in the last 26 games for the AJHL's lowest scoring and worst defensive team.
"It's been frustrating, a very trying season for sure," said Parks. "I feel sorry for the boys, but as difficult as it is, this season will make them better hockey players. You find out what character kids have when you go through a season like this. It's easy to hide your true character when you're winning hockey games but when you're going through what we went through this year you really find out what these kids are made of."
He is encouraged with how the team is shaping up for next season, whether it's in St. Albert or not.
"We got to see a lot of good things from some people. A lot of them are playing in a lot of situations that normally they wouldn't be playing in. Some guys really jumped up and others stepped back a little bit," Parks said. "I have to give the group credit. They've worked extremely hard for the situation we're in."
In Tuesday's loss netminder Rhys Hadfield (3-25-1, 5.05 GAA) was selected the Steel game star after stopping 20 shots in the third period and 44 overall.
"We would've liked to see him get a win here in his last home game but hopefully he'll get one or two more wins before this season is over," Parks said. "We put him in a [crappy] situation this year and it was difficult for him. He could've easily sulked a little bit being the only 20-year-old left but he was very professional about it. He's been great at practice and in the room."
This weekend the Steel close out the season with two games in Grande Prairie against the Storm.
