New Victoria Grizzlies director of operations Pete Zubersky was recalling Monday afternoon his three seasons as general manager of the sa国际传媒 Hockey League team when it was known as the Salsa.
It was like old-home week as he rejoined the organization in the new position, as well as one of part owner as Ron Walchuk welcomed a handful of new financial backers.
John Wilson, Kirby Yeats, Reza Binab and Don Robinson round out the new ownership group, joining Walchuk and Mark Wagstaff. (Binab was a previous owner and has jumped back in, while Wagstaff never left).
鈥淎s we move forward, I look at the venue that we鈥檙e in and I believe it鈥檚 the best venue for Junior A hockey in the country,鈥� Zubersky began at a hastily called press conference in the lobby at Bear Mountain Arena.
鈥淚 remember the first game here. Reza had lined up some fireworks and it took about 15 minutes to clear the smoke. I鈥檓 not sure it was a good idea, but it was fun and the place was packed,鈥� recalled Zubersky.
鈥淚 would love to see that again,鈥� he said of weak crowds. 鈥淚 come to the arena right now and the atmosphere isn鈥檛 in here.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in a community of Victoria that is north of 400,000 people. We鈥檙e in the Westshore here, where there are a lot of blue-collar people. I relate to those people, they are hard-working people,鈥� stressed Zubersky, a former Colwood RCMP officer, who wants to make the organization popular again.
He鈥檚 determined to be the man to lead the group, which features Wilson as the new president.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to take giant steps, right away,鈥� said Zubersky, who wasn鈥檛 sure he would be joining the group until Monday. 鈥淩ight now, we鈥檝e only been in it for a few hours.
鈥淒on (Robinson, a longtime Grizzlies鈥� scout and active hockey supporter in the community) took me through the dressing room today and I noticed the changes.鈥�
There will be more changes to come, of that there is no doubt as Zubersky and Wilson will head up the BCHL club. The two are already co-owners of the Peninsula Panthers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. Zubersky does not see the two roles as a clash.
鈥淚 had owned the Junior B team when I was GM here when it was the Salsa. It works unbelievably well because there is a synergy there. The kids from Junior B can come up to Junior A. It actually fits like a glove,鈥� said Zubersky.
鈥淏ut, having said that, we want to partner with all the Junior B teams, but pay special attention to the Westshore Wolves.鈥�
He was careful not to stomp on anyone鈥檚 foot on his first day on the job, although current general manager and head coach Bill Bestwick鈥檚 absence was confusing.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important and it鈥檚 in my heart to get into the community and be a community player,鈥� Zubersky stressed. 鈥淲e want to become best friends and partners with Juan de Fuca minor hockey. That鈥檚 our target group. We want to be involved with all minor hockey groups, really.
鈥淭he business of junior hockey is a tough business,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭here is entertainment value here, we just have to get that message out and we have to get people to come in.
鈥淭here is going to be a lot of work to do here and we鈥檙e willing to roll up our sleeves. We鈥檙e willing to do our work. We need the support of the community and it starts (Tuesday) night against the Nanaimo Clippers.鈥�
Zubersky said all the right things, but it will be time that tells if this move 鈥� expected for almost two months 鈥� will pay off.
鈥淚 hope that we can build bit by bit, game by game and year by year,鈥� Zubersky said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited about the group and I think we can become a great organization. I believe there will be a marked change in weeks and months to follow.
It might start with the loss of Bestwick, although it would seem strange and probably a little idiotic to send him out the door now. He still has this season remaining on his contract and the Grizzlies would likely have to buy him out if they sent him down the road.
He may choose to go on his own, but Bestwick, and his right hand man Craig Didmon, have led this team to third place overall this season after a second overall finish last year.
He deserves a better fate.
We will find out Tuesday morning as he and Zubersky meet to discuss the future.
Bestwick was not asked to join the group at their press conference on Monday and that, likely, says a great deal.
If he remains the rest of this season, it鈥檚 highly likely Zubersky will go with his own coach come next season, although he wasn鈥檛 committing one way or another.
He isn鈥檛 a man to tip toe his way around building an organization, having previously worked along with Binab and Wagstaff with the Salsa.
But has Zubersky been paying enough attention to the BCHL, especially a month away from its trade deadline?
And how will the players react?
Huge questions that will need answering.
