It鈥檚 the brainchild of Chris Jackson, who says all that stands in the way is to raise funds, estimating he requires about $50,000 for an operating budget with hopes of playing at either Archie Browning Sports Centre in Esquimalt or The Q Centre in Colwood.
The season begins in late April and runs through playoffs in early August.
The Nanaimo Timbermen defeated Langley in three straight games in last year鈥檚 league championship. Ladner, Royal City, Tri-City, Valley, Port Moody and North Shore also compete in the circuit in which all teams play 18 games.
Jackson says he has Rick Sanderson in line as general manager for the team, which is currently not affiliated with the Victoria Senior A Shamrocks, and will run as the Victoria Wolves. Dave Flint is his executive director and he will turn to Brenda Rafter as a treasurer and Ted Dowling to assist with operations.
The group met with league officials last week to receive conditional approval and gathered together on Tuesday to decide on Nick Agius, a veteran Sr. B player, as coach.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all pending finances,鈥� said Jackson, 56, a former player and official who has led the Saanich Junior B team to two provincial titles in the past three years. 鈥淲e think it鈥檚 very manageable.
鈥淲e asked [the Shamrocks] for some backing as a place to keep their draft picks,鈥� said Jackson, who gave the Senior A Mann Cup champions a proposal. 鈥淭hey said they don鈥檛 have the money to help out.鈥�
The Wolves are seeking financial backers and are selling sponsorships. Financially, Jackson will charge players $400 each to play and he鈥檚 looking for jersey sponsors at $600 each; club sponsors for $1,000 apiece and $2,000 for corporate sponsors.
Anyone interested can contact Jessica Wyllie, the sponsorship co-ordinator, at 778-678-5278 or via email at [email protected] and the team has a Facebook page at Victoria Wolves Sr B Lax. The goal is to raise $30,000 by Dec. 20. Jackson has to show the league a financial means and cut a cheque for $5,000 for a franchise fee by Jan. 1.
He was hoping the Shamrocks would kick in so that they could affiliate.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 been the biggest problem in Victoria, there are so many good players who don鈥檛 have a place to play. Senior C just isn鈥檛 good enough,鈥� said Jackson.
鈥淭he last problem we鈥檒l have is getting talented players,鈥� he stressed. 鈥淥ne or two [juniors] usually get a chance to play Senior A, but we have three programs here that graduate between six to 10 players a year that have nowhere to go. Senior C is not highly competitive lacrosse. There鈥檚 definitely a need for it here.鈥�
Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes agrees with the concept, but his general manager Chris Welch opted just to wish the new club well.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a positive, for sure,鈥� said Heyes, who played Senior B in Nanaimo. 鈥淚t gives players who can鈥檛 quite crack a Senior A lineup an opportunity to stay local and continue their lacrosse careers. As an organization, I think we support that. A Senior B team only makes us stronger.
鈥淚t gives you a team to affiliate with, if you can work together. I can鈥檛 speak to whether that works for us or not.鈥�
On that topic, Jackson said: 鈥淲e would appreciate some financial assistance from them, but so far that hasn鈥檛 been forthcoming.鈥�
The franchise will instead focus on doing their due diligence in drawing fans, sponsorship and willing partners.
The Senior A Nanaimo Timbermen do not affiliate with the Senior B team in that city.
