Pats ready to bite the bullet to play short WHL season

The WHL'S commitment to a truncated season is all about wins and losses.

If the league is able to execute a 24-game schedule, it's expected to come with a significant amount of red ink for all 22 teams, including the Regina Pats.

However, there's a prevailing sense that those losses could still add up to a win — albeit a costly one — because the players wouldn't lose a full year of development.

That approach requires a huge sacrifice from team owners.

Unless something changes drastically in the battle against COVID-19, fans won't be part of the equation this season, thus depriving clubs of their primary revenue source.

“For all the teams in the Western Hockey League, it's a very difficult financial time,” explained Pats president Todd Lumbard, one of five team owners who comprise Queen City Sports and Entertainment Group. “Our hope is, if we can make it through a year like this, that there are brighter days ahead. That's our focus right now, just to work our way through this year, do our best and live to fight another day.”

After being forced to delay three earlier start-up plans, the WHL'S current 24-game proposal is likely a last gasp. The league is exploring all options for this season even though teams would lose less money if they just closed their doors until September and started fresh next season.

“If we can't have fans in the stands and we can't generate any revenue, bringing our players back to play is going to increase our costs,” Lumbard said. “That's where all the teams are just saying: `This is important for the players' development.' It's important to continue to do everything we can to play to keep our league as relevant as we possibly can through a very difficult time. I think everyone feels like the commitment to spend the money and try to get 24 games is worth it in the long run.”

The provincial government offered its two cents last week by committing $3 million to the WHL'S five Saskatchewan-based teams ($600,000 per club) plus a total of $1 million for the SJHL, split among its 12 junior A clubs.

The government's $600,000 contribution isn't a long-term fix for WHL teams, many of which operate on a yearly budget of around $2.5 million (some are considerably higher).

Still, the money is expected to help them weather the immediate storm.

“There's no question that every team in the Western Hockey League is going to lose a lot of money this year,” said Lumbard, whose team gives back to numerous local charities through the Pats' community foundation.

“As a league and as a franchise, we're very appreciative of the government's recognition that junior hockey is part of the fabric of our communities. This allows us to continue to honour our commitment to our players and to our communities. That's much appreciated. It goes a long way to keep the league and the teams in Saskatchewan viable ... and to help us get through to the other side.”

Some teams will find it more difficult than others to survive.

Saskatchewan has three community-owned teams that operate in small markets (the Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders and Swift Current Broncos). Those clubs already operate on tight budgets and suffered significant losses when the league shut down.

“It's harder on the community-owned teams for sure,” Lumbard noted. “Their funding models are a little bit different. One of the big concerns for the league is the viability of the community-owned teams and making sure they make it through this.”

Lumbard says he hopes even a shortened WHL season can bring fans a slice of normalcy in these challenging times.