Broncos honour Robison during final season as WHL commissioner
The Swift Current Broncos paid tribute to long-time Western Hockey League commissioner Ron Robison during a farewell stop in Swift Current on Nov. 10.
“I think first of all Swift Current is the smallest market in the Western Hockey League, but to me one of the most special markets because it represents such a tremendous history of success in this market with the championships,” said Robison prior to dropping the puck between the Broncos and the Saskatoon Blades. “Of course just going back a few years now we all remember very fondly the last championship. The history of success and the community support has been just incredible from the volunteers on the Board to the season ticket holders, to the volunteers that make these games happen, it’s a special place. All of us in the Western Hockey League have a great respect for the Broncos organization.”
Robison noted the upgrades to the rink in 2007-08 as a pivotal moment for Swift Current as a WHL market.
“I think first of all the facility standards when you consider markets like Swift Current we felt like it was really important that the facilities be upgraded. This goes back several years now, but I look at what the City of Swift Current and the City deserves a tremendous amount of credit. They put the capital improvements necessary into the building to make sure it met the standards for the league, which was really important, not only from a fan perspective, but for us most importantly for the players. We wanted to make sure that the standard for facilities was similar across the Western Hockey League so that players coming to play in Swift Current would have a similar experience to other markets in the
Western Hockey League.”
“I think back to the changes we wanted to make in facility standards and at the time Ben Wiebe was the governor of the team and I remember how he felt this was going to be a major challenge,” he added. “But in typical Swift Current fashion this community found a way. Again the City of Swift Current, the Broncos came together and made sure that the facility would meet our standards and requirements moving forward. As a result you have a tremendous facility here in the iplex, not only a great home for the Broncos, but a great facility for the community. Hosting the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship this week is another example of how it attracts other events and serves the community in so many other ways.”
Robison said he always enjoyed stopping in Swift Current.
“It’s always great. It’s a small town atmosphere in some ways, but when you look at the passion of our fans, the interest that everyone has in this community, the Broncos are such a big part
of the community and have been for so many years. You really feel that enthusiasm and that commitment to keep the team successful in this location.”
Robison is now the longest serving commissioner in WHL history as he completes his 24th season. He announced his retirement in June and it’s been a chance to recollect on his time at the helm of the league.
“I don’t look at it as a personal achievement. I look at it as a collective team effort in every respect because I look at the work that we’ve done with the Board of Governors and the ownership collectively over the years and I think we’ve accomplished a great deal. I look at our scholarship program as sort of the number one thing that we represent that all players in the Western Hockey League receive a scholarship and are protected from an education standpoint moving forward and that’s really allowed us to recruit the top players in the system. We are getting those top young players to play in the Western Hockey League and that’s in large part to our scholarship program.”
“Then I look at the investment that’s been made in our facilities and the improvements there, the work we’ve done in the Respect area in partnership with Sheldon Kennedy, the Canadian Red Cross to educate our players and provide a very safe and positive environment both on and off the ice. Those are really the things I look at as major achievements.”
Robison said the league has tried to protect smaller markets as the league has grown.
“Well I think we’ve always tried to maintain a business model that everyone can continue to operate within. First of all, sort of a financial framework if you will that will allow the Broncos to not only continue to operate, but to perform at a high level within our league. Of course the Prospects Draft annually gives everyone equal access to the talent and that’s been really key to maintaining competitive balance and giving everybody an opportunity to be successful.”
He feels the WHL is in a good place moving forward.
“I think we’ve got a really great on-ice product first of all. When you think back to just recently with Connor Bedard and the young talent that we have coming through our league has never been better. The quality of these players is exceptional and we’re really excited about the quality young talent. I think that’s a real positive, puts us in a really good position moving forward. Then of course the good quality of our facilities and our coaching and the hockey experience itself is, in my view, as good as there is anywhere in the world. We pride ourselves in being a world class development league for players, but we also have to work harder at making sure that our fan base continues to be loyal and strong as it has been and we need our buildings to be full in order to be able to continue to support these teams.”
Robison had the challenge of guiding the league through a global pandemic in 2020 and beyond.
“Yeah Covid was really a challenge. Anytime you have to play with those restrictions and also have no ability to generate any revenue as a club and yet we found a way to play during that covid season, I think was very important for the players’ development and a credit to our clubs to find a way financially to make that work. Coming out of covid we still have work to do, we’ve got certainly great community support, communities like Swift Current, the sponsorship, corporate support has been excellent, but we do need to find ways to make sure that our buildings are full and there’s some work to do here with respect to getting the building up to capacity every night.”
The Broncos were averaging 1,945 fans per game through the first 12 home games of the season, but Robison remained optimistic about the franchise.
“This community has rallied behind this franchise that’s gone through a lot over the years as we know from the bus tragedy to the issues we’ve had with Graham James and other issues we’ve had along the way the team has had to really endure a lot, Covid being the last challenge. They’ve been able to find a way through all of these challenges in a remarkable way and they’ve gained a lot of respect from all of the other clubs in the Western Hockey League as a result.”