Thunder fold, Canucks make pitch to re-enter NPHL

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

A topsy-turvy week in the North Peace Hockey League has its president wondering what will happen next. The sudden folding of the powerhouse Horse Lake Thunder Oct. 11 left NPHL president Jack McAvoy scurrying to make arrangements to draw a new schedule. However, days later the Dawson Creek Canucks resurfaced and expressed a desire to re-enter the league. A league conference call will occur Oct. 16 to decide the matter. News that the Thunder were folding surfaced through Internet rumours in late September although Thunder executive did not inform the league. The rumours became a reality Oct. 2 when Thunder coach Glen Watson paid McAvoy a visit in Manning and informed him of the team’s decision. “I gave them until Thursday morning (Oct. 4) to tell the league what they were doing,” says McAvoy. McAvoy gave the club two extra days because some players expressed an interest in going with local players instead of the “AAA” club they were trying to piece together. However, those plans did not materialize and the Thunder notified the league Oct. 4 they were folding. The next day, McAvoy received a call from the Dawson Creek Canucks telling him they were interested in rejoining the NPHL. The NPHL previously met Sept. 11 and kicked the Canucks out of the league after they informed McAvoy before the meeting they were not icing a team. McAvoy promptly issued a news release to the teams Oct. 6. “The Dawson Creek Canucks are approaching the NPHL executive about trying to get back into the NPHL for the 2007-08 season after the Horse Lake teams dropped out,” says McAvoy in the letter. “They now think they can ice a more competitive team as some of their players won’t be playing for Horse Lake.” However, McAvoy reminds teams that they voted the Canucks out of the league at their Sept. 11 annual meeting and kept their performance bond. “They would now be treated as a new team, which according to our NPHL constitution, says they must be accepted by 50 per cent plus one to get into the NPHL.” The Falher Pirates, being a new team on probation, are not allowed to vote. Therefore, the Canucks would need six votes from the 10 remaining teams to be accepted. “Please give this some serious consideration. A vote will be taken on Oct. 6.” The conference call will also address the matter of whether nor not to give the Thunder a year’s leave of absence. NPHL statistician Chris Clegg was ordered to draw a new schedule for release Oct. 8. Clegg is also be drawing a schedule including Dawson Creek for release on Oct. 10 if they are accepted.

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