Junior A hockey in Quesnel is on the verge of extinction.
On Saturday, the ownership group of the Quesnel Millionaires accepted an offer from the Chiefs Development Group to relocate to Chilliwack for the 2011-12 B.C. Hockey League season. In the past two seasons, the Millionaires lost $300,000. And, with a plan to build a replacement facility for the aging Quesnel Twin Arenas stalled, the 15 owners of the Mills decided they could no longer operate the franchise.
"The ownership group of the Quesnel Millionaires is very saddened to have to take this step," said a message on the Mills' website. "However, the severe financial losses the group has sustained over the last two years combined with the lack of a firm date for the new multicentre has made this decision necessary."
The relocation is subject to approval by the BCHL board of governors. A vote is expected to happen sometime in the next two weeks.
"If this offer is not accepted by the League, the Millionaires will voluntarily withdraw from the British Columbia Hockey League," the website posting said.
On Tuesday, see The Citizen and pgcitizen.ca for more.
