Susan Jensen absolutely loves hockey.
She's a huge fan who not only supports the Prince George Cougars, but also the Spruce Kings and the major midget Cariboo Cougars.
But Tuesday afternoon, she and her friends were among an estimated 1,500 fans at CN Centre to support the Western Hockey League's Cougars as they ushered in a new era.
"We support this team whether they win or lose," said the 66-year-old Jensen, a retired legal aid assistant. "I wanted to prove that the community needs to come together to support this team. The team is on a new adventure with everyone - the community, fans and players."
Fans young and old, clad in Cougars and Vancouver Canucks sweaters, stood in line, one that snaked into the parking lot outside the main arena entrance, for a free barbecue prior to the Cats introducing their new ownership group, EDGEPRO Sports and Entertainment Ltd.
EDGEPRO officially took over the Cougars on May 1 when it purchased the team from Rick Brodsky, who owned the club for the last 22 years, including the last 20 in Prince George.
EDGEPRO consists of a group of local investors, which includes Prince George businessmen Greg Pocock, Ernest Ouellet, Raymond Fortier and John Pateman. Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Eric Brewer and Vancouver Canucks defenceman Dan Hamhuis, both former Cougars, round out the ownership group.
To celebrate, the Cougars hosted a barbecue for community supporters and fans to welcome the new era, one the team dubbed a new ice age.
Wally Brown, a 68-year-old retired teacher and a season ticket holder, has been a fan since Day 1 when the team played at the Coliseum.
"I think most people were disenchanted with the Brodsky family and with this new ownership group, I think there will be a good return of fans," said Brown, who taught phys-ed at Kelly Road secondary for 33 years. "I'm excited about Hamhuis and Brewer, they will give some substance way more than the Brodskys."
When the Cougars moved from the Coliseum to what is now CN Centre, they built a season ticket base of 4,500 and drew capacity crowds of 5,700 for their games. They became one of the most profitable franchises in the league, thanks to a loyal fanbase.
But after years of consecutive losing seasons, attendance steadily plummeted. The team averaged only 1,688 spectators in 36 home games this season, the worst attendance in the WHL.
Brown bought his season tickets at CN Centre - Section K, Row 7, seats 1 and 2 - along with his Oldtimers Masters Division hockey team. But his teammates slowly lost interest and dropped their tickets, one by one. Now, it's just Brown and his wife who attend the games.
"My buddies said 'as long as the Brodskys are here, I don't want to come,'" said Brown. "I enjoy the hockey, it's been depressing with so few fans. I love seeing other teams come into town... the Cougars played Portland, Victoria and Kelowna at the end of the season and they were right into those games."
Brown remembers five years ago when the Cats hosted their annual Teddy Bear Toss game that attracted one of the biggest crowds of the season.
"There were a lot of fights at the end and I think that turned off a lot of people," he said.
He does have some ideas for the franchise to get the fanbase back, such as live entertainment playing on the concourse and getting more kids in the arena, especially through the minor hockey system.
"I don't care how they do it, it is lonely in there," he said. "I'll stay with the Cougars, but will miss some games because I'm a snowbird."
Long-time Cougars fan Greg Campbell, 33, a local mortgage broker, used to watch the Cats 20 years ago as a kid when they called the Coliseum home. He used to have season tickets prior to moving away. Since his return to the city, he attends games whenever possible.
"It's important for me to show my support," he said while standing in line at the barbecue. "I used to watch Eric Brewer play as a Cougar and this now seems like a good quality ownership group."
Jensen, who stuck with the Cougars through thick and thin, had nothing but kind words for the Brodsky family, including former vice-president Brandi Brodsky.
"I admire Brandi and how she handled the former administration," she said. "I wish them well."
If EDGEPRO was unsure how they'd be welcomed by the community, fans appeared to give their approval during Tuesday's media conference.
Most fans who stayed after lunch sat in the stands from section TU at one end, all the way to section YZ at the other, as they looked down at centre stage on ice level, a stage flanked by the Cougars bus on one side and the CN Centre zamboni on the other.
Fans cheered and gave Pocock, the Cougars' new managing partner and president, a standing ovation as he walked onto the stage to introduce the rest of the ownership group.
They gave a standing ovation to Hamhuis when he was welcomed onto the stage, as well as head coach Mark Holick.
"Prince George has always been special to me," Hamhuis, who grew up in Smithers, told the crowd. "It's nice to give back to the city that has given me so much in hockey and in life."
