Rock on the block

FREDERICTON – One of two remaining franchises of the original five that formed the Southern Hockey League at the start of the 2001 season is on the block.
League president Sheldon Currie announced late last week that the River Valley Rock franchise is for sale.
Along with the Blacks Harbour Silverkings, the Rock have played in every one of the league’s eight seasons. Remarkably, they have been finalists in seven of their eight seasons, winning the league championship twice.
In 2007-08, the team posted a 12-11-1 regular season record, finishing fourth overall. In the playoffs, River Valley won a best-of-five quarterfinals match 3-1 against the St. Stephen Seahawks before bowing out in four straight to the eventual league and provincial champion Grand Lake Thrashers.
By the Rock’s standard, 2007-08 was a sub-par season on the ice. Reports indicate that attendance at the River Valley Civic Centre in Grand Bay, home ice for the team, was way down.
The league attributes this factor to a weakened Saint John Blackhawks organization and the disappearance of a clear rival.
Though the sale of one of its keystone franchises appears to spell trouble for the league, Currie said at the senior level, it is natural to see fluctuation.
“Every year in the off-season we anticipate folks involved with their respective franchises will take time to reflect on their commitment,” said Currie.
“We were aware the committed people were nearing the end of giving back to the community. Running an organization for eight years can take a lot out of you,” he said.
Currie explained that there are three options when it comes to the sale of the Rock – The club can be acquired by a new ownership group and continue to operate out of Grand Bay-Westfield, it can be purchased and moved to a new location, or, if the first two scenarios fail, it can be folded entirely.
For obvious reasons, folding the club would be the least desirable scenario for the league and the Rock brand.
Currie said that River Valley has been a model for other teams in the league since its first season of competition, he called the contribution the Rock has made invaluable.
“The organization was first class… People involved such as Donnie and Shirley Miles from an ownership point of view and Steve Evans and Ernie Thompson from a management perch, were dedicated individuals,” said Currie.
Despite speculation that the Rock might not be the only team at risk (defending champion Grand Lake is rumored to be in a similar situation), Currie said that as of now, he has commitment from all existing franchises. Looking at the positive, he said the fact people are talking about the league means it is important to the communities that host SHL teams.
“Where once hockey was an October through March campaign, interest in the SHL remains strong all year long,” he said.
“You can’t watch the calender flip to October anymore and say ‘Well, it’s time to start thinking hockey.”
After this most recent season, where the league was basically three tiered, Grand Lake and Blacks Harbour on top, St. Stephen, River Valley and Fredericton fighting for third, and Saint John and the expansion Nackawic Hawks a distant last, the SHL has struck a competition committee that is expected to, among other things, recommend changes aimed at creating parity.
Parity, who’s in and who’s out, and what the SHL will look like this fall are some of the topics up for discussion at the league’s annual general meeting scheduled for sometime this month.
“We hope everyone has put 2007-08 behind them because it was last year,” said Currie, hopeful that the league would move forward and adapt to whatever changes it needs to.