ELLIOT LAKE — The Elliot Lake Wildcats board unleashed the hockey team’s new logo and colours on fans, supporters and sponsors on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 16.
Howard Hennessey, president of the not-for-profit Elliot Lake Wildcats board, told the crowd in the Lester B. Pearson Civic Centre lobby gathered for the launch, the colours are green and white.
They then unveiled the design of the logo and jerseys. The logo is a wildcat leaping forward with jaws and claws at the ready.
“It’s a new and fresh look,” said Hennessey. “I think the fans will love it, and I think the players will love it.”
He added that at the start of the season the players will be wearing the green on white jerseys at home, and in the second half they will white on green jerseys.
Hennessey said many people put in a lot of hard work to get the team going in less than six weeks.
“Since that time, we’ve accomplished an awful lot. The eight other teams in the league had a year or so head start on us, but caught up now. And by the end of the season, we’re going to pass most of them – hopefully,” explained Hennessey.
He added that within two days of city council approving the loan to get the team started at its June 9 meeting, a board was in place.
The city loaned the team $90,000, of which $40,000 was to purchase the franchise rights from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL). The balance of $50,000 will go towards the teams start up costs. The business plan has the board paying off the loan over five years.
“We’ll pay that (loan) back,” he stated.
“This is the most dedicated hard-working group that I have ever been associated with.”
Hennessey also introduced some of the board members: Jamie Senese – owner of Elliot Lake’s Canadian Tire; councillors Sandy Finamore and Tom Farquhar; Heather Clouston; Lyle Ducharme – owner of Lyle’s No Frills.
Other members of the organization include: the team’s general manager Todd Stencill, head coach Nathan Hewitt, head trainer Jeff Pulvermacher, equipment manager Robbie Vaughn, Doug Dumont – score keeper,
Hennessey said they ordered the jerseys from a London, Ontario company Jersey 53, which also designed the team’s logo.
He added that any fans wanting to order team jerseys for themselves at a cost $100 and, if ordered by the first week of August, they will have them for the home opener on Sept. 12.