ECHL team in Trois-rivières aims to develop Quebec identity
The team will be based in Trois-rivières, but everyone associated with the city's new ECHL expansion franchise wants to build an organization with a provincial identity.
“Our intention is to represent the entire province ... to have a regional approach as the only Quebec-based ECHL team,” said Mark Weightman, who will serve as the team's president, CEO and governor. “A big part of the identity is this will be a Québécois team.”
The ECHL approved two expansion applications on Wednesday — Trois-rivières and Coralville, Iowa, and both are expected to begin play in October. Coralville will be affiliated with the Minnesota Wild and, although no announcement has been made, it's expected the Trois-rivières team, which has yet to be named, will be a Montreal Canadiens affiliate.
Marc-andré Bergeron, who spent one season with the Canadiens in 2009-10, and played for seven NHL teams over 16 seasons, will serve as the new club's first general manager.
Among Bergeron's first responsibilities will be hiring a head coach. Although he'd like the appointment to be made soon, Bergeron cautioned he might have to delay the announcement if the successful applicant is already working for another organization.
The head coach must be bilingual and preferably from Quebec, said Bergeron.
“This organization will be deeply rooted in the Quebec region,” said Bergeron, 40. “We'll be providing the step between junior and pro hockey. I don't believe he has to be a guy with a whole lot of (pro) experience.
“We have a lot of talent here in all aspects of hockey. I'd be very disappointed if I don't find a Quebec hockey coach. And I don't want to disappoint myself.”
While some of the team's players will be on pro contracts, the majority will probably be free agents who have completed their junior careers and weren't drafted by NHL clubs. Players under ECHL contracts receive a minimum US$525 weekly salary.
“We want to be the missing rung in the ladder that allows young players to attain the NHL,” said Weightman, a former president of the CFL'S Alouettes and Laval Rocket, the Canadiens' AHL affiliate. “A lot don't get drafted out of junior and pass under the radar. We don't need to go very far to fill this roster.
“In the past, they had to leave Quebec and play elsewhere. Along with providing entertainment and an affordable product, we also want to play a role in the development of hockey in Quebec, help more of our young players get to the NHL.”
The team will play out of the soon-to-be-completed Nouveau Colisée, with 4,390 seats. But it also has 20 corporate loges and two party suites, which will increase capacity to 4,600. Standing room is available, but probably won't be required.
Among Weightman's responsibilities will be selling the arena's naming rights, sponsorship and signage, and managing the food and beverage concessions along with the ticket office. The team must also select a name, design a logo and launch a season -ticket campaign.
Weightman will serve as the promoter for any other sports events in the arena and will be a partner with the city.
Bergeron, meanwhile, is working on his hockey budget and must order equipment while hiring an athletic therapist and equipment manager. Both of the new expansion franchises will be owned by Dean Macdonald of Deacon Sports and Entertainment.