John Kotnik
Dear Mike:
Many Junior ‘A’ teams in Canada are privately-owned and financed.
The Fort Frances Lakers, for one, are a community-owned and operated team that depends on the community to operate.
Such operating costs are not cheap. Without a volunteer board of directors, the sponsors, and a very dedicated, hard-working group of volunteers, we would not have a Junior ‘A’ hockey team playing in Fort Frances.
The Lakers are not just a hockey team; they are very active in numerous activities in the community. When not at practice or playing, the players are on the ice helping children learn and improve their own hockey skills.
They are in local and district schools helping students in their reading programs, or in the school gym playing with the students during phys. ed. classes.
They are active out in the community helping organizations raise funds for very worthy causes. You can watch for them at this time of the year ringing the bells and helping collect donations for the Salvation Army’s “Christmas Kettle” campaign.
The Lakers also recently held a food and toy drive prior to two of their games at the arena. Yes, the Lakers are not just a hockey team.
To help operate the team, the Lakers depend on the revenue from admission sales at each game. Many of their fans have purchased season tickets and they have others who regularly attend their games.
Despite the calibre of hockey being played by the team, more fan attendance is needed to help with the costs of ice rentals, game officials, and other ongoing expenses. They Lakers need your attendance at each of their home games.
When you attend the games, you will see the kids waiting to give high-fives every time the Lakers step on the ice. The players take the time to talk to the kids, share a smile, and often give up their stick (which they pay for) to one of the kids.
Each of the players know these kids look up to them, they appreciate that, and they don’t forget that they were once kids, too,
As this letter is written, the Fort Frances Lakers were ranked fifth in the national ranking of Junior ‘A’ teams. They often have been in the top 10 both this year and during last year’s season.
Lakers’ players have been invited to the selection camps for Team Canada. Rainy River’s Carter Chorney was selected to attend this season, as well as last year.
His invitation is a reflection of the many skilled players on the Lakers’ roster, as well of the high-calibre coaching staff on the bench.
Let’s get behind our team. Let’s show them that we support their dedication and hard work, and their many contributions to our district off the ice.
Take in a home game. In return, you’ll get to see great hockey. You may even get to see a future NHL player on the ice.
Go Lakers!
(Signed),
John Kotnik
Fort Frances, Ont.
