Powell River Kings have researched and released a report showing impacts the team has on the community.
Kings board member Joe Mastrodonato, who is in charge of accounting and fundraising for the BC Hockey League club, said the report was compiled with detailed information the team has at hand.
Mastrodonato said one of the findings in the study is that the money the Kings spend in the community matches what other teams in the league are spending. According to the economic and community impact report, there is $1.6 million in direct local spending generated annually by the team, players, visitors and events.
The report also states that there is $2.4 to $3.2 million in total annual economic activity when accounting for indirect impacts. He said the figures for economic activity are probably conservative, based on what other teams around the league have reported.
“We’ve had players come here and rent apartments; they have had their families here, and we’ve had parents come to town and buy cars, plus parents have come to town and lived here for two years while their sons played hockey,” said Mastrodonato. “It’s not just about wins and losses. We also feel there is a significant economic and social impact throughout the region.”
Mastrodonato said the Kings have also provided opportunities for local players to play junior hockey. He said for instance, Brad Bombardir was a player with the Kings and went onto an NHL career. He won a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils.
“If local players can improve their skills, the Kings are there,” said Mastrodonato. “They can have a chance to compete at home, but they have to be good players, because they are competing for positions. Our focus is to bring as many locals onboard as we can.”
Mastrodonato said one of the hoped outcomes of releasing the report is attracting more people to attend games, and to purchase season tickets.
“The cost of operating junior teams has skyrocketed,” said Mastrodonato. “It takes people with resources to maintain a team. We do our best to support the team, so hopefully, we’ll find private ownership at some point. But it has to make sense, and part of that is keeping the team in the community.”
Mastrodonato said prices have been raised a little this year because the Kings are so far behind the rest of the BCHL. He said advertising packages are about half of the average league-wide, but the Kings have received good support from corporate sponsors that help support the team.
Mastrodonato said sales of season tickets are ongoing, and the team gets around 400 purchased each year.
“It’s not exactly what we are looking for,” said Mastrodonato. He said one factor is that the team has to play a lot better than it has the past few seasons, when the team has missed the playoffs.
“Unfortunately, during the past few years, we really haven’t been there,” said Mastrodonato. “Hopefully, things will turn around for us this year and it will be our turn to make the playoffs.”
Mastrodonato said junior hockey offers a great on-ice product, and some players are just a couple of steps away from the NHL level. He said after the players age out, some go onto college hockey, and others might play semi-professional somewhere, but most of them would like to make the “big show.”
“They are all good, smart kids with a goal in mind, and that’s to hone their skills to hopefully fulfill their dreams of being a professional hockey player,” said Mastrodonato.
He said players who come here make a big impact in the community and the team wants to make the community aware of the importance of having a team in Powell River. When he talked to some businesspeople about the economic impact of the team, they were flabbergasted with the amount of money generated, he added.
“The Kings are really a community team,” said Mastrodonato. “For example, for every game, we have 30 to 50 volunteers who come out. If it wasn’t for the volunteers, the team wouldn’t happen. The volunteers are so supportive.”
The report stated that the Kings are more than a hockey team – they are a pillar of community identity, youth engagement and volunteerism.
“Their presence strengthens the social fabric of Powell River and the qathet region in ways that go beyond economic metrics,” the report stated. “The Kings serve as positive role models for local youth involved in minor hockey. Players regularly visit schools, participate in minor hockey events, and help run youth camps. This creates a strong pathway effect, where kids see a future in the sport in their hometown.”
Mastrodonato has been with the team for 37 years, with some breaks during that duration.
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