Jr. Wolves support Skyhawks

The North Bay Skyhawks biggest rival has come to their side as the Sudbury Jr. Wolves have sent a letter to the city stating the importance of the Skyhawks organization to the NOJHL.

“The Skyhawks are critical to the success of the NOJHL. Should the Skyhawks leave the NOJHL for a year or more, we can see this having a dramatic impact on the long-term success of the NOJHL and on junior-aged players across the North,” said Sudbury Jr. Wolves president Blaine Smith in an letter forwarded to North Bay City Council.

“With ‘outlaw’ junior teams popping-up throughout the North, it is important that the NOJHL maintains its stability in order to provide players from the North with the ability to hone their skills at the Jr. ‘A’ level. Team income streams are restricted to ticket sales and advertising sales. To lose or restrict these income streams would be detrimental to the operation of any junior team – and something that we could not afford to see happen here in Sudbury.”

The Skyhawks stated in a recent press conference that the ’08-’09 season could be their last with an official announcement looming that Nipissing University will launch a varsity hockey program which would hit the ice in the fall of ’09.

BayToday.ca Poll

A BayToday.ca poll conducted Wednesday appears to indicate North Bay wants both University and Skyhawks hockey. A total of 43 percent of the vote went towards having both. In second spot at 36 percent was "University only," while "Skyhawks only," finished with only 18 percent of the vote. The formula including Skyhawks and a potential expansion Greater Metro Junior ‘A’ team garnered only 13 percent of the vote.