麻豆社国产Wolf Pack management is calling next year "make or break" after missing the playoffs for the second consecutive Pacific International Junior Hockey League (PIJHL) season.
And if losing and mediocre fan support continues, the Pack may consider looking for another home, said head coach and general manager Matt Samson.
"It just seems like the crowds aren't consistent enough. If we're losing and we're not getting crowds then, yes, obviously we would consider moving the team but I don't think that's going to happen," said Samson, who led the Pack to a final record of 16 wins, 26 losses and two overtime losses.
"I hope that doesn't happen because the idea is that we want to make hockey successful in 麻豆社国产and I understand for people to come out we need to have a competitive and a team that's winning."
An average between 200 and 250 spectators attended Wolf Pack home games this year, according to the team's marketing director Michelle Cooper.
Regular home games were played Saturday nights at Brennan Park Arena, which has the capacity for about 600 spectators. But that meant the Wolf Pack was trying to draw hockey fans away from bar and household television sets showing regularly scheduled Vancouver Canucks games.
Samson said he hopes to move Wolf Pack home games to Friday nights. After all, his previous team, the 麻豆社国产Cougars of the folded WHA Junior Hockey League, attracted more people to its Friday home games in 2007-2008.
"I think there are enough people that enjoy hockey here," said Samson.
Despite missing the playoffs, the Wolf Pack improved slightly on last year's record. It also recorded wins over the top teams: the North Delta Devils and the Richmond Sockeyes.
It simply wasn't enough, said Samson.
"We needed a better improvement than I think we got," he said.
The Pack's season officially closed with two road losses against the top teams from each conference on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 19 and 20). 麻豆社国产dropped a tight 5-4 loss to the Ridge Meadows Flames on Friday before getting thumped by the Devils 6-2 the next night in North Delta.
Tadz Brown and Clayton Wilson helped 麻豆社国产make the game 2-2 going into the third period. But goaltender Scott Ismond ended up facing 52 shots as the Wolf Pack collected 34 minutes in penalties in the third period alone.
"Scott played really well but we just didn't have any jump and it was sort of a meaningless game and we let it get out hand in the third period," said Samson.
Efforts to rebuild begin with scouting Midget playoffs and preparing for spring training camp in May.
