Former Olds Grizzlys general manager Robert ìBobî Clark says the possible loss of the Grizzlys is gut check time for the community.
The league is considering putting the team on a one-year leave of absence.
Clark fears that one year's leave will become permanent. So he's urging Olds and area residents to attend a town hall meeting on the future of the Grizzlys tomorrow night, 7 p.m. at the Sportsplex.
ìIt's going to be a real test for the community of Olds ñ whether they've got the fortitude to step up to the plate and keep their Junior A hockey team. Because with a year's leave of absence, they'll never come back,î Clark said during an interview with the Albertan.
ìYou'd better be there and bring a little money and be prepared to volunteer and help, because Olds gets more publicity from the Olds Grizzlys across Alberta than any other one thing in Olds,î Clark said.
He said the town and local businesses will lose a lot if the team folds and leaves the community.
ìFirst of all, you have the embarrassment of losing the team,î he said. ìNumber 2, you lose the opportunity for all the local kids in this area to have a chance to play Junior A hockey (here).
ìNumber 3, (you lose) the opportunities there are for businesses to be associated with the Grizzlys and be a part of the Alberta Junior A Hockey League.
ìIt's a multi-million-dollar business is the Alberta Junior A Hockey League. And being associated with the league and being a sponsor of a team in the league is a real economic advantage for a lot of companies.
ìThis is a chance for the community to step up. We say we're a collaborative, working-together community ñ we can get things done collectively ñ this is going to be the acid test,î he added.
Clark was general manager of the Grizzlys from about 1986 to 1994 and an enthusiastic volunteer.
Those were good years for the team. They won the league championship for three seasons in a row, from 1993 to 1994, and in 1994 they won the Canadian Junior A championship.
ìSo it's a big spot in my heart. I'd hate to see it leave,î he said.
"We say we're a collaborative, working-together community ñ we can get things done collectively ñ this is going to be the acid test." BOB CLARK FORMER OLDS GRIZZLYS GM
