The Yorkton Terriers are looking to rebuild a dwindling fan base.
The first step in that process was announced last Wednesday at the team’s awards’ banquet.
The season ticket blitz for the 2018-19 season will begin immediately, said Ryan Kormos director of marketing & public relations.
From March 7 through until Apr. 27, adults and seniors can purchase a season ticket for $200. The price jumps for tickets purchased from Apr. 28 to Aug. 25 to $275 for adults and $260 for seniors.
A regular season price after Aug. 25, is $330 for adults and $315 for seniors.
The ‘mega blitz sale’ until Apr. 27, will also offer a teen season ticket for $100, a child at $65 and a family pass (two adults and two children/teen) for $550.
Interim president Alan Sharp said the organization is looking at change after what he termed “an interesting season.”
Sharp said an organization such as the Terriers will go through cycles, and obviously the past year has continued a low point in that cycle.
In thanking the players Sharp noted the difficulties.
“We know how frustrating it has been,” he told the 22 Terriers.
Terrier head coach and general manager Mat Hehr picked up on the theme of the mounting on ice losses.
“Obviously it’s been an up and down season,” he told those attending, adding it started from the first puck drop. “It was not the start we were looking for.”
The dismal start saw Casey O’Brien released from the position as coach and general manager and Hehr installed.
Hehr said his immediate focus was one of renewal, with an eye to building toward the future.
“The focus was on changing the culture,” he said, adding in the moves he made he acquired players he feels “want to be here for the right reason.”
In that respect Hehr said the players “had great attitudes” and showed up “ready to work.”
Of the 22-players all but graduating goaltender Joe Marcouiller are eligible to return this fall, a situation Hehr said provides optimism for a bright future.”
Season finale
The attempt to attract more fans sort of started Friday with the final regular season date hosting Weyburn, with the admission waived in the hopes a free gate would “Fill the Farrell”. The announced attendance was 812.
And the visiting Red Wings quieted that crowd early as Cade Kowalski scored only 40-seconds into the game.
Mike Eskra scored at 6:10 to make it 2-0, a score that would hold through the opening 20-minutes.
Cole Woodliffe and Tyran Brown Brown, his a powerplay effort, made it 4-0 before Dino Antoniadis finally out the Terriers on the board at 19:47 of the second.
Red Wing Jeremy Velazquez would score the only goal of the third period to make it a 5-1 win for the visitors.
Graduating netminder Marcouiller took the loss in the Terrier net facing 31-shots, while Arik Weersink had the win for the Wings facing 26-shots.
