SYDNEY — Quebec Major Junior Hockey League commissioner Gilles Courteau said he’s not concerned about the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles franchise, despite the team’s attendance drop in recent seasons.
The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles have seen a dip in attendance, averaging 2,600 fans in 2011-12 and 2,508 fans after 22 homes games in 2012-13.
“It’s not something we’ve seen on a regular basis in Cape Breton and we understand the situation,” he said. “They’re going through a rebuilding situation. Junior hockey is a cycle and they’re at the bottom of it. I’m sure they’ll be at the top of that rebuilding situation pretty soon.
“They’ve made some major changes lately and they have a very good person in Marc-André Dumont. He has very good experience and he’ll be a good guy for the organization. He’s a hard worker, so I’m confident he’ll bring the team back on the winning track as soon as he can.”
Courteau was in town for a pre-game reception at Centre 200 on Friday, meeting with local media, politicians, team sponsors and shareholders. It’s part of a tour of the Maritime teams that sees him land in Halifax tonight.
Courteau did feel that Cape Breton will one day host a Memorial Cup tournament. The franchise put in a bid to host the 2012 event, but the Shawinigan Cataractes wound up winning the bid.
He did admit that the team’s on-ice product held the Screaming Eagles back from hosting the tournament.
“In Cape Breton, they meet all the criteria in the bid guidelines to have the Memorial Cup, but it’s just a question of time for them,” he said. “It’s a great hockey town, they have hotels, a nice building, TV facilities and have everything to please the selection committee for the MasterCard Memorial Cup.
“(The team) was a big issue and they knew it was a big concern and I think the committee was right after what they went through.”
When asked about future expansion in the Maritimes, Courteau said the league is in each city in the region they have to be and don’t see any immediate expansion.
