Dunedin Ice Hockey Association

Important Thunder Meeting

An important meeting is coming up next Thursday about the future of the Dunedin Thunder. Release from Al O’Connor follows.

The Dunedin Thunder, the city’s entry in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League has completed its first and maybe only season of league play. On Thursday October 30th, 2008 at 715pm at the Dunedin Ice Stadium at 101 Victoria Blvd in St Kilda, a special meeting will be called to discuss the uncertain future of this struggling new franchise. This meeting is open to all of the people who have already contributed enormously to getting this team to Dunedin and competing on the ice: players, managers, coaches, administrators, parents, and rink management personnel, members of the Dunedin Ice Sports Stadium, the DCC, our sponsors and fans. It is also open to the general public and any other interested person who may have a vested interest in seeing the team continue and grow.
The team struggled last year both on and off the ice. Without a major sponsor and with less than projected fan turnout paying to attend the games, the team was driven by its dedicated players and a very small group of dedicated volunteers. The NZIHL is a mature and experienced league comprised of teams filled with international imports and Ice Blacks. Both the league and the team were unprepared for Dunedin’s arrival into an established league.
Now with many months ahead before the start of the next season, some significant decisions need to be made about the viability of this team. In fairness to those who have already worked so very hard for Thunder, we need to examine all remaining options. If we are to disband the Thunder then it will only come after we have given every young hockey player’s parents, the ice community, the city, potential sponsors and the NZIHL the broadest opportunity possible to come forward with their ability to contribute. This meeting will go a long way towards determining the outcome of the team, and should we fail as a team, as a hockey community and as a city, the NZIHL must know as soon as possible.
This meeting will have the following agenda:

• Report from last year
• Forecast of team for next year
• Team requirements for next year to actually compete in NZIHL
• Volunteers that are required to dedicate their time and money to support the team
• Coaching and management nominations for Thunder 2009, only if necessary

This meeting will be begin at 715pm in the social or warm room at the rink depending on turnout.