David Michaud admits that as former president and co-owner of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs he has taken his shots at the lack of atmosphere in the Q Centre for Victoria Grizzlies games compared to Bulldogs games in Port Alberni.
He will look to rectify that as the new president of the Grizzlies. He comes in with a wealth of experience in the B.C. Hockey League: “I learned to win on the ice in Penticton [winning a BCHL championship with the annual powerhouse Vees] and how to build up the business in Port Alberni and now it’s time to combine the two with the Grizzlies. It’s not lost on me that work needs to be done on the business side. It’s no secret there is a lot of work to be done bringing people back to the Q Centre.”
Fans know well what coaches and general managers do on a hockey club but the position of president is less well recognized.
“Everything flows through me on the business and hockey sides and I kind of see the role as a facilitator for success on the ice and the box office,” said Michaud.
Michaud was co-owner of the Bulldogs with Jim Hartshorne and Alberni Valley was a success on the ice, with deep playoff runs the last two seasons to the final four of the BCHL with a first-ever trip to the league final, and were a success at the gate because of it and played to more than 100 percent of seating capacity this past season.
The pair announced Monday their Keycorp Sports and Entertainment company has sold their majority ownership share of the Alberni Valley BCHL franchise to Olithan Sports and Entertainment.
“I am immensely proud of the work we did in Alberni Valley,” said Michaud, who joined the Bulldogs in 2018.
Hartshorne recently bought majority interest in the Grizzlies and has given the keys to that team to Michaud to run.
Hartshorne also owns the Victoria Shamrocks of the Western Lacrosse Association and Michaud knows the loyal following that club has: “I have been in the Q Centre for lacrosse games and say why can’t it work like that for the Grizzlies? It’s not going to happen overnight. It’s a process.”
One major issue Michaud did not face during his time with the Vees in Penticton or Bulldogs in Alberni Valley is that the Junior ‘A’ BCHL Grizzlies are the decided second team in the Victoria hockey market behind the Royals of the Western Hockey League.
“True, there is a pecking order, and we get it that we are viewed that way,” noted Michaud, but added each team plays its own role in the hockey eco-system.
“We don’t need to be a competitor against the Royals. There is more than enough pie to go around.”
While the major-junior WHL as a whole produces far more pro talent up to the NHL than does the Junior A brand, there has been a local anomaly in that the Grizzlies have produced two recent NHL first-round draft picks with Matthew Wood and Alex Newhook while the Royals have not come remotely close to that.
“This is not a shot at the Royals but the Grizzlies have done a far better job of developing elite talent,” said Michaud.
That is simply a fact.
Meanwhile, Rylan Ferster will remain as head coach and GM of the Grizzlies, said Michaud, noting the two have worked together in previous BCHL incarnations: “I have a long history with Rylan and strong respect for the programs he has built in this league. The hockey product with Rylan and the staff at the helm is in great shape.”
