There has been a lot of talk about the new Sherwood hockey team and their star players in the last year. But who exactly is behind the team? Is it just some rich guy’s vanity project? Or does the town of Sherwood support the team and its players? Let’s dive into the evidence to figure out just what is going on.
Table of Contents
The Ownership Of Sherwood Hockey
The ownership of the Sherwood hockey team is a bit complicated, so let’s take a quick look at who owns what.
Back in 1899, a man named Albert Spaulding bought a large portion of land that is now home to the Sherwood Olympic Arena and a thriving community. Spaulding, an entrepreneur and a successful marketer of chewing gum, wanted to create an ‘Olympic Community’, which would combine the charm of an outdoor hockey game with the comfort of an indoor sports arena. He built the Sherwood Hockey Club and a rink within the space of a few years. In 1917, he donated the land and the building to the NHL, which was then known as the National Hockey League. The arena and the hockey team have been named after him ever since.
In 1960, a trust was set up in Spaulding’s honor, and the trust now owns and operates the Sherwood Hockey Arena as well as the surrounding athletic fields. A group of local businessmen, led by Larry Pizzi, the team’s general manager, purchased the team back in 2000 for $12 million. As you might imagine, this is a fairly expensive sport, and this explains why the wealthy team owner has a bit of a reputation of his own.
The Team’s Roster
The team’s roster is filled with plenty of famous names and a few surprising ones. The biggest news is that the team has locked up some of the biggest names in the game. Defenseman Drew Doughty, center Steven Stamkos, and forward Victor Hedman are on contract through the 2021-2022 season. There are also a few lesser-known players from the AHL and KHL who may be available for the right offer.
Other than the big names, the rest of the roster is also pretty good. Center John Tavares and winger Jordan Eberle both had great seasons and won the Hart Trophy for most valuable player. Defenseman Jeff Petry and goaltender Mike Smith both had very good years as well. Smith, in particular, was spectacular in the playoffs and made a serious run at the Vezina Trophy, which is given to the league’s best goalie.
How Does The Team Make Money?
The team makes money in a variety of ways. Their biggest source of revenue comes from corporate sponsorships and ticket sales. The arena also gets a cut of all events that take place within its walls, which means the more events that take place, the more money they make. Another popular way for the team to generate revenue is through online fundraising. The team established a GoFundMe page where donors can help purchase equipment and financial support the team’s activities.
The team has also been known to sell ‘jersey patches’ with the names and photos of different NHL players on them. For example, there’s a Wayne Gretzky patch, a Mario Lemieux patch, and a Mike Bossy patch. These patches are sold outside the arena for $25 each. The money from these sales goes directly to the team.
Who Is The Team’s Most Popular Player?
The team’s most popular player undoubtedly has to be John Tavares. The team captain scored 65 points (30 goals, 35 assists) this season, which was good for third in the league. He also had a team-high 14 power play points while playing on the team’s second unit. Some people might also recognize the name John Tavares, as he is one of the most prominent owners of a sporting goods store in the area named after himself.
The next most popular player is Jordan Eberle, who led the team in goals scored with 40. He also ranked second on the team in points with 72, so it’s clear that a lot of people are interested in the Dallas Stars winger.
The least popular player on the team is defenseman Justin Faulk, who only scored 29 points this season, which put him in the bottom third of all defensemen in the league. It is perhaps not a coincidence that Faulk was traded to the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline for a third-round pick in the 2021 draft, as he wasn’t very popular in the locker room either.
The Ownership Of Sherwood Park
The Arena Company also owns and operates a neighboring sports complex named Sherwood Park. The two facilities are connected by a pedestrian bridge that offers some great photo opportunities.
It’s not just limited to hockey either. The Arena Company also operates the Bering Strait Ice Bath, where patrons can wash down some brats with draft beers. Perhaps the biggest draw of the complex is the Sculpture Park, where you can find a piece of art for sale, and the owners have donated some very beautiful works to the town. You can see the entire line of sculptures at the park, which range from whimsical to humorous to thought-provoking.
All in all, it’s a great facility that brings in a lot of revenue for the town. The question is, why build a new arena just to play hockey in? Wouldn’t it make more sense to renovate the old ones?
These old facilities were built in the 70s, and to be quite honest, they haven’t been used for hockey in a long time. Renovating them wouldn’t be that expensive, and it would certainly be worth it.
What Does The Future Hold For Sherwood Hockey?
The future of Sherwood Hockey is looking quite promising. They’ve captured the hearts of the hockey community with their innovative fundraising efforts and flashy jersey patches. The arena also gets a lot of positive feedback on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram. The team has even inspired a documentary on the making of an NHL team. The team has a lot going for them, but they also have a very expensive addiction, which is costing them financially. The team has had four bankruptcies since 2016, which was one of them filed in 2019. The biggest debtor is U.S. Bank, which is holding $17.5 million of the team’s debt. A more recent bankruptcy petition lists the team’s assets, which are valued at $25.3 million, and liabilities, which are valued at $3.85 million. It’s clear that in order to keep the team afloat, someone is going to have to make a big-time commitment. The owners have reportedly been looking to make a deal with Alberta’s government, as the province owns the naming rights to the arena. The deal would see the province pay for renovations and the franchise for a new arena. It’s an expensive habit playing hockey in this old dogbowl. Something has to give.