They have some of the most loyal fans behind them and now, they need them even more.
The South Shore Lumberjacks Hockey organization is calling on their loyal fans to get behind them and show support.
This, after the Town of Bridgewater reduced the amount funding for the team from $15,000 last year to just $5,000 this year.
“It’s kind of disheartening when we think about the year we had last year with our fans’ support, we put record crowds in the LCLC, the things we do in the community, the money we spend in the community,” says Ross Shatford, Assistant Coach for the South Shore Jr. A Lumberjacks.
Shatford says the Lumberjacks are one of the few teams in the Maritime Hockey League (MHL) that pay for their ice time, rentals and other costs.
The team has also reached out to the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg for support but so far, have not made any headway.
“We’ve got no support from the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, we were expecting MODL after Bridgewater jumped on board last year, we expecting to hear something from them, expecting them to get on board this year, but nothing,” adds Shatford.
Shatford says they need as much verbal support as they can get from their fans to get the message out to local Councillors at the municipal level.
Meanwhile, Bridgewater’s Mayor is defending the move to provide just $5,000 in funding toward the South Shore Lumberjacks this year.
David Mitchell feels the Municipality should also step up to the plate, since the Lumberjacks have such a “regional” impact, and not just a local “town” impact.
“It’s a third of what they asked for and a third of what we gave them last year, but part of it is we’re hoping that our municipal neighbours will also contribute, where last year they didn’t, and that’s fine, that’s totally up to them,” Mitchell tells Acadia News. “We’re hoping that the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg will pick up where the town left off. There’s no question the value that the Lumberjacks bring to the community, but this goes back to every discussion we have when it comes to funding, we can’t fund everything.”
Mitchell says they have to fund other things like town roads, roads outside of town and the police department to name but a few.
He says others need to step up, especially when it’s something that is so regional.
The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is set to meet again August 28th, 2018.
Story by Craig Power
Twitter: @CraigTPower
Email: power.craig@radioabl.ca
We need your support… Show the Town of Bridgewater and MODL you want to keep the LCLC full, let your local councillors know. We need your support and theirs. Thanks Fans
— Lumberjacks Hockey (@ljackshockey) August 14, 2018