South Shore Lumberjacks Logo. Photo: File Photo
The South Shore Lumberjacks will be staying in Bridgewater after a local ownership group recently saw their bid to take over the team get approved.
Ross Shatford, a member of the new ownership group says they have now taken over full management of the team and the voting members of the ownership group will be making business decisions for the team henceforth.
According to Shatford the teams’ previous owner, Larry Creaser had expressed his desire to sell the team quite some time ago and it initially looked like it would be sold to someone who would move the team elsewhere.
“When we heard that, a group of us got together and explored the idea of us taking over the team because we are passionate about the organization and what it means for the community,” Shatford said.
The group consists of Shatford, his wife Tanya, Brad Muise, Yvette Mackinnon, Kevin Veinott, Heather Veinott, Dave Hinkley, Tanya Hinkley, Dave Brine, Yolanda King, Jayme Rhyno, Kory Rodenhiser, and Kimberley Rodenhiser.
Several of the members are married or couples and will be represented as one vote of the seven voting members.
The new ownership group wants to focus on keeping the team financially stable. Shatford says they are currently exploring multiple ways to cut costs and they are also hopeful that the new ownership group will be able to secure more sponsors through their business connections.
Shatford also offered his thanks to all the people who helped support the team and the takeover, “We would like to thank all our fans coming out, our corporate sponsors, without the support from the Town of Bridgewater and the MODL with the LCLC we’d have never been able to take this venture on.”
The Lumberjacks are not currently playing as a result of COVID-19 mandates but they are hopeful that a forthcoming announcement from Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang on January 25 will lift those restrictions.
The Lumberjacks are targeting January 29 as a tentative date to return to the ice if health restrictions allow.
