After three seasons of owning the Nanaimo Clippers the uncertainty created by COVID-19 has prompted Wes Mussio to put the team on the market. (Dan Marshall/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Dan Marshall

For Sale

‘I just don’t see a path forward:’ Clippers owner posts team for sale

Mar 1, 2021 | 12:07 PM

NANAIMO – The Nanaimo Clippers are for sale.

Team owner Wes Mussio said playing only a few exhibition games over the past 12 months without fans in the stands has taken a massive toll on team revenues.

“I just don’t see a path forward that I can provide as an owner. It’s time to pass the baton to someone else. I just don’t see any viability in this operation under the current model that exists.”

Mussio bought the Clippers in the fall of 2017 and enjoyed success in the Island Division with a first place finish in 2019/20.

But after capturing the Island Division and sweeping the first round of the playoffs, COVID-19 shut down the league in early March 2020.

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“Things can go one of two ways,” Mussio said. “I can continue to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into the team every month to two months or I can cut my losses and move on. At some point you have to ask yourself if it’s worth it.”

WHL teams in the prairies started playing junior hockey again in the last week with significant COVID-19 safety protocols. Mussio said without government assistance he doesn’t believe it’s cost effective to do the same in B.C.

“I don’t see how a team like the Clippers or myself can withstand adding extra dollars just for safety protocols when on the other side you take away the fan base which is 75 per cent of the revenues.”

News of the team being put up for sale came out on via a late night post on on Feb. 27 on Mussio’s personal Facebook page.

“There’s been a big pile of inquiries from individuals who maybe want to pick up the baton and run with it. I’m hopeful that if I do transition away from the Nanaimo Clippers I can find an excellent replacement for me.”

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dan.marshall@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @danmarshall77