By Dan Marshall

Clippers invite community to own part of the team as 2017-18 season draws near

Apr 19, 2017 | 12:52 PM

NANAIMO — Anyone in the community can become an owner of the Clippers hockey team.
 
The club outlined the different categories of membership in a news release on Tuesday.
 
Donations can start at $5 all the way up to the designation of Founding Member, which is a minimum $50,000 commitment. 
 
A donation of at least $100 will ensure voting membership privileges with the society.
 
All contributors will also receive some team merchandise, season tickets, or their name on a commemorative wall.
 
Clippers Team President David LeNeveu said the team’s board of directors is taking shape, with seven people already confirmed.
 
“That consists of a majority of people that have stepped forward and put a significant dollar amount forward,” LeNeveu said. “We also have a couple members that have been helping us out on the sidelines for a long time in the organization. In the case of one individual who’s stepped up recently, he’s donated his time and efforts to make this a reality moving forward.”
 
There has been talk of the Clippers undertaking a home lottery or something similar, which has been successful in other BCHL markets.
 
LeNeveu said those types of ventures are still a year away as the society is in the process of acquiring a gaming grant from the provincial government.
 
The matters of a lease agreement with the City of Nanaimo and rounding out the team’s office are still ongoing, but the on-ice version of the Clippers is taking shape.
 
Nanaimo’s first 2017-18 player commitment is Cariboo Cougars defenseman Jeremy Gervais.
 
The 18-year-old had 49 points in 37 games in the BCMML this past season and he’ll also be competing for a national midget championship next week.
 
Coach Mike Vandekamp said Gervais is a talented player who skates and moves the puck well and has a good shot.
 
“One of the things we felt we needed to address from last season was our transition game and our ability to move the puck from our D corps to our forwards. I think Jeremy helps us with that,” Vandekamp said.
 
This coming weekend is also the Clippers spring evaluation camp.
 
There will be four teams of hopefuls vying for spots this season or trying to make an impression for the future.
 
With the formation of the society, player commitments and spring camp, the junior hockey off-season is now in full swing.
 
LeNeveu said there’s been lots of interest in season ticket renewals so far.
 
He’s actively meeting with people in the community stressing the need for even more fan and corporate support to ensure the long term success of the Clippers.

dan.marshall@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @danmarshall77