A new Junior A hockey team in Fergus will hit the ice in 2017.
At a press conference on Nov. 22, owner Marshall Uretsky announced that the team will be called the Fergus Force and wear orange, tan, white and black colours.
The Force will join 23 teams in the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League, a breakaway league not associated with Hockey Canada, next season and will play out of the Centre Wellington Sportsplex.
Uretsky has worked in the hockey business many years and owned the former Toronto Canada Moose team in Thornhill.
“I’m looking forward to a new chapter,” he said.
He added he has big dreams for the team, including player development that extends beyond the arena.
“Our players will be required to spend a great deal of time interacting with the community,” he said.
The players will volunteer at schools, hospitals, senior residences, local charities and helping minor hockey players.
“I want solid, committed hockey players but I also want solid, committed citizens,” said Uretsky.
He added he is looking for staff members including coaches, trainers, managers and more to round out the team.
Uretsky said he chose Fergus because it was in the southwest corridor and had a good population to support the team. When the Fergus Devils took a leave of absence in the 2015/16 season then folded, he said bringing a team to Fergus made sense.
“I’m confident that we’re going to provide the kind of program that will entice everyone to get involved, support the team with sponsorships, attendance, community events and more,” said Uretsky.
Centre Wellington Mayor Kelly Linton said he is excited for the future of the team.
“It’s going to be good hockey,” he said.
“The fact that the owner really wants to integrate the players and the coaches into the community, I’m exited about that because we really want them to be a part of the community.”
The town is providing a dedicated dressing room, an administration centre and community rates for ice time during mostly off-peak times, all paid for by the team.
Uretsky said having a Junior A hockey team in the community will contribute $300,000 to $400,000 to the local economy.
The team is a pay-to-play model.
“Typically the average cost to play is somewhere around $7,000 to 8,000 per year. Imports … here will pay $8,000 including training camp,” said Uretsky.
“Local kids defined as Centre Wellington kids will basically pay half that.”
Uretsky said he is hoping for four to six local players. Non-local players will also have to pay $500 per month for billeting.
Players will primarily be recruited through the team’s scouting efforts, but the organization is also planning tryouts in the spring.
The team will practice at minimum four hours a week and will play 42 games in a season, 21 at home. Tickets will cost approximately $7 for non-playoff games.
