An Open Letter to Owen Sound Attack Fans Everywhere
By Dr. Bob Severs
In recent days, fans of the Ontario Hockey League have watched with interest as three of the teams in the league have changed ownership, with two of those franchises announcing a plan to relocate. First the Plymouth Whalers were purchased and plans were made to play in Flint, Michigan next season, then the Sarnia Sting announced new ownership with the plan to stay in Sarnia. Last Thursday, the league announced that the Belleville franchise had been purchased by a gentleman in Hamilton and the "Bulls" would begin a new chapter of the team's life in the "Steel City". These news stories have made some of the fans of the Owen Sound Attack nervous about the fate of their team and we are seeing concerns voiced through the internet, Twitter and other social mediums. It is in response to these comments that I am writing to you to dispel those concerns.
The Owen Sound Attack is one of the best-supported and most loved hockey clubs in Ontario, at any level and in any league. We have pride in the knowledge that people in Grey and Bruce counties, and, indeed, further afield, feel that this team is "their team". We are a huge hockey family and the Attack is "family business" to thousands of individual fans and hundreds of businesses and corporations. The Attack is woven into the fibre of our community. We rely on the community to make us strong and we give back to our community in every way we can, year in and year out. The relationship is strong and essential and everyone benefits from things staying just the way they are. That is not going to change through any conceivable scenario, in the foreseeable future.
Your Attack ownership group, the hockey management group, the staff and the players, who wear our proud colours, work hard everyday to earn your respect and trust and there is no discussion now, nor has there ever been a discussion, of betraying that respect and trust. We are here for you for the long run so, relax and enjoy your team.
Sincerely,
Bob Severs, President
Owen Sound Attack Major 'A' Hockey Club
