Anyone who has watched Duncan Wray nervously pace back and forth in the press box late in a one-goal hockey game knows he is passionate about the sport.
More specifically, he cares about the Vernon Vipers, a franchise he has owned for nearly 22 B.C. Hockey League seasons.
However, over the past few seasons, rumours have swirled around Kal Tire Place about Wray, a retired oral surgeon. The whispers say he is considering selling the team that has won four national championships during his tenure.
Pundits point to his move to a permanent residence in Victoria as an indication he is becoming disconnected with the team. With Vernon hosting the RBC Cup national Junior A championships in May, others have speculated it would be the ideal swan song for the good doctor.
Wray wants to debunk those rumours.
“I’m not going anywhere,” said Wray, who still maintains a condo at Silver Star and travels to Vernon several times a month. “I have not been approached by anybody (to sell the team), I have not approached anybody and it’s going to be business as usual.
“I enjoy my function with the league and I’m passionate about this level (of hockey) and I’m proud of the number of kids we send on to higher education.
“It’s been so much fun. It’s just something I can’t get rid of. I haven’t figured out how to make an exit.”
Wray’s decision to approach The Morning Star on the matter stems from a perceived lack of franchise stability, which is hindering head coach/GM Jason Williamson’s recruiting efforts.
“There’s some recruits that we’re hearing from that are reluctant to make any kind of commitment because they feel the team is in flux,” said Wray.
“They’re being told that (I’m selling the team) by somebody else in our division. It’s a negative recruiting thing and I guess any advantage anybody can get, they will take it.”
Wray wouldn’t name the offending team.
He admitted that while he hasn’t received any concrete offers, people have shown interest in the club over the years.
“But it’s not from the names I’ve heard bandied about,” said Wray, referring to Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland’s rumoured interest in the team.
Wray said the latest gossip has Williamson’s parents pitching an offer.
“They found it amusing too,” laughed Wray.
Even if Wray was considering getting out of the game, now not might be the best time to sell. Attendance is down league-wide, and market values have likely taken a hit as a result.
The Penticton Vees are the only BCHL team averaging more than 2,000 fans per game. The Vipers and Chilliwack Chiefs draw just over 1,600, and six of the remaining 13 clubs are hovering around the 1,000 mark.
The Coquitlam Express draw a league-low 556 fans per game.
Wray declined to comment on franchise values or budgets, but it is believed the top-end BCHL franchises are worth between $1-1.5 million. Regular-season operating budgets for most clubs exceeds $500,000, thanks in part to the rising price of the latest one-piece carbon fibre sticks.
“There’s a great misconception out there as to what a team’s budget is,” said Wray, adding that attendance is dropping at every level of hockey, not just the BCHL. “The idea that you just rake in the money, that all the money that comes in is gravy, is false.
“Everything costs. It has escalated tremendously during my time in the league.”
Asked if the Vernon Vipers are profitable, Wray replied diplomatically: “We’re close.”
Because Wray got involved in the league when teams were more affordable, the Vipers are unique in that they have a single owner. Most teams are either owned by private consortiums or are community owned.
It allows Wray to make decisions without seeking board/group approval. It also affords him a more relaxed relationship with management, staff and players.
“I get back two or three times a month,” he said. “I’m not there every day, but I’m more hands on than almost every owner in the league. We’re (Wray and Williamson) on the phone two or three times a day some days.”
With several clubs struggling financially, the BCHL is looking for ways to improve the bottom line. One scenario that has been mentioned before, and one that was likely discussed at Wednesday’s bi-annual governors’ meeting, is a pay-to-play scheme. Wray suggested it’s not something that would be implemented anytime soon, but he said: “We’re at a critical time. Something has to be done.”
However, just like Wray is sticking with it for the long haul, so too is the BCHL.
“We’ve got 16 franchises that are committed to this enterprise that is the B.C. Hockey League. We’ve got a good product and we’re highly sought after by players and by the colleges for scholarships. To me, that’s what we’re here for and that’s the success of it.”
