The rumoured deal that could send the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg could have a ripple effect in Thunder Bay.
At least one hockey insider is reporting Thunder Bay as a frontrunner as the new home of the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose, which would likely have to uproot if a Globe and Mail report is accurate.
The story, by respected hockey columnist Stephen Brunt, says the deal between Winnipeg’s True North Sports and Entertainment and the current owners of the Thrashers, is done and will be announced on Tuesday.
Rogers Sportsnet’s John Shannon tweeted Thursday night about his insights on where the Moose might wind up should the deal go through.
“For those asking, heard the front runners to get AHL Moose are St. John's, N.L. or Thunder Bay ... both great hockey towns!” he wrote.
Anthony LeBlanc, a lead partner with Ice Edge Holdings Inc., had little to say about what the Thrashers move might have on his plans to bring professional hockey back to Thunder Bay.
“No comment,” he said, reached by email Thursday night.
Ice Edge recently pulled out of a partnership to become minority owners in the Phoenix Coyotes. LeBlanc, who plans to run provincially for the Progressive Conservatives in the fall, looked into the possibility of relocating the Coyotes AHL farm team to Thunder Bay, then later shifted his focus with an eye on bringing an ECHL team to his hometown.
The city is presently studying the feasibility of building a new events centre in Thunder Bay, with projected costs ranging between $78 million and $128 million.
City administration recently unveiled five potential locations, including property near the airport, Port Arthur Arena, the Water Street bus terminal, Pool 6 and Innova Park.
Mayor Keith Hobbs on Friday said he'd welcome an AHL team in the city.
"It's no secret that they've been talking to different cities. It would be very exciting if we got Winnipeg's AHL farm team in Thunder Bay. It would be a nice fit for our new multiplex/convention centre/arena," Hobbs said.
"That's something we need to look at. We need an anchor for that building when it comes. However that building is likely three or four years down the road. So I would think they would have to go somewhere else first."
Pressed on whether or not the multiplex is in fact a done deal, Hobbs said it's got to be a certainty for Thunder Bay.
"We need the economic (stimulus) of the building of that facility. And an anchor like a hockey team wouldn't be the main fundraiser for that. There would be conventions and world-class acts and that's where you're going to make your money on a building like that," he said, cautioning the funding must be in place for the facility to get the go-ahead from council.
"It would be great to have a hockey team as an anchor for sure. We're buildiong it for Thunder Bay and we're building it for Thunder Bay's economy. And that's what we're solely looking at."
