Officials with both the city and Thunder Bay Live say the American Hockey League dream is far from dead.
Former NHL coach Gary Green, a spokesman for the consortium partnering with the city on its controversial $114.7-million event centre project, told city council at Thursday’s night’s special committee of the whole the talks are ongoing with the Winnipeg Jets and their ownership group, True North Sports and Entertainment.
In 2013 the Jets said they were interested in moving the St. John’s Ice Caps to Thunder Bay, pending an arena being built.
Earlier this month the team said it was moving the team from St. John’s to Winnipeg, where the club would share the MTS Centre with the Jets. Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff at the time said he hoped it was a long-term move.
Green on Thursday night said the Jets are still showing plenty of interest in the Ice Caps calling Thunder Bay home, adding they were in negotiations with the team as recently as Wednesday.
“I am confident you will see True North with a signed agreement if this arena becomes a reality,” Green told council.
Michael Smith, the city’s facilities and fleets manager, said the deal they’re working on is a seven-year binding agreement.
He too expressed confidence in Thunder Bay’s ability to lure the Baby Jets to town.
“The commitment at this time is that the team would relocate to Thunder Bay,” Smith said.
Both Green and Smith said Jets owner Mark Chipman would not sign a contract to come to Thunder Bay until the event centre project is green lit.
