STA Steel situation almost done

It appears the the St Albert Steel, barring the AJHL BOG's not approving the Steel relocation request, will be in Whitecourt for the 2012-13 season.

Ft Sask Traders (1976-2007)

I spoke via e-mail with the St Albert Gazette Sports reporter, Jeff Hansen. He said that while Leduc and Dawson Creek were in the running for the franchise, Whitecourt is the destination.

"It is pretty much a done deal" said Hansen, and when asked if Leduc and DC has any chance, he gave me the short answer of "Nope."

The Steel moved to St Albert in 2007 from Fort Saskatchewan, then the Ft Sask Traders. At that time, the Traders was the second longest tenured team in the AJHL (founded in 1976). Only the Calgary Canucks had a longer tenure in their original city (the Canucks still are in Calgary).

St. Albert Steen (2007-Present?)

St. Albert was getting their 2nd Jr A team after the Saints moved to Spruce Grove in 2004 (they are still called the Saints). In 1977, the Saints franchise had moved from Spruce Grove (then called the Mets) to STA.

The whole relocation thing began in early March when it became clear that the lease agreement between the City of St. Albert and the franchise was not going to be renewed.

This raises the question now that when the franchise moves to Whitecourt, what happenes to the Jr B Wolverines?

The Whitecourt Wolverines recently competed in the Keystone Cup, the Jr B western Canadian championship, taking home a bronze medal, and also won or been finalists in Alberta for the last four years.

I'm sure there are towns/cities willing to land a very successful Jr B franchise.


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