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The Redmen belong to Warsaw, DD council told

by Terry McQuitty

The Douro Dukes Junior A Hockey Club called the Douro arena home for their inaugural season in the Greater Metro Hockey League (GMHL).

The GMHL is a developmental league where players pay approximately $4,000 a season for the privilege of playing on the team.

The benefit of playing in this league is that players are exposed to college recruiters and scouts, hopefully making it easier to advance to a higher level.

The GMHL is a non-sanctioned league due to the fact they accept players as young as 15 years old.

After only one year in the league the team is proposing to pick up roots and move to Warsaw. The reason stated for the move is that the team had better fan support in Warsaw than it did in Douro.

Doreen Tighe appeared before Douro-Dummer council on Tuesday evening with the concern that the Junior A club would use the Warsaw Redmen name.

Tighe stated that she was speaking on behalf of a number of concerned residents.

Tighe questioned council on who owned the team bound for Warsaw. Council responded that there was a change in ownership from last year’s team and at this point they do not have documentation on who the new owner is.

Tighe questioned the ownership because allegedly the team has not paid bills owing to local billets and businesses and she is concerned that “out of towners” could possibly repeat the trends of the previous owner.

Tighe emphasized that the Warsaw Redmen had a long and storied history in the village and many local people fought hard for the honour of the team. She does not want the name tarnished by people who do not respect the name.

Council stated that the only connection they have with the hockey club is the ice rentals. Prior to any contractual agreement the new owners will have to come forward and present to the Arena Board.

Regarding the name “Redmen” Deputy Reeve Karl Moher suggested that they speak to some Redmen alumni and have them draft a letter stating that they prefer that the name not be used.

Moher went on to say that a new team in the community needs the fan support and if the locals don’t want the name “Redmen” used it would be in the new owner’s best interest to take notice.

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