The WHL and BC Hockey League have submitted a request to the British Columbia’s government for a bailout of $10 million so they can make it to the end of the season. COVID has significantly impacted every junior hockey league’s financial statement and when leagues seek government bailouts, it gets dicey.
It gets even more complicated when a millionaire, Tom Gaglardi, seeks a bailout for his WHL team, the Kamloop Blazers. Gaglardi’s Northland Properties group owns and operates Sandman Hotels, numerous restaurants, ski resorts, and the Dallas Stars. When someone who has enough money to buy a league requests a bailout to operate their junior hockey team, how does that work? Is that right? Is that fair to smaller teams?
British Columbia’s government has a tough decision to make – bailout junior hockey leagues or help restaurants and other business owners who are also struggling through the pandemic.
