SPORTS

Wednesday, September 30, 1992 — North Shore News - 17

| Comrie playing hockey hand from Lions’ lair?

SO FAR we’ve seen only the smiling side of B.C. Lions’

new owner Bill Comrie, the man who turned an $8,000 in-

vestment in 1971 into a mega-million dollar enterprise as

chairman and chief operating officer of The Brick

Warehouse Corporation.

More specifically, Comrie owns
the company that today employs
4,200 people across Canada, in-
cluding the 350 who work for his
six furniture outlets in B.C.

It was a week today when Ca-
nadian Footbal! League commis-
sioner Larry Smith introduced the
fiery 42-year-old redhead as the
man assuming control of the
Lions with an original investment
of $1 million.

“This is not a Brick purchase,”’
Comrie was quick to point out.

is my own personal

Comrie, who is constantly
referred to as ‘‘Cromie’’ by peo-
ple who should know better, was
a director of the F2monton
Eskimos for six years. “i= 2nd his
brother, Fred, are ci>- ars of
the International Hockey League
San Diego Gulls where Edmon-
ton’s Wild Bill Hunter is vice-
president of hockey operations.

It was Hunter, in fact, who in-
stigated Comrie’s involvement
with the Lions. Hunter brovght
his name. forward to Saskat-
chewan Roughriders’ president
Phil Kenshaw who, in turn,

Greg
Dougias

GOAL LINES
telegraphed the message to the
CFL commissioner.

Comrie’s relationship with
Hunter goes back some 20 years
when he played junior hockey in
Edmontor when Hunter owned
the Oil Kings.

Hunter for years has been try-
ing desperately to land an NHL
franchise. He beat the drums

SPORTSLINE

Commencing Oct. 1: Skating for
the fun of it! That’s what the
North Vancouver Adult Pleasure
Skating group does every Thurs-
day from 8:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.
at the Karen Magnusson recCen-
tre. This year’s season begins Oct.
1. To pleasure skate to the sounds
of a live organ call Bill or Kay at
987-9694, or the recCentre at
987-7529.

Beginning Oct. 6: Energize
yourself with martial arts training
designed especially so that mature
adults can be stronger physically,
- mentally, and emotionally to
enhance their lives. Program runs
- 10 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday
evenings between 7:15 p.m. and

FREE BOOKLET

One often hears Canadians com-
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661-7433

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8:45 p.m. Call 921-7425 for

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Open Date: The ex-Britannia
Lions Women’s Rugby team is
looking for players. No experience
necessary. Practices are Mondays
and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at
Clinton Park (Ist Ave. and Slocan
in Vancouver). For more informa-
tion call 590-6903 or 525-8864.

SPORTSLINE RUNS every Wed-
nesday as space permits. If you
are planning an event, submit
details by the preceding Friday to
the North Shore News, 1139
Lonsdale Ave., N. Van., V7M
2H4. Priority is given to North
Shore and fundraising events.

loudly in the mid-1980’s by trying
to convince the NHL governors
Saskatoon was capable of inher-
iting the Sr. Louis Biues when that
franchise appeared to be on the
verge of folding.

Hunter hasn’t changed his tune,
just locations.

Talk to him now and he will tell
you San Diego is the most logical
city in the U.S. to be next in line
for an NHL expansion franchise.

Which brings forth an interest-
ing scenario: did Bill Comrie buy
into the Lions as a favor to the
Bruce McNalis of the sporting
world for future considerations?

McNall owns the Los Angeles
Kings and the Toronto Argos. In
the past couple of years, McNall
has become a kingpin among the
NHL governors. He is a major

"EIGHTY. EIGHT ROYALE LS

voice on the NHL expansion
committee.

Could it possibly be that
McNall has whispered to Comrie:
“Bill, ol’ buddy, you bail us out
of the mess in B.C. and I'll per-
sonally see to it that San Diego is
given serious consideration the
next time the NHL goes looking
for expansion franchises.’*?

With Ottawa snd Tampa Bay
now in the NHL picture, is it even
possible the league would enter-
tain more new teams in the near
future?

‘*Absolutely,’? says one long-
time hockey executive who
chooses not to be identified. ‘‘The
NHL needs the money. When you
can pick up $50 million for an
expansion franchise, it doesn’t
make for a tough decision by the

current owners. Expansion fees
from Ottawa and Tampa Bay
pulled a lot of teams out of the
red on their 1991-92 financial
statements. Look no further than
the Vancouver Canucks for pro-
of.’’

Why would Comrie think he
would be capable of turning a
franchise around that led the CFL
in attendance in 1991 and still lost
$2.5 million?

Through the balance of this
season, Comrie will share the
$200,000 weekly operating ex-
penses with the CFL and B.C.
Pavilion Corporation.

But beginning the 1993 season,
Comrie is on his own.

Somewhere, I would humbly
suggest, the fine hand of Bruce
McNall is in the picture.

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