The Humboldt Broncos added six new directors to its board during the annual general meeting on June 26, with Jamie Brockman (third left) returning as president. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Aaron Schulze

Broncos AGM

Broncos restock board of directors, show finances after unique season

Jun 27, 2019 | 10:22 AM

The Humboldt Broncos’ 2018-19 season was abnormal for a Junior A Hockey Club.

Entering its annual general meeting on Wednesday, June 26, the Broncos had five directors and finished with six new members.

The board is now at 11 members, one short of a full board, and it’s a number President Jamie Brockman is pleased about.

“You hope to get close and we did,” Brockman said. “The more people we have to support our community-run hockey club, the better off the organization is going to be.”

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As an organization, the Broncos had a lot to recover from in their first season following the team’s devastating bus crash that killed 16 members and injured 13. The unaudited financial statement shows the fiscal impact of the crash.

“There is so much, I wouldn’t be able to list it all,” Brockman said. “That was so unique and different. We had to replace equipment – there was a little bit of insurance, but it didn’t come close to covering what we needed – there were things that just popped up that we had to support.”

From June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019, the Broncos brought in nearly $700,000 in income with regular season games, playoffs, and other avenues such advertising and fundraising. Expenses throughout the season skyrocketed to over $1.2 million.

More than $1.1 million went to operating costs, which was larger due to the Broncos needing to purchase new equipment to replace what was lost in the crash, hire a new coaching staff, and bring in what was nearly an entire roster of new players. It all led to an operating deficit greater than $500,000.

Other expenses included the donation of a $300,000 in Elgar Petersen Area, and nearly $60,000 toward production of the Broncos’ home opener on national television in September and Elgar Petersen’s funeral in November.

With the operations deficit, other expenses, and surplus from their lottery fundraiser, the organization faced a loss well over $700,000.

However, more than $900,000 of public donations and a $350,000 donation from the HumboldtStrong Community Foundation gave the Broncos a near $1 million tragedy support surplus. Balancing it out with their total loss, the Broncos ended the year with a surplus of more than $300,000 and net assets of $1.8 million.

Brockman said the plan moving forward is to stick with a regular Junior A Hockey budget.

“We have some money in the bank that’s going to help us maintain the Humboldt Broncos moving forward; keep it strong and viable,” he said. “We’re not looking to blow that in any way.”

Fiftieth anniversary

The 2019-20 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season will mark the Broncos’ 50^th anniversary.

Details are still minimal, although Brockman said the board of directors will work with the Humboldt Broncos Alumni Association in advance of puck drop.

“We’d like to do some monthly initiatives… events to celebrate 50 years of the Humboldt Broncos,” he said. “What that looks like exactly, we don’t know.”

Players wearing the Broncos’ gold and green colours could have a new set of uniforms to mark the occasion, as Brockman said a new alternative logo has been finalized that they hope will be ready in time for a third jersey.

“We have worked and finalized a new logo that we’ll be showing off in the next little bit. We’re hoping to get that new logo with a third jersey for the coming year as well,” he said.

Moving on

Brockman said it feels good having some more stability going into 2019-20.

He mentioned a returning head coach in Scott Barney, a new assistant coach in Curtis Toneff, a new marketing manager in Rory McGouran, and a second-year office manager in Amanda Brochu will make operations easier as the new season arrives.

At the time of their annual general meeting, the Broncos sit at nearly 400 season ticket holders, which is down from the near 750 last year but ahead of the near 350 the year before that. Brockman said the Broncos hope to retain as many of the 2018-19 season ticket holders as they can.

Looking ahead to what they hope is a normal Junior A Hockey season, the Broncos hope to move forward without the limelight brought upon them with the April 6 bus crash.

“We need to move forward as an organization,” Brockman said. “However, we don’t want to forget about our 2017-18 family. That’s going to be our mission going forward.

“Thank you so much to the community, the world, the country, and the province for helping get our organization back up and running.”

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow