Walking the plank? Group buys MMJHL flop Raiders

Try L-o-r-n-e S-a-n-d-e-r-s.

Despite the fact that the Seven Oaks Raiders are 0-13 in the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League this season, and 17-118 in the goals-for and -against category, Sanders and 10 of his buddies recently bought the team.

As of Sunday, the team's point leader is Braden Nicoll with five goals and six assists, and their two best goalies, Lucas Felbel and Garrett Klassen, have goals against averages of 7.26 and 9.00. Not really the kind of stats that would scream, "Bargain," even though the team did win the MMJHL championship once, in 1980.

If anyone has a bridge they'd like to sell, Sanders, an original Raider from 33 years ago, may just be interested.

All kidding aside, Sanders, who is also a scout for the Western Hockey League's Chilliwack Bruins, is living out his dream. "There is 11 of us and we're all former Raiders," he said, declining to name the other partners at this time. When asked what a 0-13 junior hockey team costs these days, he simply says, "Let's put it this way. Our wives are teasing us that we won't be going on a winter vacation this year."

Sanders also confirmed that no one's wife has filed for divorce yet.

"It's interesting," he says, explaining why they bought a losing team. "We're hockey guys, we are all original Raiders. The previous ownership did a great job over the last 33 years, but we kind of felt that an influx of new energy and new passion was needed. We always felt that we were going to get involved in some capacity, so we put together an offer."

So what does Sanders think needs to be done to turn this team around?

"Lots of everything," he fires back. "We have a handful of guys who can play in this league, and the rest just drops off. We are trying to change the culture and attitude, but it's very difficult for us to recruit players, or even a coach, when they are already committed for this year. So we are just trying to do our best. Up until Jan. 10 I think, there will be some cuts from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, and releases from other teams, so we will be looking."

Sanders says that next spring the team will hold an evaluation camp, and on Dec. 1, they'll holding a fund raising dinner at the Garden City Inn, with Joe Aiello of CitiFM as the guest speaker. "We're reaching out for all Raiders alumni to jump on board." For tickets Sanders said to email him (lornevalsanders@shaw.ca.)

When Sanders' group took over the team, it had no coach, so Murray Allen, former president of the MMJHL, took over on an interim basis. "I am running the day-to-day operations," said Sanders. "We've interviewed a couple of coaches for next year already, but in the meantime, Allen is really the greatest resource for our group.

"Give us a year, and I believe we will restore the pride in the organization. I think we will make huge steps."

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 9, 2009 C8