By Drew Wilson

Raiders hope to make profit

May 19, 2011 | 7:42 AM

“Relentless” is the motto of the Prince Albert Raiders for the 2011-12 season.

The organization set the table for the next season at its membership meeting with an address from Coach and GM Bruno Campese, who said the hockey operations staff continues to build toward playoff perpetuity.

However, the focus of the night was financial.

The members approved a $2 million budget for next season for which a profit of $30,318 dollars is projected.

Meanwhile monetary momentum of about $100,000 was built with the three home playoff dates against the Saskatoon Blades. The windfall is making the balance sheet a lot easier to read after a tough regular season at the gate.

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It may even mean a small profit said, president Dale McFee.

“Let's face it, we are going to be a lot better off than the last few years. We are probably not at a point where we can say what the exact numbers are going to be, certainly it's going to be in around the break-even point or in that small area (profit) you were talking about. But at the end of the day when you look at the turn around I think the most important thing is the optimism we saw in the playoffs.”

While the coaching staff continues to build toward consistency on the ice, McFee said the office staff, board and volunteers continue to work toward financial sustainability. However that will not come at the expense of areas that will improve the product on the ice including investments in areas that have made the big money, big city private teams in the WHL successful, he said.

“You have to make decisions that make sense, you have to be able to spend money where you need to spend money, most importantly you need to make good business decisions that are going to not only result in longevity but are going to lead to future success not just for today but for tomorrow.”

McFee used sending a scout to the World Under-18 hockey championships in Germany to make a list of potential Europeans for the Import draft as an example of one of those new investments. The Raiders have two first round picks in the June 28 draft involving all 60 teams in the CHL.

Staff, board members and volunteers say the optimism about the Raiders in the community hasn't been this high since the long playoff run in 2005 (to game 7 of the Eastern final). However McFee cautions the reserve fund is still lean after combined losses of over $300,000 from the previous three seasons.

“We are not going to go anywhere and say the doors are going to be locked … this team isn't going anywhere, but it is at ground zero (reserve fund bank account) there is not a big pot of money that is going to get us through the lean years, but what I am comfortable in saying is that this board is committed to do everything possible to ensure those decisions and future solutions are going to be in the best interests of the Prince Albert Raiders and the community of Prince Albert.”

The committee struck last year continues to explore ways to increase the team's coffers and put more fans in the rink.

The Raiders mini camp for drafted players and young prospects on their 50 player protected list is May 27 to 29 at the Art Hauser Centre.

dwilson@rawlco.com