Matsalla Back, Walsh to Lead New Terrier Board

Well over 200 fans took in the Yorkton Terriers' Annual General Meeting Tuesday night, and nearly everyone paid their $5 and voted on the new Terrier Executive.


When it was all said and done, the top 5 vote getters were given 2-year terms, and they were: Larry Wells, Bill Wright, Lyle Walsh, Rob Waloschuk and Alan Hill. Former President Sid Matsalla got the 6th most votes, earning him a one year term. On from last year, serving the final years of their terms are Frank Kormos, Al Kuntz and Ron Pasloski. Lyle Walsh was then elected President, Larry Wells Vice President, Alan Hill Secretary and Bill Wright Treasurer.


Myself, and Yorkton This Week Sports Reporter Calvin Daniels caught up with Walsh after the meeting.


CS: Well Lyle, you're no stranger to the Terrier board but this is your first run as President, I'm sure it's a new challenge you're looking forward to.


Lyle Walsh (pictured right, courtesy gx94radio.com): Yeah it sure is. I think we had an interesting turn-out tonight, lots of candidates to choose from, and the membership has spoken and I look forward to working with everyone, it looks like a real energetic board.

CS: The four major positions elected tonight are all new faces to this board. Given what's happened lately, is that a good thing right now?


LW: Some people might look at it as a freshening of the board, but we still have 3 good members that have been here before. Sid Matsalla is also on again, so there's actually 4 people who have board experience, I have board experience, and the others who've been elected have certainly been involved in different things in the community and they'll get on to this real quick.


CS: You were the one who nominated Larry Wells as your Vice-President, so obviously he was your first choice?


LW: Larry has been involved in a lot of things in the community, Kinsmen, Crime Stoppers, and he's been very successful in everything he's done, so I think it was a good fit.


Calvin Daniels: Big turnout tonight. What do you credit that to?


LW: Well, I think there were a lot of people interested in what was happening, there were a lot of people who were running, and everybody has supporters. The controvery the Terriers experienced in the last year got some minds quizzing what was going on so they came out to see what was happening.


CD: Is that the biggest thing right now, just to put all that controversy behind you and concentrate on hockey for a change?


LW: I certainly want to do that. We want to get back to the product on the ice, and how the Terriers are run and what's going to happen with the team more than what's happened in the past. We're going to have our first real executive meeting with the new directors Monday night, and we're going to start fresh.


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Sid Matsalla was the first guy I talked to after the vote.


CS: Sid, it's obvious you've still got a lot of support in this community and that's gotta feel good.


Sid Matsalla: Yeah it feels great. Things went good, a little tense, but overall I guess you could say we've got a full turnover and it turned out great.


CS: It is a one-year term, there were five 2-year terms available, but I'm sure the big thing for you is you're back on and you'll have a chance again next year.


SM: Yeah, I'm glad I'm back on, I'm fine with the one-year term, we've got a lot of work as a new board to go ahead now and we're going to re-organize, and see what happens, and move ahead.


CS: Regardless who's right or wrong, there have been some issues this year involving yourself and the previous board, and some of those members are back, so is it something that everyone has to work towards to bury the hatchet?

SM: That's right, we have to work as a team. That's what we have to do, we have to bury the hatchet and move on. It's all about the Terriers, the bottom line is to hopefully make a little money and have a good team on the ice.


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As far as the financial situation goes, the Terriers' bottom line currently shows they're $15,000 in the hole for 2007-08, but a projected profit of $30,000 from the Home Lotto would make it an overall profit of $15,000.