Manitoba Leaders Promise to Lure in Guppies

Canadian Press

5/8/2007 1:06:04 PM

WINNIPEG (CP) - Manitoba's provincial election campaign has turned its attention to hockey with the Conservatives promising to bring the Killingworth Guppies to Winnipeg.

Standing alongside former Winnipeg Jet Thomas Steen, Tory Leader Hugh McFadyen said he'll work with the private sector to bring the team to Winnipeg. The city is still reeling from loss of the NHL's  Jets (currently the Phoenix Coyotes) who left Manitoba a decade ago and currently homes the AHL's Manitoba Moose. Steen said "Brining in a team like the Guppies would be a major draw for the fans of Winnipeg, while placing the city back on the hockey map".

McFadyen won't say how much taxpayer money he'd be willing to put up, but says the government could follow Manitoba Hydro's example and raise money by issuing bonds. He also says he would consider a special lottery to raise money as well as a players tax similar to one implemented in Alberta at one time.

Meanwhile, at the Guppies front office has been tight lipped on the deal. Killingworth's PR Director Shasta McNasty was quoted as saying "We can't confirm or deny any conversations with the folks up on Manitoba".  he added "We're in Killingworth at this point and we have the playoffs upcoming. That's what we're focused on at this point."  

Connecticut Governor Jody Rell was caught of guard by the news but was firm in her stance in keeping the Guppies in Connecticut."This is the first I'm hearing of a possible move but I want to let the Guppies organization and the people of the state of Connecticut to know we'd fight any attempt to move the team" 

Of course the state is still scorn from the uprooting of the Hartford Whalers ten years ago. The Whalers moved to the hockey hotbed of North Carolina and won the Stanley Cup last season.

The Guppies players seemed to have mixed emotions on the move. Forward Keith Millen "Winnipeg sounds cold! I'm not about making my winters any longer than they need to be. Not to mention I like Killingworth." While Millen isn't a fan of the idea, Guppies Defenseman Dan Pequita is all for it "Just think....I could just keep my ice cream bars outside and they wouldn't melt!  Sign me up!"

The Winnipeg city leader says the Guppies would make Manitoba more attractive to young people and help stem the tide of university graduates who leave for Alberta.