Council vies to bring junior hockey back to St. John's

St. John's city council put together an offer on Saturday aimed at bringing major junior hockey back to the Mile One Centre.

Council has a proposal to bring the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey league to St. John's in time for the 2009-10 season, but the team owner says there's been no decision on the possible deal.

Titan owner Leo Guy Morrissette has been looking to move the team because of poor attendance and sagging revenues, but said he has three offers on the table.

"We decide just on Monday morning," said Morrissette. "I want to talk to my family.… That's a big decision."

St. John's Mayor Dennis O'Keefe said bringing in the team won't cost the city anything, and could bring in some cash.

"At certain attendance levels they will show a net benefit to the city and on top of that there will be other economic benefits that will accrue to the community at large based upon the spending and the attendance and activity in the downtown area," he said.

The five-year deal would also have to be ratified by the QMJHL.

Mile One Centre hasn't had an anchor tenant since the the St. John's Fog Devils were sold to a group in Montreal last year.