CORNWALL – The man, self-appointed to save the Cornwall River Kings, is overwhelmed by the response to save the team.
Rodney Rivette told Cornwall Newswatch Wednesday, roughly 400 people showed up outside Mocktails at the civic complex to hear about the shareholder plan to save the team.
“People are blowing up my phone, they’re blowing up my Facebook account, they’re blowing up the site. I think we can do this, I really do. I think I can make this happen,” Rivette said.
Under Rivette’s plan to save the LNAH team, he would need 1,000 fans to commit $500 a year for the next five years.
“I have to send them (the league) a report today to see where we’re at. I haven’t even finished putting the list together and I’ve already raised over $60,000 (in pledges) last night. I’m not even joking…this is going to happen,” Rivette said confidently.
“I just want people to know that I’m not, you know, it’s not a money-grab, it’s not a BS thing. It’s a real effort to save the team.”
The North American Hockey League governors meet tonight in Quebec City to make a final decision.
“I have to allow the process happen but I’m not taking anybody’s money until the league says okay, we’re good enough. But we need to raise enough money,” Rivette told CNW.
Rivette suggested it might take a week or two to raise the money to make sure there’s enough of a financial float for the hockey team to make sure it’s “save for us to do this without putting anybody at risk.”
He said there are a number of people from outside the area that are interested in committing to save the team and suggested another public meeting may take place to make another pitch.
“This is going to be a great story. If the fans that can save this team, this is something that’s going to be a national story. I think it’s going to drive the buzz up for the City of Cornwall,” he said.
To make a commitment or to get more information you can reach Rivette at info@rodneyrivette.com or 613-363-4708.