Corner Brook Royals drop out of hockey league amid civic centre workers’ lockout

The doors are still locked. The Cornerbrook Royals are heartbroken and out a lot of money. You know, there was flights booked. There was hotels booked. We were ready to go. We were ready to drop the puck. All we needed was a home. Without home ice and trouble getting sponsors, the team had to leave the Hockey League this year. We're all very upset. There's nothing we would love more than to be playing hockey here this winter. Thank you very much, Dr. It's something that a lot of us behind the scenes have worked very hard for over the summer to recruit players, to look for sponsors. The players will join a dispersal draft to play in the league this season. The Royals are out, in part because of the ongoing labour dispute between the city and its civic centre workers. In a statement late Friday evening, the City cited long-term concerns that if they increased wages, it could affect taxes and lead to service reductions. As for the Civic Centre workers, they're starting to feel quite disheartened by the lack of communication from the City on what is now day 14 of the lockout. It's heartbreaking. The economic downfall to this is going to be enormous for the City of Cornerbrook. It's, so... The Royals alone, people plan their weekends around those games, and so that's money not being spent in the city. But we also host minor hockey tournaments basically every weekend, so that's hotels, restaurants, gas stations, bars, everything is losing money. Including Saltos Gymnastics, attached to the Civic Centre. With 400 athletes and 20 paid staff, they say their future is threatened by the lockout. So all we can figure now is this has nothing to do with us. They're using us to bargain against the other locals in this city. Both the city and the union are waiting for either side to give in. As for the Royals... For this to be gone, this is a huge blow to our community, our entertainment community, the finances to other businesses, all the spin-offs, like this is a huge blow. And I think sooner rather than later, all parties involved in this dispute is going to find out that's a big reality. Colleen Connors, CBC News, Corner Brook.