CORNWALL, Ontario – Coun. Brock Frost was escorted from city hall Monday night by plain-clothes police officers after frustrated hockey fans filled the council chambers looking for answers.
Frost did not request the escort, but was urged by police to take advantage of their offer in the interests of safety, Seaway News was told.
The hockey fans, perhaps a dozen or so, sat stoically during Monday night’s meeting, but in interviews outside the council chambers there was frustration.
Frost, the former owner of the Cornwall River Kings semi-pro hockey team, is facing a barrage of criticism in many circles for his handling of the team that is in the midst of another ownership change.
“I just want to get a point across,” said Robert MacFarlane, a self-professed “hardcore fan” of the Kings. “I have questions for Brock Frost and the mayor too.”
MacFarlane and other fans want the city to negotiate a deal with the Kings that will allow for more revenue-generating opportunities like concessions and rinkboard advertising.
The lion’s share of the revenue opportunities within the Cornwall Civic Complex are controlled by the Junior A Colts, which signed a deal in good faith years ago with the city.
“Of course they have struggled,” lamented MacFarlane of a litany of River Kings owners – four in just two years – including Frost. “It’s not just blaming Brock.”
But MacFarlane and other fans voiced frustration with Frost and some of his public comments concerning the team.
A collection of other volunteers who did not want to give their names to Seaway News, said frustration is bordering on anger.
“I volunteered at barbecues this summer. I won’t put up with this (expletive),” said one man wearing a River Kings t-shirt.
After the council meeting Frost suggested the fans could have good news soon. He said a new owner for the team will be announced soon by the league.
As for the people who showed up Monday night?
“I don’t know why they came tonight. It’s a council meeting,” he said.
Control of the River Kings was recently acquired by the Ligue Nord-Americaine de Hockey. The team lost an 8-0 stinker on Saturday, and had its Sunday away game cancelled.
