With the Alberta economy in shambles almost everybody locally is feeling the pinch and not-for-profit organizations may feel it the most.

When it comes to the Alberta Junior Hockey League, most teams are currently operating at a loss this season.

Last week the Grande Prairie Storm put out an S.O.S to their community asking for their support in keeping the team afloat with a reported loss of around $200,000 and the Whitecourt Wolverines have also reported a deficit in that same value.

As for the Okotoks Oilers, president Wayne Lauinger says they aren't in a Grande Prairie state of financial losses but aren't in the black either.

"We limp, so to speak," he says. "We're definitely down in sponsorship and advertising, and it is all reflective of the present situation. It's difficult, this whole league and other leagues are having the same difficulties, you have to be creative and you have to cut back on your spending."

Expenses include everything from hotels, busing, team meals, ice times and salaries of the team's staff.

Lauinger says in times like these the best way to get out financial lulls is when attendance numbers go up on a nightly basis.

"The league's whole concept is for communities to buy in and the more people we can put into the building when we're playing hockey makes life easier. This is non-profit, there's nobody in this that's receiving an investment return, everything goes back into the hockey clubevery single penny."

Lauinger says the Oilers have found ways to bring in more income with the establishment of their hockey development program that started last season which has helped in crunching the numbers, along with volunteering at casinos and participating in 50/50 draws at Calgary Flames games.

But when push comes to shove, Lauinger says if the community buys a game day ticket it goes a long way to keeping them financially stable.

"We know we have a good product, we know we have a team that plays hard and is competitive and the cost to come watch Junior A Hockey is very reasonable for the family and it is family entertainment so we hope to generate more spectators in the stands moving forward."

The price of admission to an Oilers game is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students and children's tickets are $5.

Total attendance through 21 games at Pason Centennial Arena is over 11,000, averaging 542 spectators a night.

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