It’s been a tough last seven months for the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Calgary Canucks.

The team had a trying regular season for 2018-2019, posting a grisly 9-49-2 record before being swept in the first round of the playoffs.

That, however, was a minimal concern for a team that was on the brink of folding last October.

A fundraising rally managed to keep the team afloat and now, months later, the team announced Friday morning they would be around for at least one more season.

The Canucks committed to playing out the 2019-2020 AJHL season out of their home at the Max Bell Centre in a statement released Friday; Simultaneously, they announced the appointment of a new team president and chairman — both volunteer spots.

Seattle resident Arthur Yasinski, who grew up in northern Alberta, will fulfil the aforementioned roles.

“I am honoured to join such a storied franchise, and to work with the other volunteer members of the Board,” said Yasinski in a statement. “In going through this process, it has been very inspiring to see the passion and dedication from so many.

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“It will be an exciting few months as we prepare for the upcoming season and assemble a team of talented young men. I look forward to working with the Board, and with community leaders to grow the attendance and support of Calgary Canucks junior hockey.”

Yasinski, the team said, will take on the role from his Seattle residence but will travel to Calgary as needed.

A long-time employee of Microsoft, the team said Yasinski “brings a unique combination of big business experience and small-town values to our leadership team.”

The move sees Bill Andrews, who previously served as the team’s president, remaining within the organization as a past president and one of the team’s directors.

“As we enter our 49th season, we are excited to do so with a solid capital base to build from,” said Andrews in a statement, who previously indicated the team would need $100,000 to $125,000 in the bank at the end of last season to help the team stay afloat.

“We have added strong leadership experience and fresh perspective to our Board, and I would like to welcome Arthur as our Chairman. On the ice, we are equally excited to share that we hope to have over 15 players returning to our camp from last year, and we expect a full contingent of players vying for our 23 roster spots. Having stability within the franchise will allow these young athletes to focus on their hockey experience, as well as their studies and community contributions.”

While the Canucks started last season with a surplus of funds, they quickly ran through them after expensive road trips, a lack of sponsorships and a reshuffling of casino programs left them high and dry.

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The Canucks operate on a yearly budget of $450,000 — a far cry from the $1-million budget other teams in the league operate with.

Operating budgets aren’t the only thing the Canucks struggle with as they have to vie with the likes of the Calgary Flames and Calgary Hitmen for attendance. That’s not even mentioning the two university hockey teams, high-level triple-A hockey teams or their Junior A rival Calgary Mustangs.

The Olds Grizzlys, another Alberta team that has faced financial turmoil in the past, nearly didn’t make it through the 2016-17 season due to financial struggles. A 15-part ownership group, made up largely of Grizzly alumnus, crowdfunded $500,000 of private capital to purchase the team, effectively saving the franchise.