Paris Mounties – The End of an Era

“It was a fantastic ride; I wouldn’t change it for anything”

By Casandra Turnbull

As the final chapter closes on the Paris Mounties franchise, the team’s former owner reflects on his tenure calling it a fantastic ride full of lasting memories and lifelong friendships.

“It was a privilege to be a part of the Mounties organization for the past 14 years,” said outgoing owner Todd Wood “It really becomes an enormous part of your identity when you take on a task such as this – however, I know the franchise is in good hands,” he told The Paris Independent. Wood purchased the Paris Mounties 14 years ago after initially coming on board as a team sponsor. Wood has played hockey his whole life and played

Junior D hockey with the Burford Bulldogs before playing competitive hockey at Lambton College in Sarnia. He took the Mounties from the basement to the very top of the standings, winning the league title in 2013/2014. They went on that year to lose to Grimsby in the quarter finals.

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That divisional title in 2013/14 will always remain one of his greatest memories, he said, along with the many Ref4Rett Charity Fundraisers he had a hand in organizing and executing. Those successful fundraisers and how team members and alumni pulled together to make it happen, would always bring him a sense of enormous pride

“Overall thought, the friendships I’ve made and maintained with players, staff, officials and members of the junior hockey community as a whole will be the best memory,” he shared. As the organization transitions from Mounties to Titans, Wood said it’s definitely a bittersweet moment, but he has every tremendous confidence in the new ownership who plan to take the club to the top of the PJHL South Doherty division. It was Wood’s goal to do that when he brought hockey back to Paris last season, but those efforts did not come to fruition. That’s why he felt it was time to move on and bring in a new group to revitalize the franchise.

“Mike and Jon have a clear vision on what success will look like with the franchise in their control,” said Wood. “They are dedicated to keeping the franchise in Paris and doing all they can to continue and expand on the successes of previous seasons.”

Just because you won’t see Wood behind the bench or in the Titan’s locker room this season doesn’t mean he’s ready to walk away from the sport that’s held his attention and passion for most of his life. He said his future plans include staying in the game, either in hockey operations with another team or as an administrator with an area league

As he bids farewell to the Mounties, Wood wanted to send a huge thank-you to all the players, staff, volunteers, fans and sponsors he encountered along the way. “It’s been a fantastic ride and I wouldn’t change it for anything!”