For the past six years, the Lethbridge Hurricanes have been suffering major losses on and off the ice.

With the team not winning many games in the last few seasons, the franchise has suffered significant financial losses.

On game nights, the team relies on their fans to come out and support them, but when the product on the ice becomes stale, fans lose confidence in the team and they stop buying tickets.

Doug Paisley, president of the Hurricanes’ board of directors, says the support hasn’t been there recently.

“Fans are upset with the product,” says Paisley.

When the team’s audit report was released it showed the team had lost a significant amount of income in the past few seasons, which had Paisley believing more fan support is needed.

Within the last six seasons, the team had lost more than $2 million.

“You need 3,500 to 3,600 fans a game in order to make money,” says Paisley.

He continues to add that in the 2014-15 season, the Hurricanes averaged up to 2,700 fans a game.

“Essentially it’s lack of support, but on the other side of that, fans are upset with the product,” says Paisley.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes recently hired a new head coach and general manager and with that the 2015-16 season has been off to a great start.

Robbie Rutkowski has been a fan of the Hurricanes for four seasons now and hasn’t giving up hope for the team.

He says that it’s been tough being a fan to a constantly losing team, but has never stopped going to games and showing his support.

Rutkowski is pleased to see the Hurricanes doing so well this season.

“Not only now do we have a coach who knows how to work with young players, we also have a scouting staff and general manager who is willing to find players to come to Lethbridge and play,” he added.

Dustin Forbes, Lethbridge Hurricanes play-by-play broadcaster, agrees with Paisley and adds the team is currently sitting at 6 -2, and that will shift back to fans wanting to come and see the Hurricanes play.

“The type of product they have put in so far, has been worth money,” says Forbes.

Like any rebuilding team, the Hurricanes fans should not expect any significant triumphs to happen overnight.

Forbes says that this will be a process and the team is on the right track.

“As the team continues to prove that they are a contender in this hockey league and they are a team that can play an exciting style of hockey and produce victories, you’re going to see a lot more people buying tickets,” says Forbes.

The Hurricanes play Swift Current on Friday, Oct.23, before they head out on a six game road trip. To see schedules and ticket information, visit www.lethbridgehurricanes.com