The Chautauqua Hurricane of the Premier Basketball League had four different homes in a three-year span.

Under the ownership of Buffalo resident Tawan Slaughter, the team began as the Erie Hurricane. They moved to Jamestown mid-season, where they became the Chautauqua Hurricane. After finishing the season there, they began the 2015 season at Fredonia State’s Steele Hall. Midway through the season, Chautauqua moved to the Cattaraugus County Community Center, which is located in Erie County.

Now the Hurricane are here to stay as Dunkirk resident Sixto Rosario, who was an assistant coach last season, recently purchased the franchise.

The team will now play its home games at Brocton Central School, thanks to the generosity of superintendent Jason Delcamp.

“Now people know it’s based here,” Hurricane coach Jerome Moss said. “Ownership is here. Family is right here in Dunkirk. I think people are more comfortable with that. People in this area were skeptical of ownership from Buffalo coming here to run a team. Sixto owns the team. People know him around here. They know me around here. They can put a face to the name.”

There will be many improved changes with the new owner, who has a three-year plan outlined. The biggest change will be ticket prices.

Last season, tickets were $10 a person – the same price as bleacher seats at a Cleveland Indians baseball game. Under Rosario’s ownership, adult tickets are $5, seniors pay $3 and students will pay $2. Group rates are available as 15 people can get in for $60 or 20 people for $75.

“Knowing our community is important,” Rosario said. “Cost wise, for a family, it was high last year. This time, we are approaching it as we are from here, we know the dynamics of the area. We are lowering the cost. We want to get schools involved and do a school night or Family Faith night. We will do some outreach when the players get here. We will get out in the communities.”

On the court, last year’s edition of the Hurricane saw nearly a new roster weekly. While Slaughter owned the Hurricane, she is also the owner of the Buffalo 716ers, who compete in the same league. Throughout the season, players from both teams were being traded between the two teams.

Moss and Rosario vow players who are on the Roster on Day 1 will be the same players on the roster throughout the season, allowing the fans to get familiar with members of the team throughout the season, while also building team chemistry as the season progresses.

“I think the biggest part of our philosophy is we will bring in guys, and right from Day 1, we will not be involved in switching them from team to team,” Moss said. “We are not going to allow our guys to do that. We feel in order to have a successful team, you have to have that team from the beginning and we will have those guys all season. We want to keep that team so they can develop. It’s better for them. Jumping from team to team, I don’t think is good for anybody. The players will know they don’t have to do that now.

While Moss and Rosario had no input on last year’s roster, the success of this year’s team lands squarely on the shoulders of Moss and Rosario, as they are in charge of putting the roster together and finding players they want for their system.

It’s a challenge the two welcome.

“I’m ecstatic about that – as far as putting a team together,” Moss said. “We had one year of experience. We know what type of player can play in this league and we know what kind of player we want to fit our system. Now we can go out and get that person and not worry about just someone showing up. We know who will be in the gym. We control all of that and the players will understand what we want. They will go by our rules, so it will be much more comfortable.”

As for the players Moss wants, he said, “Number 1 is commitment. That’s the largest thing. Respect is another. You have to have that hunger. It’s not a rec league. You have to show your talent. When you get on the floor, you have to do that. Players understand that and have something to prove. They will play their hearts out and that’s how they have to play.”

With 12 roster spots, the Hurricane already have four players signed, including returning players Isaiah Jefferson and Jared Dewberry.

“They brought up a few questions from last year we talked about,” Moss said. “They really wanted to come back. They liked the atmosphere and how they were treated by (Sixto and me). I think our 1-2 punch coaching style is perfect for what we are trying to do with this league. Guys coming into this league, though they are older and have basketball experience, they have a lot of needs. Between the both of us – my approach and Sixto’s approach – it’s a good blend. I think that’s why we have players who want to come back to the team. They saw the blend and they like it. I think we have a very good blend of coaching style. It works very well.”

“The way we treated them and coached them together, they wanted to come back,” Rosario added. “Before they left at the end of last season, they said they wanted to come back and were setting things up to come back to the area.”

Also on the roster is Silver Creek graduate Bill Brooks, who had a standout career for the Black Knights.

The team will also feature a youth cheerleading team for all home games. Moss also hopes to reach out to local high schools.

Since taking over the team in May, Rosario and Moss have been working diligently on sponsorships and creating a family atmosphere for players and fans.

Although Rosario and Moss know that there were a few kinks to work out as with any new program, they are enthusiastic about the future of the team and are confident the local fans will support the team.

The Hurricane will hold a tryout on?Sept. 3 at Brocton?Central School. Participants must be out of high school and between the ages of 19-22.

The tryouts will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. There is a $50 tryout fee.

For early registration, visit the Dunkirk Salvation Army Aug. 3-5 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.