The International Hockey League is adding the Dayton Gems and Quad-City Mallards to the circuit for the 2009-2010 season, replacing ECHL and AHL teams in the two markets, respectively.
The International Hockey League is adding the Dayton Gems and Quad-City Mallards to the circuit for the 2009-2010 season, replacing ECHL and AHL teams in the two markets, respectively.
With the Quad Cities Flames headed for British Columbia, the Quad-City Mallards are returning. The team will be owned and operated by QCHT, LLC with managing partner Christopher Lencheski.
The Mallards will start play for the 2009-2010 season at the i wireless Center, located in Moline, Illinois.
“Chris’ ownership group is a perfect fit, not only for Quad Cities, but for the International Hockey League,” said Michael Franke, IHL Chairman of the Board. “Quad Cities has a rich tradition of hockey that will be re-established in the IHL, as fans will have the opportunity to get close to their players once again. The relationship between the fans and the players is an important factor to all IHL owners, along with our geographic proximity to one another.”
Lencheski is Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of SKI & Company, a marketing communications company servicing the motorsports and high performance automotive industry with offices in New York City, New York, London, United Kingdom, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He is also the owner of SKI Motorsports, a NASCAR racing organization.
“We are thrilled to bring professional hockey back to the Quad Cities and to the i wireless Center,” Lencheski said. “I have always been passionate about sports, and hockey is my first love. With that said, I can tell you that we analyzed numerous prospective cities in an exhaustive search over the last several months for a city that truly wanted a hockey team and one deeply rooted with hockey history. The Quad Cities community demonstrated enormous support and enthusiasm for the return of pro hockey.”
Jim Riggs has been named as the club’s executive vice president. He will direct all business activities, sales, and media and hockey operations for the Mallards.
Riggs has more than 20 years of experience as a hockey executive and most recently served as commissioner of the Eastern Professional Hockey League. He served as the original general manager of the Memphis RiverKings of the Central Hockey League (CHL), a position he held for ten years.
With the ECHL's Dayton Bombers suspending operations after failing to land a new arena, the IHL is expanding to the area. The team will be owned and operated by Richard Bruner and Ryan Yerrick and will play at the Hara Arena beginning in the 2009-2010 season.
“We are very pleased to be able to announce the Dayton Gems return to the International Hockey League,” Franke said. “We feel with the ownership group in place, along with the great facility in Dayton, that we have a winning combination with the Gems.”
The Dayton Gems were a member of the old IHL from 1964-1980.
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