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Hockey returns to Johnstown’s War Memorial Arena, where much of the classic Slap Shot movie was shot, in the form of an NAHL team.
War Memorial Arena was home to plenty of hockey over the years, last to the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL. It’s a smaller arena — just 4,000 seats — and the Jets ownership came to loggerheads with county officials over management of the arena before moving the team to Greenville. Chiefs ownership played up the connection between the film — arguably the best sports film ever made — and the city, bringing in the legendary Carlson Brothers for appearances.
Neither should be an issue for the NAHL team, as the Alaska Avalanche relocates to Johnstown for the 2012-2013 season. The team won’t be the Chiefs or Jets (said to be the inspiration for the team), sadly enough; a name-the-team contest is in the offing.
RELATED STORIES: Johnstown Chiefs announce move to Greenville
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