With the CHL in rough shape and the Fort Wayne Komets looking to move to the ECHL, owner Michael Franke says more structure is needed in minor-league hockey — with the NHL’s involvement. His solution is simple: there needs to be a more organized structure to minor-league hockey, mimicking the tiered structure used in Minor […]
Tag Archives | ihl
Hockey returning to Cow Palace in 2012
Professional hockey is returning to the Cow Palace in 2012-2013, as the expansion San Francisco Bulls have been approved by the ECHL Board of Governors. The San Francisco ownership is lead by Pat Curcio and his wife Elouise, who have relocated to San Francisco from Salt Lake City. Curcio will serve as president, general manager […]
What will CHL look like next season?
With the Quad City Mallards and Odessa Jackalopes already gone from next year’s Central Hockey League lineup, the speculation now centers on who will be back, and who might not. The Quad City Mallards may have reported decent numbers at the gate — some 2,870 fans a game — but it wasn’t enough to keep […]
CHL announces conference alignments, opening dates
The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today the conference alignment for the 18 participating teams for the 2010-11 season as well as the dates of each team’s home openers this fall. The new conference alignment will split the teams into two conferences of nine teams with the conference reflecting the geography of the North and […]
Quad City Mallards sold
Yet another owner will come into downtown Moline and try to make a go of the Quad City Mallards, but this outfit — owner Eric Karls and CEO Bill Davidson — has the pedigree to make it work. Tape2Tape Sports and Entertainment LLC is buying the Mallards franchise from QCHT, LLC, who owned the IHL […]
Gratz takes reins in Dayton
Brian Gratz faces the challenge of transitioning the Dayton Gems to the new CHL, as he was named coach and general manager of the team last week. Gratz signed a two-year deal to run the team. He most recently was head coach/GM of the Jersey Rockhoppers of the Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL) in 2008-2009. […]
IHL gives up efforts to place team in Flint; IceHawks fold
After being officially informed by Perani Arena officials that the arena management is committed to a lease signed with a new NAHL team, the IHL has given up efforts to place a team there for next season. Meanwhile, Kinney Entertainment announces it will fold the Port Huron IceHawks. The picture of what a merged CHL/IHL […]
Hold your horses: CHL/IHL merger hitting obstacles
It probably was a scenario too good to be true: the merger between the CHL and the IHL is hitting several obstacles and could end up being scrapped by the end of the month. The issues, predictably, revolve around money, beginning with a disagreement over the length of the season and ending with disputes over […]
Generals to submit financial information to arena management
Fint Generals owner Brandon Bordeaux has been asked to submit detailed financial information about his team in anticipation of a new Perani Arena lease. Bordeaux told the local newspaper he didn’t see any problems submitting detailed information to Stanford Insurance Co., owner of the arena after a foreclosure. Of course, some of the financial information […]
Quad City Mallards on the move?
Team owner Chris Lencheski is looking at a landing place for his Quad City Mallards next season, as a move to a different minor league could be in the works — and a Mallards move could send some shock waves through the existing league structures. We’re expecting movement by teams among the lower tier of […]
Kalamazoo arena proponents turning to private sector
After Kalamazo County Commissioners passed on putting a tax increase on an August ballot to fund a proposed Kalamazoo arena, proponents are turning to the private sector to revive the project. The proposed downtown Kalamazoo arena would house the Kalamazoo Wings (IHL) and Western Michigan sports teams. Owned by Western Michigan, the proposed nine-acre site […]
Will Generals make a play to stay in Flint?
A group of potential buyers for the Flint Generals (IHL) met with Perani Arena officials and toured the facility, leading some to wonder whether the IHL will make a play to stay in Flint despite a lease already signed for the arena by a NAHL team. Â The buyers are from Indiana, and it’s not […]
