Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 1, 1995 TAG: 9504030058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The American Hockey League rejected franchise applications fromthe Greensboro Monarchs and Raleigh IceCaps, a move that virtually ensures the two clubs will remain in the East Coast Hockey League next season.
The AHL decided not to waive a $1 million franchise fee required for admission to the league. The fee would have been waived had the two clubs met undisclosed terms.
One ECHL source said the AHL would have waived the fee had Greensboro and Raleigh been able to take another ECHL team with them to the AHL.
``They have reissued us an invitation to reapply, but we have to pay $1 million,'' Howard Williams, one of Greensboro's dozen owners, told the Greensboro News & Record.
The AHL's decision was the latest episode in an ongoing disturbance in the ECHL, a situation that has changed on nearly a weekly basis.
In February, it was announced that Greensboro, Charlotte, Hampton Roads and South Carolina were leaving the ECHL to join the AHL. Charlotte and South Carolina announced last week they were staying in the ECHL next season.
Then, late last week, the Monarchs' owners purchased the IceCaps with the intent of both teams moving to the AHL.
Greensboro's plans drew heated criticism from other owners in the ECHL. One owner said the league was considering legal action against Greensboro and possibly against the AHL.
``The only thing I can say is, they made some threats,'' Williams said. ``There was a strong lobbying effort that may have gone beyond lobbying. But what was said, we were not privy to. The AHL has not disclosed anything to us.''
- Landmark News Service contributed to this report.
by CNB