Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 19, 1993 TAG: 9303190070
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
GROUP TRIES FOR HOCKEY FRANCHISE
THE RAMPAGE won't play next season in the Roanoke Valley, but would-be owners have as a goal a new East Coast Hockey League team in the Roanoke Civic Center.
Minutes after Roanoke Valley Rampage owner Larry Revo "officially" announced that his franchise wouldn't be back, a local group including former Roanoke Valley hockey players revealed plans Thursday to pursue a 1993-94 East Coast Hockey League expansion franchise that would play in the Roanoke Civic Center.
The group, led by former Roanoke Valley Rebel Pierre Paiement and Covington-area businessman John Gagnon, sent a letter of application for a '93-94 expansion franchise to the Charlotte, N.C.-based ECHL office Thursday.
The group has begun preliminary discussions with Roanoke Civic Center officials concerning a possible lease agreement for next season, Paiement said.
"We waited until now to say anything because we wanted to wait until Larry Revo made it official he was leaving," Paiement said.
League Commissioner Pat Kelly said Thursday that the group must get its application, a building lease agreement and a $100,000 cash deposit on the league's $500,000 expansion fee to his office by May 5 in order to be considered for a '93-94 franchise.
The league's expansion committee then would check the investors' finances before voting on whether to approve the franchise.
Paiement said he has talked with Roanoke Councilman Delvis "Mac" McCadden and Roanoke Civic Center Commission Chairman Vern Danielsen. "Both seemed in favor of keeping hockey in the Roanoke Valley," he said.
"The civic center seems willing to work with us," Paiement said. "John [Gagnon] and I always felt the Civic Center is the place to be. It's a first-class facility."
Paiement said the group's biggest immediate concern was landing an NHL affiliation, which would help supply the team with players.
"Before any financial commitment is made from the group, we absolutely need an NHL affiliation," Paiement said. "Claude Piche and Wayne Mosdell and another couple of ex-hockey players here are starting negotiations to see if we can get an affiliation."
Paiement, who played from 1972-74 with the Roanoke Valley Rebels, said he is confident the group can land a franchise.
"John Gagnon [owner of a heavy construction dealership in Lowmoor] has assured me the money is no problem," he said. "Also, he has talked with Bud Gingher [ECHL president and Dayton Bombers owner] and he said he was going to try to accelerate the expansion process for us. Apparently, Gingher is very interested in keeping hockey here.
"There are two main conditions. One is getting a good proposal from the Civic Center, which seems to be going in the right direction. As far as the application goes, I don't see any resistance, because everybody we've talked to has been very positive about that.
"The dark area now is starting to make some contact and starting negotiations on an NHL affiliation. That's key. We feel without an affiliation we'd be put in the same position Larry Revo was, begging for players here and there and not being able to compete with the rest of the league."
Revo's Rampage finished the season Tuesday night with a 14-49-1 record, the worst in league history. The club averaged an all-time ECHL-low 1,439 spectators per game at the 3,250-seat Vinton LancerLot, which may have seen its final professional game; the weight of last weekend's snow caused its roof to collapse Sunday.
Revo said Thursday he plans to notify the civic center by letter that he has turned down its proposal for next season. His options for '93-94 include moving or selling the franchise, or suspending it for one season.
"I think we gave it our best possible shot here," Revo said earlier in the week. "I think hockey could certainly make it here in the Roanoke Civic Center if you draw from 4,500 to 5,000 people."
Paiement said he thinks his group can succeed where others have failed.
"I think what was missing before was a place where people felt comfortable going to see a hockey game and an affiliation to get some good players in who could compete," Paiement said.
"We want to support Youth Hockey here, which Larry Revo didn't do well. The Adult League, too . . . that's almost 500 season tickets right there.
"I feel very confident [that] if the businesses will support us, if the city is behind us, if the Civic Center is willing to work with us and if we have a strong NHL affiliation, that this thing can go."