Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 31, 1994 TAG: 9408310035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In what might be the most lenient postseason policy in the sport's history, the East Coast Hockey League has decided to reserve space in the 1994-95 playoffs for all but two of its 18 teams.
The ECHL will play 646 games in a five-month regular-season schedule starting Oct.18 simply to eliminate two clubs. Each club's chances of making the playoffs: 88.8 percent.
``All the coaches in the league should love it,'' one ECHL club owner said Tuesday. ``If making the playoffs makes it a successful season - and that's how it used to be - then a lot of guys should have job security.
``The two who don't make it? Well, they probably should be fired.''
In a vote last week at the ECHL meetings in Columbus, Ohio, the league's 18 club owners opted for a 16-team playoff format over the 12-team format that had been recommended by the ECHL's rules committee.
Under the rules committee's plan, the top four teams in each of the league's three divisions would have qualified for the playoffs. But some owners, fearing the loss of revenue if their teams didn't make the playoffs, opted to take the safer 16-team postseason route.
``There was much discussion by some owners about going to 16 teams and the fact it may dilute the regular season,'' said Pat Kelly, the ECHL's commissioner. ``But then again, some owners felt that it was more important to give their fans, coaches and players a better shot at making the playoffs.''
Hampton Roads president Blake Cullen, a member of the rules committee, was among the opponents of the 16-team format.
``I don't think it's a good idea,'' Cullen said. ``You're only leaving two teams out. Why even play the regular season? We've got to have some purpose for the [regular] season.''
The top 16 teams in points will advance. There will be two eight-team brackets. Bracket 1 will include seeds Nos.1,4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13 and 16. Bracket 2 will consist of seeds Nos.2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14 and 15.
The first three rounds of the playoffs will be best-of-five series. The survivors from each bracket will then face off in a best-of-seven series for the Jack Riley Cup.
MEETING ROUNDUP: In other developments in Columbus, ECHL club owners voted to increase each team's weekly salary cap from $5,400 to $6,000. The $600 bump will raise the players' average salary to $333 per week. ... The league officially approved the sale of the Richmond Renegades by Californian David Elmore to the CCF Sports Group of Washington, D.C. ... Kelly said the league will expand again in 1995-96. Columbia, S.C., already has been approved for '95-96, but there appears to be some doubt the franchise's proposed rink will be completed in time. Other top bets to land franchises are Greenville, S.C.; Pensacola, Fla.; and Mobile, Ala. ... The 1995 ECHL All-Star Game will be played Jan.24 at the 21,000-seat Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum.
ICE CHIPS: As of Monday, the Roanoke Express had sold a little more than 1,400 season tickets for 1994-95. The club sold 1,200 season tickets in its first season. ... The Charlotte Checkers have secured a second affiliation, with the Chicago Wolves of the International Hockey League. The Checkers' NHL tie is to Boston. ... Nick Vitucci, the ECHL's all-time leading goaltender in games played and victories, has signed as a player-assistant coach with two-time defending champion Toledo. ... Tim Tisdale, a veteran center, has accepted a player-assistant role with Wheeling. ... Wheeling's Jim Bermingham and Terry Virtue have signed IHL contracts with Atlanta. Bermingham is the nephew of former Roanoke Valley Rebels star Wayne Mosdell, who still lives in Roanoke. ... The NHL's Washington Capitals and Quebec Nordiques will play an exhibition game Sept.20 in Charlotte.
by CNB