Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503280009
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
One of the most contentious weeks in the league's eight-year history began Monday with several ECHL owners accusing Greensboro's Howard Williams of attempting to drag teams from the ECHL's East Division - including the Roanoke Express - with the Monarchs to the American Hockey League next season.
On Tuesday, the Charlotte Checkers, one of the ECHL's most successful franchises, announced they had withdrawn their application to the AHL and were staying in the ECHL.
Wednesday was peaceful. Order apparently had been restored. It lasted until Thursday.
That's when the Monarchs reached an oral agreement to purchase fellow ECHL member Raleigh in a move perceived by many to be Greensboro's way to take an ECHL team with it to the AHL. Williams, one of Greensboro's owners, confirmed on Friday that the Monarchs had purchased the Raleigh organization.
Now, Charlotte management apparently is reconsidering its decision to stay in the ECHL. Also undecided is Hampton Roads, which is being pressured by city officials in Norfolk to make the jump to the AHL.
``This all comes at a bad time,'' said Marcel Dionne, president of the South Carolina Sting-rays. ``Everyone's in the playoffs. It makes no sense for this to happen now, or any time. They're raiding our markets.''
In another major shake-up, Dayton owner Bud Gingher resigned as the ECHL's president and reportedly was replaced by Charlotte owner Carl Scheer. Gingher was involved in the early stages of negotiations on a proposed move of some ECHL teams to the AHL.
By week's end, only one thing was clear: The ECHL will be a drastically different league next season.
Within one year - perhaps two - there likely will be AHL or International Hockey League teams in Charlotte and Norfolk. The owners of the current ECHL clubs in those cities have a decision to make. To move up or not to move up?
Already, the AHL has contacted management of the Hampton Coliseum about the possibility of putting a team there. Does Hampton Roads owner Blake Cullen take the risk of keeping his team in the ECHL - with its lower ticket prices - and compete against an AHL team across the bay in a battle that likely will leave only one team standing and might kill both?
ERIE HAPPENINGS: It appears more and more likely the Erie Panthers will be moving next season.
Reports from Erie indicate the Panthers will be moving to the Baltimore area - perhaps to Towson, Md. - or to Columbus, Ga. However, one ECHL source said Erie's ownership is working on a move to West Palm Beach, Fla.
COACH ARRESTED: Paul Pickard, the Huntington Blizzard's coach, was arrested following a March 16 game in Knoxville, Tenn., because of an altercation that occurred nearly two weeks earlier among Pickard and a couple of heckling Cherokees fans.
Scott Robbins, a Knoxville season-ticket holder, was struck in the face with a hockey stick Pickard swung at him during a game March 3. Robbins suffered a minor cut and some bruises. Another fan threw beer on Pickard in retaliation. The melee stopped the game for 15 minutes as Knox County sheriff's deputies rushed into the Huntington bench area and into the section where Robbins was sitting.
Pickard was released after posting $500 bond.
AROUND THE ECHL: Roanoke's logo was No.31 in the second minor-league rankings compiled by The Hockey News. The Express ranked 11th among ECHL teams. Logos from the ECHL, IHL and AHL were considered by The Hockey News, which selected Birmingham's logo as the best in the ECHL. The Bulls came in at No.11 overall, one spot ahead of the Charlotte Checkers. The Minnesota Moose - one of Roanoke's IHL affiliates - took the top spot overall, while the AHL's Cincinnati Cyclones had the dubious distinction of being ranked last for the second consecutive year. ... The new ECHL franchise in Louisville will be called the RiverFrogs.
by CNB