THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 26, 1994 TAG: 9408260770
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
Pensacola, Fla., and Mobile, Ala., appear set to join the East Coast Hockey League next season.
Hampton Roads Admirals president Blake Cullen says the league's expansion committee received a presentation from both cities Thursday, the final day of the summer meetings in Columbus, Ohio. No contracts have been signed, but league officials left the meeting convinced the two cities will come on board. Columbia, S.C., is also expected to join the 18-team ECHL next season.
The league also raised the salary cap from $5,400 per week to $6,000 and tabled until the May meetings in New Orleans a proposal to change the league's name.
The league's marketing committee will contact national sporting goods distributors to see if a name change would help the league market licensed products, such as jerseys.
``If they come back and tell us that all of (the distributors) say we're limited by calling ourselves the ECHL, then we'll take a look at it,'' Cullen said. ``But right now a solid majority is in favor of retaining the name.''
The Eastern Continental Hockey League and United States Hockey League have been suggested.
Cullen scored a victory when he persuaded league owners to agree to allow the team to market their own products in Hampton Roads. by CNB