THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 22, 1995 TAG: 9503220555
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
The bubble may have burst Tuesday for those hoping to see the Hampton Roads Admirals move up to the American Hockey League.
Officials from Charlotte, Raleigh and Richmond said they will remain in the East Coast Hockey League, and ECHL commissioner Pat Kelly said he hopes to receive similar commitments today from Hampton Roads and South Carolina. Those five franchises were among six that considered a jump to the AHL.
Last week, both Charlotte and Greensboro announced that they were going to the AHL. But Charlotte, considered the team most committed to the leaving, abruptly reversed course Tuesday.
``We're staying in the East Coast Hockey League,'' Charlotte president Carl Scheer said.
Hampton Roads president Blake Cullen said he would not comment on the AHL until the playoffs have ended, but sources with the Admirals say it is unlikely he would jump leagues without at least three other ECHL teams.
The closest AHL team to Hampton Roads is Hershey, Pa. Six of the 16 teams are in Canada and five in New York state.
``It just wouldn't work without more regional rivals,'' a source said.
Greensboro officials say they remain committed to the AHL.
``We had a meeting (after the Charlotte announcement) and we're still going to the American Hockey League,'' said Bill Black, part-owner of the Monarchs. ``We have a financial plan to make it work. We think we have a vision for the future of hockey.''
When asked what Cullen would do, Black said: ``My gut feeling, and the feeling of most people I've spoken to, is that he'll stay'' in the ECHL.
AHL commissioner Dave Andrews remained undaunted by the apparent setback.
``I don't think anything is over yet,'' he said. ``I would not discount Charlotte yet. These things change daily, and that's why we're not trying to comment on a lot of it.''
He held out an olive branch to the six ECHL franchises.
``There was a window for them to respond, and that window isn't closed yet,'' he said.
Scheer said the Checkers weighed two major factors before changing course - fan reaction and the lack of natural rivals in the AHL.
``We didn't have a lot of time to evaluate the pros and cons,'' he said. ``We were asked to make a quick decision, and there were a lot of factors that were unanswered.
``At some point we might want to consider the American Hockey League and they might want to consider us. For now, we want to remain in the East Coast Hockey League and make it a bigger and better league.
``There was never any dissatisfaction with the league. Most of our fans who responded on this subject wanted us to remain.''
Kelly, whose office is located in Charlotte, was thrilled with the Checkers' decision.
``They've done the right thing for the East Coast Hockey League and for their fans,'' Kelly said. ``The American League is Triple-A, and I understand the attraction. But our league has a very entertaining game and the ticket price is right.''
The ECHL has awarded four new franchises for next season - to Jacksonville, Fla., Mobile, Ala., Louisville, Ky., and Lafayette, La. - increasing the membership to 22. Asked how many franchises he expects will leave, Kelly said: ``I expect we'll have all 22 teams next season.''
Monday, at a daylong meeting in Charlotte, many owners chastised Howard Williams, a member of the Greensboro ownership group. Although it has been widely reported that the AHL asked the ECHL teams last month to consider jumping leagues, Andrews has strongly denied that happened. Most ECHL officials now say they believe it was Greensboro that contacted the AHL.
``Greensboro is trying to kill this league,'' Roanoke president John Gagnon told the Roanoke Times & World-News. ``I don't care if they do go to the AHL. They can go by themselves.''
That opinion was not shared by Harry Feuerstein, owner of the Richmond Renegades.
``I think Greensboro should be a member of the East Coast Hockey League,'' he said. ``I would like to have them in.
``I don't want to speak for Blake Cullen, but I hope they stay in the league, too.''
Greensboro's Black, meanwhile, had a warning for those remaining in the ECHL.
``The AHL is in an expansion mode,'' he said. ``I wouldn't be surprised to see somebody move AHL teams into Charlotte and Raleigh . . . and Hampton Roads.
``When you look at things rationally, I think they have no choice but to go to the AHL.'' by CNB