Pro hockey returning to Danbury next season

[blackngold]

Pro hockey returning to Danbury next season

DANBURY -- Get ready to cheer, hockey fans. Professional hockey will be returning to Danbury next season.

Danbury will be the home of a charter team in the new Federal Hockey League, which has confirmed franchises in four cities and plans a six-team, 60-game schedule next year, a press release said Wednesday.

Besides Danbury, the charter teams in the league are in Rome/Syracuse, N.Y.; Thousand Islands, N.Y. (just south of Ontario, Canada); and Ottawa, Canada. Ownership groups in Philadelphia and Jamestown, N.Y., have expressed interest in joining the league.

The league Web site -- www.TheFederalHockeyLeague.com -- is scheduled to go live Thursday at noon. The Danbury team will unveil its name, colors and logos and introduce business operations details on Dec. 29.

"Danbury can certainly support a hockey team," said Wayne Shepperd, an aide to Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. "It has to be entertaining hockey, it has to be an entertaining night out and it has to be a reason to go to the Danbury Arena."

Boughton could not be reached for comment.

Herm Sorcher is the managing general partner of the Danbury franchise's ownership group. A 20-year sports marketing professional, Sorcher is a former employee of the Hartford Whalers, the NHL team that left Connecticut for North Carolina in 1997, and several other pro sports franchises, the statement said.

The Federal Hockey League is headed by commissioner Don Kirnan, a Syracuse businessman and junior hockey team owner who serves as commissioner of the Empire Junior Hockey League. Kirnan, a member of USA Hockey's Junior Council, is operating the league from his offices in Syracuse.

The league's sales and marketing function is headed by Rich Lisk, executive vice president of marketing and business development. He is the former general manager of the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul.

Talent evaluation will begin immediately and culminate with a free-agent camp during the late summer of 2010 in Syracuse. League play will start in the fall of 2010 and continue into 2011 with playoffs and the inaugural championship series set for February.

"One of our motivating factors is the amount of young talent that is available in junior and intercollegiate programs throughout the Northeast," Kirnan said in the press release. "We will provide the opportunity for players to advance their pro athlete careers, hopefully on the way to the NHL."

The Federal Hockey League is making the fourth attempt at starting a professional hockey team in Danbury. The first was the Danbury Trashers, who began play in the United Hockey League in the 2004-2005 season. The Trashers played two seasons in the UHL -- making the playoffs both years and drawing more than 2,000 fans a night. The Trashers suspended operations in June of 2006, just a month after they fell to the Kalamazoo Wings in the Colonial Cup finals -- and shortly after team owner James Galante was arrested by federal authorities on a 72-count indictment.

Galante pleaded guilty in June of 2008 to racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the IRS and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The next two hockey teams to call the Danbury Arena home -- the New England Stars of the North Eastern Hockey League in 2006-07 and the Danbury Mad Hatters of the Eastern Professional Hockey League in 2008-09 -- lasted one season each and played to far smaller crowds than the Trashers.

The Federal Hockey League has until next fall to develop its own formula for a successful minor league hockey team in Danbury -- and to study the successes and failures of its three predecessors.

"It's a great opportunity and I hope it works well," Shepperd said. "They've given themselves a year to work on it and to define what they want to be."

[PuckHogs29]

ANOTHER league? Hockey in Danbury is great, but I guess the other NEPHL is done after this year then? This also seems like way too much travel for a league of that level.

[blackngold]

Originally Posted by Skorka85

ANOTHER league? Hockey in Danbury is great, but I guess the other NEPHL is done after this year then? This also seems like way too much travel for a league of that level.

This league seems legit so far. They have a nice website, and they seem to have a game-plan since they're releasing details almost a full year before they launch. That's light years ahead of the NEPHL already.

This guy also seems to have the right idea by saying:

"It has to be entertaining hockey, it has to be an entertaining night out

They should know by now that Danbury needs a Trashers-like team to survive.

[nyrpack]

Originally Posted by blackngold

This league seems legit so far. They have a nice website, and they seem to have a game-plan since they're releasing details almost a full year before they launch. That's light years ahead of the NEPHL already.

This guy also seems to have the right idea by saying:


They should know by now that Danbury needs a Trashers-like team to survive.

ill be willing to bet brooklyn joins the league if nephl goes down for the count, heres my longshot in about 2 yrs a long island franchise gets created if there home gets built one of these days, theres still alot of redtape to get done, but definitely a good chance !!

[Southpaw23]

The league sounds as if it has some good backing and credibility, but a team in Ottawa? The league will need to solidify its 6 teams before they are able to get P1 work visa`s for players to cross the borders. The travel sounds like it may be little costly to support as well. There is definitely a market for minor pro hockey in NJ if its marketed correctly. I would imagine with the name "Federal Hockey League", the league understands they need to add an entertainment value to their product which is a must. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

[Grittzkey]

Sweeeeet.

[MrFrost]

Is this single "A" or what? It sounds like itd be a great idea but as mentioned before, crossing the border will require extras. It wouldnt be hard if its all done right, it will just require teams to pay for it (which is a HUGE problem in the haha league). It will also need to really show its worth in call ups and such. No affiliation and no paychecks, then the teams will slowly lose morale and players will just grow sick of it. ESPECIALLY if theres hungry players out there fighting, making it as entertaining as possible and they get injured like a broken hand for example (cough cough) and basically did it for fxckin free.
Dont get me wrong, it could work, it can be entertaining, it can be what we all want.... but it can fall apart fast if theres financial problems. Fighters will basically say "fxck you, pay me" (a la Goodfellas) and then itll just be like all the rest.
Best of luck, I suggest a huge paycheck up front for these guys.

[theknuckler]

Originally Posted by MrFrost

Is this single "A" or what? It sounds like itd be a great idea but as mentioned before, crossing the border will require extras. It wouldnt be hard if its all done right, it will just require teams to pay for it (which is a HUGE problem in the haha league). It will also need to really show its worth in call ups and such. No affiliation and no paychecks, then the teams will slowly lose morale and players will just grow sick of it. ESPECIALLY if theres hungry players out there fighting, making it as entertaining as possible and they get injured like a broken hand for example (cough cough) and basically did it for fxckin free.
Dont get me wrong, it could work, it can be entertaining, it can be what we all want.... but it can fall apart fast if theres financial problems. Fighters will basically say "fxck you, pay me" (a la Goodfellas) and then itll just be like all the rest.
Best of luck, I suggest a huge paycheck up front for these guys.

from the website:
Single A-level professional hockey league emphasizing strong local ownership, high-quality competition and affordable family entertainment. The league is also focused on player development and opportunities, as individuals seek to advance their pro careers.

[theknuckler]

I wonder where the ottawa team would play? Theres a ton of junior A teams in ottawa (and surrounding areas) and they dont draw well. Theres 2 major junior teams (ottawa, gatineau) and an nhl team... I dunno how they could support another team?

[JackalsKnuckles]

Instead of Ottawa they should be looking at Cornwall.
Nice rink and fans that enjoyed the rough stuff when the Comets were there.

[PuckHogs29]

Originally Posted by JackalsKnuckles

Instead of Ottawa they should be looking at Cornwall.
Nice rink and fans that enjoyed the rough stuff when the Comets were there.

Cornwall is such a hockey hungry market. They've been trying forever to get a team in there. I really hope they make it someday.