Hockey in Hoffman Estates Derailed Again

While the spirit of hockey has come back in the Chicagoland area, the fact that some professional leagues try to make a third team work hasn't provided the turn-out some would have thought. For the second time in five season, Craig Drecktrah had to cease operations of a third professional team in the Chicago area. First it was the Chicago Hounds of the old UHL and today, the Chicago Express of the ECHL. Both teams played only one season.

The Express were a team who averaged last in the league for attendance, averaging just over 2,500 in the 8,632 seat Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Also, the Express would have a hard time to actually get 1,000 people into the arena during their week-night games. Drecktrah seemed to have the same issue with the Hounds, mostly for the fact that the Sears Centre management wanted to give the team primarily weekday dates rather than the weekend, which would set the team up for failure for the most part due to work and school and such.

However, with this being the second straight hockey team to fail in that arena and area; it makes you question if it's the arena or the fact there's a lot of teams in the area. Albeit, the Blackhawks are 30 minutes away from Hoffman Estates and the Wolves, based in Rosemont, are 20 minutes away; there could be too many options for hockey fans to choose from and stretch their dollar on. While many hockey fans would love to see as many teams around them as possible, the ability to spend that much on three teams in professional leagues in such a small area. The perk for it all is that it was three different leagues, three different affiliations, and many different teams coming in-- which the variety is great, but again-- as affordable as minor league hockey can be, hard to have loyalty to one side of things or another.

More over than the fans is that you have to actually wonder how viable big metropolitan areas are for multiple hockey teams. Especially in Chicago, where the Wolves would often beat out the attendance of the Blackhawks in the mid-2000s, but trying to force a third team in there just seems to be a set-up for failure right from the start. Heck, the most hardened hockey fans would have issues trying to support all their hockey teams. For a time, the Toronto area had an issue with the NHL and AHL with the Toronto Roadrunners in the 2003-04 season (they would move to Edmonton for the 2004-05 season) and then when the Marlies came to play with the 2005-06, but the Marlies have seemed to have gotten more interest in them and fended for themselves pretty well.

If a Canadian city has difficulties with maintaining two pro hockey teams, is there a hockey city in the US that can handle two or more professional teams within a 30-mile span of each other. The New York City area has their allegiances drawn, Boston would probably have their own team's pride that they might not be able to deal with another team, even in a minor league format. So far, the Chicago area seems to be a two-team town and any third team would be hard-pressed to not only find an arena to work with them, but also garner the attention to take away from the two top teams and make themselves profitable.

While it stinks for those loyalist to the Express for that one season, it's hard for them to not be without a team, even though it was for just a season. Plus, it's hard to build a fanbase for a team when they actually only have one season to get fans into the building and make the numbers work. That said, some times the diluting of a sport in a centralized location may be a great idea in theory, but the execution never yield the desired results. You can blame the owner, the arena, the lack of attention overall-- but no matter how you slice it-- whoever is to blame doesn't matter, as it leaves a black-eye on the team, league, and area for not being able to sustain a team in a locale for more than just a season.

Second Expansion Go 'Round in Sunrise

Traveling this past week or so has been the reason for the delay on new stuff-- so apologizes or something.

As the introduction of the new Florida Panthers happen, the questions will always come up about how this new team could actually make an impact and whether or not they will actually be worth all this spending to get to the salary floor. In all honesty, I think a lot of people are rooting for them, but with the guys they brought in for how much they brought him in for-- there's not a lot of hope for this team.

This team is an expansion team for a second time. There's no way around it, but with what the Panthers have done, they will have to learn to how to play together and have to form some kind of chemistry in a short period of time in order to be somewhat competitive. In the early going, you have to think they may have a rough time about it; but they could throw some other teams off because you won't know what's going to happen when them-- though trying to sustain that for the long-term is the real task.

It was a necessary evil for the Panthers to do, however. With the team being wreck from previous GM's tenures; they don't have any "homegrown" talent. The guys they did have who they groomed from the start are off to greener pastures-- whether it's because the GM at the time didn't like them and traded them out or if they didn't feel like dishing out the money to keep them there-- something went wrong. I doubt that Dale Tallon fully expected to spend like a sailor on shore leave with this free agency season-- but at the same time; he had to. He was damned if he did, damned if he didn't in all honest. If he didn't go on this spree, people would be on his case and the Panthers case for not caring. He did make these moves and people are wondering why the hell he gave such big contracts to menial players for big dollars.

The contract length is something I can totally understand, but maybe-- just maybe-- they're giving their newly stocked prospects a chance to grow and learn the system before rushing them into the line-up-- which could be worse than inflated contracts. Odds are, with the younger kids (if they were around) they would be as bad as the veterans they signed and lack the chemistry these new Panthers would have. Plus, there's no guarentee that any of the younger kids would pan out in the NHL style and speed of play-- which could also be worse due to the fact that it could ruin their mentality when playing; being more destructive in the long-run.

While the idea is if a team can't hack it, they should be moved or even eliminated from the league-- which I think should happen-- the NHL won't do it and the NHLPA won't agree to it because it would eliminate many jobs and ruins a lot of the market the NHL has built up. The Panthers, along with the Phoenix Coyotes, are prime examples of why there should be NHL contraction-- mostly in a business sense. It has nothing to do with on-ice product (at least in Phoenix), but the mismanagement that happens off the ice-- that's what kills it for everyone and makes the common fan look down on the organizations; if they even pay attention to them at all.

The bottom-line is that the Florida Panthers, from pillar to post-- were and are in a bit if disarray. While they had some kind of building blocks come their way in the past couple days (Keith Seabrook, Sergei Shirokov, and Angelo Esposito), it's nowhere near what they could have had if they keep and grew their talent from back in the day....or did, but didn't want to dole out the money when contract time was up. Granted-- two of those three names I mentions have bounced around many organizations-- which shows that it's probably going to be even harder to develop because they can't hack it with any team much less this one.

Best of luck to the Panthers-- because they'll need it.

Wearing on Winnipeg Wondering

As much as I would love to get that 90s nostalgia I recently talked about back into the fold, am I the only one tired of the Winnipeg Jets talk?? It's not so much that I wouldn't want another team in Canada-- I do, it'd be good for the game; but the hype surrounding this whole "Will they, won't they" when it comes to any team relocation to possibly Winnipeg; it's getting on my nerves. It's gotten to the point where TSN has a "Jets Meter" on their NHL page.

Look, we're not kidding anyone when we all agree that Winnipeg is probably the best suited Canadian city to get a relocated team. They have the fan-base, the local sponsorship backing, and a great arena-- though some could say it's too small for an NHL franchise. It's ready for a team, but at the same time, I fear this hype could be for naught should one thing or another go awry in their planning when it comes to waiting for the Phoenix Coyotes to come back. I don't want the people to get their hopes up only to be let down again.

Even if another team not the Coyotes decides to relocate-- they couldn't be called the Jets because the current day Coyotes hold that name and it's history. Though the NHL could pull a Cleveland Browns situation, stripping the Jets history from the Coyotes and giving it to the new Winnipeg franchise that happens to come to fruition.

However, this whole thing about the Jets coming back could be for naught-- even if Winnipeg gets a team. Dave Wheeler for the Winnipeg Sun said that should the NHL return-- they won't be called the Jets. It seems that the jersey, logo, and colors have been created and they'll be called the Manitoba.......and a nickname will come later. So, instead of being very specific about where the team will be at-- the team will encompass the entire Province of Manitoba. Whether that's good or not, we'll have no idea until it happens. Off the bat-- it's smart because of the fact they will probably get more governmental support by including everyone. For what it's worth, Mike Cole of NESN said some sources are saying the team will adopt the AHL moniker of the Manitoba Moose-- so there's that.

Plus, I like the idea of a new team name. When a team comes back, I would rather a new identity so that this team coming in and their players won't have to live up to the team this city had lost. The heritage a team has leaving is something some wouldn't want to tarnish should the team turn out to be craptastic and want to remember the good times the team has before they left. A new team coming in should have a new identity, but not forget the identities that may have been in the city beforehand.

In the end, you have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. The Winnipeg contingency and Jets die-hards are keeping the faith and proving to the NHL that they deserve a team. It's great for their case against another city and it's great for the NHL to see that if they put a team in there; it'll flourish. That said, the fact many are acting like this is all done but the shouting-- yet that's far from the case. There's going to be a lot of red-tape for the Coyotes deal or any deal to go through to make this happen-- but at least they're ready for it, should it fall into their lap....as it should.

Friday Five: Changes for Better or Worse

It's time for another Friday Five, wrapping up the week in a nice little bow and with some inane commentary on my part-- which is what you've expected from this blog.

1. Is the failed shootout attempt by Ilya Kovalchuk a microcosm of what we can expect the rest of the season for the Devils??

Oh, poor Kovy. Yet, it's something that doesn't seem to be unexpected in the Devils' highlight reel these days. More over, a picture of injured Devils Zach Parise, Martin Brodeur, and Jacob Josefson adds to the depression the Devils have endured. Yet, it's hard to blame Kovalchuk for his on-ice play, but his off-ice contract issues are partial reasoning for the short-handedness of the Devils; while bad luck (and maybe some karma) is the other reasoning behind it all. They can turn it around-- but they'll be hardpressed to do so.

2. With the changes to the format, will there be a change to the actual gameplay??

It probably won't and it shouldn't, to be honest. The All-Star Game won't be any different than other All-Star Games, with the exception of the MLB. This is an exhibition and always has been-- it should not be turned into a serious game because of the fact that you want all the big names on display and you want them to enjoy the game again and take the heat off of them that they experience on the every day grind during the season. It should be looked at as nothing more than what it is-- all stars in a game.

3. What teams are the most Jekyll and Hyde team out there thus far?? (Thanks Hammer)

One of them has to the be the Chicago Blackhawks, who look lights-out one night and then pathetic the next night. Same could go with the Dallas Stars, who looked very dominate, but now look like they're going back down to Earth in some sorts. Most of the teams seem to be out West, like Nashville, who's seemed to settle down, and Anaheim, who has heated up in the past couple of weeks. Out East, I don't see many teams out there, as they seem to be going by the formula, though Carolina could be a contender for that as the season goes on, especially after their big defeat on Thursday against Philadelphia. Plus, depending on how Pittsburgh goes in the next while, they could be placed on this list.

4. Speaking of Pittsburgh, how much turmoil is in that locker room now, especially since Sidney Crosby and Dan Bylsma seem to have differing opinions??

I don't think it's a big issue right now, but it could become one. With Marc-Andre Fleury struggling and Brent Johnson stepping up in a big way, there's always going to be questions, should that trend continue. However, it seems the Penguins are a different team and their lack of dominant play could be troublesome down the road, and it could be all due to their new building. Okay, maybe that's not the case, but still something you could probably give to the tin-hat brigade or whatever. They have time to turn it around, but their killer instinct doesn't seem to be there as it has in years past.

5. The Hartford Wolfpack play their last game in the AHL this weekend. Do you think this mid-season switch is as silly before as you did when it first was announced??

I think it's more silly, mostly because they pushed the change earlier than mid-season. If you're doing that-- why not just do it from the start?? That's crap to the Wolfpack following who have been through thick and thin, who are getting killed mid-season. This whole fiasco seems to be very rushed and very thrown together-- which I guess is alright, but a mid-season name change like this has not happened since.....maybe the WHA days when teams would move from a city to another in order to survive.

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And that's a wrap. You want to be included?? Email me at Scotty.Wazz@Gmail.com and give your two-cents and you're on your way to be included. That way-- you have the right to bitch if you don't like the answer or format. If you don't submit, you have no rights-- NONE!!!

Baltimore Hockey History: The Last Baltimore Hockey Team....For Now

Two years after the Skipjacks left for Portland, Maine; Bob Teck and Alan Gertner thought it would be time to bring some kind of hockey back to the area, because they had thought it was for the best. These two pump millions of dollars to get the Bandits off the ground. They also had the backing of the Disney Corporation, who designed the raccoon logo and jerseys that were worn on-ice (As an aside, anyone with a lead on where to get one of these jerseys-- let me know). With that kind of clout and the mentality that they would be able to provide a good atmosphere for the fans, there was a positive vibe for the team to come through the struggles and actually make Baltimore more than a hockey footnote.

The ideology was superb to start. Teck said that with over 30 area high schools having teams and kids playing in the streets, it was the right time in order to expand the landscape of popularity. The ownership team learned, also, from the mistakes of the past. An article done by current NFL Network contributer Jason LaCanfora about the new team showed what the Bandits team had learned from what the Skipjacks could not.

The Baltimore Bandits will market extensively and promote the sport. The Skipjacks did little in those areas to boost the team. Bob Leffler, whose ad agency handled the Skipjacks, now works for the Bandits. He said the new ownership is consumed with making hockey work.

"Gertec is putting together a massive marketing campaign," Leffler said. "They are dedicated to spending $1 million to advertising. The last time we had that kind of financial support was with the Blast [of the Major Indoor Soccer League] in the mid-'80s. They were drawing 11,000 fans a game then."

Bandits merchandise has been in stores since mid-July, the team already has begun advertising on Orioles radio broadcasts and it is negotiating with three local radio stations for broadcast rights. It will focus its campaign on television and billboard advertising in the coming months.

You could see that these guys were waiting for the money to start rolling in for this team. You have to spend money to make money, right?? Right??

In any case, there was a big buzz around the new team. The purple, silver, and black was ready to hit the ice and maybe erase the entire loss of the Skipjacks, even though the Jacks were beloved for the past decade. The Bandits had a backing from a major corporation and seemed to be primed to be a big success.

The first season on ice, there were ups and downs, but the fans seemed to turn out at the start. I, myself, along with Papa Stan Wazz were partial season ticket holders because it was a little bit closer than traveling to Landover to watch the Capitals play. The team had their finesse guys, but also the bruisers. The likes of Jeremy Stevenson and Peter Leboutillier had over 200 PIMs on the season, while Dwayne Norris, Mike Maneluk, Slava Butsayev, and Steven King were lighting up the score sheet. The likes of Darren Van Impe and J-F Jomphe were chartering between the AHL and NHL, as Denny Lambert became a folk hero as he moved down to Baltimore after his Anaheim dreams didn't pan out. Another folk hero was Mike O'Neill, who set an AHL record for playing 74 games in a season in the 1995-96 season.

While the Bandits finished with a 33-36-9 record and third in the Southern Division. They made the playoffs, although everyone but two teams made the playoffs. They were able to upset the Hershey Bears 3-games-to-2 in the first round and lost in seven games to the other underdog Syracuse Crunch, who finished last in their division. The on-ice product seemed to be there, but it's off-ice where things started to go horribly wrong.

Three-quarters through the season, the ownership trust of Teck and Gertner was in trouble. They had unpaid debt to a number of groups. The team owed their parent team, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, $500,000, as well; they owed the AHL $100,000 of the $1 million franchise fee. The duo of Teck and Gertner decided to hand over the team, not even out of their first year, to Mike Caggiano; a Northern Virginia businessman, who went to school in Baltimore and owned the Potomac Cannons baseball team to some success. Teck and Gertner made more bad decisions than good, but when it comes to an expansion team-- you have to make good decisions through and through; especially in an uneasy market. Caggiano gave his confidence that the team would stay in the city and would be on even ground after management and financial re-structuring.

The second season had as much turmoil on the ice as they were off the ice. On the ice, there was a coaching change as Walt Kyle was replaced with Moe Mantha as Kyle went to Anaheim. There were a lot of changes with the likes of O'Neill, Norris, Butsayev, and the other notable gone to other pastures. Craig Reichert, Mike LeClerc, and David Sacco held up the offense and they had five guys with over 20 goals on the season, including Bob Wren, Sean Pronger, and Igor Nikulin added with Reichert and LeClerc. The goaltending of Mike Bales and Tom Askey couldn't fulfill the workload that O'Neill had left, which led to struggles from the team. Even with all of that, the Bandits finished up with a 30-37-10 record, but lost in the first round as the Philadelphia Phantoms dominated the Bandits in a three-game sweep.

Things were much worse off the ice, as debt continued to pile-up. After the 1995-96 season, the Bandits were $1.6 million in debt, but it rose to $3.7 million after the 1996-97 season, including owing the AHL more than $500,000 in franchise costs, their billboard people over $30,000, the audio/visual team over $3,000, and their jersey people $5,000 for lettering the jerseys. Caggiano realized he was over his head and looked to sell the team. Some of the shareholders tried to stop any sale because they though insider debt would be recouped, but that didn't seem to be the case. The team was eventually sold to the owners of the Cincinnati Gardens and the team became the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. In the state-of-the-franchise report, Caggiano said that they did all they could in order to save the franchise.

Even more over, the Bandits were having issues with the schedule. They often were bumped by the owners of the building to give preference to the Baltimore Spirit indoor soccer team over any Bandits games that could take place. That brought the attendance and general interest down because of it. Caggiano went against the city council many times trying to lobby for a new arena for the team, as the Baltimore Arena lacked what a professional team needed. Caggiano also went as far as going to the AHL and trying to relocate the Bandits' playoff games to Hershey, Pennsylvania because of the Spirit locking up dates in the Baltimore Arena. It did not happen, but it was an interesting proposition. Of course, that left a bad taste in the mouth of the city council, thus support dwindled; which helped along the demise.

It only took two seasons for this team to go into the crapper and really was one of the first of the rotating teams the AHL had gone through. The Bandits were one of the many teams to not last long in their area and relocate-- along with the Kentucky Thoroughblades, Carolina Monarchs, PEI Senators, and Cornwall Aces to name a few. While there is still shuffling today, it's not as wide-spread it seems.

The ownership to start had a lot of promise for the team. They did all they could to make hockey a mainstay in the Baltimore landscape, but there could have been a lot of sidetracking with he Ravens coming into the NFL and the poorly processed marketing campaigns. While the sport on the grassroots level has become popular through time, the actual professional game has never and may never take off as it should or could in the Baltimore area. Especially with the popularity of the Capitals, the time could never be better for hockey in the area. Yet, with the lack of a new arena and support from outside interests-- the time-frame will close shut before anything tangible and realistically comes to be.

Putting the Jackets On To Leave??

Interesting story coming out of the Columbus Dispatch, where a story is saying that if a new financial model cannot be found to help out the Blue Jackets, there's a distinct possibility that they could leave Columbus. According to this report, the current ownership and the City Chamber is looking to find a model that will help the Jackets' with the $5M in rent they pay a year, as well as the $4M a year they lose in operational costs. The ownership apparently wants to have this settled, or at lease something done by the end of the calendar year.

I could be wrong, but this is the first time the Blue Jackets' name have come up in terms of moving from their area. The area they are in is a very snazzy one, with a lot of establishments nearby. The arena itself is beautiful, as is the practice facility next store; but in these tough times, no one seems to be immune to having to deal with financial hardships of that sort. Though, you have to wonder, considering the city voted not to give public money to building the arena, if they'll do anything of sort to really help out the team and keep them in the city for the long-term. Although, now that the arena is making money with concerts and stuff of that ilk; so who knows.

To an extent, I almost look at the Blue Jackets as the Atlanta Thrashers of the North; a team that has the talent to be great, but can never get to that next plateau due to not having depth in their system. Now, another comparison is going to be whether or not the team will be in the same city in the next five to ten years from now.

Granted, there's a lot of economic issues and numbers being thrown around and I'm sure that there's much smarter people within the area who could tell you more and tell you if it's just propaganda to get more money out of the city; but it's now out there from the doing of the city and not just rumors and guessing.

Yet, even with this out there now-- could this spell the return of everyone's buddy Jim Balsillie in terms of trying to buy the franchise and creating a hoopla around it again. Of course, the NHL is kind of pre-occupied with the Coyotes and all, so who knows how they will address this. The question is whether or not if this whole thing goes down, if the NHL will seek someone to keep the team in Columbus, even if a system in Columbus won't work. How much will the NHL push to keep a team in a city when the city even says they won't help out on?? The different issue with Phoenix is that the City of Glendale is actually trying to help keep the team in the area, which is probably why the NHL is pushing so hard to pull out all the stops to keep the Coyotes in the area.

While this is still developing, we can only wonder what kinds of twist and turns this whole saga will take now. If the NHL didn't have enough headaches with other kinds of speculations with other teams, now they have to deal with this. While Columbus has the ability to be a big time team, the attendance continues not to be there; which doesn't help the cause for the future. The Jackets are regularly at the bottom third of the league for attendance, hovering around 85% capacity for their troubles. It's a wonder if something can't be reached in terms of relief, whether that number will increase in support or decrease in depression. Only time will tell.

Coyotes Survive, But For How Long??

The Phoenix hockey fans got a small reprieve by Judge Redfield T. Baum saying that there wasn't enough to sort out all the legal issues before Balsillie's June 29th imposed deadline. I'll have more on Balsillie coming up later on in the week, but the fact of the matter is that Balsillie's overanxious nature to get another team in Canada is his more endearing quality, as well as his greatest enemy.

In any case, it's now time for the NHL to step up to its promise of having four bidders ready to buy the team and keep them in Phoenix. Gary Bettman and the league's legal team made a big deal about having other interest ready to keep the team where they are at. If these bids don't come down as the best for anyone-- who is to say that it's going to work out in the end. Plus, if there is a bid and the team doesn't get any better and the team continues to hemmorage money-- who's to say we won't be in this situation again five years down the road??

The thing with the Balsillie bid is that it was going to recoop most of the money that the was lost by the creditors. What's to say that these bids that have been talked about and have been flaunted by the NHL are going to be up to that kind of snuff or if they are actually going to relieve anyone of their financial heartache they suffered from the investment into the Coyotes. One of the more interesting quotes or implications from Judge Baum when it came to the other offers is that with no firm offers being out there for the team, he dismisses the bids are hearsay and may or may not even happen in the end.

So, let's say now that these bids that the NHL has made up these stories about these bids, what if there's just been guys sitting around the bar, sipping martini's saying, "Hey, if I bought the Coyotes, I'd keep them in Phoenix", to which the NHL spy took that and ran with it saying they have the money and willingness to keep the team in Phoenix. Truth be told, if there are no bids on the team by any of the suitors the NHL have said there were, how can we even believe that any of these guys had an interest to keep the team in Phoenix, much less keep the team period?? Maybe they had an interest until they saw the books and projections for the Coyotes and then started to back away slowly from it all. All the fans know is that it seems everyone is chomping at the bit to buy a team who has lost more than $300M in 13 years and keep them in their current enviroment. See how crazy that sounds??

So, here we are pretty much the same way as we started. The Coyotes are still in financial trouble, the NHL still promises a white knight to come for the Coyotes and yet no one has stepped solidly to the plate for them, though apparently they are out there. Though one could say that you can buy a team that has its financial woes and turn them into a big money maker, like the Cup Champion Penguins-- but thanks to good management the Pens were able to be built into a champion and get a wealthy investor to believe in them enough to pony up money for a new arena. I don't know if there's anyone who has looked at the books and thought this was still a solid investment when all was said and done.

This Coyotes' situation is far from over, but if what the NHL says is true-- expect bids to pick-up very shortly.....because the league wouldn't want to lose face by not delivering on some promises, right??

Trouble Brewing in ECHL??

The Fresno Falcons of the ECHL announced yesterday that the team had ceased operations for the season and had their membership terminated. This is the second ECHL team in a month to cease operations, as the Augusta Lynx left the league on December 2nd.

You have wonder how many teams will have the same fate for the rest of the year and during the off-season. While the ECHL is the "premier AA hockey league", according to their website, they also have the most travel of all the minor leagues. With teams spread from Alaska to Florida, as well as taking into account the craptasticness the economy has become, it may be time for the ECHL to split for the survival of the teams still around and wallets of the ownership groups.

The current ECHL came when the WCHL and ECHL merged into one big conglomerated minor league. Hindsight being as it is, it looks like it could have been the dumbest idea they could have had at the time. The pure logistics of the entire thing, especially when you have a team in a remote place like Alaska, seemed flawed from the start. As it stands, the ECHL has nine teams West of the Mississippi and 11 teams East of it. The Toledo Walleyes will start next season upping that total to 12, while the Columbia Inferno, a yet unnamed club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and another unnamed club in Reno, Nevada awaits completion of new arenas-- which would bring the total to 14 teams East and 10 West.

Why not split it up again?? Make it like MLB where the two leagues play a regular season then the best from each side play for the Kelly Cup. It seems like a more logical and cost cutting measure to ensure that you don't have teams dropping out mid-season like it seems to be going on right now. Not only does it cause havoc for fans of the teams who drop out, but the schedule makers and more over the players-- who have their playing future in the hands of other GMs who may or may not need them on their team. It's a major blow to players who may be on the fringe as it is right now, their last game could have been their last game ever.

But, I'll touch back on the fans-- how do fans go about the demise of their team mid-season?? Especially in the Falcons case, as well as the case of the Columbus Stars in the UHL back in 2003-04 season, where the team was in first place in their division before folding up shop. With high hopes for the rest of the season, to have the carpet pulled out from underneath them like that is probably like a permanent kick to the groin. Especially not knowing if this is just until the owners recoop the losses (somewhat unlikely) or if this is until a new ownership can come in and either resurrect the team or get an expansion franchise.

It's tough to support your local hockey team when the money to do so may not be there, but if you have the chance, you definitely should. You never know when they could be take away from the area like they have been in Augusta and Fresno.