Hope for W-S?

[Summer77]

The latest edition of the Hockey News (4/27/09, Page 45) lists Winston-Salem as a possible city for an expansion team in the SPHL. Jim Combs said that Roanoke and Augusta are out for expansion, but W-S is a possibility.

:cheer: :shout: :rock: :partay:

[Wizryan]

OK, now I'm a little confused

Thanks

Did they say Joel or some rec ice somewhere?

[Summer77]

It would have to be the Joel. There is no other facility with ice in W-S.

I have not seen the article with my own eyes, but a friend of mine subscribes to the Hockey News and she is the one who told me about it.

[T/C Fan]

Don't tease me like this Summer!!!!:smile:

[dalhub]

I ignored this rumor during the season but it seems like it might have some traction now and become a reality. Supposedly, some youth hockey people have found some investors to build a new rink in WS at the fair grounds.

If this rumor is true they are supposed to break ground on the new rink after the fair leaves in October. The new rink will be built on city property but with private money.

This, if it's true would be great news for youth and adult hockey players in WS giving us a year round facility. Also it would give any future team should there be one, a practice facility to hold training camp and practice.

[AceFace905]

I ignored this rumor during the season but it seems like it might have some traction now and become a reality. Supposedly, some youth hockey people have found some investors to build a new rink in WS at the fair grounds.

If this rumor is true they are supposed to break ground on the new rink after the fair leaves in October. The new rink will be built on city property but with private money.

This, if it's true would be great news for youth and adult hockey players in WS giving us a year round facility. Also it would give any future team should there be one, a practice facility to hold training camp and practice.
So would this just be a practice facility for a team at the Annex, or will there be a big enough space to house a team there? Either way, sounds fantastic :cheer:

[Summer77]

Don't tease me like this Summer!!!!:smile:

Now would I do something like that? :angel:

Seriously, a local ownership group has contacted the SPHL about putting a team here. Keep your fingers crossed! :pope:

[dalhub]

Local Owners! Now you're talking....I wonder how this group is being received by the league? Anybody got a clue who these peeps are? I wonder if they are past owners or new investors? One more obstacle is the LJVM. I don't know how the city would respond to another team.

I am hearing the Joel doesn't want another hockey team and if this new rink is built they could get out of the ice business totally. If they do let another team come in here I hope they make a change in event coordinator. At least get somebody in here that actually is compentent and doesn't go into his office to watch basketball instead of doing his job.

I hope the league considers this new group seriously because as I was thinking the other day, if the league expands further west and now that TC and Richmond are gone it's really going to effect the Fireantz.

If the league doesn't look to keep some teams in the original SPHL foot print Knoxville or Columbus would be the Antz closest opponet. Travel expenses for the Fireantz would increase dramatically and I have to wonder how this would effect their bottom line. Surely this would make the Antz less profitable and possibly put the them in a difficult position.

AceFan this new facility would be a small facility that would house youth hockey, adult hockey, figure skating and public skating. It could not support housing games but it would give WS a year round facility for ice sports which is great news.

I agree that the local press coverage here was shameful. Then on the other hand if hockey in this town could actually put some people in the stands and the team could climb out of last place there probably would be at least a little more coverage. The local media is free to choose not to cover hockey but I also am free not to buy the news paper or tune in to local news coverage which I do. Who is the WS Journal? Who is WXII?

[Pirate Prince]

the local ownership is a good thing WS may be getting a new annex as WFU is trying to get a hockey program ...look for a ACC hockey league in the next 10 years... from what i am hearing the only holdup with getting a new team in WS is mcbob... apparently he has to say it is ok for a new ownership to be here since he only suspended operations and the new owners dont want him involved... there are alot of people very interested in what is happening in WS and the possibility of a long term deal with the new owner.. some big names in minor league hockey may get involved in this quickly if mcbob gets out of the way and gives the ok.

[dalhub]

McBob should do the right thing and step out of the way. It's obivious he's not interested in having hockey in WS and after pulling the plug on us he will never field a team here again...

The league should step in if he tries to stop another team here and tell him, you're done in WS and if you want to have another chance at fielding a team in this league you'll step out of the way...

I'd love to see Wake Forest follow NC State's lead and develop a Div. III hockey program. I bet we'd get a new Zamboni then and new boards too...

[Geoff]

I doubt WFU is looking to add a team. Probably a group of students looking to put together a club level team. WFU already had a team that played in the adult league and occasionally against other nearby ACHA teams and also played in the ACCHL before.

As far as the ACCHL, it already exists with Duke, NC State, UNC, Virginia, VT, and Georgetown. Of all the ACC schools, if Wake added a team, the only one without a team is Miami:

Boston College: NCAA D-1
Clemson: ACHA D-3
Duke: ACHA D-2
Florida State: ACHA D-3
Georgia Tech: ACHA D-3
Maryland: ACHA D-2
North Carolina: D-2
NC State: ACHA D-2
Virginia: ACHA D-2
Virginia Tech: ACHA D-2

In the ACHA, the Division are based on the amount of financial support from the institution. So in effect it dictates the level of play because teams that reciebe less money have to focus on other things other than recruiting. (In FSU's case that's travel as there is not ice rink in Tallahassee, the closest is in the home rink of UF in Jacksonville so for training camps/practices/"home games" they play in Orlando.

[dalhub]

Geoff we are not talking a glorified club hockey league but we're talking about some ACC schools moving into Div. III college hockey. There talking about moving beyond the ACHA. NC State is in the process of doing this and if Wake Forest makes the jump then Duke will not be far behind. It won't be the ACC for several years but believe me, if Wake Forest wants to back a fully scholarship Div. III team they can do it. Wake Forest has GOT the money. The rest of the the ACC schools I don't know about.

Suppose WFU decides to go to Div. III what would that mean for hockey in this town?


Instant credibility: The local community and students at WFU would suddenly wake up and find the game of hockey, so would the local media.
A real fan base: Couple the 1100 core fans of hockey already here with the students and alumni of WFU and you finally have the potential of selling out a hockey game in WS.
Money: What WFU does, it does first class. Say goodbye to the old Zamboni and original board system. WFU would infuse the cash and the city would finally pony up the money to make upgrades we badly need.
The end of opposition to hockey in WS: Since the 80's WFU has had a very negative position of professional hockey and it spilled over to other parts of the city. This opposition would disappear overnight as we'd see advertisements and finally coverage in the local media.
Recruiting would take a while to make WFU cometitive but I believe they could pull it off. What kid wouldn't want a full ride to study Medicine or Law at WFU. It's a fantastic school and I believe they could recruit and be competitive.

Wow, what an off season so far...a possible new rink...a possible new team...and a possible Div. III college team...a dare I say it, but if WFU backs a team, it won't just be "blowin' through town."

[Geoff]

D-III schools are non-scholarship. They do find ways to get financial aid for top players so that that players have to pay little to nothing but you're not going to get a full ride usually. Hell even in D-1 the full team isn't on full ride.

[dalhub]

Ok, did not know that but I should've, I had a friend that played goal for Yale and I remember he was not on scholarship. Any how if WFU did start a D. III program it would be a very good thing for hockey here in WS...

[Pirate Prince]

well according to the league office .. the cyclones are blowing into another city ... dont know where watch for announcement soon... winston is now open territory and bob has no further say about a new team there... so now the annex lease has to be negotiated... that will give the league 6 teams for the 09-10 season...

[Icee97]

As far a "supposed" news from the league concerning the "Cyclones"; until I see it officially:
ROFLMAO!!!!

[dalhub]

I'm with you that one Icee...nobody wants a two time loser...stay with the Big Mac's Bob...

[hockeynktown]

I'm with you that one Icee...nobody wants a two time loser...stay with the Big Mac's Bob...

WOW.... Was I hard on McBob and the way he ran the team ? Yes. If you note I always stood up for the staff, with that said, I have no idea if they were busting their tails or collecting a check working 9-5 as some do. I even stood up for Coach Richards, I do know what goes into putting a team on the Ice, I do know how players think, and going somewhere in which your going to play in front of a few hundred fans sure would be below playing in front of thousands. Bottom line on that your just simply not going to get the same level of players, not taking anything away from who was there...just facts. I took the calls back in my Bear days, I know for a fact the player you signed today (example) called looking for a job with the Bears 2 weeks ago. It has to all come together, you are only as strong as your weakest link. I dont think McBob would try to run a McDs with 1 or 2 staff members, so why try to do it with a hockey team ? My hat is off to him for paying the bills and footing the bill.

[Wizryan]

Looks like more teams on the horizon...hmnmmm

[Summer77]

One more team will make 8 total for the league... I really hope it's us! :cheer:

[Geoff]

That's if Kerr decides to make it a go in Pensacola and deal with SMG's crap.

[Summer77]

That's if Kerr decides to make it a go in Pensacola and deal with SMG's crap.

Rut-ro... are there problems already? I hope things work out for y'all. I'm already planning a trip to Pensy if W-S gets a team. :byebw: