The International Hockey League's (IHL) Board of Governors has unanimously voted to terminate the Dayton Gems' ownership group's right to operate the team, and has taken possession of its League share. The vote was necessitated by the ownership group's inability to meet the requirements to maintain ownership of an International Hockey League team under the League's Bylaws. The IHL is negotiating with a new local ownership group that will own and operate the Gems by this weekend, and the League expects that group will hold a press conference in the coming days. Details of the press conference will be made available through the IHL office later today.
The Gems will host the Fort Wayne Komets at Hara Arena on Saturday night and the Port Huron Icehawks on Sunday night. The IHL thanks the Dayton fans for their continued support and is pleased that IHL hockey will remain in Dayton this season and for years to come.
Comments
A lot of people predicted this, I just didn't think it would happen this quickly. Kind of makes the league look bad, but hopefully they get it turned around over there.
Funny.. last season when Flint was paying their players or workmans comp insurance, the league didn't "take them over". Seems like a bit of a double standard to me.
This was a bad idea from the beginning with the Pizza Guys, makes you wonder if they weren't somehow used to get the franchise started with "the powers that be" knowing full well that they didn't have the funds to keep it rolling..
** Above should read "When Flint WASN'T paying thier players....**
Sorry..
I have two comments on this situation. 1) This is exactly the kind of thing that gives the IHL a black eye, gives all those who hope to see the IHL fail more ammunition to fire at those of us who sincerely hope to see the IHL grow. And 2) I certainly hope that whoever this "new ownership group" is has absolutely nothing to do with the Frankes (or their money) in any way......Blake, it has been about six weeks since Syro was called up to Norfolk "for the weekend". Anything new on him? Thanks.
Jungle Monkey, I agree....wonder why Flint did not "enjoy" this same privilege. Interesting.
I am going to guess! Bob Perani came back to town and made things right. Just a guess mind you. However I don't think I am to far off.
That sound you just heard was the other shoe dropping.
I don't think this is a negative, this is the league keeping an eye on its teams and having the ability to step in and do something about it. I can see the NHL having the ability to do that with their teams but to be able to do it legally and financially and to have the forsight to have that built into agreements is pretty impressive for a double A minor league system.
Can you say Phoenix?
Hey, I like Phoenix. Shhhhhhh. You want Basille sniffing around here? LOL.
Burgee: it's because we have a sound business plan....but that's a big secret that no one would like to admit, so keep that between you, me, and the foo-foos. :) Then again, I might be one of those idiots they were talking about on the other page.....probably am.