WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
No, Chris Hessel is not in danger of losing his job.
No, Sean Croft is not leaving the Winnipeg Jets (to the dismay of some fans).
The Saint John Ice Caps are about 25% of the way through the final year of their agreement to play in Newfoundland. According to many league sources, the experiment isn't working for the Jets. Attendance hasn't been everything the organization hoped it would be, and a new business venture has likely signaled the end of any negotiations to keep the team in Eastern Canada. At a press conference this morning, Jets General Manager Sean Croft announced a new venue at an old location. Below is a transcript from his announcement.
"Good Morning, and welcome to this huge parking lot on Jericho Turnpike in Commack. A parking lot that, soon enough, will be empty and broken down. Behind me is Commack's King Kullen, which will be closing. Next door is the Sports Authority, which thanks to the new Dick's Sporting Goods down the street, will also be closing. As I look around, I see many eateries, such as a Miller's Ale House, Moe's Southwest Grill, Applebees, and the famous Candlelight Diner. I see the eyesore that will be these closed businesses, and how they will hurt these otherwise successful businesses. I should correct myself. This is what I saw.
What I see now is the return of a legend. I see the return of commerce. I see the return of a destination for families and friends. I see the return of professional hockey to Long Island. I, along with True North Sports and Entertainment, as well as a few local investors, are here to announce The Long Island Sports and Entertainment District. I am thrilled beyond words to announce that the focal point on this revitalization project will be the return of the Long Island Arena, former home of the Long Island Ducks of the Eastern Hockey League.
For those of you who don't know, the Ducks were known for their player-coach John Brophy, who was actually the inspiration for the character Reggie Dunlop in the film Slap Shot. Their General Manager was John Muckler, who went on to coach a number of NsHL teams, including the New York Rangers for a time. The Ducks were a Long Island staple, until the new Nassau Coliseum brought the original New York Islanders to town, and understandably so, the Ducks had problems drawing their usual crowds. Eventually, The EHL, along with all of it's teams, folded in 1973.
The Long Island Arena would later be home to the New York Nets, as well as countless circus visits and concerts. In fact, Frampton Comes Alive was partially recorded there. Each of us, attended a birthday party at the roller rink and enjoyed the flea market on weekends. It is our vision that will bring those days back to life. We will tear down the two shops that are closing, and we will rebuild the Long Island Arena. The exterior will resemble the arena, as it appeared in 1959. The inside will have the modern amenities that every up to date venue has, and will seat 4,000 fans for hockey, and 5,500 for concerts.
I have a connection to this area. I come from a family of restaurateurs. My family knew John Brophy and John Muckler. They were regulars in their restaurants (***I'm breaking the third wall, this part of the story is actually true!***). My first NsHL job was here, with my childhood team, the New York Islanders. I grew up 10 minutes from this complex, and spent many afternoons here with my parents either shopping, or going to the circus. It is important for me to see this reboot. It is important to bring hockey back to Long Island.
This new venue will need a team. It is our intention, upon approval from the AsHL Board Of Governors, to bring the Long Island Ducks back to Commack. We have already secured permission from the Long Island Ducks baseball team from the Atlantic League to share the name. In fact, we believe there will be a rich partnership here for years to come. We've reach a preliminary 25 year agreement to name the venue, "Miller's Long Island Arena". We will actually build a hall that will, connect the Miller's Ale House to the arena. Fans with tickets to the events will be able to walk from the restaurant directly into the arena. In time, we will announce the full scope of what this project would be. For now, we just want to thank you all for coming, and we hope to see you all here next fall, as we drop the puck on the all new Long Island Ducks."
From what we understand, an artist rendering of the project is expected soon, as is a full calendar of events. Rumours at this point are that the investment group is looking to build the roller rink again, and use the Ducks brand to build roller hockey leagues and tournaments for men, women, and children of all ages and competition levels. The group is confident that they will gain approval to reboot this franchise. The Oakland Seals were rebooted in the west coast, and have been successful ever since. Only time will tell, but this writer also believes that this project will be seen through, and that it will be a massive success for the Winnipeg Jets, the AsHL, and Long Island at large.
Jay Trotter
Jet Fuel
No comments:
Post a Comment