From: owner-utah-grizzlies-digest@lists.xmission.com (utah-grizzlies-digest) To: utah-grizzlies-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: utah-grizzlies-digest V1 #194 Reply-To: utah-grizzlies-digest Sender: owner-utah-grizzlies-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-utah-grizzlies-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk utah-grizzlies-digest Monday, June 4 2001 Volume 01 : Number 194 [UG] vladdy [UG] Worlds oldest known hockey stick up for auction.... [UG] Sunday DesNews article.... [UG] interesting article [none] Re: [UG] interesting article [UG] AHL Announces Expansion [UG] AHL expands to include IHL teams (USA Today) [UG] AHL Expansion ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 17:28:11 -0600 From: "Angie Reece" Subject: [UG] vladdy This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C0EAC0.3B501BA0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable From the transaction wire: Nashville Predators-- Signed right wings Vladimir Orszagh and Konstantin = Panov; exercised the option on goaltender Chris Mason for the 2001-02 = season; claimed center Bill Bowler on waivers from the Columbus Blue = Jackets.=20 - ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C0EAC0.3B501BA0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

From the transaction = wire:

Nashville=20 Predators-- Signed right wings Vladimir Orszagh and Konstantin Panov; = exercised=20 the option on goaltender Chris Mason for the 2001-02 season; claimed = center Bill=20 Bowler on waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets. =

- ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C0EAC0.3B501BA0-- [ To quit the utah-grizzlies mailing list, send to majordomo@xmission.com ] [ the command "unsubscribe utah-grizzlies" (don't include the quotes) ] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2001 18:38:23 -0600 From: "Ray B." Subject: [UG] Worlds oldest known hockey stick up for auction.... This is a long link, so I'll post the story too.... http://globeandmail.com/servlet/RTGAMArticleHTMLTemplate/D,C/20010601/gthockeystick?tf=RT/fullstory_Spt.html&cf=RT/config-neutral&vg=BigAdVariableGenerator&slug=gthockeystick&date=20010601&archive=RTGAM&site=Sports&ad_page_name=breakingnews-sports By IAN JOHNSON Globe and Mail Update Gord Sharpe is hoping his eBay auction of a 150-year-old hockey heirloom will score big bucks for his family and cancer research. Mr. Sharpe owns what is believed to be the world's oldest hockey stick. The crude length of hickory is said to have been carved by Alexander Rutherford in Lindsay, Ont., sometime between 1852 and 1856. The oldest stick the Hockey Hall of Fame could verify prior to Mr. Sharpe's was made about 25 years later, in 1881. "It just sat in the corner of the livingroom for years, and I used to drag it out from time to time to show people," Mr. Sharpe told Globetechnology.com. "I knew it was probably valuable, but I didn't find out what it could really be worth until my girlfriend got me to check it out so I could get it insured." Based on expert appraisals, Mr. Sharpe was staggered to find out he had a piece of hockey heritage that was potentially worth millions. He decided to sell, asking $2-million (U.S.), and he is offering a $250,000 bounty to anyone who can broker a sale at that price. "Since we put it up for sale in January, I've come close to selling it four times," Mr. Sharpe said. The stick will go up for bidding at 9 a.m. on June 3 at eBay Canada's on-line auction site, with a reserve price starting at $2-million. There will be a bidding link from the www.eBay.ca home page until the auction closes on June 13. If the stick sells at or above the reserve price, it will set an eBay record. The highest-priced item ever sold on eBay to date is the T206 Honus Wagner baseball card that went for $1.26-million in July last year. "This stick is a one-of-a-kind collectible and it's also a piece of hockey history," Mr. Sharpe said. "Considering what people are willing to pay for a home run baseball or a round of golf with Tiger Woods, the appraisers feel that price is pretty good." He adds that when he was getting the stick valued, one of the appraisers had just been involved with a $2-million deal for a set of vintage French candlesticks. "And they said hey, there are a heck of a lot more hockey fans out there than candle-holder fans," he said. If he makes the sale, Mr. Sharpe plans to donate about half the money (after taxes and expenses) to cancer research. That works out to about a $1-million (Canadian) windfall for charity. "When I first found out the stick was really valuable, I decided I wanted to give part of the money to charity," he said. "I talked to some people from the cancer society and decided to make a donation to them. My grandmother died of cancer and it's something that affects almost everyone in some way these days, so it's a charity that can do a lot for a lot of people." The stick was passed down through the Rutherford family until it was given to Mr. Sharpe of Coburg, Ont. (Mr. Rutherford's great, great, great-nephew) when he was nine years old. A hockey player himself, Mr. Sharpe, now 39, actually used the stick a few times in his youth. "I took it down to the arena in Coburg a few times, and I've taken a couple of shots with it. That stick can really raise the puck, too — I was surprised by how good it is," he chuckled. Mr. Sharpe's stick is being stored in a vault now instead of a livingroom corner, and will be displayed in Wayne Gretzky's Restaurant in Toronto during the eBay auction. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com [ To quit the utah-grizzlies mailing list, send to majordomo@xmission.com ] [ the command "unsubscribe utah-grizzlies" (don't include the quotes) ] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 03 Jun 2001 00:55:29 -0600 From: "Ray B." Subject: [UG] Sunday DesNews article.... I also checked out the Kansas City Star (http://www.kcstar.com), looks like the Blades are done. ===== http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,275009228,00.html? Grizz bolt as IHL closes its doors Utah, 5 other clubs join growing AHL in search of stability By Dirk Facer Deseret News sports writer The Utah Grizzlies have found a new home. On Monday, the Grizz are expected to officially depart the soon-to-be defunct International Hockey League for membership in the American Hockey League. Five other IHL franchises — the Chicago Wolves, Grand Rapids Griffins, Houston Aeros, Manitoba Moose and Milwaukee Admirals — have signed letters of intent and are also planning to join the AHL, which will become the parent National Hockey League's primary development circuit. A press conference is set for Monday afternoon at the Sheraton Hotel in Springfield, Mass., where the AHL board of governors will meet. The Deseret News has learned that Grizz owner Dave Elmore will be in attendance. A media advisory says details of the league's expansion plan are to be announced. Until then, however, Grizzlies spokesman Ian Furness said the organization can't comment on the matter. Despite the silence, the team has distributed informational packets on the AHL to local media outlets. The IHL office wasn't as forthcoming. Communications manager Nicole Norris said league president Doug Moss was out of the office and would not be available for comment until Monday. She declined to say whether or not the 56-year-old IHL decided to cease operations in the wake of a board of governors conference call on Friday. Recent developments off the ice, however, indicate the AHL's only Triple-A counterpart has decided to call it quits after 56 seasons. In Kansas City, Blades general manager Doug Soetaert confirmed the end is near. "The Blades are toast," he told the Kansas City Star. "The league is folding, the franchise is folding." An official announcement is expected early Monday morning. The IHL's Detroit Vipers closed their doors when the parent Tampa Bay Lightning signed an affiliation agreement with the AHL's Springfield Falcons earlier in the week. Tom Wilson, president of the management group that owns the Lightning, Vipers and NBA's Detroit Pistons, said time had simply run out. "We held out faint hope that the IHL would continue," Wilson told the Detroit Free Press. "If it did, because of our situation in Tampa Bay, there was a chance we'd come back with the Vipers. But we couldn't afford to wait any longer." Initially a success story, Detroit gradually saw its fan base at the spacious Palace of Auburn Hills (also owned by the group Wilson represents) dwindle since relocating from Salt Lake City in 1994. The former Salt Lake Golden Eagles reportedly lost more than $1 million last season. Financial difficulties plagued many teams in the IHL over its final years. After growing to an all-time high 19 teams in 1995, the league finished the 2000-01 campaign with just 11 — including the Cleveland Lumberjacks, who were kept afloat by the league after team owners wanted to cease operations in the middle of the season. Unable to find a buyer, the IHL recently folded the team. In addition to Detroit, Cleveland and Kansas City, two other operations are expected to follow suit. The Cincinnati Cyclones are in bankruptcy proceedings, while the IHL champion Orlando Solar Bears are reportedly set to shut down because their operation hasn't been profitable. "The IHL went out in the early '90s and made some bad decisions," Moss recently told reporters. "They put teams in markets they shouldn't have and in general made bad business decisions." The most glaring mistakes involved escalating salaries and drawing the ire of the NHL by moving into similar markets and moving away from player development. The AHL, meanwhile, developed into a successful enterprise — a blueprint for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's dream of establishing a single Triple-A hockey league. Independent operations aren't welcome here, just teams with affiliations. "It's time for minor-league hockey to get under one roof," Griffins coach Bruce Cassidy told the Grand Rapids Press. "NHL franchises build from within because there's not much movement with free agents and trades. They want their prospects playing the same style of hockey at the highest minor-league level. It's too bad if that means the IHL goes under. Progress can be painful. I think that's what we're seeing now." Though stronger as a whole, the AHL isn't without troubled franchises. The Louisville Panthers have suspended operations, while the Kentucky (Lexington) Thoroughblades were recently purchased by the NHL's San Jose Sharks. The affiliate will likely play in Cleveland next season. With the departure of Louisville and the addition of expansion teams in Manchester, N.H., and Bridgeport, Conn., active AHL membership is currently at 21. Add in the six IHL survivors and the Eastern-based league extends its reach as far west as Utah and south to Texas. "The objective of this expansion is to further solidify the American Hockey League in its role as the primary player development league for National Hockey League clubs," AHL president David Andrews revealed in a statement void of specifics that was released earlier this month. "The AHL brand will be strengthened, and our marketing potential increased. Our strategic plan has been built upon the skill level of our players and the intensity of AHL competition. As we wind up our 65th anniversary season, we look forward to the prospect of delivering AHL hockey to an even greater fan base in the future." To offset travel costs, the IHL additions (who are each reportedly paying $1 million over 10 years to join the league) are expected to form their own division and play a vast majority of their 80 games against each other. Other AHL teams will likely make the longer journeys on a rotating basis. Despite the added mileage gap between the league's distant points — Utah is more than 3,900 miles away from the AHL's Saint John's Maple Leafs — it could be argued that traveling to Salt Lake City or Houston with major airports could be no more taxing than trips to current franchises in the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland and New Brunswick. Another plus for the IHL squads is attendance. The six teams each surpassed the AHL average of 5,673 fans per game last season. In fact, the IHL as a whole has led the minor leagues in attendance for 12 consecutive years. All the survivors want, according to Grand Rapids co-owner Dan DeVos, is a stable league in which to compete. "The last few months have been tough on everyone with all the uncertainty," he told the Grand Rapids Press. "The most important thing now is to get some direction for every team. We all need stability to the situation." It's expected to come Monday. ====== _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com [ To quit the utah-grizzlies mailing list, send to majordomo@xmission.com ] [ the command "unsubscribe utah-grizzlies" (don't include the quotes) ] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 03 Jun 2001 15:01:38 +0000 From: hckygirl@att.net Subject: [UG] interesting article are you sick of my interesting articles yet? sorry, i'm trying to make up for no hockey! this one is about a team in the ihl that i didn't even know exsisted. the albany choppers of 1990-1991. http://hometown.aol.com/boardwalk7/choppers.html Go DEVILS!!! [ To quit the utah-grizzlies mailing list, send to majordomo@xmission.com ] [ the command "unsubscribe utah-grizzlies" (don't include the quotes) ] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 03 Jun 2001 18:22:57 +0000 From: hckygirl@att.net Subject: [none] Article from the Winnipeg Sun... IHL brass turn out the lights http://winnipegsun.com/Slam010602/ihl-sun.html [ To quit the utah-grizzlies mailing list, send to majordomo@xmission.com ] [ the command "unsubscribe utah-grizzlies" (don't include the quotes) ] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2001 06:06:58 -0600 From: "Ray B." Subject: Re: [UG] interesting article Okay, that was just strange.... talk about mismanagement! >From: hckygirl@att.net >Reply-To: utah-grizzlies@lists.xmission.com >To: grizzlist@yahoogroups.com (grizz1), utah-grizzlies@lists.xmission.com >(grizz) >Subject: [UG] interesting article >Date: Sun, 03 Jun 2001 15:01:38 +0000 > >are you sick of my interesting articles yet? sorry, i'm >trying to make up for no hockey! > >this one is about a team in the ihl that i didn't even >know exsisted. the albany choppers of 1990-1991. > >http://hometown.aol.com/boardwalk7/choppers.html > >Go DEVILS!!! > >[ To quit the utah-grizzlies mailing list, send to majordomo@xmission.com ] >[ the command "unsubscribe utah-grizzlies" (don't include the quotes) ] _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com [ To quit the utah-grizzlies mailing list, send to majordomo@xmission.com ] [ the command "unsubscribe utah-grizzlies" (don't include the quotes) ] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 10:15:48 -0600 From: "Angie Reece" Subject: [UG] AHL Announces Expansion This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0020_01C0ECDF.532D1720 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable AHL ANNOUNCES EXPANSION=20 SPRINGFIELD, MA . . . American Hockey League President and CEO David = Andrews announced today that the League's Board of Governors has = unanimously approved the expansion of the League and the addition of six = new member clubs for the 2001-2002 AHL season.=20 Applications for membership were approved today for the following six = new member clubs:=20 Manitoba Moose Winnipeg, Manitoba=20 Milwaukee Admirals Milwaukee, Wisconsin=20 Utah Grizzlies Salt Lake City, Utah=20 Grand Rapids Griffins Grand Rapids, Michigan=20 Chicago Wolves Chicago, Illinois=20 Houston Aeros Houston, Texas=20 This expansion, in addition to the previous announcement of new = franchises in Manchester, NH and Bridgeport, CT, will bring the AHL to a = membership of 30 franchises with 27 of those franchises expected to be = active for the 2001-2002 season. It is the intention of the league to = activate all 30 franchises for the 2002-2003 playing season.=20 "This strategic expansion will further enhance the American Hockey = League position as the primary player development league for National = Hockey League clubs," said Andrews. "It will provide further strength to = the AHL brand and enhance sales and marketing potential through the = addition of six strong new markets in a significantly expanded = geography. The League becomes stronger in Canada and in the mid west, = while enjoying the future growth opportunities provided by expanding its = footprint westward."=20 With the addition of the new markets, AHL attendance is projected to = exceed seven million fans next season. In addition, the expansion will = enable the AHL to build on a television broadcast schedule that included = over 160 live telecasts during the 2000-2001 season, while significantly = impacting the growth of the AHL Internet Network at theahl.com, which = registered in excess of 16 million page views over the course of the = 2000-2001 season.=20 "We welcome the six new members with great enthusiasm," said AHL = Executive Committee Chairman Steve Donner. "This expansion launches an = exciting new era for the AHL. Dave Andrews, our President and CEO, is to = be commended for his leadership and vision in positioning our League for = the long term, and managing this expansion process."=20 The Professional Hockey Players Association has supported the expansion = concept. "Our membership has enthusiastically endorsed this expansion of = the AHL," said PHPA Executive Director Larry Landon. "The stability and = growth potential which the expanded AHL provides for the future is of = great value to our players."=20 The AHL serves as the top player development League for the National = Hockey League with each of the 30 NHL clubs developing their top = prospects in the AHL next season. More than 225 players have taken to = the ice in both Leagues this season, while nearly 75% of all players to = compete in the NHL this season are AHL graduates.=20 AHL adds Cleveland=20 SPRINGFIELD, MA . . . American Hockey League President and CEO David = Andrews announced today that the League's Board of Governors has = unanimously approved the transfer of ownership of the Kentucky = Thoroughblades to the San Jose Sharks L.P. The Board also approved = unanimously a request to transfer the franchise to the Gund Arena in = Cleveland, OH for the start of the 2001-2002 season. Gund Arena is also = the home of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and seats a capacity crowd of = 19,941.=20 May 28: Full story=20 - ------=_NextPart_000_0020_01C0ECDF.532D1720 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable AHL ANNOUNCES = EXPANSION=20

SPRINGFIELD, MA . . . American Hockey League President and = CEO David=20 Andrews announced today that the League's Board of Governors has = unanimously=20 approved the expansion of the League and the addition of six new member = clubs=20 for the 2001-2002 AHL season.

Applications for membership were = approved=20 today for the following six new member clubs:

Manitoba Moose = Winnipeg,=20 Manitoba
Milwaukee Admirals Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Utah Grizzlies = Salt=20 Lake City, Utah
Grand Rapids Griffins Grand Rapids, Michigan =
Chicago=20 Wolves Chicago, Illinois
Houston Aeros Houston, Texas

This=20 expansion, in addition to the previous announcement of new franchises in = Manchester, NH and Bridgeport, CT, will bring the AHL to a membership of = 30=20 franchises with 27 of those franchises expected to be active for the = 2001-2002=20 season. It is the intention of the league to activate all 30 franchises = for the=20 2002-2003 playing season.

"This strategic expansion will further = enhance=20 the American Hockey League position as the primary player development = league for=20 National Hockey League clubs," said Andrews. "It will provide further = strength=20 to the AHL brand and enhance sales and marketing potential through the = addition=20 of six strong new markets in a significantly expanded geography. The = League=20 becomes stronger in Canada and in the mid west, while enjoying the = future growth=20 opportunities provided by expanding its footprint westward." =

With the=20 addition of the new markets, AHL attendance is projected to exceed seven = million=20 fans next season. In addition, the expansion will enable the AHL to = build on a=20 television broadcast schedule that included over 160 live telecasts = during the=20 2000-2001 season, while significantly impacting the growth of the AHL = Internet=20 Network at theahl.com, which registered in excess of 16 million page = views over=20 the course of the 2000-2001 season.

"We welcome the six new = members with=20 great enthusiasm," said AHL Executive Committee Chairman Steve Donner. = "This=20 expansion launches an exciting new era for the AHL. Dave Andrews, our = President=20 and CEO, is to be commended for his leadership and vision in positioning = our=20 League for the long term, and managing this expansion process." =

The=20 Professional Hockey Players Association has supported the expansion = concept.=20 "Our membership has enthusiastically endorsed this expansion of the = AHL," said=20 PHPA Executive Director Larry Landon. "The stability and growth = potential which=20 the expanded AHL provides for the future is of great value to our = players."=20

The AHL serves as the top player development League for the = National=20 Hockey League with each of the 30 NHL clubs developing their top = prospects in=20 the AHL next season. More than 225 players have taken to the ice in both = Leagues=20 this season, while nearly 75% of all players to compete in the NHL this = season=20 are AHL graduates.

AHL adds Cleveland
SPRINGFIELD, MA . = . .=20 American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced today = that the=20 League's Board of Governors has unanimously approved the transfer of = ownership=20 of the Kentucky Thoroughblades to the San Jose Sharks L.P. The Board = also=20 approved unanimously a request to transfer the franchise to the Gund = Arena in=20 Cleveland, OH for the start of the 2001-2002 season. Gund Arena is also = the home=20 of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and seats a capacity crowd of 19,941. =
May=20 28: Full story
- ------=_NextPart_000_0020_01C0ECDF.532D1720-- [ To quit the utah-grizzlies mailing list, send to majordomo@xmission.com ] [ the command "unsubscribe utah-grizzlies" (don't include the quotes) ] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 10:24:04 -0600 From: "Angie Reece" Subject: [UG] AHL expands to include IHL teams (USA Today) This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_002D_01C0ECE0.7B325720 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable AHL expands to include IHL teams http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/ahl/2001-06-04-expansion.htm - ------=_NextPart_000_002D_01C0ECE0.7B325720 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

AHL expands to include IHL teams

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/ahl/2001-06-04-expansion.htm=

- ------=_NextPart_000_002D_01C0ECE0.7B325720-- [ To quit the utah-grizzlies mailing list, send to majordomo@xmission.com ] [ the command "unsubscribe utah-grizzlies" (don't include the quotes) ] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2001 10:42:06 -0600 From: "Ian Furness" Subject: [UG] AHL Expansion The worst kept secret in hockey is now official. See the official relase attached below. Also, for those of you interested, Doug Moss will be on KFAN at 1:25, and there is a good chance Dave Elmore and AHL President Dave Andrews will be on sometime after that before 4:00 today. If you have questions for any of the above, please call 483-1320 when they are on. Ian For Immediate Release GRIZZLIES MAKE THE MOVE TO THE AHL June 1, 2001 The Utah Grizzlies are proud to announce the American Hockey League Board of Governors unanimously approved their application for membership in the American Hockey League this morning. The Grizzlies join five other teams who were approved for membership in the AHL next season. Those other teams are the Manitoba Moose, Milwaukee Admirals, Houston Aeros, Chicago Wolves and Grand Rapids Griffins. "We are thrilled to welcome the Utah Grizzlies to the American Hockey League," said AHL President and CEO Dave Andrews. "This strategic expansion will further enhance the American Hockey League's position as the primary development league for National Hockey League clubs. It will provide further strength to the AHL brand and enhance sales and marketing potential through the addition of six strong new markets in a significantly expanded geography. The league becomes stronger in Canada and the Midwest, while enjoying the future growth opportunities provided by expanding its footprint westward." By joining the AHL the Grizzlies, who serve as the top minor league affiliate for the 1999 Stanley Cup Champion Dallas Stars, become part of the primary development league for the National Hockey League. Nearly 75% of the players in the National Hockey League are graduates of the AHL while more than 225 players played in both the NHL and AHL during the 2000-2001 season. The AHL alumni list includes current NHL stars such as New Jersey's Martin Brodeur, Colorado's Adam Foote, Detroit's Chris Osgood, and Dallas' Brett Hull. The American Hockey League has a total of 30 teams, 27 which will be active for the 2001-2002 season. Each AHL team serves as an affiliate for a National Hockey League team with an emphasis on developing young talent. Each team is required to dress at least 10 skaters who have played in 260 or less top level (NHL, AHL) professional games. The 2001-2002 season will be the seventh for the Grizzlies in Utah and the fifth in The E Center of West Valley City, a state of the art 10,207 seat arena that will serve as the home for hockey during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Season tickets for the Utah Grizzlies inaugural season in the American Hockey League are on sale right now. Call 988-PUCK (7825) for more information. AHL ANNOUNCES EXPANSION SPRINGFIELD, MA . . . American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced today that the League's Board of Governors has unanimously approved the expansion of the League and the addition of six new member clubs for the 2001-2002 AHL season. Applications for membership were approved today for the following six new member clubs: Manitoba Moose Winnipeg, Manitoba Milwaukee Admirals Milwaukee, Wisconsin Utah Grizzlies Salt Lake City, Utah Grand Rapids Griffins Grand Rapids, Michigan Chicago Wolves Chicago, Illinois Houston Aeros Houston, Texas This expansion, in addition to the previous announcement of new franchises in Manchester, NH and Bridgeport, CT, will bring the AHL to a membership of 30 franchises with 27 of those franchises expected to be active for the 2001-2002 season. It is the intention of the league to activate all 30 franchises for the 2002-2003 playing season. "This strategic expansion will further enhance the American Hockey League position as the primary player development league for National Hockey League clubs," said Andrews. "It will provide further strength to the AHL brand and enhance sales and marketing potential through the addition of six strong new markets in a significantly expanded geography. The League becomes stronger in Canada and in the mid west, while enjoying the future growth opportunities provided by expanding its footprint westward." With the addition of the new markets, AHL attendance is projected to exceed seven million fans next season. In addition, the expansion will enable the AHL to build on a television broadcast schedule that included over 160 live telecasts during the 2000-2001 season, while significantly impacting the growth of the AHL Internet Network at theahl.com, which registered in excess of 16 million page views over the course of the 2000-2001 season. "We welcome the six new members with great enthusiasm," said AHL Executive Committee Chairman Steve Donner. "This expansion launches an exciting new era for the AHL. Dave Andrews, our President and CEO, is to be commended for his leadership and vision in positioning our League for the long term, and managing this expansion process." The Professional Hockey Players Association has supported the expansion concept. "Our membership has enthusiastically endorsed this expansion of the AHL," said PHPA Executive Director Larry Landon. "The stability and growth potential which the expanded AHL provides for the future is of great value to our players." The AHL serves as the top player development League for the National Hockey League with each of the 30 NHL clubs developing their top prospects in the AHL next season. More than 225 players have taken to the ice in both Leagues this season, while nearly 75% of all players to compete in the NHL this season are AHL graduates. AHL ANNOUNCES EXPANSION SPRINGFIELD, MA . . . American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced today that the League's Board of Governors has unanimously approved the expansion of the League and the addition of six new member clubs for the 2001-2002 AHL season. Applications for membership were approved today for the following six new member clubs: Manitoba Moose Winnipeg, Manitoba Milwaukee Admirals Milwaukee, Wisconsin Utah Grizzlies Salt Lake City, Utah Grand Rapids Griffins Grand Rapids, Michigan Chicago Wolves Chicago, Illinois Houston Aeros Houston, Texas This expansion, in addition to the previous announcement of new franchises in Manchester, NH and Bridgeport, CT, will bring the AHL to a membership of 30 franchises with 27 of those franchises expected to be active for the 2001-2002 season. It is the intention of the league to activate all 30 franchises for the 2002-2003 playing season. "This strategic expansion will further enhance the American Hockey League position as the primary player development league for National Hockey League clubs," said Andrews. "It will provide further strength to the AHL brand and enhance sales and marketing potential through the addition of six strong new markets in a significantly expanded geography. The League becomes stronger in Canada and in the mid west, while enjoying the future growth opportunities provided by expanding its footprint westward." With the addition of the new markets, AHL attendance is projected to exceed seven million fans next season. In addition, the expansion will enable the AHL to build on a television broadcast schedule that included over 160 live telecasts during the 2000-2001 season, while significantly impacting the growth of the AHL Internet Network at theahl.com, which registered in excess of 16 million page views over the course of the 2000-2001 season. "We welcome the six new members with great enthusiasm," said AHL Executive Committee Chairman Steve Donner. "This expansion launches an exciting new era for the AHL. Dave Andrews, our President and CEO, is to be commended for his leadership and vision in positioning our League for the long term, and managing this expansion process." The Professional Hockey Players Association has supported the expansion concept. "Our membership has enthusiastically endorsed this expansion of the AHL," said PHPA Executive Director Larry Landon. "The stability and growth potential which the expanded AHL provides for the future is of great value to our players." The AHL serves as the top player development League for the National Hockey League with each of the 30 NHL clubs developing their top prospects in the AHL next season. More than 225 players have taken to the ice in both Leagues this season, while nearly 75% of all players to compete in the NHL this season are AHL graduates. AHL ANNOUNCES EXPANSION SPRINGFIELD, MA . . . American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced today that the League's Board of Governors has unanimously approved the expansion of the League and the addition of six new member clubs for the 2001-2002 AHL season. Applications for membership were approved today for the following six new member clubs: Manitoba Moose Winnipeg, Manitoba Milwaukee Admirals Milwaukee, Wisconsin Utah Grizzlies Salt Lake City, Utah Grand Rapids Griffins Grand Rapids, Michigan Chicago Wolves Chicago, Illinois Houston Aeros Houston, Texas This expansion, in addition to the previous announcement of new franchises in Manchester, NH and Bridgeport, CT, will bring the AHL to a membership of 30 franchises with 27 of those franchises expected to be active for the 2001-2002 season. It is the intention of the league to activate all 30 franchises for the 2002-2003 playing season. "This strategic expansion will further enhance the American Hockey League position as the primary player development league for National Hockey League clubs," said Andrews. "It will provide further strength to the AHL brand and enhance sales and marketing potential through the addition of six strong new markets in a significantly expanded geography. The League becomes stronger in Canada and in the mid west, while enjoying the future growth opportunities provided by expanding its footprint westward." With the addition of the new markets, AHL attendance is projected to exceed seven million fans next season. In addition, the expansion will enable the AHL to build on a television broadcast schedule that included over 160 live telecasts during the 2000-2001 season, while significantly impacting the growth of the AHL Internet Network at theahl.com, which registered in excess of 16 million page views over the course of the 2000-2001 season. "We welcome the six new members with great enthusiasm," said AHL Executive Committee Chairman Steve Donner. "This expansion launches an exciting new era for the AHL. Dave Andrews, our President and CEO, is to be commended for his leadership and vision in positioning our League for the long term, and managing this expansion process." The Professional Hockey Players Association has supported the expansion concept. "Our membership has enthusiastically endorsed this expansion of the AHL," said PHPA Executive Director Larry Landon. "The stability and growth potential which the expanded AHL provides for the future is of great value to our players." The AHL serves as the top player development League for the National Hockey League with each of the 30 NHL clubs developing their top prospects in the AHL next season. More than 225 players have taken to the ice in both Leagues this season, while nearly 75% of all players to compete in the NHL this season are AHL graduates. [ To quit the utah-grizzlies mailing list, send to majordomo@xmission.com ] [ the command "unsubscribe utah-grizzlies" (don't include the quotes) ] ------------------------------ End of utah-grizzlies-digest V1 #194 ************************************ [ To leave the utah-grizzlies-digest mailing list (big mistake), send the message ] [ "unsubscribe utah-grizzlies-digest" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ]