Icemen To Gain Neighbor

June 9, 1999

Sean Mayer, Staff Writer

It is likely the BC Icemen will gain a regional rival for the 1999-2000 United Hockey League season.

League officials have created a preliminary schedule that would include a franchise in Glens Falls, Icemen co-owner Dave Pace said Tuesday.  Pace was among the owners, general managers and coaches who took part last week at the league’s annual meeting in Las Vegas.

“It’s huge for us—it’s another team close by, which is something we’ve been working on since we entered the league,” said Icemen general manager Patrick Snyder, who also attended last week’s meetings.  “It’s good for us travel-wise and it’s good for the fans.”

The Post-Star of Glens Falls reported Tuesday that Robbie Nichols, who resigned as the Flint Generals’ coach after last season has had discussions with city officials about moving a current UHL franchise to the Glens Falls Civic Center.  The newspaper reported that franchise likely would be the Winston-Salem Ice Hawks.

Glens Falls had been home to the American Hockey league’s Adirondack Red Wings—with whom Nichols played in the late 1980s—for 20 seasons.  The Detroit Red Wings suspended operations in Glens Falls last month.  Their minor league franchise will be inactive until 2000-01, when it will begin play in a suburb of Toledo, Ohio.

UHL commissioner Richard Brosal did not return a phone call to his office.

Pace, when discussing the division alignment for next season. Did not include Winston-Salem.  He said the Icemen will play in the Eastern Division with Mohawk Valley (Utica), Glens Falls, Asheville (N.C.), and Knoxville (Tenn.).  Knoxville is the former Madison Monsters franchise.

Other developments from the league meetings:

--There will be three divisions and 14 teams, with longtime International Hockey League member Fort Wayne (Ind.) near certain to join the league and play in a five team Central Division, with Michigan foes Flint, Saginaw, Muskegon and Port Huron.  The regular season will remain 74 games.

--Madison, which received an expansion franchise after the Monsters’ departure, will play in a four-team Western Division with Quad City (Moline, Ill.), expansion St. Charles (Mo.) and Rockford (Ill.).  Relocation of the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats to Rockford was approved during the meetings.

--The salary cap, a little under $9,000 last season, has been increased, but Pace and Snyder declined to say by how much.

--Steps will be taken to upgrade officiating.  The league will offer more money to referees rated highly by the teams in order to secure them 50 to 60 games each.  Also, the league will try to assign at least one experienced linesman to each game.  Pace said the aim is to have veteran linesmen serve as mentors and improve consistency.