2008 Woodie Awards
Cleveland gets a hockey team
Anthony White
Issue date: 3/27/07 Section: Sports
Northeast Ohio area will have a new hockey team this fall. It will be the Lake Erie Monsters, Cleveland's new American League Hockey team.
"The Monsters will play their games at the Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland and will be the minor league team to the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL," said Randy Domain, supervisor of Cavaliers and Monsters public relations.
"The Avalanche will handle where the team will get the funds to hire players," Domain said. "The Monsters will get most of their players from the Avalanche and may look at local talent."
The team name was selected by focus groups made up of casual fans, high-level hockey fans, and former Cleveland pro hockey season ticket holders.
The AHL is the minor league of the NHL. Most avid hockey fans remember the Cleveland Lumberjacks; many Clevelanders admired them. As soon as the International Hockey League merged with the American Hockey League, the Lumberjacks franchise had to be terminated.
"We think the equation for pro hockey success is present here, and we will start work immediately in laying a solid foundation to develop the franchise. Having ownership that is firmly committed to this is a big factor," said Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena President Len Komoroski in an e-mail on March 12.
"Fans can look forward to professional hockey returning to Cleveland in the most exciting and energy-packed game atmosphere in the AHL," said Monsters President Kerry Bubolz, also by e-mail.
The additional time to put the pieces in place by waiting to take the ice in 07-08 is also part of the formula," Bubolz continued. "Our market has engaged with pro hockey at a very high level in years past and we're confident our team will generate that kind of support again."
The closest professional hockey team to northeast Ohio now is the Columbus Blue Jackets. They play their games at Nationwide Arena, which was named the third best arena venue in America by ESPN Magazine.
Most of the hype around sports is for football, basketball, or baseball. This leaves hockey to fend for itself.
"Hockey is pretty much my life and I enjoy being out there on the ice," said Shane Biltz, a student at Lorain County Community College who played for Olmsted Falls High School.
"I enjoyed playing hockey for Berea High and continue to watch the NHL, The Avalanche is my team," said Scott Mosley, also a student at LCCC.
Hockey came into the United States from Canada and is growing rapidly throughout the country. When you ask most sports fans what's going on in the hockey world, most answer with a blank stare.
The National Hockey League now has 30 teams in its league, with most of them in U. S. cities.
Hockey will continue to evolve in America and will gain more fans and viewers as the league continues to grow.
"The Monsters will play their games at the Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland and will be the minor league team to the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL," said Randy Domain, supervisor of Cavaliers and Monsters public relations.
"The Avalanche will handle where the team will get the funds to hire players," Domain said. "The Monsters will get most of their players from the Avalanche and may look at local talent."
The team name was selected by focus groups made up of casual fans, high-level hockey fans, and former Cleveland pro hockey season ticket holders.
The AHL is the minor league of the NHL. Most avid hockey fans remember the Cleveland Lumberjacks; many Clevelanders admired them. As soon as the International Hockey League merged with the American Hockey League, the Lumberjacks franchise had to be terminated.
"We think the equation for pro hockey success is present here, and we will start work immediately in laying a solid foundation to develop the franchise. Having ownership that is firmly committed to this is a big factor," said Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena President Len Komoroski in an e-mail on March 12.
"Fans can look forward to professional hockey returning to Cleveland in the most exciting and energy-packed game atmosphere in the AHL," said Monsters President Kerry Bubolz, also by e-mail.
The additional time to put the pieces in place by waiting to take the ice in 07-08 is also part of the formula," Bubolz continued. "Our market has engaged with pro hockey at a very high level in years past and we're confident our team will generate that kind of support again."
The closest professional hockey team to northeast Ohio now is the Columbus Blue Jackets. They play their games at Nationwide Arena, which was named the third best arena venue in America by ESPN Magazine.
Most of the hype around sports is for football, basketball, or baseball. This leaves hockey to fend for itself.
"Hockey is pretty much my life and I enjoy being out there on the ice," said Shane Biltz, a student at Lorain County Community College who played for Olmsted Falls High School.
"I enjoyed playing hockey for Berea High and continue to watch the NHL, The Avalanche is my team," said Scott Mosley, also a student at LCCC.
Hockey came into the United States from Canada and is growing rapidly throughout the country. When you ask most sports fans what's going on in the hockey world, most answer with a blank stare.
The National Hockey League now has 30 teams in its league, with most of them in U. S. cities.
Hockey will continue to evolve in America and will gain more fans and viewers as the league continues to grow.
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