To see all of our IHL Dayton Gems stories click here or click on 'hockey' in our View By Sport menu.
By Bruce Kettelle
It looks like Dayton hockey fans will not miss a beat as plans for a new team in the market are evolving into reality. According to Hara Marketing Director Karen Wampler hockey will be back at Trotwood’s Hara Arena for the fall 2009-10 season.
The Ice Hockey Group, Inc delivered their franchise agreement and payment to the International Hockey League this week. The IHL has ten days to complete their due diligence but in anticipation of acceptance into the league they have delayed their fall scheduling meeting to be able to include the new Dayton franchise.
The new team will have an old name familiar to fans. The Dayton Gems.
“They will be accepting season ticket reservations starting Monday June 1,” said Wampler. The special phone number for tickets is 275-7777. She said the best mid-ice seats are located in sections 23, 24, 25, and 26. A complete seating chart will be posted soon on the Hara web site.
The new owners Rich Brunner and Ryan Yerrick expect to schedule a press conference within a week.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
who the hell are these guys? I sure hope they're from Dayton, and not just some out-of-towners looking for a quick buck!
ReplyDeleteThey own a chain (3 locations) of budget minded food joints in Fort Wayne, In. Buddy's Pizza Buffet.. King Coney.. dumps.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the IHL! Look forward to a new rival! Tony- Bloomington IL. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to see that another former ECHL team found a place to play next fall...best wishs to you Dayton and hope to see you here in Misissippi again one day.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of local ownership generally speaking, but I'm an even bigger fan of committed ownership. If they're from Fort Wayne, they're probably big hockey fans who like the IHL. Works for me.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the IHL, im sure with your expansion franchise your fellow Ohio teams are sure to follow in the coming years.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a good league, im sure you will like the entertainment value the IHL has as opposed to the ECHL
As a long time Dayton hockey fan, including the Bombers, I am thankful to have hockey still alive
ReplyDeletein Dayton. I only have 3 Questions; 1) Will Hara arena get the upgrades such as seats, newly paved
and lighting for the parking lot, and security for the parking lot. Harrison township has change
since the Bombers left.2)Are the other teams,not including Ft Wayne finacially sound?3)What will happen if the Bombers are given a year off to return in 2010? remember the last time Dayton had two teams?
Hara plans some modest improvements but the numbers don't support the complete makeover some envision.
ReplyDeleteIs it true that the IHL is now a lower level than the ECHL?Such a smaller league than years ago when the cyclones played in the "I"
ReplyDeleteThe IHL is similar in talent. In FT. Wayne we have had players come from the ECHL and make no more of an impact than players from the CHL. The IHL has more veterans. No instagator rule, yet it has not become a goon league. The IHL is committed to stay in Midwest to keep costs down for all. We are thrilled to have Dayton back in the league with former Dayton players involved. Great rivalries with the smaller league. Work hard and promote the Gems!!!
ReplyDeleteGems season tickets on sale right now, call 937-275-7777 for more information!
ReplyDeleteThis is the UHL the league the Bandits played in. It is the IHL by name only. When the IHL was dissolved and some of its teams went in to the AHL the IHL name became availible. Though I am and will be a Bombers fan. I love hockey and will go to some Gems games while the Bombers are away. I would still like to see an arena downtown close the 53rd field. Like the old Mendelsons building. So we could have an upper league come back and play here. If they could get ownership like the dragons have that will be able to promote and get people to come and enjoy the greatest sport to watch in person.
ReplyDeleteDAYTON GEMS!
ReplyDeleteI have not heard this name since the 1970s!
IHL was hockey here in Dayton back then.
I remember the Fort Wayne Comets, Toledo Hornets...which changed to the Goaldiggers...Columbus Owls which changed to the Dayton Owls before hockey died here in the "Gem" city. There were others like the Saginaw Gears, Port Huron Flags, Lancing Lancers...Oh the memories of good quality blue colar, industrial, beer drinking, hell raising fun!
Once the Bombers moved to the Nut, it became sterile and lost that old school edge of Hara Arena.
If hockey comes back to Hara, I believe it will be the end of the bombers as most of the old Dayton Hockey fans will be "heading home."
The Dayton Gems hockey team is right up there with bringing back 8 tracks, walkmans, VCR's & K cars to the Dayton community. The Bombers shut down due to bad ownership....history tends to repeat itself more than we like to admit. If you are a hockey fan, find another outlet or find a new sport. It is just a matter of time.
ReplyDelete