Dayton Gems Hockey Tickets On Sale Monday

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.

IHL Rumored To Be Close To Deal

Negotiations between the IHL and a new to Dayton investment group are reportedly close to announcing a deal that will bring hockey back to Trotwood’s 5,500 seat Hara Arena. Reliable sources say the deal is so close that a press conference may occur soon.

The timing coincides with the IHL’s upcoming annual convention of owners. Commitments need to be in place before that meeting to get on the fall schedule.

Sources say the investors are focused on Hara.

Meanwhile another confidential source claims that the Dayton Bombers last minute efforts to financially resuscitate that franchise are falling short. There is less than a month left before the ECHL annual convention. Rescue plans need to be in place before that meeting.

The Bombers owner is said to claim nearly 400 advance season ticket sales are in hand. That number is significantly less than the 1,200 target.

Totally Trotwood will have the latest hockey news as it becomes available.

Hockey Rumors Rocking Dayton

By Bruce Kettelle

With the cancellation of next year’s ECHL Dayton Bombers season it seems the scramble to keep hockey in Dayton is rising to a new fervor. ECHL, IHL and now even USHL teams have crossed the blue line and are racing for the net.

The Bombers’ owner leads the pack with fundraising efforts underway to save the financially beleaguered franchise. Recent efforts to sell advance season tickets and lure new investors continue but a June 25th deadline is closing in.

Owner Costa Papista needs to notify the ECHL League by that date of his plans to put the Bombers on the ice in 2010. Missing the deadline threatens his rights to continue the Bombers franchise agreement. So far little news has been leaked about the success of his efforts.

The IHL has met with officials from Trotwood’s HARA Arena about locating a new franchise there for either the 2009 or 2010 season. An investor group has expressed interest but no agreements have been reached. With each passing day a 2009 start seems more remote.

Today it was learned that the USHL has entered the fray. Confidential sources said they are looking at both Hara and the Hobart Arena in Troy. The USHL is a 12-team junior hockey league. This month they are close to adding a 13th team to play in Youngstown Ohio.

With the arrival of USHL interest, hockey fans are bound to have a spirited debate over the qualities of the three leagues.

But one thing is definitely for sure. With many of their team members already signing contracts with teams in other cities, the Bombers will not be playing in Dayton this fall.

Lets us know what you think in our comments section.

Trotwood's all powerful 4x400 relay team is consistently proving year after year, indoors or outdoors, they are the team to beat. Friday was no exception as the boys high school team stepped it up at the Edwin C Moses/Dayton Relays at Welcome Stadium.

Trotwood took first first in 3:18.91. Northmont 3:22.32 and Wayne 3:22.46 had a good contest for second but they were several strides behind the runnin' Rams.

What is their secret?

Photo by Robert Knoll Studio

Hockey May Return To Hara

Hockey May Return To Hara
By Bruce Kettelle / TotallyTrotwood.com

Hara Arena sees Monday’s announcement by hockey’s Dayton Bombers as an opportunity to bring the sport back to Trotwood. The Bombers announced that they would not be playing next season, and possibly longer.

The Bombers were not alone. The ECHL also announced that the Mississippi Sea Wolves and the Phoenix Road Runners would not be playing next season.

In published reports owner Costa Papista cited inadequate ticket sales and falling sponsorship revenue. The Bombers moved from Hara to the Nutter Center in 1996 and have averaged 3,600 fans per game the last two seasons.

Costa’s attendance claim however may be exaggerated. Actual paid attendance has averaged closer to 1,800 according to officials at the Nutter.

“The last year at Hara the Bombers averaged 4,200 fans per game,” said Karen Wampler Hara’s marketing director. She believes hockey can be profitable at Hara.

Since the Bomber’s departure Hara hosted another minor league team but the Ice Bandits only lasted two seasons. Wampler feels the Dayton market can only support one hockey team and they have not pursued it again until now.

Tuesday morning Wampler was on the phone talking with Revolution Sports in Columbus. The company has been in discussions with Hara to introduce another indoor sports team in Hara this year. Besides arena football and lacrosse the company also has interests in hockey according to their web site. Beyond Revolution Wampler says they have several other interested parties.

Hara has a long history with ice hockey. Soon after the arena’s completion in 1964 the Dayton Gems began a 13-year stretch on the new ice. Even since the Bombers 1996 departure they have continued to showcase youth (see picture above from Silver Sticks Tournament) and college hockey over the years. The Bombers did return to Hara for one game during the 2002 playoffs because of scheduling conflicts at the Nutter.

“The Nutter is a wonderful facility but it’s not a hockey facility,” said Wampler. “We are sorry to hear the Bombers are discontinuing operation, it’s a real loss for the area.”

“We would love to have professional hockey back at Hara,” said Wampler. “People seem to like the total experience offered at Hara.” She has heard from a lot of fans that miss the ambiance at Hara. “I think Hara is the best location for hockey in Dayton.”

Wampler said she is not sure if it is feasible to expect Hara to have a team ready to play this fall. But she doesn’t completely rule out that possibility. “If there could be a transition with an established team like the Bombers it could be possible.”

Indoor 4x400 Relay Akron 3/21/09

Trotwood Runnin Rams prove they are the real deal this spring. This video from the indoor Akron Indoor Championship Meet pits Trotwood against some real competition. Trotwood's runners make an amazing comback in the fourth leg to win.



William Henry anchored the Rams' 1,600 relay (3:17.96) to bring home first. Teammates Jordan Pascal, Tony Ruby and Chad Nickerson helped keep the pace especially during qualifying. They ran 3:17.05 putting them on the national all time stats list at number 2.

Trotwood Centerville 2008 Division Championship

The Trotwood-Madison Rams won the GWOC title for the fourth straight year in 2008 and were looking for their fifth Division Championship but Centerville and some questionable refereeing got in the way. Now we don't like to cry over spilled milk but there was so much covering the floor at the UD Arena on Saturday March 14th it is worthwhile to bring it up.

It must be noted that the Rams never led this defensive battle but managed to claw their way back from a 12-point deficit to tie it up twice in the 4th period. And that is where the milk really started flowing.

With .8 seconds left in the game Centerville made one last charge at the hoop. It looked like overtime was inevitable but there was that annoying whistle once again. A foul called against Trotwood gave the Elks two shots. The first one missed and the second one won the game 52-51.

The foul call did happen and is recorded for posterity on video available on the Dayton Daily News web site. But was the call really necessary. The light brush on the arm by Trotwood was late in the shot that wasn't going in.

The still picture above was taken a fraction of a second before the foul occurred. Trotwood's defensive bloc was well in place and Centerville seems to have just run into it.

A Trotwood Fan filed a protest with the athletic association but they have ruled the call and the game stands. On Tuesday the high school held a press conference.

Students at the press conference were quick to say they don't hold anything against Centerville. Their quibble is with the referee that made the last second call. That referee, Angelo Jolatos, is the center of all the complaints.

Coach Mark Baker said, "That call should never been made, in the end I think it was flat out wrong."

"We want to congratulate Centerville," continued Baker. But Baker wants OHSAA to look into the officiating matter.

He believes there were inconsistent calls throughout the game against both teams. "We want someone to give us an explanation." He also hopes that something like this won't happen again to Trotwood or any other team.

Teammate Arron Robinson said from his position on the court there did not appear to be contact.

The bottom line came from Trotwood high school principal Gerald Cox. "It is our opinion the outcome of the game was taken out of the hands of the athlete." "A foul call in the last second should be for flagrant or obvious violations."

Tell us what you think by clicking on the comments at the end of this post.