John Marks Brings Winning Combination To Gems

By Bruce Kettelle

John Marks knows ice hockey. Tuesday gave Dayton hockey fans a chance to know John Marks.

With about 800 games on his skates mostly with the Chicago Blackhawks he knows how to play the game. Since retiring as an NHL player he’s coached 1,800 games and he knows how to coach. He is bringing that winning combination to the ice in Trotwood’s Hara Arena as the coach of the new Dayton Gems IHL franchise.

Marks talked openly with reporters and about 70 fans during his introductory press conference at Hara. He shared his philosophy and some of his strategies to build a winning team.

“I always feel the team takes on the personality of the coach,” said the self-described bear. He insists each of his players show up ready to compete.

“You can’t play the game with eggs in your pants,” Marks responded to a fan about aggressive play on the ice. “To take the puck you have to get in there.”

He said fans like the emotional aspect of players dropping their gloves on the ice but not to the point of it becoming idiotic.hockey. “You need intelligence to go about doing it.”

Marks admits he still has work ahead to fill the Gems player roster. “We have some good personnel defensively, the more you control the puck the more you will score.”

As an example he pointed to the teams first signee former Bomber Greg Labinski. “He is going to be one of the leaders in our hockey club.”

The Gems have already recruited former Dayton Bombers Labinski and Joe Van Culin. Asked if more Bomber signings are in the offing Marks said many of their players have already signed with other team but didn’t rule out adding more from the defunct roster. “We’ll never turn down a good hockey player.”

They will all get their chance soon at an upcoming tryout camp at Hara. And Marks said he is looking everywhere to find more up and coming talent.

After the press conference the smiling Marks was reminded again what it is like to be a player out on the ice. A fan came up with two Marks Blackhawk hockey trading cards and asked for a signature. The excited Gems season ticket holder exclaimed, “the only reason I bought a season ticket is because of you, I know you will build a competitive team.”

Marks promises it is going to be a really exciting show during the games and believes Hara is a marvelous place to play. “Lets get this arena roaring again.”

John Marks Career Highlights

Selected by Chicago Blackhawks round 1 #9 overall 1968 NHL Amateur Draft.

First college player ever picked in the first round.

Ten seasons playing experience with the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL (1972-1982)

675 career NHL games.

112 career NHL goals.

275 career NHL points.

Former holder of the fastest two goals at the start of the game by the same player record (:14, :33)

Selected to NHL all star team 1976 in Philadelphia.

Three career coaching championships, (Charlotte ECHL 1996, Greenville ECHL 2002, Fayetteville SPHL 2007)

Six years head coaching experience in IHL (Kalamazoo/Indianapolis)

16 out of 22 head coaching seasons with a +.500 record.

Born March 22, 1948 in Winnepeg, Manitoba.

Inducted in to the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Hall of Fame and the University of North Dakota Hockey Hall of Fame

Two time all-American at University of North Dakota (Junior and Senior year 1968-69, 1969-70)

Married with two children, Tricia, married lives in Charlotte, NC, son Logan, senior in high school Moorhead, MN.

see the current team roster here

Dayton Gems Hockey Unveil 09-10 Schedule

The Dayton Gems released the comeback season schedule today with 38 home games to be played at Hara Arena in Trotwood OH. The long anticipated season faces off October 16th at home against the Ft. Wayne Comets and ends at home April 16 skating against the Muskegon Lumber Jacks.

All home games will be played on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The International Hockey League covers two time zones so pay close attention to away game local start times.

One notable entry is the Gems 45th anniversary game on October 31 in Port Huron. The very first Dayton Gems game was played on that date in 1964 in the same city.

The team is accepting orders for season ticket packages at 275-7777. See the complete schedule at http://www.totallytrotwood.com/Gems%20Schedule%2009-10.htm

TM Tennis Improves Again

By Bruce Kettelle

The Spring 2009 Trotwood-Madison varsity tennis team improved their season record for the fourth straight year. The team brought home a winning 9-8 record for the season. Coach Joe Haupt reports the team finished in the top half of the Greater Western Ohio Conference.

"Our team captain Adrian Martin qualified for the district tournament, five of seven of our starters won all GWOC honors and three of the seven were academic all area," said Haupt.

The Trotwood High School team received grants from the United States Tennis Association to support the program. Haupt is also grateful for all the support from Dayton Center Courts in Trotwood.

Gems Season Opener October 16 at home

Despite being accused of just "reprinting press releases" on this web site we couldn't resist sharing this masterpeice recently sent out by the Dayton Gems marketing director Matthew Goshert. The month old team is already hiring players and getting ready for their triumphant return to Dayton's best hockey barn, Hara Arena. Amid all of that work he hasn't lost sight of making time to concentrate on selling tickets. Neither have we. If you haven't already acquired some tickets consider giving them a call. There are pricing packages to fit every budget. Also watch for the release of this fall's season schedule in the coming days. We have many original stories about the Dayton Gems click on the hockey label for a complete list. ---

Dayton Gems Press Release - July 2009
Gems Ticket is Best Value in Miami Valley Hockey

The Bombers have bombed. The Ice Bandits ran off. The Owls didn't give a hoot. So here we are in 2009 with the return of the International Hockey League, where it all started for the Gems and Dayton hockey. Back at Hara Arena, the Gems plan to open the IHL hockey season October 16 at home.

Season tickets are still available at a considerable savings, factoring in free parking as a season ticket holder, Gold season tickets are less than $10 per game!!! You can reserve your seat for only $100 per ticket/down payment, and still have three months to pay the balance off by October 1. Call the Gems office TODAY at (937) 275-7777 to pick a seat - while the picking is still good.

For less than $10 a night per ticket, where can the family go to see good, fun, fast paced, action packed excitement, like an IHL hockey game? Two people can't even go to the movies for $20 anymore. You're surely not going to a play, opera, concert, or recital, for less than that. A few years ago some people might have filled the gas tank and just drove around for entertainment, but with gas prices being what they are now, that isn't saving you any money. At full value, with season tickets, a family of four can go to a Gems hockey game for $36.50 per game! That's the best value ticket in the Miami Valley.

Let's talk “AA” hockey. Looking into the debate between the CHL, ECHL, and IHL, we find three leagues all competing in a “AA” hockey status. The ECHL claims they are the “Premier AA Hockey league,” the CHL claims “highest attendance in “AA” hockey,” and the IHL just plays hockey. They don't claim to be premier, elite, or fight for recognition – because they know what they are. They are the league with the highest paid players in “AA” hockey – they are “AA-plus.” When the original IHL started back in 1945 there were four teams, it wasn't until four years later that the league was up to eight. I find it amusing that many people have knocked the IHL for only having six teams for the past two seasons, when the original IHL had less than that. History has a way of repeating itself.

Well, as for a conclusion Daytonians, you've got history at Hara Arena. You've got the first hockey game ever played in Dayton there. You've got friends who saw their first game there. You've got Warren Back, Guy Trottier, Moe Benoit, Pat Rupp's wife, Kathy, and Mrs. Lefty McFadden who have all come out in support of this team. You've got committed owners, who are huge hockey fans, that have moved here to support the hockey community and Dayton, Ohio. You've got old memories, and new traditions awaiting you. You've got hockey, Dayton. IHL hockey. Guaranteed to be the best
“show” this season that Dayton hockey has been for a very long time. In short, get the season ticket, and you've have the Best Value in Miami Valley Hockey.

1001 Shiloh Springs Dayton, Ohio 45415 (937) 275-7777

Dayton Bombers Throw In The Towel

By Bruce Kettelle

After months of speculation the Dayton Bombers threw in the towel today announcing they would close and give up the 18-year old ECHL franchise.

Today at the ECHL Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas, Bombers owner Cost Papista ended all thoughts of the team coming back. Papista announced in April that the financially struggling team would skip the 2009-2010 season while they looked for a new financial partner. That search proved unsuccessful.

The Bombers started play at Hara Arena in 1991. Previous owners, confronted with numerous sellouts, began looking for a larger hockey venue and in 1996 moved the team to the Nutter Center on the campus of Wright State University.

Ticket sales plummeted at the new venue and the team changed ownership several times over the years. Despite numerous marketing strategies the team was never able to pull the crowds to the newer facility that was originally designed for basketball.

Earlier this month a new team in a different league announced they would enter the market and play at Hara Arena. The Dayton Gems of the IHL will take the ice this fall giving local ice hockey fans a new choice without missing a season.

Deposits for season tickets will be returned by the teams law firm.

Les Gemmes Choisissent Votre Chaise Part Deux

By Bruce Kettelle

Ok, so my French is very rusty but its time to start getting really excited about ice hockey coming back to Hara in Trotwood. And we want our French Canadian friends to feel right at home.

In case you can’t make it out the headline says ‘Gems Pick Your Seat Part Two.’ In case you missed their first pick a seat in June the Dayton Gems are opening up the arena a second time for fans to come in and try out a few seats to select the best location for their season tickets.

“We sold nearly 100 tickets,” said Matt Goshert of the first pick a seat night. “Fans got a chance to see the arena . . . people were very happy to see the condition it is in and hear of the plans we have for even more improvement.” Goshert is the director of sales and marketing for this IHL franchise.

So while newly named coach John Marks is concentrating on recruiting players (and we hope he’s looking for a few secret weapons in Canada) the fans are already getting settled in the best hockey barn in Ohio.

The Dayton Gems Pick Your Seat Night Part 2 will be July 2nd from 5-8pm in Hara Arena. Hara is located at 1001 Shiloh Springs Rd. Call 275-7777 for more information.

JOHN MARKS WILL COACH DAYTON GEMS

Press Release - received June 15th

If Dasher Boards could talk, there would probably be a million stories told about John Marks.

The Dayton Gems proudly announce an offer of employment was made and accepted this past week to John Marks. Marks will begin his position as Head Coach/Director of Player Personnel on July 1 for the franchise.

Former NHL player John Marks spent ten years with the Chicago Blackhawks setting a career record
of 112 goals, 163 assists, and 275 points in 657 career games. After retiring in 1988, Marks began his professional coaching career in the IHL with the Kalamazoo Wings, serving for four seasons.

Marks has an amazing twenty year coaching record, having made playoffs 15 times, and winning championships 3 of those 15. Only about five other coaches have a winning record that is close to Marks. Since 1993 Marks has coached in the ECHL, spending the majority of that time in Charlotte and Greenville. Marks is also a member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.

“You guys have a coach. I am truly grateful for the opportunity and I look forward to a great season.” Marks told franchise owners Richard Bruner and Ryan Yerrick this past week.

“Marks record speaks for itself. Add to that, he is a good guy, and that makes a winning combination for the Gems. Now he just needs to bring us a championship and we're all set.” said co-owner Ryan Yerrick, adding, “All kidding aside, we expect to have a tough product on the ice this season, and Rich (Bruner) and I believe Marks will help deliver what we want to see.”

Guy Trottier, Director of Hockey Operations for the Gems said “You can count on Marks to deliver.” Trottier began a scouting trip this past Tuesday and has been taking meetings with players and teams from New York to Canada. With Marks joining the group, Trottier and Marks will be recruiting players to prepare for their training camp, presently slated to be September 14-25 in Dayton, pending the final release of the IHL schedule coming soon.