Today the IHL sent out a press release, which starts out with a bombshell that confirms a rumor that's been swirling for a while now...
LAS VEGAS, NV - The International Hockey League (IHL) is pleased to announce the addition of the Evansville IceMen, who will begin play within the next two years in the IHL. The Board of Governors unanimously awarded a member club to EI Acquisition, LLC which is owned by Ron Geary. Mr. Geary is the owner of Ellis Park Race Track, which he acquired from Churchill Downs in September 2006 and the Evansville IceMen, who currently play in the All-American Hockey League (AAHL). Further information regarding the Evansville IceMen will be available in the next few months.
The rest of the press release (which deals with other league issues) can be viewed on the IceMen website or the IHL's website.
Since before the season even ended, rumors have been circulating about the IceMen possibly moving up to a higher-level league within the next few years. Now it's been confirmed. I'm guessing that the move will not take place in 2009-10, since the press release would've specified that if it were the case. If the move happens in 2010-11, the new downtown arena likely won't be ready yet, so the team would probably have to spend at least one IHL season at Swonder...which would be unusual, since it's much smaller than the other venues in the IHL. So I'm assuming the earliest the team could join the IHL would be 2011-12, since the new arena is slated to be opening in 2011. Whatever the case, this is exciting news.
For those who are unfamiliar with the IHL, it was known as Colonial Hockey League from 1991 to 1997 and the United Hockey League from 1997 to 2007. It is NOT the same as the AAA-level IHL that existed from 1945 to 2001. The current IHL has teams in Fort Wayne (a natural in-state rival for Evansville), Muskegon, Flint, Port Huron, Dayton and Bloomington (IL). It is generally regarded as a High-A minor league, a step up from the Low-A AAHL and a step down from the AA ECHL. The IHL season consists of 76 games - 38 home and 38 away - and the top 4 teams during the regular season qualify for the playoffs.
Fort Wayne (founded in 1952) is the oldest and most successful franchise in the league, having won 7 playoff championships - including the 2007-08 and 2008-09 IHL Turner Cup championships. The Komets (who also played in the "old" IHL from 1952 to 1999) play in the 10,500-seat Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, and averaged 7810 fans during the regular season last year. The rest of the league averaged 2427 fans last year, playing in buildings with capacities ranging from 3400 to 7000.
LAS VEGAS, NV - The International Hockey League (IHL) is pleased to announce the addition of the Evansville IceMen, who will begin play within the next two years in the IHL. The Board of Governors unanimously awarded a member club to EI Acquisition, LLC which is owned by Ron Geary. Mr. Geary is the owner of Ellis Park Race Track, which he acquired from Churchill Downs in September 2006 and the Evansville IceMen, who currently play in the All-American Hockey League (AAHL). Further information regarding the Evansville IceMen will be available in the next few months.
The rest of the press release (which deals with other league issues) can be viewed on the IceMen website or the IHL's website.
Since before the season even ended, rumors have been circulating about the IceMen possibly moving up to a higher-level league within the next few years. Now it's been confirmed. I'm guessing that the move will not take place in 2009-10, since the press release would've specified that if it were the case. If the move happens in 2010-11, the new downtown arena likely won't be ready yet, so the team would probably have to spend at least one IHL season at Swonder...which would be unusual, since it's much smaller than the other venues in the IHL. So I'm assuming the earliest the team could join the IHL would be 2011-12, since the new arena is slated to be opening in 2011. Whatever the case, this is exciting news.
For those who are unfamiliar with the IHL, it was known as Colonial Hockey League from 1991 to 1997 and the United Hockey League from 1997 to 2007. It is NOT the same as the AAA-level IHL that existed from 1945 to 2001. The current IHL has teams in Fort Wayne (a natural in-state rival for Evansville), Muskegon, Flint, Port Huron, Dayton and Bloomington (IL). It is generally regarded as a High-A minor league, a step up from the Low-A AAHL and a step down from the AA ECHL. The IHL season consists of 76 games - 38 home and 38 away - and the top 4 teams during the regular season qualify for the playoffs.
Fort Wayne (founded in 1952) is the oldest and most successful franchise in the league, having won 7 playoff championships - including the 2007-08 and 2008-09 IHL Turner Cup championships. The Komets (who also played in the "old" IHL from 1952 to 1999) play in the 10,500-seat Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, and averaged 7810 fans during the regular season last year. The rest of the league averaged 2427 fans last year, playing in buildings with capacities ranging from 3400 to 7000.
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