West Orange NJ joins EPHL

[BreakersFan]

http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1207888638256630.xml&coll=1

[nksports]

"We're looking to bring affordable family entertainment to people who don't want to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars," said Curtis Russell, one of the owners of the league and the yet-to-be-named team.

Where in the ABA have we heard that before?

[BCRantzilla]

Here's the full article.

Minor league hockey the goal
New team to lay at W. Orange arena
Friday, April 11, 2008
BY ELIZABETH MOORE
Star-Ledger Staff
A new minor league hockey team plans to play its home games at the Codey Arena in West Orange, county officials announced yesterday.

The owners of the newly created Eastern Professional Hockey League said they planned to open their season at the Codey Arena on Nov. 1 and feature Class A league players from the New Jersey area.

"We're looking to bring affordable family entertainment to people who don't want to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars," said Cur tis Russell, one of the owners of the league and the yet-to-be-named team.

Russell, who coached youth hockey in Nutley, Clifton and Wayne, was joined by Igor Mrot chek, the co-owner, who said they are asking the public to submit suggestions for the team's name on the league's website at www.ephl.com

Tim Kolpien, another league owner, said the new league has commitments from a team in Danbury, Conn., and the New Jersey team based at Codey Arena and expects to field six professional teams from the area by fall.

He said the season would have 25 home games and 25 away games, with tickets priced between $10 and $20, so they would be affordable for local families.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo welcomed the new league and noted it would bring in revenue to the revamped arena, which used to host the New Jersey Devils' practices. The Devils paid around $70,000 a year in ice rental fees to the county, but now prac tice at their new venue, the Prudential Center in Newark.

The Eastern Professional Hockey League will pay an ice rental fee of $140,000 over two years, DiVincenzo said.

Russell noted that while there are Double A hockey teams in the ECHL -- the Devils in Trenton and the Royals in Redding, Pa., there are no local Class A teams. The league, which will be considered one step below Double A, is not affiliated with the NHL.

"We'd love to showcase New Jersey players and give more visibility to U.S.-born players," Russell said.

DiVincenzo said the South Mountain complex also has a se cure parking facility and is next to the Turtle Back Zoo, making the complex a family destination area for Essex County.

Anthony Molinaro, general manager for the ice arena, also said that the arena is being used for non-ice events as well and recently hosted a dog show, a ballroom dancing competition and Ultimate Fighting event.

DiVincenzo said the arena can seat 2,500 people for an ice event and up to 4,000 for a non-ice event.

Elizabeth Moore covers Essex County. She may be reached at (973) 392-1852 or emoore@starledger.com.