Ice Cats to be sold

[Reporter]

This is Tim Pappa, reporter for The Post in Athens, Ohio. I'm the author of the three-story series that will conclude (until future stories) tomorrow.

The Post just received a press release from Killbreath stating his intention to sell the Ice Cats. He is blaming The Post's stories for the team's diffulculties.

Good luck finding the press release. There will be a sidebar story accompanying the third story tomorrow detailing the press release.

[BigMike]

Here you go

Ice Cats President Angry at Ohio University Newspaper

http://www.************.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=21315

I just went to e-mail you Tim

[REVVED]

Here you go

Ice Cats President Angry at Ohio University Newspaper

http://www.spotsdomain.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=21315

I just went to e-mail you Tim

In your continuing stupidity, you once again neglected to remember that SDN is intentionally misspelled on this site!

:arrow: Ohio Valley Ice Cats President MIke Killbreath has announced that his International Independent Hockey League (IIHL) team will be sold or moved.

"Although Marcus Marazon and his staff at Ohio University's Bird Arena have been tremendous to work with, I can't consider working with Ohio University after a story that appeared in the student-run newspaper," KIllbreath said. "The story that appeared in Wednesday's Athens Post was full of slanderous statements and outright lies. I talked with a top official of Ohio University to express my shock, anger and disappointment in allowing such garbage to be printed."

Killbreath said an operator interested in keeping the Ice Cats in Athens has made an offer to buy the team, but he stressed that a decision needs to be made Friday to secure home dates reserved for the rest of the season.

"Marcus informed me that he has already sold some of the dates, which would be okay, because the IIHL is looking at the possibility of shortening the season and possibly going with a 5-team or 6-team format because we have a combined $75,400 owed to the league right now," Killbreath said.

He wasn't sure the sale could be completed fast enough to save pro hockey for the Athens community. "I have a $50,000 offer but he needs to show me the money quickly," KIllbreath said. "Otherwise, dates won't be available at Bird Arena and this team will be moved elsewhere."

The $50,000 offer includes getting about $12,000 worth of equipment and a $40,000 discount over the price of buying an expansion team at $90,000 next season.

Anyone with a better offer can call Killbreath at (810) 249-7351.

The Ice Cats have a 2-5-1 record and lead the IIHL's South Division with 5 points. They have not actually won on the ice, however, because they were awarded two forfeit victories over the Soo City Mavericks when the IIHL put a halt to the team's continued violation of import rules. Teams are not allowed to use more than 6 foreign-born players and the Mavericks were using 14 Canadians.

The Ice Cats lost 7-5 to the Lansing Ice Nuts in their home opener at Bird Arena on Dec. 12 and skated to a 1-1 tie on Dec. 13 before losing in an overtime shootout to the same Ice Nuts. The Ice Nuts currently lead the IIHL with an 11-1 record.

"We had some quality local guys but they didn't go on the road trips and the team was struggling to attract good players to Athens," Killbreath said. "The team lost 15-2 in Harbor Springs and lost 13-0 in Lansing. We were also operating with an interim General Manager who was a student volunteer and the team captain was running practices. I'm 4 1/2 hours away and also operate the Lansing hockey club."

The Ice Cats had a rough start. "Our original General Manager attracted only 6 players to the first day of training camp after 6 weeks of recruiting efforts," Killbreath said. "Needless to say, his resignation was accepted. It's been a disaster down there for me from the start, especially since we didn't yet have enough quality players capable of playing pro hockey."

Killbreath suspended 10 players without pay after they decided to head home for Athens after taking the 13-0 pounding in Lansing on New Year's Eve. "They ordered the bus to take them home and the bus took them as far as Toledo, demanding a credit card or cash to continue to Athens," Killbreath said. "The bus was supposed to take them to Harbor Springs. The players sat in a hotel room in Toledo, negotiating on whether or not they would get on three vans I was sending down to pick them up and take them where they were supposed to be."

Killbreath said the players in the Toledo hotel were demanding more pay, better sticks and wanted a promise that free apartments would be provided for every player. "They also wanted me to promise them I'd sign some star players by the next day to meet them in Harbor Springs so they wouldn't lose so badly," Killbreath said. "Guys losing hockey games 13-0 and 15-2 at the pro level are not going to play any better if they get a free apartment or more money."

Killbreath stressed that he also owns the Lansing Ice Nuts, who have an 11-1 record with the same payroll amount. Most of the Ice Nuts players have part-time jobs and they pay for their own apartments or live with host families.

"The IIHL is designed to allow players an opportunity to advance to the next level," Killbreath said. "It's a good product on the ice. I believe the fans who came out for the opening weekend in Athens liked what they saw. I believe the IIHL could have a sellout every game in Athens. The only problem is that the student newspaper would be running stories trying to shut down the team for violating the fire code."

Killbreath added that he has a specific dislike for reporters. "I'm the former owner of a media chain that included a daily newspaper, 3 monthly magazines and 10 community weekly newspapers," he said. "I got out of the newspaper business because I absolutely can't stand to be around the negative attitude of journalists. They never want to let the truth get in the way of a good story. In regard to the story in Wednesday's Athens Post, I'd call it the textbook example of libel."

[BigMike]

You do not even know to whom you are speaking to
who do you think you are anyway

If the that news was to be published here it would have been sent to the owner of this web site


REVVED
that publication is from the SDN web site , no one else has it published

[REVVED]

You do not even know to whom you are speaking to
who do you think you are anyway

REVVED
that publication is from the SDN no one else has it published

Sure I do, BM. You and BigChris have been making asses of yourselves for months on this board!

Every single time ANYONE tries to link or mention SDN, the post is automatically altered by the system to read Spots Domain, not Sportz.

As to whom I am, I am a hockey fan that tried to help promote this sorry league only to be shunned or verbally attacked by you and league officials.

I'm fed up, angry and disappointed that the players and supporters have suffered due to the petty greed and mismanagement.

I am officially withdrawing YOUR league from our site. Take care and see you in the next scam. Maybe Killbreath can hook up with the moron with the Columbus Stars who fleeced his 3rd team!

[BigMike]

I do not own a hockey league and never have claimed to I am not Mike K

I am a fan of hockey also and bigchris here has given you false infomation my e-mail is different than Mike K's

so you do not know whom you are talking to
guess there is more wrong here than the IIHL

I find it amusing that this board has went to the lengths it has to make sure that web site SDN is not associated here but you ripe off their material and post it here

now that makes no sense

clean up your act REVVED you smell

[REVVED]

I am officially withdrawing YOUR league from our site. Take care and see you in the next scam. Maybe Killbreath can hook up with the moron with the Columbus Stars who fleeced his 3rd team!

If I had said that you were Killbreath, I wouldn't have used Mike's name in the third person. It is YOUR league in that this is where you spend all your time and energy attacking other posters.

My "act" is very clean and with my promise, it just got cleaner.

I'm through messing with this sorry excuse of a league and moving on with my life. I suggest you do the same...

[preeths]

"Mike," that was a press release purportedly issued by the Ohio Valley team, though it is easy to see exactly who was behind it. As a press release, it is meant to be disseminated. You do not own it. We received the release at 5:01 p.m., and it has been up on OSC the last few hours. I just posted a link to it in another thread (http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=2993973&l_id=109&t_id=1246).

[BigMike]

In your continuing stupidity,
what do you call that Mr REVVED
whom is doing what??

You speak it but can't take it
Don't speak it at all

"Confused says"

[BigMike]

Ohio Valley team, though it is easy to see exactly who was behind it

now that is special that you do not seem to know where it came from, that leads me to believe that you did not recive the news to begin with


enough said
it is meant to be disseminated. You do not own it.

When an article is published on your web site you do own it
OSC is copyrighted is it not?? what does this mean

Copyright © 2003 OurSports Central -

I suggest you ask your councel on that one and have it explained to you

[preeths]

How do you not get it? That release is NOT your property even if it appears on your site. It was issued by the team and sent to us from TheIIHL@aol.com at 5:01 p.m. Central time Thursday. Time to grow up and move on, "Mike." You clearly don't understand copyright law, the purpose of press releases or the concept of fair use.

BTW, how's Marion? Which one of you is "CEO?"

[BigMike]

preeths

Your just as "professional" as they come

Keep it up your good for a :lol: and

that is about it, You don't get it either

anyone can come on your web site and copy your work which is easier to do and build their web site
so why have Copyright © 2003 OurSports Central on the bottom of your pages here

does that look cute to you?? Helps the design maybe

Geez you were very late posting up that infomation I was told the infomation was published around 3:00pm ET

[Big Chris]

Paul's website is a HELL of a lot more professional then your league is Killbreath. At least OSC has credibility in the minor league sports scene. Credibility is something you will never have pal so get lost.

Press releases are meant to be printed or else they wouldn't be press releases. For a guy who claims to be this big time newspaper executive you sure are clueless about such things.

[REVVED]

In your continuing stupidity,
what do you call that Mr REVVED
whom is doing what??

You speak it but can't take it
Don't speak it at all

"Confused says"

Dear Pot:

This is Kettle.

I don't know if it's stupidity or a case of Adult ADD, you constantly promote SDN, we constantly tell you that this server mis-directs the links, then you haul off on the posters :?

If you actually paid attention, I'm man enough to put my real name on my signature, links to my site, and leave myself exposed by having my email and IM addresses visible on all of my posts.

John 8:7 (KJV)- So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

I'm running a little short on stones, can I borrow some? :lol:

[preeths]

"Mike," here's what you don't seem to understand. Just because some of our content is copyrighted, doesn't mean that all of it is. Common sense should tell you that you cannot claim a copyright of a press release that someone else wrote and sent out to several media outlets. Try enforcing your "copyright" on such an item and see how far you get.

Don't you find it strange that you question our credibility here, on our boards? We obviously have enough to keep you coming back again and again.

Oh, you forgot to answer my question about Marion.

[BigMike]

the Media recives the News Releases from the Variou Leagues Edits them to their use and the re-writng is their story
TSN, ESPN ,SDN,ESPN

A lot of the release received are edited
Sites do enough promoting by publishing their news
They want Promotions sell tickets and other articles they can adivertise that is the key. Why make fans pay to stop pop ups
for the web site, advertisers should be footing the bill

Where do you think the Media gets thier infomation
unless they want to publish statements and throw stories together to sell their newspapers, bring viewers to thier web site It stems from the NEWS Wire who puts the infomation on the news wire the TEAMS/Leagues
Haven't you read the newspapers on line and get a storyafter the fact the news was released the day before the infomation from the Team/League

Check out the NHL Team sites than check out TSN you will see the stories

are very close because they are edited and all stories signed
TSN staff

the online articles that are provided by this web site are published the day after a news release came out in most cases
Interviews are a different ballgame
Tablord news articles , how many times were they sued by the actors and actreeses

[Big Chris]

What this means Killbreath is that you are saying YOUR OWN MEDIA RELEASES are tabloid crap? You are a fool. I challenge you to try to back this attempt to block press releases from getting print on OSC.

I guess Tim's articles haven't made you look in the mirror yet.

[BigMike]

Bigchris

to whom are you dircting your comment to??

I do not see a person here named

[patmc16]

If there was any doubt that Big Mike is the same person that "runs" (or is it "ruins"?) the iihl, that doubt disappeared after reading this message string. Why? Because the link on his post leads nowhere, just like the entire iihl web site. I'm surprised it didn't redirect to the "Super Wolves" site, like the Snipers link does.

In the course of a month or so, I went from wanting to be a fan of this league, looking forward to catching a game, to looking forward to the day when all this goes away and we don't hear about it again.......at least until the next scam league is started by that same Bozo(s).

SAD.....

[REVVED]

If there was any doubt that Big Mike is the same person that "runs" (or is it "ruins"?) the iihl, that doubt disappeared after reading this message string. Why? Because the link on his post leads nowhere, just like the entire iihl web site. I'm surprised it didn't redirect to the "Super Wolves" site, like the Snipers link does.

In the course of a month or so, I went from wanting to be a fan of this league, looking forward to catching a game, to looking forward to the day when all this goes away and we don't hear about it again.......at least until the next scam league is started by that same Bozo(s).

SAD.....

AMEN & GODSPEED!

Unfortunately I have to defend BM on one thing - SDN links get misdirected by OSC, not entirely his fault.

[BigMike]

If there was any doubt that Big Mike is the same person that "runs" (or is it "ruins"?) the iihl,

I am not and never was a Officer of this League I have no money investments nor never claimed to have had this is BigChris giving you people wrong infomation and slanderous remarks continue on this inappropiate board

I am tired of you folks here insisting I am

I am a hockey fan like the rest you

In the course of a month or so, I went from wanting to be a fan of this league, looking forward to catching a game, to looking forward to the day when all this goes away and we don't hear about it again....

and I totally agree with you very well said

[Big Chris]

You just used Killbreath's favorite term, "slanderous". Why don't you just come out and admit that you are indeed iihl owner and general sleazebag Mike Killbreath? You are a total fool if you actually believe that people believe your claims that you aren't him.

But on the off chance that you may not be him what is your real name? Prove me wrong. I have presented proof that you are Killbreath, show us some proof that rebukes this or f-off.

[BigMike]

You prove that I am
that is not my e-mail address

prove that is BigChris
How many men are named Mike in this world

You can find me on the internet search for BigMike
you will find my profile
You kept leaving me your notes in the PM here so I shut it off because you are very annoying

the admin of this web site can see that my e-mail address is not the same

without disclosing it to the public (, which I do not give anyone permission to do so ) and can stop these insults and false mis-leading information and that is all the proof you need

I do not have an aol.com e-mail address and never have

[Big Chris]

Just keep telling yourself that...

[patmc16]

Lets just suppose that BigMike is telling the truth in that he is not the owner of this "league" (I use the term loosely). At the very least he must be an insider. How many people were proabably at the press conference? He claims he was. I could be wrong, but I'm guessing they wern't packing them in. Typically, "just a fan" wouldn't turn up at a press conference, and in this case, I guessing the press didn't either. If he is not the owner (or have any other connection other than as a fan) even he would have to admit that the tone of many of his postings would suggest otherwise. If BigMike and the owner are not one and the same, all that means are that there are two people named Mike that only want to point fingers and make accusations about the failings of this "league" at everyone other than where the blame squarely belongs..... with the owner.

When 95% of the people who have delt with you think you are a scumbag (or at best, not a very good person)..... well, who can argue with that.

[REVVED]

Lets just suppose that BigMike is telling the truth in that he is not the owner of this "league" (I use the term loosely). At the very least he must be an insider. How many people were proabably at the press conference? He claims he was. I could be wrong, but I'm guessing they wern't packing them in. Typically, "just a fan" wouldn't turn up at a press conference, and in this case, I guessing the press didn't either. If he is not the owner (or have any other connection other than as a fan) even he would have to admit that the tone of many of his postings would suggest otherwise. If BigMike and the owner are not one and the same, all that means are that there are two people named Mike that only want to point fingers and make accusations about the failings of this "league" at everyone other than where the blame squarely belongs..... with the owner.

When 95% of the people who have delt with you think you are a scumbag (or at best, not a very good person)..... well, who can argue with that.

Wish I had a picture of me standing & applauding right now! :lol:

[Sewer-rat]

Here is a little more fuel for the fire.

From MK's press release...


The Ice Cats had a rough start. "Our original General Manager attracted only 6 players to the first day of training camp after 6 weeks of recruiting efforts," Killbreath said. "Needless to say, his resignation was accepted.

Well rumor has it that 33 players were already invited to training camp as stated in a press release previously released by the IIHL on 11/4/03.
Here is the press release...
ICE CATS SHOWING ENTHUSIASM

If enthusiasm counts for anything, two players on the roster of the Ohio Valley Ice Cats get straight A’s on their early report cards.

A chance for a conditioning skate against pro prospects prompted both to make long journeys to Harbor Springs, Michigan this past weekend. Shaun Peet and Will Statzer already have training camp invitations for the new Athens-based pro hockey club, and they were not required to be in Harbor Springs for the International Independent Hockey League’s Free Agent Tryout Camp.

But that didn’t stop them.

Peet went a day early and drove more than nine hours to get some ice time with other pro prospects. Statzer made a 14-hour drive to mingle with other goalie prospects hoping to play this year in the IIHL.

Peet played in the Ontario Hockey League as a 17-year-old defenseman and was on the charts as a potential NHL draft choice. He instead accepted a baseball scholarship at Ohio University where he was the ace of last year’s pitching staff as a senior.

Ignored in the Major League Baseball draft last June, Peet is now hoping to use an opportunity with the Ice Cats to re-ignite his hockey career.

“He impressed everyone there with his skills,” said Ice Cats President Mike Killbreath, who was on hand in Harbor Springs to assess prospects all weekend. “Shaun even managed to sneak his way into an informal skate with the Northern Michigan Predators on Friday before the camp started. He will offer our coach a valuable perspective because Shaun’s guess was that the Predators had between 15 and 20 players on hand to skate and meet their new coach.”

The Predators have hired Craig Cox who played on four NHL teams during a 16-year career as a player. He has had two head coaching jobs in the Central Hockey League in addition to one stint as an assistant coach with a third team.

“Craig knows what it takes to get to the NHL and he told me Shaun certainly doesn’t skate like he hasn’t played at a high level for four years,” Killbreath said.

The Ice Cats have narrowed their list of candidates to three finalists. One candidate is a former assistant coach with the Ohio State Buckeyes who played three seasons of pro hockey after a career that included starring on the OSU squad that made it to the NCAA’s Frozen Four. A second candidate has played pro and coached at the college club level. The third is from Hamilton, Ontario.

Whoever accepts the coaching job will greet at least 33 candidates so far invited to join the Ice Cats when training camp opens on Nov. 24. The home opener is at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Bird Arena on the Ohio University campus.

Devin Goldberg of Middle Village, New York is the latest to join the list of training camp invitees.

He signed a Commitment Card with the Ice Cats after showcasing his skills at the weekend Free Agent Tryout Camp. Goldberg was a practice player last year in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL) with the Jacksonville Barracudas after a three-year Junior career. He played with the Staten Island Sabres of the Interstate Junior Hockey League before spending two years in the World Junior A Hockey League with Ontario’s Borden Snipers.

Goldberg scored 18 goals and had 18 assists while picking up 71 penalty minutes during 52 games with the Snipers during the 2001-02 season. He scored 15 goals in 18 games last season with 74 penalty minutes before joining the Barracudas in the ACHL.

“He’s 5-11, 198 pounds and showed some toughness,” Killbreath said after signing Goldberg. “He’s hungry to play and every player we’ve invited to camp is like him. They just want a chance to play.”

Statzer showed how hungry he is by making the 14-hour journey to Harbor Springs from his home in Roanoke, Virginia. “I wanted some work and my agent told me to go take some shots, plus show how badly I want a chance to play,” Statzer said. His previous pro experience is limited to practice opportunities with the Roanoke Express of the ECHL.

Statzer will be competing for a job on the roster against Anthony Honick, also of Virginia. Honick has dressed for 11 pro games as a backup but has never appeared in a game. He has played in two pre-season contests and dressed for three others, so he and Statzer have similar backgrounds.

They’re hoping to win the backup goalie job behind 6-year veteran Rick Nichol. “Learning from a guy with six years in the pros is exciting to me,” Statzner said. Nichol began his pro career by playing in Oklahoma City when the team averaged more than 10,000 fans per game to set a minor league attendance record.

Nichol has been limited to backup roles during his pro career and hopes a chance to play regularly in the IIHL will help open the eyes of an NHL scout. If not, he and his wife are prepared to make Athens their last stop in a career that has included stops in 14 minor league cities.

In fact, his wife is considering a sales and marketing role with the club. She had previous experience in a similar capacity with the Phoenix franchise in the now defunct International Hockey League. The Phoenix organization was highly successful and many believe they paved the way for an NHL franchise to locate there.

“Rick Nichol is interested in coaching down the road and it’s kind of fun to think about he and his wife possibly becoming a front office team some day,” Killbreath said. “Right now though, Rick wants a chance to play every night and anchor a championship team in Athens. He feels that’s his ticket to realize his ultimate dream of reaching the NHL.”

Fans can now begin making plans to start watching Ice Cats players chase their dreams by reserving tickets for opening night or making season ticket requests. Details are available on a web site that has been launched for the Ice Cats as a link from the league’s web site at www.theIIHL.com.

The 20-game home schedule is also on the web site.

Here it is incase you missed it.

Whoever accepts the coaching job will greet at least 33 candidates so far invited to join the Ice Cats when training camp opens on Nov. 24. The home opener is at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Bird Arena on the Ohio University campus.

[Big Chris]

Killbreath has also been known to overblow things to the 10th power. For instance he was boasting to the heavens about how successful the Great Lakes IHA Elite Pro League would be because, "over 50 groups have come forward to buy an operating agreement". Soon after the league disappeared without playing a game or even having a single team.

Killbreath will overblow things to make himself look good and then undercut everything to make the people he hired and screwed over look bad.

He still belongs in the slammer.