Vermont gets pro hockey

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The Sweeper
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Vermont gets pro hockey

Post by The Sweeper » Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:11 pm

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/arti ... ockey-team


The State of Vermont will get its first professional hockey team when the Federal Hockey League announces next week the addition of the Green Mountain Rock Crushers as an expansion team in 2011-12.

The professional team plans to play its home schedule at the new Ice Haus Arena, part of $13 million in improvements this year at the Jay Peak resort. Games would begin in October 2011.

A news conference with a formal announcement is planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Jay Peak, according to Andy Makal, who will serve as general manager and also as the team representative on the FHL Board of Governors.

The two-year-old Single A league, which has six teams playing this winter, is looking to expand, Makal told the Burlington Free Press on Friday. The current teams are: the Rome (N.Y.) Frenzy, Cape Cod (Mass.) Barons, Danbury (Conn.) Whalers, the New York Aviators in Brooklyn, the Thousand Island Priviteers in Alexandria Bay, N.Y. and Awkwesasne Warriors in Canada.

Makal said the league currently plays a 60-game yearly schedule, but that number might be reduced slightly next year. He said the league hopes to have 8-10 teams in 2011-12.

He said the Rock Crushers plan to serve what he calls the "four pillars" of any successful hockey franchise: fans, corporate partners, players and community.

Makal said the team is projected to have a weekly payroll of under $5,000 a week and will look for community partnerships and sponsors to help support the team. He said the team will have probably 18-20 players and hopes to have a couple of Vermonters suited up for at least the local games.

He said the team will be community-oriented and knows that it will not overtake the University of Vermont, St. Michael's College or Division III college hockey.

Makal said the team hopes to draw fans from not only in Vermont, but lower Quebec and even New York State. He said hockey will also be a draw when the ski lifts are shut down and 2,000 to 5,000 people are looking for something to do at night.

The Ice Haus, which can accommodate about 800 fans, has a National Hockey League sized rink (85-by-200) with a heated cafe.

He said he expects the young players will be coming out of Division III hockey and lower Division I.

"There are hungry kids. It's not a beer league or a semi-pro league," Makal said. He said players will be looking to move to Double A hockey in the East Coast Hockey League or the Central Hockey League.
Mean Spirited Blogger #37

Honored to have been the 13th player for the Vermont Frost Heaves game on 2-16-07 against the Maryland Nighthawks.

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IMrule
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Post by IMrule » Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:39 pm

Who is Andy Makal????

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Vermont Hockey

Post by EHL Historian » Sun Jun 26, 2011 9:23 pm

It has been reported that this team will not be playiing in the coming season.

Will it be playing in the following season???

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preeths
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Post by preeths » Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:18 pm

Odd, they held a camp earlier this month, but they were not mentioned in a recent release from the FHL about its league meetings.

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Post by Hockey » Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:02 pm

[quote=""preeths""]Odd, they held a camp earlier this month, but they were not mentioned in a recent release from the FHL about its league meetings.[/quote]

Fake pro hockey camp is a good way to scam some money.

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Post by tops804 » Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:56 pm

[quote=""Hockey""]Fake pro hockey camp is a good way to scam some money.[/quote]

If you've followed the minors long enough. You know thats how the Northeast has been suckered for years.

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BreakersFan
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Post by BreakersFan » Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:16 am

[quote=""tops804""]If you've followed the minors long enough. You know thats how the Northeast has been suckered for years.

M.A.H.L.
E.P.H.L.
A.A.H.L.[/quote]

I don't recall any teams having fake camps as fund raisers from any of those leagues...

arlingtonway
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Post by arlingtonway » Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:11 am

I know the MAHL did.... they had an free agent camp and a player draft going into their attempted second season. A local guy I know got drafted by the Chelsea Tornadoes, they folded like 5-6 days later....

but getting back to the rock crushers

It's a bad situation any way you look at it. I'm just happy they didnt fold mid-season

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Rock Crushers to Morrisville

Post by icehouse » Mon Jul 25, 2011 1:07 pm

I was told yesterday that the Rock Crushers will be playing in Morrisville, VT this winter.

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Post by The Sweeper » Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:22 pm

[quote=""icehouse""]I was told yesterday that the Rock Crushers will be playing in Morrisville, VT this winter.[/quote]

Correct...

http://rockcrushershockey.pointstreaksi ... news_29312
Mean Spirited Blogger #37

Honored to have been the 13th player for the Vermont Frost Heaves game on 2-16-07 against the Maryland Nighthawks.

The ABA is the basketball equivalent of Amp'd Mobile.

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