Doug Frank has heard it all

Published on April 29, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
New Mexico Scorpions News Release


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Think you've got what it takes to own a minor league hockey team? It seems like a pretty easy thing. You watch a bunch of hockey games and make money. What you forgot to take into account was the constant thought of hockey. The all night phone calls. The traveling around the entire Southwest, where to you...every game is a road game. You are constantly under the microscope of both the fans and the media, and you do all of this for the game you love. On this side of the fence...it's a whole new ball game. A place where the days are long, and the decisions are never a no-brainer. Welcome to the world of minor league hockey. Welcome to Doug Frank's world.

It's noon on (insert any day of the year here), and you have just taken your twelfth call of the day. You've dealt with so many issues today, that you can't remember who called you first. "It's been easier since Dan (Burgers) has been here", says Frank. But the hockey world is still keeping him very busy. From accounting, to personnel, to the parking lot roof falling down...Doug Frank has heard it all. "I've called him at all hours of the night", says Scorpions Head Coach Pat Dunn. "I called him at 1:30 in the morning once." Back in February, the Scorpions were trying to sign then free agent Dale Henry. Dunn talked to Henry, and then Frank. Weary and tired, Frank placed a call to Henry, then to the airlines to get a flight into Albuquerque before crawling back into bed. Of course the deal never went through, but so goes the life of a minor league hockey owner.

You could say that Frank got into hockey while attending college at Denver University in Denver, Colorado, but the truth is hockey got into him. "I was attracted to their Law School there, but primarily I was attracted to the (ski) slopes." But something happened along the way. Maybe it was the capacity crowd at Denver's DU Arena. Maybe it was the sheer beauty of the game of hockey, or maybe it was just plain old fun, but whatever it was hockey got a hold on Doug Frank. "It was a terrific environment", he says. "It had a different feel than say a Big Ten school. Denver's number one sport is hockey. We would all load up in the big barn for hockey on Friday and Saturday nights and had a great time." Upon graduation from college, it appeared that Frank would be limited to just being a hockey fan, as he set out for the ‘real world'. Frank launched a successful medical business and made a fortune. Two years ago he sold the business and retired in Port Aransas, Texas a community as rich in values as it is money. Between Dallas Stars games, and Corpus Christi Ice Rays games, Frank had his hockey ‘fix', but then the phone rang.

(CONTINUED) Frank had a long standing relationship with Rick Kozuback, who is the President/CEO of the Central Hockey League's parent company the Global Entertainment Corporation, which led him to his original intention; to buy the Corpus Christi franchise. But ownership there wasn't selling, and it looked once again, that Doug Frank would be just a fan. Then, another phone call...this one from former Scorpions General Manager Nick LoBue and former Head Coach Tony Martino. The Scorpions' organization was in deep trouble and needed new ownership, and quick. Frank hopped on his airplane and flew to Albuquerque to look into the deal. "The market has great potential", Frank said. "There are great fans here, and great support for the team." It took him all of five minutes to make up his mind. Doug Frank was in. After a tedious process of purchasing the team, both parties dotted their I's and crossed their T's and on May 1st 2001, Doug Frank was a hockey owner. "It was an exciting day. It was invigorating. The thrill of engaging in a business, where not everyone does well in was the most exciting thing for me."

There was a lot of rebuilding to be done. And Frank knew it. "We had to invest substantially to repair some of the damage done by ventures in the past. We had to regain the good will of the community." New Mexico was coming off of one of their best seasons ever. The team compiled a 44-23-4 record but was penalized 34 points by the Western Professional Hockey League for salary cap violations. Bills were piling up, and the community had seen enough. Frank added to and altered his front office staff, bringing in friendly, caring individuals with one common goal...to make the New Mexico Scorpions the best team in all of minor league hockey. He upgraded Tingley Coliseum with big screens, and added the popular Scorpions Club for fans to mingle with players and staff after each home game. Frank worked diligently in the community and with businesses meeting and greeting and giving anyone who would listen his word, that things would be better...a lot better. By the end of the 2001-2002 season, he had done it. "It was frustrating and difficult", he says of the almost insurmountable task of turning things around. "But it was well worth it."

Even with the improvements there were losses and there were critics, proving the old adage that you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time. Moves began to be questioned and Doug Frank was starting to be compared to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. "I suppose I should be flattered...I'm not", Frank says with a chuckle. "I think it's the most interesting thing for people to criticize a business owner who expects to be involved in his business. The role should be defined differently." If there is one thing that Doug Frank has, it's a point. Doug has, as he likes to call it, a lot of skin in the game. He has sank countless amounts of money into the organization to pay off debts that weren't even his. He has provided the financial backbone to a group of staff members that will try anything they can to enhance the experience of Scorpions Hockey. He has proved he can take a business from the ground and make it fly, so why would he feel that this opportunity would be any different? "The last time I checked, I wasn't a complete idiot", he says in good spirits. "I intend to be involved in making sure that we are a first rate operation in our office and on the ice. And I feel capable of doing that." He realizes though that he has and will make some mistakes. He has learned that by going with the pure developmental approach to the game brought a lot of benefits, but also brought some weaknesses that the team had to adjust to. "I think we made some honest mistakes", Franks says in response to this matter. "We've got a team with a lot of young players that need a little more from us then go hit the ice guys." He's not criticizing the skill level of his team mind you.

(CONTINUED) Frank believes that New Mexico had a tremendous amount of skill level, perhaps even the most in the league. "We've got to be prepared as an organization to help our team go out and put their best game on the ice every night. This is not a simple matter of saying ‘O.K. Guys...this is what you get paid to do, go out there and check in with us afterwards'." Does he meddle? Absolutely...but Frank believes it is up to everyone in the organization, from Joe Fan to Doug Frank to help the guys develop as hockey players and as human beings. "It is our responsibility as much as it is theirs."

Then there is the matter of missing the playoffs. The Scorpions were right in the thick of the race for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Southern Conference, but fell short in the end. While everyone in Albuquerque, myself included, continues with what if's...Doug Frank looks forward. "I believed that we had a team that was capable to go all the way. I have thought that since the first time I saw them practice together. If I spend a lot of time on the what if's...it doesn't help me out with the what now's."

The simple fact of the matter is that Doug Frank loves the New Mexico Scorpions. He encounters many sleepless nights now since becoming an owner. "I've got a lot less hair" he jokes on being an owner. The decisions that he has to make on a daily basis are grinding. Recently he was faced with the dilemma of having to replace a Head Coach (Tony Martino) that he had built a friendship with. He continues to pour money into the Scorpions franchise. Has he ever thought about getting out? "Not at all. Maybe this business is not for thin-skinned individuals, but I've always had a pretty good sense of who I am, and can sleep pretty good at night about that. There will always be some controversy when you have to make changes to something that your customers feel passionate about. The more right decisions you make while you do that, the better chance you have of gaining greater support and greater enthusiasm from the people that are so important to making the business work." But when he looks to the future, he gets excited. "At the end of the day, when we take the big door prize home...all of the occasional turmoil and the stress will be worth it" he says. He is planning big things for this team indeed. But he also realizes it won't be easy. "This wasn't designed to be an easy business. But the most important thing that we have to do next season is have some fun."

As I finished up my conversation with Doug, his phone rang again. It's another phone call with another problem. His day no doubt will continue to fill with phone calls and decisions. He will have to put more money into this team. He will have to deal with criticism from all angles. And he does all of this again, for the game that he loves. The game that got away from him but now has returned to his life. It is not easy to do what he does. But Doug Frank doesn't ask for your pity...he asks for your support.

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Central Hockey League Stories from April 29, 2002


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