North Country Eyes "Two Soo" Home, New Nickname
November 28, 2003 - International Independent Hockey League (IIHL)
North Country Barnstormers News Release
The North Country Barnstormers franchise was originally designed to play in a variety of cities where the new International Independent Hockey League has potential ownership groups for next year.
The list of cities included some that have lost pro clubs in Ontario and some northern Michigan cities where potential owners are anxious to test market the IIHL product.
But interest was so high in two markets that the IIHL has landed new teams in them for this year without any test marketing schemes. Instead of a half dozen games each, two northern Michigan towns will be getting a steady dose of pro action.
The Northern Michigan Predators are setting up shop in Harbor Springs at the new Polar Bear Ice & Fitness.
It's the first pro action north of Saginaw since the Detroit Red Wings held their NHL training camps in Sault Ste. Marie during the 1940s and 1950s.
Pro players will also be suiting up in the Soo again soon. IIHL President Mike Killbreath revealed that home dates have been secured at the Pullar Center and an ownership group from either Chicago, Illinois or Kingston, Ontario is expected to secure a franchise by Friday. Two other bids from Detroit area groups are also on the table as backup plans.
"The folks in the Soo are excited and they're looking at it simply as an ice rental situation this year," Killbreath said. "A private locker room and a long-term lease at an affordable price are items that will need to be addressed between the ownership group and the city council. The key item for fans this year is that they will get to see some pro hockey action.
"Susie from the arena and Dan Wyers, the Parks & Recreation Director, have bent over backward to make this work. They are very excited and have made some great dates available that won't conflict with the Junior A team and the college club at Lake Superior State."
Each Detroit group would retain the North Country Barnstormers name and utilize practice ice in Harbor Springs, play 12 dates at the Pullar Center and the remaining 16 home dates in other northern Michigan cities.
The Chicago group wants to rename the franchise to the Soo Border Dawgs. The Kingston owner would call the team Soo City Mavericks. Both of them are exploring the possibility of using the IIHL's roster rules in reverse by setting up an office and practice rink location on the Canadian side of the border. Rosters are restricted to no more than 6 foreign-born players in the IIHL, creating more pro opportunities for American players. The rule is also designed to help many Ontario cities return pro hockey to town after skyrocketing budgets in AA-level leagues and the OHL have caused teams to go out of business.
Utilizing both Soo cities while establishing an office and practice rink in Ontario's Sault Ste. Marie city would allow the Border Dawgs or Mavericks to possibly employ an all-Canadian roster. The concept is to stage several games in Ontario's Soo city and play the bulk of the home dates at the Pullar Center in Michigan's Soo city.
The remaining home dates would still be played as scheduled under the North Country Barnstormers orginal concept, which was to test market other northern Michigan cities in games against the Northern Michigan Predators. The only switch in the plan would be that the contests in the northern Michigan towns would create an obvious home attachment to the Northern Michigan Predators when changing the North Country Barnstormers name to the Soo Border Dawgs or Soo City Mavericks.
Until Friday when IIHL officials expect financial commitments to be in place from the Chicago group or Kingston group, it's still the North Country Barnstormers.
And with that being the case, no Soo Border Dawgs talk or Soo City Mavericks talk took place Tuesday afternoon when Gille Boudreau and Jason Rapcewicz began putting potential players through workouts. Tryouts began with a 1-3 pm skate at the Polar Bear Ice & Fitness in Harbor Springs. Players who survived the first test returned later Tuesday from 9-11 pm for another workout.
The roster had to be reduced to no more than 32 players by one minute until midnight on Tuesday. Boudreau and Rapcewicz had no trouble with the task.. Only 20 are currently on the player list and several didn't report due to the uncertainty of the ownership situation or were denied entry into the USA at the border, according to IIHL Vice President & Director of Player Development Joe Kolodziej.
Boudreau and Rapcewicz had only 13 bodies for Wednesday's training camp game against the Northern Michigan Predators. A few of them left town after the game, according to Rapcewicz, when informed by a league official that the team may employ only Canadians and practice on the Ontario side of the border.
Any candidates for the roster can meet the new owner in Harbor Springs at 6 pm on Friday when he takes control of the hockey club in time for the 7:30 pm tryout camp game against the Predators.
Additional tryout camp games are scheduled in Harbor Springs at Polar Bear Ice & Fitness for Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 12:30 pm. Both of those games are scheduled against the Southern Michigan Super Wolves, but could be cancelled by the new ownership group if tryout camp numbers are not strong.
Until a new ownership group is in place, IIHL Director of Player Development Joe Kolodziej is in charge of the roster. He can be reached at (231) 348-8480.
International Independent Hockey League Stories from November 28, 2003
- North Country Eyes "Two Soo" Home, New Nickname - North Country Barnstormers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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