Phoenix Drops the Puck on a New Roadrunners Franchise

February 1, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


The game is officially back on as far as Downtown Phoenix is concerned.

Professional hockey returns to America West Arena next October when the East Coast Hockey League's expansion Phoenix Roadrunners take to the ice for their inaugural season. That name should be very familiar to Valley hockey fans. The Roadrunners' name symbolized minor league hockey in Phoenix from 1967-97.

Suns Legacy Partners, the same investment group that owns and operates the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Rattlers and Phoenix Mercury, purchased the rights to the franchise and the Roadrunner name, giving the city another affordable option in downtown sports entertainment.

"Throughout my career in Phoenix, I have always believed in doing whatever is necessary to provide the people of our community with the best sports entertainment possible at the most affordable prices," Suns Chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo said. "Today we welcome hockey back to Downtown Phoenix, and it's a great day for all hockey fans."

The ECHL is considered hockey's premier AA player development league in the world. The 28-team league spans the United States with franchises stretching from Alaska to Florida. Teams play in a 72-game regular season, and AWA will host 36 of them.

While the ECHL's newest franchise has some time yet to work out a roster before October, the team has already landed one big name for their front office. A member of four Stanley Cup-winning teams in a 20-year NHL career, former right wing Claude Lemieux has been chosen to lay the groundwork for similar success as the new team president.

"We're committed to making (this franchise) a success," Suns Vice Chairman and Managing Partner Robert Sarver said. "By bringing in a person of Claude's experience and reputation, we are making a big statement about the type of hockey operation we intend to run."

Look for the former right wing to still show off the same tenacity that made him NHL mainstay for two decades.

"This is a different challenge for me," Lemieux said. "I've always felt minor league hockey would do great in this market. The ECHL is a development league. You know I'm a winner and I expect nothing less from a great group of young guys who are passionate about hockey.

"The players who are playing are hoping to play in the NHL and `hope' is such a big word of hockey. When there's hope there is a future. We want the kids who are going to be stepping on the ice here to believe they are playing in the best place they could ever dream of playing."

The Roadrunners president says there will be a large pool of players to choose from when it comes to filling the team. The roster will consist mainly of players taken from the college, junior league and overseas ranks. But even though the names on the back of the jerseys may change on a regular basis as players work their way toward the NHL, that team name on the front isn't going anywhere.

"We are going to offer fans that have adored the Roadrunners over the years the chance to love hockey again and watch these Roadrunners. Phoenix is one of the biggest cities in the United States. There are plenty of people looking for entertainment and this is going to be great entertainment. You have to see hockey live to really fall in love with it."

With a smile and high expectations, a confident Lemieux adds, "Phone lines are open: 602-462-GOAL."



ECHL Stories from February 1, 2005


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