CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings react to NHL cancellation

Published on February 21, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN---Despite the efforts of legends Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, it seems that the National Hockey League's 2004-2005 season will remain cancelled. The non-resolution of the labor strife in the N.H.L. has many hockey fans up in arms and wondering about the future of hockey's "big show."

Some N.H.L. fans are discovering that they can satisfy their hockey fix in cities such as Memphis and with teams like the RiverKings. RiverKings Vice President and Governor Gary Saunders doesn't like what has happened in the N.H.L., but he sees a chance for his team to pick up some new fans.

"This development is obviously not good for the game but it may actually play to our advantage over the short term" Saunders said. "In fact, we have already received calls from hockey fanatics in outlying areas such as Nashville and St. Louis. These people now know the NHL has shut down for the season, yet they still need to get that live hockey experience. We, in many of these cases, are the closest alternative."

RiverKings Head Coach Mark Richards played goalie as high as the A.H.L. and spent some time in N.H.L. preseason camps. He is also a Philadelphia Flyers fan.

"As a fan, it stinks" he said. "It is frustrating. It is sad that there will be an entire season without N.H.L hockey. Without knowing all the finer points of what has gone on behind closed doors, I still had hoped that the two sides would've been able to get it done and save the season. I also think this is going to considerably hinder the growth of hockey that they have been trying to build in this country."

Richards also sees the impact it has had and will have on the player-personnel and business side of hockey. "Any extended stoppage of play in the N.H.L. should help the minor leagues." he explained. "This sport has many enthusiastic fans who love going to games and they will look for other options. As far as N.H.L. players filtering down to the minors, we have seen that already and it is good and bad. It improves the talent pool and gives the teams and the league some nationally recognized names, but it will also cost some of the current minor league veterans their jobs."

The RiverKings have a player who was directly affected by the lock-out. Veteran Defenseman Ted Crowley played the last four seasons in Germany before coming to Memphis this season and has 34 games of N.H.L. experience. He lost his spot in Germany due to the influx of N.H.L. players into the European Leagues. Those teams used big money and other incentives to entice the locked-out N.H.L. players to cross the Atlantic.

"It's (the season cancellation) sad for the game." Crowley said. "I feel for the people who will or have already lost their jobs and I'm not talking about the players. I am talking about the arena workers and people who work for the teams."

Crowley stays in contact with some former teammates and friends "in-the-know" of the situation and says it is not good.

"There is a lot of venom between the two sides, the players and owners. There is plenty of blame to go around on both sides. The owners want it all and the players have benefited from a great deal in the past and don't want to give it up. I am a player and I played in the N.H.L. but I can't sympathize with players making three or four million dollars nor the owners who haven't been all that forthright with their earnings and losses."

Crowley thinks that all of this could've been avoided.

"Each side waited to the eleventh hour, thinking that the other side would break and it didn't happen. There is so much dislike between (Players Union Executive Bob) Goodenow and (N.H.L. Commissioner Gary) Bettman that I think if they could've been removed from the process earlier, something might've gotten done. And what we have left is a big mess and it will take along time for the league to recover, especially in the U.S. cities."

There are some U.S. cities, including Memphis, that don't have to wait for an N.H.L. agreement to enjoy professional hockey. There are 90 U.S. cities, towns and communities that have minor league teams playing right now. Those teams play in five leagues, the C.H.L., A.H.L., E.C.H.L., U.H.L. and S.P.H.L., that will decide championships this spring. Unfortunately for Lord Stanley's Cup and the players that play for the honor of hoisting it, there will be no postseason and no cup.

A RiverKings game can be even more fun when you take it in with your group or organization. Get your group together and have a great time at the DeSoto Civic Center. For more information or to purchase season tickets, group tickets, mini-plans, or 9 game vouchers call the RiverKings at 662-342-1755 and ask for the sales department or stop by the DCC during business hours.

Catch all the exciting action of 2004-2005 RiverKings Hockey on Sports 56 WHBQ.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2005


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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