Seals Owner Announces Formation of New League
Published on April 11, 2003 under SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release
Mr. David Waronker, owner of four southeastern minor league hockey teams today announced the formation of the World Hockey Association 2. WHA2 will act as a developmental league for the new WHA that will be announced on Monday, April 14 in the Hockey News.
The four teams owned or co-owned by Mr. Waronker -- Orlando Seals, Jacksonville Barracudas, Miami Manatees and Macon Trax -- will become the first four teams in WHA2.
A week ago Waronker withdrew his four teams from Atlantic Coast Hockey League. The Orlando Seals won the league championship on March 29 in Knoxville. The Seals swept both playoff series against Macon and the Ice Bears.
"The Seals had a phenomenal season winning it all, and we also have a great fan base in Jacksonville where we are headed into a new building," said Waronker, a real estate developer in Florida and New Jersey. âMiami is embracing the expansion Manatees, and Dave Adams and I are expecting tremendous support in Macon for our new venture. I simply lost faith in the direction of the ACHL and could not pass up the opportunity for an alliance with the WHA."
The original WHA operated between 1972 and 1979 before 4 teams were accepted into the NHL. The league featured such stars as Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Mike Gartner, Bernie Parent, Andre Lacroix, Derek Sanderson, Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull.
WHA2 will initiate play this October in as many as 10 U.S.A. cities. Both the Knoxville Ice Bears and Cape Fear FireAntz participated via conference call in Friday's league meetings at the WHA2 offices in Celebration, Fa. Next week they will advise WHA2 of their intentions to play in the 2003-2004 season.
The meetings also included representatives from four potential expansion franchise locations.
WHA2 will play a 60 game schedule with a 16-man roster. Teams will be allowed to maintain the 16-man roster regardless of the number of players on injured reserve. The league also announced its overtime format. Each team will receive one point after a regulation tie. Teams will play sudden victory 3-on-3 for 5 minutes followed, if necessary, by a 3-man shootout. The victorious team will earn an additional point.
All inquiries concerning WHA2 should be directed to Peter Young, Director of Hockey Operations at the head office in Celebration at (321) 559-1200.
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