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SteelHounds Franchise Terminated?

June 4, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - Late Monday night, the WPHLI (Western Professional Hockey League Inc.) dba the CHL (Central Hockey League) and wholly owned by Global Entertainment, issued a press release that the Youngstown SteelHounds franchise had been terminated. The termination letter had stated that the reasons for termination were non-payment of assessments and fees and non-attendance at League meetings.

The CHL press release failed to mention that the parties have been embroiled in litigation over these and other issues since November of 2006. Apparently, the CHL has chosen to take these disputes to a public forum and litigate in the press rather than in a Phoenix, AZ court.

The CHL well knows that the counterclaims by the SteelHounds for promised subsidies on travel expenses well exceed the assessments and fees but have refused to negotiate those dollar amounts in any reasonable fashion...and of course, their press release failed to mention the SteelHounds claims. It should be noted that Global Entertainment/Central Hockey League has over-promised and under-performed on every financial commitment it has made to the Youngstown community, Chevrolet Centre, the City of Youngstown and the Youngstown SteelHounds and as a result the SteelHounds have not expected anything different from Global/CHL.

A settlement conference is to be scheduled before the end of August in the Arizona litigation and apparently the issuance of the press release on Monday is an attempt by the CHL to affect such conference.

The Youngstown SteelHounds expect and hope to return for a fourth season to the Chevrolet Centre, whether it be as a member of the CHL or another professional hockey league.

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Central Hockey League Stories from June 4, 2008

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SteelHounds Franchise Terminated? - Youngstown SteelHounds
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