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Tupelo Out of SEHL

October 8, 2003 - South East Hockey League (SEHL) News Release


The South East Hockey League Board of Governors today announced that the first year league will operate during the 2003-04 season as a four-team league. The previously announced Tupelo, Mississippi franchise will not operate in the SEHL due to a non-compete agreement previously signed with the former Western Professional Hockey League (now merged and known as the Central Hockey League).

"When Tupelo was announced as a member of the SEHL in August, there was no indication from team ownership of the severity of this situation with the Central Hockey League," said SEHL Commissioner Jim Riggs. "When the non-compete issue with the CHL surfaced, attempts to get the situation resolved between the Tupelo ownership and the Central Hockey League have been unsuccessful. The SEHL respects the CHL and will not interfere with their contractual agreements. However, we're disappointed that the sports fans of the Tupelo area will be deprived of enjoying SEHL hockey this year. At such time that the situation is resolved, we would certainly invite Tupelo to join the South East Hockey League."

The SEHL will operate with teams in Fayetteville, North Carolina (Cape Fear Fire Antz); Knoxville, Tennessee (Knoxville Ice Bears); Huntsville, Alabama (Huntsville Channel Cats); and Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Winston-Salem Moosehead). The revised 56 game schedule for each team will be released later today.

"The four SEHL teams and their fans will definitely benefit from this change as each team will see improved weekend dates added to their home schedule," said SEHL VP of Hockey Operations, Ron Hansis. "We have four excellent and strong local ownership groups that any professional league would love to have on board. With the interest shown in a number of potential expansion cities, including, Huntington, West Virginia; Jackson, Mississippi; Birmingham, Alabama; and Asheville, North Carolina; we know that the SEHL will continue to grow. In the meantime, we will be developing four terrific rivalries this coming season."



South East Hockey League Stories from October 8, 2003


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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