What's New for Year Two
November 12, 2007 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Vermont Frost Heaves News Release
Another season is upon us. The Frost Heaves have already put one game into the record book-a 98-82 defeat of the Royal in Montreal last Friday night-and are itching to get in front of Vermont crowds in Barre and Burlington later this week.
So, what to expect from this year's team-a blend of familiar faces from the 2007 Champs, and new ones, particularly in the backcourt, where we all know that ABA games are won and lost? Well, the best may not come right away. We began training camp on Oct. 15, several weeks later than last season. To make up for lost time, Coach Voigt held more arduous practices-so much more arduous that some of us took to calling the Heaves, who train at the Sports & Fitness Edge in Essex, "the Essex Junction Boys." Says Coach V: "Guess you didn't know my middle name is Bryant." (It is. Really.)
There were many bright spots in Montreal: The crafty play in the post of Erik Nelson, the former UVM star who's back in the Green Mountain State after nine seasons in the Dutch first division; the command of the floor and buzzer beaters of guard Terrance Green; the feisty opportunism of returnee Markus Austin; and the all-court confidence of another founding Frost Heave, Issa Konare, who made huge strides in his game over the summer. But those who know basketball know that great chemistry-the kind of ball movement and defense that the Heaves showcased in February and March of last season-comes over time and with hard work.
Some things for fans to note:
Come early to our openers. As the Times-Argus presents Opening Night in Barre on Thursday, there'll be a special ceremony featuring a banner raising, the distribution of rings, and Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, all beginning at 6:15 p.m.-and founding Frost Heave Dana Martin of Stowe will suit up as the Northfield Savings Bank Community All-Star against Montreal. On Sunday in Burlington, the expansion Halifax Rainmen invade Memorial for a 2:05 p.m. tip. It will be Fletcher Allen Health Care Day, with a surprise NSB Community All-Star.
We've listened to you. We've introduced reserved grandstand seating for season-ticket holders, and moved most of our Burlington games to weekend matinees, which are more family-friendly.
Crowd-pleasing food in Barre. We're still a proud member of the Vermont Fresh Network, and will be offering fare from fellow VFN members. But we've heard from our fans, especially young fans-so Vermont Smoke & Cure/The Farmer's Diner hot dogs are replacing sausages, and popular candy like M&Ms, Snickers and Skittles will be available. The food concessions at the Aud benefit the Barre Youth Sports Association, whose volunteers are serving you.
Single-game tickets. This season you'll notice that pricing reflects the difference in the cost of staging a game in Barre vs. Burlington. You can always buy single-game tickets through the Flynn, and avail yourself of the convenience of Web and phone orders. But you can also save yourself convenience fees by purchasing tickets in person at the Flynn's main box office at 153 Main Street in Burlington or, for games in Barre, at any Allen Lumber or First In Fitness location. (The Barre Opera House will no longer serve as a Frost Heaves ticket outlet.)
New ways to catch the Heaves. All our games, home and away, will once again be broadcast over the Vermont Frost Heaves Basketball Radio Network, originating with flagship WSNO 1450 in Barre, including WJOY 1230 in Burlington, and available in audio stream over the Web at vermontfrostheaves.com. In addition, Frost Heaves' home games will be Webcast live and archived for podcast by PlayON! Sports, a division of Turner broadcasting; rebroadcast over stations of the Vermont Access Network on local cable systems in Barre, Burlington, Cavendish, Hartford, Hyde Park, Ludlow, Lyndonville, Montpelier, Newport, Plymouth, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, Windsor and Woodstock; and made available as a video-on-demand option from Burlington Telecom.
New offerings of gear. From Bump the Moose T-shirts for kids, to a popular "Est. 2006" tee that signals instant tradition, to hats and shirts commemorating our 2007 ABA title, you can do all your holiday shopping at our merchandise stands. Be sure to check out our 2007-08 Yearbook, hot off the presses, which features a six-page, words-and-pictures retrospective of That Championship Season, plus a world map that updates you on where last season's Frost Heaves have taken the Vermont name.
A roster of terrific partners. We hope you'll patronize our sponsors. (One of them-the Vermont State Employees Credit Union-is offering a special Bump Certificate of Deposit, whose interest rate will "Bump up" with every Vermont victory. Go to vsecu.com for details.) Look for the window decals that identify each of our most supportive partners and their levels of support:
Official Team Sponsors
Vermont Army National Guard
Vermont State Employees Credit Union
Proud Partners
Sports & Fitness Edge
The Times-Argus
Northfield Savings Bank
Proud Sponsors
Bond Auto Parts
Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing
Ben & Jerry's
Aubuchon Hardware
Ad Art America/Vermont Flannel Company
National Life Group
Fletcher Allen Health Care
Vermont Air National Guard
Lenny's Shoe and Apparel
Proud Supporters
Granite Hills Credit Union
Allen Lumber Company
Nelson Ace Hardware
La Villa Bistro
Kimbell Sherman Ellis
Hettena Wright & Horton
Courtesy Motors
Bob's Camera and Video
Tri-State Basement Systems
JMH Wealth Management
Twin City/Champlain Lanes
RSVP
Cody Chevrolet
Farrell Distributing Corp.
Union Institute and University
Lubiana's Bridal & Tuxedo
Quiznos (Shelburne Road)
DeWolfe Engineering
Pike Industries
Century 21 Jack Associates
Select Design
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
Spike Advertising
Lacillade Lumber
Burlington Telecom
Varsity Magazine
Yipes!
Best Western Windjammer/Upper Deck Pub
Three Tomatoes
Seven Days
Mexicali
Junior's Italian
Front Porch Forum
North Avenue News
Jet Service Envelope
Nectar's
Sweetwaters
All Fired Up Tavern
Moe's
Howard Novak, D.D.S.
Vermont Eye Laser
MVP Healthcare
WSNO Radio
Proud Suppliers
The Offset House
KBA-North America
Langrock, Sperry & Wool
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
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