| Subject: WHA2??? (Re: Will hockey ever return to Mobile?) |
Author:
jen
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Date Posted: 04/11/03 5:43pm
In reply to:
Yankee John
's message, "Re: Will hockey ever return to Mobile?" on 04/ 9/03 9:39pm
Will Mobile pick up a team in the World Hockey Association 2? Interesting...
April 11, 2003
For Immediate Release
SEALS OWNER ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF NEW LEAGUE
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. Miami 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, Fla.
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.
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