Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 26, 1990 TAG: 9006270011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Brabham confirmed Tuesday that the Virginia Lancers are now officially defunct and he has started a new East Coast Hockey League franchise called the Roanoke Valley Rebels.
Brabham received the OK from the ECHL's board of governors to make the move after New Yorker Richard Geery, who bought the Lancers from Brabham last June, failed to live up to financial obligations and shut down the club's offices earlier this month.
"I talked to Richard last night and told him he had lost his franchise," Brabham said. "He still hasn't paid me or anybody else he owes around the league from last season.
"He said he would pay me. If he pays me, fine. If he doesn't, well, so be it. All I know is that Richard Geery is history here."
Brabham contends Geery owes him some $30,000 in back rent from his eight-month stay at the Vinton LancerLot, the Brabham-owned building that housed the Lancers' office and home rink.
Geery, whom Brabham said called from Birmingham, Ala., was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Brabham said Geery told him that he wanted to move the Lancers' franchise to Dayton, Ohio, and continue play in the ECHL.
"[Geery] is supposed to get with [ECHL commissioner] Pat Kelly on the Dayton deal," Brabham said. "I haven't heard what's coming down, but I don't think the rest of the league owners want to have anything to do with the guy."
Geery's hopes of swinging an ECHL deal in Dayton could be greatly enhanced if another group of investors successfully lands a franchise 50 miles south in Cincinnati.
Brabham said he has heard that Cincinnati could be awarded the league's 11th franchise for the 1990-91 season that begins play on Oct. 24.
"If Cincinnati comes in, that will help Richard in Dayton because the two cities are so close together," Brabham said. "Furthermore, that would give the league 12 teams - six in the north and six in the south."
Kelly was in Canada on Tuesday and unavailable for comment on the status of any deal in Cincinnati or Dayton.
Jerry Robinson, manager of the 10,000-seat Cincinnati Gardens, said Tuesday he has been contacted by several groups of investors hoping to land an ECHL team in Cincinnati.
"I have people calling me all the time about hockey," Robinson said. "And if they're willing to meet our terms, yes, we can do business. We'd like to have hockey."
As things currently stand, the ECHL has 10 teams lined up for '90-91. Included are Roanoke Valley; Hampton Roads; Greensboro, N.C.; Winston-Salem, N.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Johnstown, Pa.; Erie, Pa.; and expansion clubs in Richmond and Louisville, Ky.
\ Dave Allison, who coached the Lancers last season, said Tuesday he is seriously contemplating an offer to take the head coaching job in Nashville. Archie Henderson, who coached the Knights in their expansion season, was fired six weeks ago.
"I've talked to the Nashville owners and I like the situation there," said Allison, speaking Tuesday from his summer home in Fort Francis, Ontario.
"But I'm still exploring some other things. There are three independent teams in the International Hockey League and I've been looking at that. I just want to make sure I do the right thing. I'd hate to go to Nashville and then receive an offer from somewhere else that I may like better.
"But looking at the situation, I'd love to go to Nashville. They have people in the stands and it's a beautiful city."
Allison said he doesn't want to keep the Nashville owners on hold. "I will make some kind of final decision by July 1st," he said.
Allison discounted any rumors he may return to the Roanoke Valley.
"I have a lot of fond memories of the Roanoke Valley . . . it's the first place I coached," Allison said. "But it was so tough going to work there on Monday mornings because nobody showed up for the games. I thought the players deserved more than that.
"I sure hope the people of Roanoke realize what they have. It's a great hockey town, but for whatever reason people just refused to come to the games."
Brabham said he has "three or four" coaching applications on his desk, but he refused to divulge any names.
"To be truthful, I haven't had time to look at 'em," Brabham said. "But don't worry. I'll get a good coach. I'm behind the others right now, but I can guarantee I won't be for long."
by CNB