Post by IAMCAPER on Aug 29, 2005 10:52:34 GMT -4
Better than senior and just a step below professional is how organizers of the local entry in the Canadian Elite Hockey League describe their new product.
The Cape Breton Crush was introduced to an interested collection of media, local business interests and potential players in the concourse of their home rink, the Canada Games Complex, Friday.
Team president John Graham told all in attendance he was excited about his team’s place in the Cape Breton’s hockey-mad market.
“We had options instead of coming to Sydney,” said the Toronto, Ont., native. “I think this is the smart hockey market. I think the community grabs it.”
Graham is no stranger to the market in question. He played a role in Cape Breton’s entry into the American Hockey League and is a former shareholder with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Another hockey mind very familiar with the local market also attended Friday’s Crush introduction.
Harold MacKay spearheaded the new league that also includes teams in Dartmouth, St. John, N.B., and Summerside, P.E.I. The Louisbourg native is best known for his instrumental role in bringing the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to the Maritimes.
He’s excited about his latest hockey project.
“The opportunity to put a team in Cape Breton, when it came about, was perfect for me because of my roots back here. The product is entertaining and I think fans will be surprised at the calibre of play, the level of play.”
Those who may doubt the league’s promise don’t concern MacKay. He’s heard it all before.
“There were a lot of naysayers and people that thought major junior wouldn’t work. I kept convincing people the product was so good that I felt it might work. Obviously it worked better than I had ever thought. I think that when I compare that to what we did here. The product here is also and excellent product and should work the same way.”
Aside from giving the fans another high quality hockey option, MacKay said the league gives Canadian born players the option to continue their careers in their home country.
“They are talented hockey players and there only options to play are to try to make a university team or head down to the U.S. or to Europe. That is where our idea came from and it is a solid concept.”
In time, MacKay sees the league growing from its current count of four.
“As long as we are all competitive in the league, we all market our teams the same way. We have all the people and the focus and commitment to put it together, so I’m pretty confident it will be a very successful league. Hopefully, a league that will expand across this country.”
The Crush will play an 18-game home schedule on nights when their main competition, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles are out of town.
“I think (junior hockey) is a great product,” said Graham. “We are not suggesting there is anything wrong with that product. We think we are edgier, we are faster, more physical and more entertaining.”
Graham hopes to attract at least 1,000 hockey fans to Crush home games.
“That would be a smart business set-up. We wouldn’t be here if we were concerned about it.”
Tickets prices will be $14.75 for adults and $12.75 for students and seniors. Adult season tickets are $243, and $211 for students and seniors.
One marketing coup the team has already accomplished may help him get to that attendance goal.
Crush patrons can enjoy what most other sporting fans at the Cape Breton University campus do not, free parking.
“Gordon MacInnis and (CBU vice president) have been awesome to negotiate with,” he said. “We heard about that (parking fee issue) and, as somebody that has to pay $22 to park when he goes to a Maple Leafs game, I found it hard to understand it. We expressed the concerns, though, and there will not be a parking charge for the Crush.”
The Cape Breton Crush was introduced to an interested collection of media, local business interests and potential players in the concourse of their home rink, the Canada Games Complex, Friday.
Team president John Graham told all in attendance he was excited about his team’s place in the Cape Breton’s hockey-mad market.
“We had options instead of coming to Sydney,” said the Toronto, Ont., native. “I think this is the smart hockey market. I think the community grabs it.”
Graham is no stranger to the market in question. He played a role in Cape Breton’s entry into the American Hockey League and is a former shareholder with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Another hockey mind very familiar with the local market also attended Friday’s Crush introduction.
Harold MacKay spearheaded the new league that also includes teams in Dartmouth, St. John, N.B., and Summerside, P.E.I. The Louisbourg native is best known for his instrumental role in bringing the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to the Maritimes.
He’s excited about his latest hockey project.
“The opportunity to put a team in Cape Breton, when it came about, was perfect for me because of my roots back here. The product is entertaining and I think fans will be surprised at the calibre of play, the level of play.”
Those who may doubt the league’s promise don’t concern MacKay. He’s heard it all before.
“There were a lot of naysayers and people that thought major junior wouldn’t work. I kept convincing people the product was so good that I felt it might work. Obviously it worked better than I had ever thought. I think that when I compare that to what we did here. The product here is also and excellent product and should work the same way.”
Aside from giving the fans another high quality hockey option, MacKay said the league gives Canadian born players the option to continue their careers in their home country.
“They are talented hockey players and there only options to play are to try to make a university team or head down to the U.S. or to Europe. That is where our idea came from and it is a solid concept.”
In time, MacKay sees the league growing from its current count of four.
“As long as we are all competitive in the league, we all market our teams the same way. We have all the people and the focus and commitment to put it together, so I’m pretty confident it will be a very successful league. Hopefully, a league that will expand across this country.”
The Crush will play an 18-game home schedule on nights when their main competition, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles are out of town.
“I think (junior hockey) is a great product,” said Graham. “We are not suggesting there is anything wrong with that product. We think we are edgier, we are faster, more physical and more entertaining.”
Graham hopes to attract at least 1,000 hockey fans to Crush home games.
“That would be a smart business set-up. We wouldn’t be here if we were concerned about it.”
Tickets prices will be $14.75 for adults and $12.75 for students and seniors. Adult season tickets are $243, and $211 for students and seniors.
One marketing coup the team has already accomplished may help him get to that attendance goal.
Crush patrons can enjoy what most other sporting fans at the Cape Breton University campus do not, free parking.
“Gordon MacInnis and (CBU vice president) have been awesome to negotiate with,” he said. “We heard about that (parking fee issue) and, as somebody that has to pay $22 to park when he goes to a Maple Leafs game, I found it hard to understand it. We expressed the concerns, though, and there will not be a parking charge for the Crush.”
