North Bay not an OHL Option

The CEO of Capital Sports which owns the Mississauga Ice Dogs says that North Bay has never been seriously considered as a location for an OHL team and that is why the ownership group is re-visiting Niagara Falls again.

Roy Mlakar told BayToday.ca that moving a franchise to another old building without a plan for a new complex is not in the best interest of the ownership or the OHL.

“The building would need significant enhancement,” Mlakar said.

But perhaps the biggest hurdle isn’t the location but the OHL board of governors themselves.

Mlakar admitted to BayToday.ca that the OHL board of governors told him they would not support a franchise like the Ice Dogs moving back to North Bay.

Currently Capital Sports, which is owned by billionaire Eugene Melnyk has a soft deadline of this weekend to find a new home for the Mississauga Ice Dogs as the OHL board of governors meet in Saginaw on the weekend. This summer the owner of the St. Michael’s Majors purchased the Ice Dogs with his intent on selling off the Ice Dogs and moving the St. Michael’s Majors into the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.

Mlakar is working hand in hand with Toronto businessman Tom Bitove, whose well known for helping bring the Toronto Raptors to Canada. It’s Bitove who hopes he can make the purchase and move the Ice Dogs to Niagara Falls. Bitove has also told the Niagara Falls Review that he’s not interested in moving the team to North Bay if Niagara Falls doesn’t work out.

As for Moe Mantha Jr., the Rochester Americans assistant coach who put in a bid to purchase the Ice Dogs back in December, he has not been in touch with the Capital Sports people.

”I won’t comment on that,” said Mlakar about the Mantha bid.