OHL "Soap Opera" Continues

Moe Mantha Jr. is not surprised to see that Niagara Falls city council once again turned down a proposal to bring the Ice Dogs to the Southwestern Ontario city.

“The soap opera continues it’s pretty obvious league wants to do what it can to keep it in the south,” Mantha Jr. said in a phone interview Tuesday morning.

Niagara Falls council voted unanimously to reject the second proposal from Capital Sports Management, owners of the Ontario Hockey League team. The company has been trying since January 8th to convince city council to build a $40-million sports and entertainment centre that would host the team as its main tenant. Another group led by Don Cherry and former NHLer Steve Ludzik also had their proposal to bring OHL hockey to Niagara Falls turned down in the fall.

Council did make its own counter-proposal to Capital Sports, with a seven-day deadline to respond.

"The major discussion was, we could not afford Capital Sports' proposal to us," Councillor Carolynn Ioannoni told the Niagara Falls Review.

"The whole thing is designed to make Capital Sports a huge amount of money at the expense of the taxpayer."

The revised offer from Capital Sports would have seen Toronto investor Tom Bitove purchase the team and move it to Niagara Falls. The city would own the 5,000-seat sports and entertainment centre, but Capital Sports would have become the manager of the new facility. Capital Sports owns the NHL's Ottawa Senators and Scotiabank Place, their home rink.

Despite the Niagara Falls situation, the OHL has told the ownership group that they must find a new home for the Ice Dogs by the time the Board of Governors met last weekend in Saginaw. But Capital Sports spokesperson Roy Mlakar told BayToday.ca last week that the OHL board of governors would not support a franchise like the Ice Dogs moving back to North Bay unless the city had plans to build a new facility.

Mantha Jr. has not been in touch with the Ice Dogs ownership group but he figures the board of governors must be sharing in his frustration.

“I have to believe the governors can’t be too pleased how long this is dragging out,” said Mantha Jr.

City Support

Mantha Jr. is still waiting to find out how the Ice Dogs situation unfolds and he’s very thankful for what the city has done for his bid.

“The Mayor has been very supportive by sending league letters of support for a team coming to North Bay and plans to re-model the arena,” said Mantha Jr.

“Is the rink perfect in North Bay no, but with re-modeling plans it will be up to standards of OHL and Mayor has been cooperative with this.”

Mantha Jr. adds that despite the little contact with the Ice Dogs ownership group he said he appreciates the support he’s had from the public and other hockey circles.

Sports Firing Line

TV Cogeco will be airing a special edition of "The Sports Firing Line," Call-in Sports show hosted by Greg Estabrooks. Mantha Jr. has confirmed he will be calling into the show which will air between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on TV Cogeco.