Pro hockey league eyes North Bay (new)

The Northern League of Professional Hockey is launching its inaugural season in 2005-2006 and North Bay could be one of the franchises.

Of course, negotiations must still take place with the city, but league officials have been in contact for exploratory talks.

“At the present time, they, (league officials), are trying to obtain sponsors,” Arenas and Facilities Manager Cathy Seguin said. “Once they do then we can proceed from there.”

The NPHL is seeking to “offer an affordable family entertainment and profitable community based professional hockey league”, according to a press release.

With the intention of beginning its first campaign in the fall of 2005 with eight franchises based out of southern Ontario and the mid-America and north east United States. The league will be a single ‘A’ professional hockey league, something that has been lacking in professional ice hockey.

With extremely reasonable franchise fees, the NLPH is determined to get eight high calibre ownership groups that have the financial capacity to field a franchise and the marketing savvy to be successful at the gate and in the community.

The league will be targeting hockey markets where an OHL or minor pro franchises do not exist. Other possible locations are Brantford, Cornwall, Niagara Falls, Danville Il, Huntingdon WV, and Utica NY.

Initial conversations have taken place between the various facilities and NLPH league management. Arenas in Wisconsin and Ohio are currently under negotiation and have not yet been released.

The NLPH is in its initial stages of seeking prospective franchise ownership groups, and encourages all interested parties to contact the Northern League President, Jeff Grable at (610-415-9576), or Cary Kaplan from Cosmos Sports at (905-206-0076).

Cosmos Sports, managed by the former president of the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), Cary Kaplan, will be assisting Jeff Grable of the NLPH in their efforts to establish a successful single A hockey league. Further information on the Northern League can be obtained at www.singleahockey.com.