THE FIVE: QUESTIONS FOR THE NAHL DUMPSTER FIRES IN DANBURY AND ELMIRA Today’s FIVE gets into the glaring questions within the North American Hockey League’s teams in Danbury, Connecticut and Elmira, New York.

Today’s FIVE gets into the glaring questions within the North American Hockey League’s teams in Danbury, Connecticut and Elmira, New York.

The situation in Danbury has turned itself into one of the league’s biggest embarrassments with apparently no end in sight. The new expansion team in Elmira has reignited a fire that has already burned through more than a $1,000,000 over the last few years. It’s a hockey fiasco with one bad decision after another.

DANBURY HAT TRICKS

Let’s face it, the Tricksters have been a mess since inception and the situation gets more bizarre by the day.

Billet Fees are the highest in the league ($750) and does that fee not always include food? Do billet parents get 100% of that money? Players driving to and from the rink must pay $65 a month for parking? Do the pro players have to pay as well? City controls parking, out of club’s controls. Why is it so difficult to realize that the NAHL team is a much better product than the mens’ league level Federal Prospects Hockey League team? What is the deal with the hockey sticks situation? Are the NAHL players really getting punished because the pro team screwed over the supplier in a previous deal? What’s to keep players from quickly bolting for Canada before the first game when Danbury has a tighter grip on their rights within sanctioned hockey?

Players, if you do not have adequate answers to any of these questions, get out of town ASAP. There are free-to-play teams across the Great White North that will have interest in you. If you want to force a quick trade to another NAHL team, simply refuse to drive to practice or games and don’t bring your own sticks to either. Tolerating this level of disrespect sends a very bad message to other operators that they can get away with treating their teams the same way. You have a chance to not only stand up for yourselves, but for every other NAHL player on the ice now and in the future.

ELMIRA AVIATORS

Despite having what appears to be a decent on-ice product, the Aviators are a complete disaster off the ice.

We understand the building’s permanent chiller is beyond repair, and the temporary rental is now on life support. What is the back-up plan should the rental break again? Is there anybody in Elmira that understands simple mathematics? How is this team going to survive without corporate sales and a decent level of local fan support? Can the team survive a full-season with minimal revenue streams? Does the General Manager have experience assembling a sports entertainment sales staff? Did the GM sign a non-compete agreement with previous employer and then go after all their players? How much of a refund can Main Camp attendees expect after getting only a pair of games? (at $500 per?) Was that another ice problem as well?

Players, the only good news with this situation is that you are not in Danbury AND have proven yourselves to be a decent hockey team in the pre-season. If, or when, the dumpster fire outpaces the ability for the owner to ice a team, there are several other advisors that will jump in to help us get every player to a better situation. Generally, there is a disbursement draft in the event of an in-season club collapse.

For everybody else in junior and AAA hockey, if you are in a situation that is less than what was expected or promised, we will jump in to help you as well regardless of if you are one of our advisory clients or not.