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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 2:10:47 GMT -5
Tues., Feb. 18, 1975 NHL Gives Seattle Expansion Deadline SEATTLE (UPO – Backers seeking a National Hockey League franchise for Seattle for the 1975-76 season have been given until 10 a.m. Wednesday to show they have the necessary money.
Although the NHL has granted Seattle a 1975 franchise conditionally, William Jennings, chairman of the league's expansion committee, was in town Monday lo set the deadline. Jennings talked with Vince Abbey, president of the Seattle Totems of the Central Hockey League and leader in seeking, an NHL team, "Abbey has a deadline of Wednesday morning," Jennings said. "If he meets the deadline, there's every likelihood there will be an NHL team in Seattle in 1975."
Jennings, president of the New York Rangers, said the deadline might be extended but that would mean a delay in the franchise until the 1976-77 season and the team probably would be an expansion squad rather than the shift of an already established franchise, as appears possible for 1975. If the deadline is not met, Jennings said, "the question becomes is there is another group in Seattle that wants to do it."
Abbey was in New York Monday night and could not be reached for comment. However, Totem Vice President Irving Clark, Jr., said he fell Abbey had the financial backing to meet the ultimatum.
There has been widespread talk in hockey circles that the Pittsburgh Penguins, one of the NHL's original expansion teams, would be moved to Seattle and the California Seal would go to Denver next season
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 2:11:06 GMT -5
Friday. February 21.1975 SEATTLE (AP)-The man trying to bring a National Hockey League team to Seattle for next season says the problems in aquiring a team are logistical, not financial. ' Vince Abbey, president of the Seattle Totems of the Central Hockey League, was given a one week extension Wednesday to come up with a $l million letter of credit as earnest money for a : 1975-76 Seattle franchise.
Arriving back in Seattle after a meeting in New York with league officials, Abbey said, "1 can't say what was involved in New York. I know what I'm doing and that's what's important. I’ve got my people lined up. It's a question of logistics."
There are problems, but if the NHL doesn't want to reveal them, then I'm not going to, he added." Asked by a reporter if he could say unequivocally that money was not the problem, Abbey responded firmly, "Damned rights." "You can say it isn't a question of money. It's a question of logistics. It’s not that anybody's trying to hide anything, there's just a number of ancillary things involved that don't have anything to do with Seattle.
Seattle is reported to be in contention to get either the troubled Pittsburgh or California franchise. If Seattle doesn't get one of the teams for next season, the league still has a commitment to put an existing or expansion team in Seattle for the 1976-1977 season. Abbey declined to comment on published reports that his group includes Clayton C. Hubbell, a Des Moines, Iowa businessman who owns the Des Moines Capitals of the International League.
Abbey said, "I've talked to over 50 people all over the country, in New York, Minneapolis, San Francisco...Many of these people don't want publicity. It scares them off to have people calling them and asking if they inherited their money or made it in business. With all the kooks around to red that stuff, I don't blame them."
Abbey said $7.5 million was "a good ballpark figure" for an existing team. Abbey also said if all the details haven't been worked cut by next Wednesday's deadline, "I might ask for another extension."
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 2:11:31 GMT -5
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1975 By Reyn Davis
There are three kinds of people running clubs in the World Hockey Association, according to Jets' president Bob Graham. He listed them: "One, out-and-out con men who border on the criminal element. "Two, rich men or rich men's sons on ego trips. "Three, solid business people." Graham said he doubted the National Hockey League could claim to have a better class of people owning its franchises.
This scares him. As a wise and successful veteran of the business world (he's president of Inter-City Gas), and a fast-learning newcomer to the world of hockey business, Graham is afraid for the industry of hockey unless it can attract more competent and rational people in a hurry. "Hockey's greatest enemy is the industry itself," said Graham. "What frustrates me is the poor caliber of managements in the WHA and NHL. "That's not to say that there are not a couple of top drawer operations in our league. There are some very, very fine people in' the WHA . . . and our peers tell us we're in that group."
Graham spent Monday and Tuesday at league meetings in Las Vegas. He was accompanied by Jets' vice-president, Bill Shields, finance chairman, and John Gee, chairman of the City of Winnipeg's finance committee who is also a member of the Jets' management committee, and Ben Hatskin, Jets' trustee and WHA chief executive officer.
Knocks that the Jets are not being operated by so-called hockey men are grossly unfair. Graham, doesn't pretend to know anything about hockey beyond the simple joys of being a fan who lives and dies with the Jets. His bag is business. And hockey these days is engrossed in business.
"A bunch of jocks in that group at Las Vegas would have been eaten alive," he chuckled. "Houston Aeros were represented by a Chicago lawyer. Cincinnati had a well informed young man with *a background in accounting. New England had a professional manager from an insurance company. Vancouver was represented by the president of-a major corporation, Quebec by the owner of a large auto dealership and Minnesota by a St. Paul lawyer and the vice-president of a major airline. Chicago Cougars were represented by a banker.
"These are just some of them. I could see only a couple there who had any background in hockey and one of them was Ben. He was the best, bar none." Graham is as resolved as ever to seeing the WHA quickly erase its "bad apples before they spoil the whole bunch." "I really believe we have to consolidate our strengths and eliminate our weaknesses," he said. Baltimore Blades and Chicago Cougars are highest on his list of weak sisters that the league could do without. There is a tinge of nationalism in Graham's voice. He finds little fault with his Canadian contemporaries. But he's skittish about the real intentions of some of his American friends. . . especially' those who .could potentially cost the Jets money.
It's my guess that he Is most at home with New England Whalers, owned by the Aetna Insurance Company of Hartford, Conn.; Cincinnati Stingers, owned by the DeWitt family, one of America's foremost sporting families, known for their baseball team the Reds; Minnesota Fighting Saints, hard-nosed fighters for survival who have used their heads and hearts and wallets to build a strengthening franchise; Phoenix Roadrunners, operated by a man Graham speaks most highly of, president Bill McFarland, a Canadian, former professional hockey player and a lawyer.
Graham is buoyed by the company he keeps, too. Usually at his side at these meetings are Shields, a senior partner of Clarkson Gordon chartered accountants; Jim Burns, president of Great-West Life Assurance Co.; and Coirn. Gee. Never very far away is Jack McKeag, known in circles of protocol as Lieutenant-Governor W. J. McKeag, the man who recruited Graham for the Jets' first president as a non-profit, community-owned hockey team. "I think it's about time people realized that our management committee is of pretty damn high calibre," said Graham, firmly.
Just the other day a member of the committee was offered the senior post of an NHL team. He thanked them for the offer but refused. Call them spies, if you wish, but it's not so clandestine. Graham has first-hand accounts of NHL meetings, at club and league levels. He knows their problems and they are many. He openly forecasts a day of accommodation if not total merger between the WHA and NHL. "That's an evolutionary process that Is bound to happen," he said. "And we have the depth of management and the acceptability of all teams in our league to lead in this role."
Why the Jets? Why Shields, Graham, Burns and all the rest? Why not a Mileti from Cleveland, or a McFarland from Phoenix or a Bassett from Toronto? Why a bunch of guys from. Winnipeg who have spent most of their business lives worrying about corporate mergers, oil reserves, estate taxes and Royal tours? Guys who make their livings still doing the work they have always done? "We were immediately accepted as trustworthy," grinned Graham, "because everybody knows we're not in it for a buck." There is little love lost in the WHA. But lots of money.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 2:11:55 GMT -5
Seattle Bows Out NEW YORK (CP) — A Seattle group advised the National Hockey League on Wednesday that it could not implement its previous $1 million offer to put an NHL team in Seattle next season. That means there will be no expansion team in Seattle for the 1975-76 season. But California Golden Seals could end up in Denver next season.
William Jennings, president of New York Rangers and chairman of the NHL's expansion committee, said in a brief statement that Vincent Abbey, president of Seattle Totems hockey club, is continuing to work to fulfil various conditions for an NHL franchis in 1976-77.
Abbey heads a Seattle syndicate which was granted a conditional franchise last year; along with Denver for the1976-77 season. Jennings reported that the NHL had been advised that Seattle Totems, now in the! Central Hockey League, "would not be prepared in the near future to implement its previous offer to acquire an NHL team for the 1975-76 season.
Abbey had been given a week's extension by the NHL to come up with a $1 million letter of credit. But Wednesday's 3 p.m. CST deadline was the last the NHL was willing to grant. Jennings also said that he had been assured by Ivan Mullenix of the Denver Spurs hockey club that Denver's investors would complete by Saturday their offer to purchase the Golden Seals, now based in Oakland.
The Seals, now owned by the league, are losing $10,000 a day with the losses being footed by the other NHL owners. Mullenix also had a Wednesday deadline to produce a $1 million letter of credit. But Jennings made no mention of the deadline. However, the NHL's board of governors is scheduled to meet Saturday in New York. Presumably the transfer of ownership of the Golden Seals will be the major item on the agenda.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 2:43:51 GMT -5
Fri Feb 28 1975
NHL Seals appear headed for Denver
DENVER (AP) – With Seattle apparently out of the running for a National Hockey League franchise, Ivan Mullenix says he is ready to bring the California Seals here for next season. "By the process of elimination, it appears Denver will get its team and I don't like that part of it," said Mullenix, owner of the Denver Spurs of the Central Hockey League.
"As far as we are concerned, we stand ready to meet all of the commitments I earlier had agreed to meet. But there are still some things to settle and I don't think the deal will be wrapped up for a while yet. But within three weeks, or certainly by the end of March, it should be accomplished."
The NHL said Wednesday that Vince Abbey, the Seattle attorney trying to put together financing for a Seattle franchise, had failed to come up with a $1 million letter of credit for an existing franchise to be moved. Seattle apparently would have picked up the ailing Pittsburgh Penguins. Abbey, however, said he remained hopeful of lining up financial backing to move a franchise to Seattle for next season.
Seattle and Denver both are in the Central Hockey League and had been trying for an NHL expansion team for 1976-77 until the NHL proposed moving financially troubled franchises into the cities for next season. The NHL Board of Governors meets Saturday in New York when the Denver deal apparently could be wrapped up. Mullenix said however, he would not put up a $1 million letter of credit "until the NHL is ready to commit on a deal with me."
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 2:44:07 GMT -5
Mon., March 1 0, 1975 Seals' Bidders Make Pitch By JOHN PORTER Tribune Sports Writer
"Right now we feel the team is staying here, but every time we pick up a paper the situation is different. Larry Patey told some reporters last night "How else are we going to find out what's happening except from reading what you guys write?" he asked. Patey scored three goals at the Arena last night to help sink the New York Islanders, 4- 2, before a Navy Night gathering of 5,899 at the Arena.
According to several sources in the league the odds favor San Francisco businessman Mel Swig's group over Ivan Mullanix of Denver for purchase of the Seals franchise from the National Hockey League. Both buyers were scheduled to present their bids to the league finance committee for disposition of the team at a meeting in New York today.
Mullanix already has been awarded an expansion franchise for 1976-77, but hopes to join next season with the Seals in Denver. Several NHL governors may be cooling off to the Denver move, according to one source, because Mullanix may lack the necessary liquid assets. However, a proposed merger with a Colorado brewery could change that.
The merger of the Swig group with members of a company that markets films, dolls, books and other items based on a comic strip could swing the deal for the Bay' Area. Of the five members in the finance committee, Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis appear to be leaning toward Swig. New York Rangers and Philadelphia could go either way. Seals President Munson Campbell will make a pitch for the Swig group. His personal friendship with the owners of Detroit and Chicago was pivotal in gaining the Seals for Charles Finley five years ago and that influence hasn't diminished.
Additionally St. Louis attorney Jim Cullen, the No. 1 candidate to be the league's next president, has met often with the Swig people and encouraged them to join the bidding. Cullen also is counsel for the St. Louis franchise and is expected to endorse the Swig group.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 2:44:26 GMT -5
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1975
Denver can get NHL team by next season
NEW YORK (AP) - The National Hockey League's Board of Governors agreed Tuesday to award Denver a conditional expansion franchise for the 1975-76 season. The decision, announced by NHL President Clarence Campbell, represents a change in the conditions which had granted Denver a conditional franchise for 1976-77. In effect, the NHL speeded up by one year Denver's entry into the league. "They still have to meet all the conditions of the agreement," said league vice president Don Ruck.
There was no change in the status of the NHL's other expansion franchise, Seattle, which definitely will not begin play until the 1976-77 season. Campbell did not make clear, however, exactly how many teams will be in the league next year. He said the possibility still remained that the Denver group, headed by Ivan, Mullinex, may yet purchase and move the California Seals. If that does not take place, however, the Denver team will be stocked through an expansion draft on June 17 at the league's summer meetings in Montreal.
The Denver club will join the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Seals in Division 4, leaving "Division 1 as the only remaining division with four learns. "That is, if all things come to pass," Campbell said, noting the still open possibility that the California club may yet end up in a new city next season.
"The status in California will depend on some rather extensive further negotiations which will be kept open until the first of May," Campbell said. If nothing is concluded by that time, Campbell admitted there is the possibility of disbanding the franchise completely. Should that lake place, the league may still begin competition next season with 18 teams.
At present, two groups have expressed interest in purchasing the club. One is headed by area realtor Mel Swig. The other group is led by Bud Palmer, former New York Knicks basketball star and former New York City official greeter. "I don't think Palmer is very interested in keeping the team in San Francisco, though," Campbell said.
Campbell also said the financially struggling Pittsburgh Penguins franchise was refused a loan by the Board of Governors. "The league couldn't raise the funds," he said. "So for the time being, they are going to have to sink or swim on their own." The league has given financial help lo Pittsburgh in the past while supporting the California club since Charles 0. Finley sold his ownership in Feb., 1974.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 2:44:42 GMT -5
MARCH 18, 1975
NHL wants Swig to buy
By ED SCHOENFELD Tribune Sports Writer Clarence Campbell, president of the National Hockey League, is rooting for Mel Swig and his group to buy the Seals. "Our No. 1 objective is to keep the Seals right where they are," Campbell declares. "It always has been. "Purchase of the Seals by the Swig group would be by far the best solution," he told The Tribune today from the NHL's Montreal headquarters. Campbell emphasized that the league has never lost its faith in Oakland. "Our problem is that the cost of operations has escalated so greatly we just can't afford it anymore," he explained. Campbell said the NHL has $11 million invested in the Seals, which includes the purchase from Charles 0. Finley, reported to have been $6.5 million.
"I wouldn't want to create the impression we have a firm offer from the Swig group," Campbell said. "That's not true. ”The Swig group outlined the type of proposal it would be prepared to make to us," he elaborated. "In addition, they wanted to know if their offer would be reasonably acceptable. Some modifications were offered to them." Campbell said the Swig group has first-refusal on the Seals until May 1. Bud Palmer, former New York Knicks' star, now living in Vail, Colo., heads a group interested in buying the Seals and moving them to Denver.
Campbell said the group is comprised of people who have a big stake in Colorado and only want a franchise in Denver. He said Palmer's best bet might be to go in partners with Ivan Mullinex, who already has been- awarded a conditional expansion franchise in Denver to start play next season.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 16:28:34 GMT -5
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1975
Canucks To Rescue?
SEATTLE (AP) — Vancouver Canucks are prepared to put together a group to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins or possibly Oakland Seals and shift the National League Hockey team to Seattle this fall, says the Canucks' president. "We are not trying to pull the rug out from under Vince Abbey," Canuck president Bill Hughes said Wednesday .
Abbey is the Seattle figure who has been trying to secure a NHL franchise for the city but has missed two league fund deadlines. In a related development, Abbey has been given one final deadline of May 15 by the NHL to put up a million dollars letter of credit which would go toward the purchase of a 1976 expansion franchise.
Hughes said it would be in the Canucks best interests to have an alternate financial group ready if Abbey meets with failure next week in direct negotiations with Pittsburgh. Hughes said no such group has been formed yet but,” investors are not too hard to line up."
Hughes says Abbey owes the Canucks between a million dollars and $1.5 million and the Canadian team would receive payment for its territorial rights if it maneuvered a deal to shift a team to Seattle. "We are certainly not naïve enough to think we won't act to protect our investment," Hughes said. "I don't think" that hurts Abbey,, because I don't think. Vince ever thought he would control the: franchise
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 16:29:03 GMT -5
Friday. May 2.1975
Pens Won't Be Moving To Seattle
SEATTLE (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins will not be transferred to Seattle this fall, says Clarence Campbell, president of the National Hockey League.
Seattle lawyer Vince Abbey also must come up with a million-dollar letter of credit by May 15 simply to insure the city an expansion hockey franchise for 1976, he added. Abbey appeared at a meeting of the league's board of governors Wednesday in Chicago, in his words, to "make them an offer they can't refuse" on the financially troubled Penguins.
But Campbell said Thursday in a telephone conversation from Montreal that no such offer was made. Abbey has not been available for comment since the Wednesday meeting. "It's my understanding that they (Abbey and Pittsburgh owners) have not had any effective negotiations, at least that they are not contemplating any deal," Campbell said.
Campbell said Abbey discussed his position as a conditional franchise holder for 1976 at the meeting, "but he didn't submit any proposition to anyone. He couldn't. The only people he could make a proposition to would be the Pittsburgh Penguins because they're the only people who've got anything to sell. "I think what would have happened, if he had made a satisfactory pitch to Pittsburgh," said Campbell, "would have been that they in turn would have come to the league and said, 'Look, we're prepared to make this deal and would you authorize the transfer?' "That did not happen," the NHL president said.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 16:29:31 GMT -5
May 4,1975 NHL “no” to $6-million Seattle bid
By GREG CLARK Vince Abbey and Crawford Hubbell, awarded a conditional 1976-77 National Hockey League franchise , said Friday the league's Board of Governor's refused $6-mlllion offer that would have given Seattle NHL franchise next season. Earlier, Abbey, president of the Seattle Totems of the Central Hockey League, and- Hubbell, owner of the Des Moines Capitols of the International Hockey League, revealed they were becoming partners in an attempt to lure an NHL franchise to Seattle, and that Des Moines would then serve as a, farm club to Seattle.
"We made a $6-million cash proposal to the Pittsburgh Penguins and said in the alternative we will give the money, all cash, to the NHL by June 15 for an expansion team,”Abbey told the Associated Press. "Bill Jennings told us, 'Whatever you do with Pittsburgh Is your business.' Bill Wirtz of Chicago said, 'We'll discuss your proposal and get back –to you.' The next thing we knew the league owners were heading for their planes to go home."
'Not on Agenda'
Wirtz chaired the Tuesday meeting in Chicago, 111. Jennings is head of the NHL's Expansion Committee. "They just said it wasn't on the agenda," said Hubbell. "Pittsburgh supposedly has convinced them that they have_ the wherewithal to continue.”It doesn't make sense to me, but there's a lot of things we all do that don't make sense," added Hubbell," noting 1hat the "financially troubled Pittsburgh^, franchise was supported by league owners this .season. "We just have to await developments." continued Hubbell, who said he still would like to move an NHL franchise to Seattle next season. "June 15 is the annual meeting of the National Hockey League and we would hope to know by then what is going to happen. "The big problem is who is going to operate a team in Seattle for '75-76? I think there's a definite possibility of the .World Hockey Association coming in."
No WHA Interest
However, earlier this season, the World- Hockey Association disclaimed any interest in a Seattle franchise. Hubbell said if no team operates in Seattle next season, it would be-tougher-to-step in the following-year-However he-indicated that if he and Abbey are then granted an NHL franchise, it would carry a working agreement with Des Moines. The NHL has given them until May 15 to complete the franchise papers for 1976-77, pay $182,000 and submit the signatures of their partners, which Hubbell said including several people from California. "The chances of getting a franchise then are .reasonably good, 'Hubbell observed. "There are a lot of things that can; happen between now and then. I think we have the financial backing now, so I presume we would still have it then.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 16:30:03 GMT -5
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1975
Stampede Board Voted For Blazers
CALGARY (CP) — Persistent rumors that a major league hockey franchise would be moved to Calgary proved true Wednesday with the announcement that the former Vancouver Blazers would become the Calgary Cowboys.
The announcement caught almost-nobody by surprise. There were prior suggestions, that Baltimore Blades or Chicago Cougars of; the WHA were seeking to set up shop in this southern Alberta city of about 400,000. ' There also were unconfirmed reports that the National Hockey League would set up a franchise here. Hockey officials who believe an all-Canadian league is inevitable within less than five years have said for several months a Calgary franchise would be necessary.
Preliminary, talks, sparked by Scotty Munro of Calgary, began about eight months ago, a news conference was told Wednesday. Bill Pratte, general manager of the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, said after the news conference that Stampede directors favored Vancouver by a large margin over other possible franchises. "Other clubs wanted a commitment from 'us on dates for construction of a new arena, and we couldn't make such a commitment. The Blazers said they are willing to work with us toward establishment of a building suitable for major hockey." Two previous WHA games have been played in Calgary, The Blazers played Edmonton Oilers in an exhibition game seen by a small crowd in the 6,600-seat Stampede Corral which will house the new franchise, and a capacity crowd watched Minnesota Fighting Saints defeat the Oilers in a sudden-death game for the right to enter the playoffs at the end of the inaugural WHA season.
"I know I have a good hockey club for Calgary fans," said Joe Crozier, who will work with Munro, named vice-president in charge of hockey operations. Crozier is general manager-coach. "It's young, and it's going to be better." Bill Sleeman, Vancouver's representative on the WHA board of governors said officials realize they cannot make an immediate profit in the Corral, far smaller than the 15,700- seat Vancouver Coliseum the club shared with Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. The Corral can handle 8,000 with standing room.
The move was made, Sleeman said, "because we would rather lose money temporarily in a market that provides a more attractive investment in the long run." No commitment for a starting date on expansion of the Corral has been made, Sleeman admitted, "but one benefit of the expansion proposal is that we could continue to play during the 16 months the construction would require." Stampede president Jerry D'Arcy said existing plans call for 15,000 seats at an expansion cost of about $8 million.
WHA chief executive Ben Hatskin said there was no disgrace in the Blazers' loss to the Canucks in the head-lo-hcad struggle for the interest of Vancouver fans. "I know it's tough for two teams to operate in some cities," he said. "Sometimes it's better to pull in ... and go where it's better for you." Munro, owner-manager of Calgary Centennials of the Western Canada Hockey League, said he will retain his interest in the junior club, although Winnipeg Clubs and, Edmonton Oil Kings of the WCHL have suffered heavy financial reverses since WHA franchises were established in the two cities.
"There is plenty of room for both operations," said Munro, who is expected to have a financial interest in the new franchise. Tickets for the 1975-76 season were scaled from $-1 for standing room to a high of $9. The club agreed to pay the Stampede, which owns the Corral, 15 per cent of the first $1 million in ticket revenues and 6 1/2 per cent beyond that.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 16:30:43 GMT -5
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1975
St. Louis Man Mulls over WHA franchise for Denver
By REYN DAVIS Free Press Staff Writer
Denver, the mile high city sandwiched between some Rocky Mountains, stands on the brink of becoming the World Hockey Association's, newest city. Apparently dismayed and frustrated by attempts to' purchase California Golden Seals of the National Hockey League, Ivan Mullenix of St. Louis- is now seriously considering a WHA franchise, purported to be Baltimore Blades.,
The Blades, presently owned by the WHA carry a price tag of S2.3 million. Mullenix has owned arid operated Denver's professional hockey franchise, the Spurs, who performed last season in the Central Hockey League-as a farm club to St. Louis Blues. A Denver source said Mullenix was ready to buy California Golden Seals and move the troubled NHL franchise to his Colorado hockey hotbed."
Then San Francisco" investors entered the picture, making an offer of $2 million less than Denver's according to the Denver side of the story. The NHL is anxious to keep the .franchise on the West Coast, offering at least a token natural rivalry to the infinitely m o r e successful Los Angeles Kings. Mullenix lost the Seals' to San Francisco businessman, James Swig, who formerly owned San Francisco Seals of the W e s t e r n Hockey League. In turn,, Mullenix, who kept making, deposits to stay 'in the picture, was promised a NHL expansion franchise when it expands. The NHL is not-in any rush. And Mullenix says he isn't in any rush, either, knowing" what NHL expansion clubs are getting for their money these days. He began to look around. Of the two available franchises in the WHA, Chicago Cougars are easily the most attractive Rookies. such as Gary MacGregor and Mark Lomenda, a sophomore like Francois Rochon and several others, led by Pat Stapleton, Ralph Backstrom, Darryl Maggs Rosaire Paiement, Jan Popeil, plus goalies Dave Dryden and Cam Newton, offer-an interesting package.
Now, according to chief executive officer Ben Hatskin of the WHA, the Cougars are being wooed by yet another Miami group. An initial group, led by former Chicagoan Robert Blum, abandoned plans Wednesday citing a lack of a suitable and available playing facility as the reasons. Meanwhile, a name Mullenix. might be interested in, if: he has money to spend after purchasing the Baltimore franchise, could be Phil Esposito. Esposito is' available but his fee is mighty high $2 million for five years, for a start. At present, Espo's WHA rights belong to the Jets who cannot possibly afford the luxury of two established super-stars (Bobby Hull and Esposito) and one on the way, perhaps (Anders Hedberg). The Jets have expressed a willingness 'to surrender Esposito's rights . . . for some concession, say, a goaltender if Joe Daley chooses to skip back to the NHL and Minnesota North Stars. But it's all just summer speculation.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 16:31:09 GMT -5
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1975
Predicts Major Changes
LONDON, Ont. (CP) -Phil Esposito , Johnny Bucyk , Rod Gilbert and Marcel Dioruie may move to the World -Hockey Association from the National Hockey League next season, Toronto sports lawyer Alan Eagleson said Wednesday. Eagleson, who is executive director of the National Hockey League Players' Association and represents a number of hockey stars, also predicted major changes in the rosters .of several NHL clubs at a luncheon speech to the Canadian Club.
He said New York Rangers, Kansas City Scouts and Minnesota North Stars are working on a three day trade and as many as 10 players may leave Toronto Maple Leafs, with five likely to leave Boston Bruins.
In addition, he said Winnipeg Jets of the WHA are signing four Danish players and Toronto Maple Leafs are adding two Swedes: Eagleson said a major reason several top NHL players are likely to move to the WHA is the NHL's option clause. The clause p r e s e n t s players who become free agents when their contracts expire from moving to an-, other NHL team without compensation for their original club.
Eagleson said Dionne, whose contract with Detroit Red Wings has expired, is shopping round and may be the first player to test the option clause. Many other players, however will simply sign with WHA teams. Eagleson said. Among that group are two members of Philadelphia Flyers, including Gary Dornhoefer. Eagleson said Bucyk may be heading for Edmonton Oilers and Gilbert to New England Whalers.
In Winnipeg, chief scout Billy Robinson denied the Jets are signing four Danish players — as reported by Eagleson. "We don't have any Danish players on our protected list," said Robinson: "We have one — a big kid, by the name of Yepisipee, said to be the only prospect in Denmark — but, we dropped him last January. There's ho truth, whatsoever, in that statement."
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 16:31:53 GMT -5
SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1975
No Place To Play
MIAMI-.(AP).— Miami businessmen" who had planned to move the World Hockey Association Chicago Cougars to this area have abandoned their plans because they have nowhere to play..
Robert Blum said the Cougars had considered using Miami Beach's Convention Centre or Hollywood’s Sportatorium as their home surface. But the Convention Centre is booked through the hockey season and the Sportatorium is closed indefinitely for repairs.
Ben Hatskin, WHA chief executive officer, had said earlier he, was sure the Miami interests would go ahead with .their plans to move the 'franchise there and said they had signed a letter of intent. Hatskin had said the main problem in Chicago was the lack of a suitable arena but said there are two possibilities of. a new one being .built and expressed hope a WHA franchise would return there. Miami had been given until Tuesday to close the deal.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 16:32:20 GMT -5
MONDAY, MAY 19, 1975
Denver May Reject NHL
DENVER (AP) - The Denver Spurs may spurn a National Hockey League franchise offer and instead join the rival World Hockey Assn., sources have indicated. The Spurs, members last season of the Central Hockey League, have scheduled a "major" press conference for today, at which time a decision is expected on the future of the franchise.
The press conference, with Spurs owner Ivan Mullenix in attendance, coincides with a meeting in New York of the National Hockey League's expansion committee which Mullenix was -originally thought to be attending. In recent weeks, there has been some doubt that the Denver group is willing to pay the $6 million NHL entry fee for an ex pansion franchise. Mullenix has said publicly that the NHL has changed the conditions under which it granted the franchise. Seattle, granted a conditional expansion franchise along with Denver, is bringing suit against the NHL.
Mullenix has said he was considering joining the WHA, which has several franchises on the market. Furthermore, NHL President Clarence Campbell said Saturday of the Denver group, "I'm not sure they want to go on with this proposition. That's what Monday's meeting will ascertain. I'm sure at that time there will be a clarification of the situation." The Denver owner declined comment on the matter, but said he would not be present at the NHL meeting in New York. However, he added, "You shouldn't necessarily draw any conclusions from that. I'll be -represented there. I'll let you speculate on what that might mean."
Mullenix said papers have been drawn up for the NHL conditional franchise, but he hasn't signed them. He wouldn't confirm or deny that WHA officials would accompany him to today's press conference here.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 16:32:44 GMT -5
May 20.1975
NHL better off without Denver says Campbell
NEW YORK (AP) President Clarence Campbell of the National Hockey League said Monday night the NHL is better off without Ivan Mullinex, the Denver minor league club owner who switched to the rival World Hockey Association. Mullinex announced Monday in Denver he no longer was .interested in an NHL expansion franchise for next season and had agreed to take his Denver Spurs of the Central Hockey League into the WHA's Western Division next season.
The Spurs would be stocked by players from other WHA clubs including at least one name player, Mullinex announced in Denver. "I wouldn't call it a double-cross." said Campbell. The league president and the governors had been involved in two years of negotiations to bring NHL expansion to Denver, long considered an excellent site for major-league hockey.
Originally, Denver and Seattle were granted conditional NHL franchises for the 1976-77 season, when the league's plans call for a 20- team setup instead of the present 18. Then Denver and Seattle asked the NHL to advance the dates by a year. The NHL agreed to that too but the conditions were not met.
The NHL Expansion Committee, led by Campbell and chairman William Jennings of the New York Rangers, met Monday with other league owners. They discussed the situation in Denver, Seattle and Oakland for several hours. Campbell said in an interview after the meeting that he had not yet seen a single dollar from any of the people who wanted to buy into the NHL. That was a major problem, Campbell said.
Expansion for next season now appears to be a dead issue unless something drastic happens within the next few weeks. The NHL has scheduled a meeting in New York within a week to 10 days. The annual meetings are in Montreal in mid-June. In Mullinex's case. Campbell said it was a judgment call and he had the privilege to do it. The NHL president said Mullinex never signed any documents in the two years of negotiations to fulfill the conditions of the franchise. But the NHL hasn't abandoned Denver as future expansion territory.
Only Mullinex is scratched off the list. "We have not abandoned the territory ... since he has chosen to change sides, I think we're entitled to change sides, too. if we wish to do so. And we will give some consideration to that possibility The price for an expansion franchise is $6 million in the NHL and probably around $2 million in the WHA. But Mullinex would not say what he paid to join the WHA. The rival league's officials say that attendance was up 41 per cent this season to more than four million.
Mullenix apparently got fed up with the NHL when he offered the league a reported $6 million to transplant the struggling California Seals in Denver, but the NHL is reportedly finalizing a deal with Bay industrialist Melvin Swig for $4.5, way less than the Mullenix offer. "The decision to go with the WHA was more than just financially-oriented," Mullenix said./'After the deal the NHL made San Francisco, I felt it was unfair as far as the offer I made for (NHL) hockey in this city (Denver)." he wanted a major league hockey franchise in Denver next season
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 16:33:18 GMT -5
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1975
Mullinex Anxious To Prove Decision Wise
By Ryne Davis
Once again, the World Hockey Association has served as the refuge of a city anxious to get its hand in major league hockey. But there is something different about Denver's hand. Its fingers have been burnt and its wrist slapped for having the notion that it could provide California Golden Seals a waimer home than Oakland.
After 21/2 years of trying, Ivan -Mullenix has ditched the prestigious National Hockey League with its stiff admission price and postponements for newcomers, for the upstart WHA that promises nothing but hard work and the chance to spend money. 0f all the big but unattached cities in North America, the WHA always looked askance at Denver. Why? For no other reason that the mile-high city has been poised to be include in the expensive but exclusive NHL community for almost as long as the WHA has been around.
Yet Denver was the scene of an event that had much to .do with the instant credibility of the WHA. Early in June of 1972, in a Denver motel, terms of Bobby Hull's $3 million contract were hammered out. A beaming Ben Hatskin returned to his Winnipeg home to tell an impromptu press conference gathered at the airport that he was "99.99 per cent sure" Hull would sign with the Jets and the WHA. Not surprisingly, that same Mr. Hatskin, now chief executive officer .of the WHA, played an integral role on behalf of -the-league as Mullenix made what he described as a "very difficult decision."
"To spend 2% years of trying to buy a National Hockey League franchise, then to suddenly switch plan's is very difficult," said Mullenix. "But I felt I made the right decision." Denver Spurs' hockey fans have been waiting in anticipation of a NHL franchise. Mullenix accepts responsibility. At the earliest, Denver would have been admitted to the NHL for the 1976-77 season. Mullenix wanted a team (or the coming season, 1975-76, and he preferred an established team, say Pittsburgh Penguins or California.
After all, the William J. Nichols Sports Arena seating 16,500 will be ready for occupancy this fall. "Things change in 2 1/2 years," said Mullenix. "My plans didn't work out.” I am the one who approached the WHA." After the announcement, 10 would-be season ticket holders called the next day to cancel their orders. Mullenix knew there would be disappointment. "Out of 1,800 I don't think that's bad at all," he said.
Mullenix .has owned-the Spurs in a troubled time. Minor leagues are either suffering or dying as high budget rosters of 30 or fewer players constitute entire organizations whereas 10 or 20 years ago upwards of 75 players were on the payroll from Toronto to Rochester or Tulsa to Melville, Sask. And so many cities, once happy with farm clubs, now are' only content to have the tag major league ... be it WHA or NHL. Denver1 is only typical. Instead .of buying one of the two available WHA franchises — Chicago Cougars or Baltimore Blades — Mullenix is taking his chances in an expansion draft.
"They better tell me the ground rules soon 'cuz I'm planning my lineup in the next three or four days," said Jets' director of hockey operations, Rudy Pilous, onetime coach of the Spurs. "I'm glad for Denver though. It's a major league town. They almost lost their football team once because their stadium was too small. Well, the public rallied around and pretty soon a new stadium was built. "The last time I heard the Broncos had 44,000 season tickets." A great attraction to the WHA, according to Mullenix, is its heavy presence in the American south-west, notably Phoenix Roadrunners, San Diego Mariners and Houston Aeros.
"The WHA has a lot to offer in this area of the country." he said. "Phoenix and San Diego, especially, have been long-time rivals of Denver." Now it will be interesting to see what Mullenix does with the money he didn't spend buying his way into the NHL. lie may well decide to invest it in players. Maybe even a player such as Phil Esposito, a star he could hang his hopes on.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 16:34:44 GMT -5
Thought i'd through this in cause it's funny.
SYRACUSE HERALD-JOURNAL, May 26,1975
By Arnie Burdick
... If the NHL wants to improve its tv ratings and thereby retain its regular-season series next winter on the national airwaves, all it has to do is use the "puck that glows" which several tire companies claim works like a charm. Research labs have treated an NHL disc with a special chemical which would look the same to the players and fans in the arena, but which would glow on your screen. Certainly, hockey ratings suffer, for it's difficult to see the puck.
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Post by JETStender on Jan 4, 2009 16:35:10 GMT -5
THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1975 Merger? Not Yet SAYS ESPOSITO
By REYN DAVIS - Free Press Staff Writer
A merger of hockey's two major leagues would do much to popularize the sport. that's" the belief of Phil Esposito, likable superstar of Boston Bruins and the popular leader of Canada's successful team: in the first Canada-Russia series in 1972. "But it won't happen very soon,” he said Wednesday night," just prior to his appearance at the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League's $50-aplate fund-raising dinner.
"It may never happen. But something has to be done and I'm sure most players would be receptive to an arrangement of some kind." Especially in the U.S., he says, a one-league concept would do much to pull hockey fans into a common rivalry and improve the chances of a successful television package something neither the National Hockey League nor World Hockey Association enjoys at present south of the border.
Esposito believes hockey would be sold in the U.S. today had one of the" American networks carried all eight games of the' first Canada-Russia series. That series, won dramatically by Canada in the final seconds of the eighth and final game, remains the highlight of Esposito's career. He would like to play for Team Canada again, but he suggests different ground rules. "The only way we could .justify a true, Team Canada would be to have players from both leagues — not just the NHL, not just the WHA," he said.
Once a team was assembled he suggests a three-week training camp with games against teams in both leagues. Then the series should start.'.. with the first four games in Russia, "so when we get back we can book them into rotten hotels and serve them rotten food, like they did to us in 1972."
About his new contract with' the Bruins and a refusal to jump to the WHA: "I told them I wasn't interested in the WHA. I like Boston too much and I like the NHL too much."
On Bobby Hull s 77-goal season, breaking his record: "He was happy for me when I broke his record most goals in a season — 58. I was happy for him."
On an Esposito scoop: "Dave Shultz, who is a pretty good hockey player, will be traded by Philly to Washington for a first-round draft choice."
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