I really hope this works out for you guys in Topeka. I will even go up and watch a few games... would like to see what Junior Hockey is like.

Kudos to mc on getting this setup and even to my arch-nemesis Marc Foster as well.

mctopeka wrote:

The Idaho team folded.

Gee, you'd think someone would announce that somewhere, wouldn't you?

Sometimes announces are made right away... sometimes not. Just depends on who wanted what released where.

True.

But, not announcing a team ceasing operations, which will require a schedule re-write? What purpose would it serve to keep that secret from anyone?

Jrhockeyfan wrote:

True. But, not announcing a team ceasing operations, which will require a schedule re-write? What purpose would it serve to keep that secret from anyone?

If that is truly what happened, the league may be waiting to announce things until they figure out the schedule, dispersal draft (if any), etc. I have no idea, but it would not suprise me to see nothing being said for a couple of days.

The WSHL's incompetence in communication is legendary. I could cite examples, but I don't have all day.

Marc

I really wanted this to work our for you guys in Topeka. But, as we are all learning, the WSHL is a major disaster. Some people are of the belief that any hockey is good hockey. That is not the case. It's better this has happened now, rather than later, before time, money and devotion was sunk into this fiasco.

Mr. Heisler, I have grown to respect you and what you have to say. But your earlier posts saying the Topeka area and the guys involved in ownership of this franchise were going to forge a solid, workable partnership(my words, not his), were way off base. It now looks like the type of posts you used to take so much heat for, where people charged you with flinging crap, just to see what would stick.

Oh well, we were all hopefull. So, my posts were, in essence, no different than yours. Like I said, better this happened now rather than later. The NAHL is is pretty shaky shape right now themselves. But even they would be better than the WSHL. Of course, anyone with the financial wherewithall and the business since, if they are really interested in putting hockey in Topeka, oughtta be putting in a phone call to Gino Gasparini right now.

I just posted an update on the blog...

http://juniorhockey.blogspot.com/2006/12/news-of-day.html


Marc

OK, here's an idea

Read the blogs and the threads in USHL and WSHL plus Topeka.

Seems EVERYONE is confident that the WSHL would work financially in Topeka. Apparently, the team makes around 80,000 from players just to play. That is pretty much the lease payment for the arena. Then, I heard that the team keeps all advertising and a chunk of the tickets....not bad.

SOOOOOO... Why have ownership out of the casino. Everyone believes this will work, put your money where your mouth is. Invest in a WSHL team for Topeka. Screw the Tilt. Do it on your own. It's easy to say it will work when it is someone else's $$$$$$. Why not do it without an out of town owner?

Just a thought.

jrhockeyfan,
I was as impressed as anyone. I really believed that the "Poker Boys" were going to make the situation right. Coach Law really believed the same thing. Because of that, I felt very confident that this team in Topeka would do well and fly.

At the first smell of something rotten, on Thursday, quickly phoned Mr. Bucket and let him know things had a funny odor. I told him that I did not think that Coach Law would be going to Topeka. The rest is history.

I did not post anything here, because, it was really not my place to.

I am now really pissed. I have been in direct contact with a party in Fairbanks that could quickly bring a much stronger situation to Topeka, if they decide to pull the trigger.

Stephen

Last edited by Stephen Heisler on Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:33 am; edited 1 time in total

Not just a chunk of the ticket sales. The team gets the advertisment revenue and ALL of the revenue from ticket sales. The team also gets a % of the concessions sales and a % of the parking fees. We have not stopped looking BTW.

I am rooting for ya, mc!

ThunderFan4Life wrote:

I am rooting for ya, mc!

Thanks, Jason and I both have sat and talked about this and we will not be detered in our efforts to bring Hockey back to Topeka. Our wifes are pissed but we will keep on trying.

No were not pissed, just being patient. There is a difference.

Thanks Beth, Karen said the same thing. It does mean a lot to both Jason and I.

Stephen Heisler wrote:

jrhockeyfan, I was as impressed as anyone. I really believed that the "Poker Boys" were going to make the situation right. Coach Law really believed the same thing. Because of that, I felt very confident that this team in Topeka would do well and fly. At the first smell of something rotten, on Thursday, quickly phoned Mr. Bucket and let him know things had a funny odor. I told him that I did not think that Coach Law would be going to Topeka. The rest is history. I did not post anything here, because, it was really not my place to. I am now really pissed. I have been in direct contact with a party in Fairbanks that could quickly bring a much stronger situation to Topeka, if they decide to pull the trigger. Stephen

We will send that information today, Stephen.

Stephen Heisler wrote:

jrhockeyfan, I was as impressed as anyone. I really believed that the "Poker Boys" were going to make the situation right. Coach Law really believed the same thing. Because of that, I felt very confident that this team in Topeka would do well and fly. At the first smell of something rotten, on Thursday, quickly phoned Mr. Bucket and let him know things had a funny odor. I told him that I did not think that Coach Law would be going to Topeka. The rest is history. I did not post anything here, because, it was really not my place to. I am now really pissed. I have been in direct contact with a party in Fairbanks that could quickly bring a much stronger situation to Topeka, if they decide to pull the trigger. Stephen

Stephen,
Be careful what you post. Some will get upset and think you are just name dropping to make yourself look good. Others will now think you are behind the efforts to bring hockey to Topeka and if it takes too long, or doesn't happen, then you take heat and look like a moron, or worse.

Your heart may be in the right place, but the last paragraph needed to be kept private between you and the people in Topeka. Whoever operates in Fairbanks now(Gee? I wonder how many junior teams there are there now?)may now be perceived as looking to leave when they have no intention of doing so and it just now makes them look bad.

Jrhockeyfan wrote:

Stephen Heisler wrote: jrhockeyfan, I was as impressed as anyone. I really believed that the "Poker Boys" were going to make the situation right. Coach Law really believed the same thing. Because of that, I felt very confident that this team in Topeka would do well and fly. At the first smell of something rotten, on Thursday, quickly phoned Mr. Bucket and let him know things had a funny odor. I told him that I did not think that Coach Law would be going to Topeka. The rest is history. I did not post anything here, because, it was really not my place to. I am now really pissed. I have been in direct contact with a party in Fairbanks that could quickly bring a much stronger situation to Topeka, if they decide to pull the trigger. Stephen Stephen, Be careful what you post. Some will get upset and think you are just name dropping to make yourself look good. Others will now think you are behind the efforts to bring hockey to Topeka and if it takes too long, or doesn't happen, then you take heat and look like a moron, or worse. Your heart may be in the right place, but the last paragraph needed to be kept private between you and the people in Topeka. Whoever operates in Fairbanks now(Gee? I wonder how many junior teams there are there now?)may now be perceived as looking to leave when they have no intention of doing so and it just now makes them look bad.

Many don't know this but Stephen has been helping us for quite some time now. He has given us a lot of information that has helped in our search. The information he has given us has been right on the money. BTW he did warn us about the Tilt and their problems before they became public so we could go into talks with our eyes wide open. All of his advise has been only to help us and we will keep relying on his advise in our continuing efforts. Jason and I will take whatever heat is directed at the people trying to bring Hockey here. We will be the ones that look like morons not Heisler.
What if that team from Alaska doesn't want to move, and they just want to start a new franchise here, would that change your mind?

It does not take much more then a glance to realize the situation in Topeka could be a bonanza.

Yes, I went to the "way-back" machine and talked to some of the principles about Topeka. Nothing about moving the one of the strongest clubs in the country. I just noted that Topeka is prime for a proven winning formula. It is no secret that the Fairbanks Ice Dogs first started out in the WSHL. It is no secret that I may have had a little bit to do with that. It is no secret that the fans of Topeka need to feel secure that the next hockey team that comes to towm has a chance of being a very long term resident.

A WSHL team in Topeka, for the first season anyway, could produce a National Champion on the ice with minumal effort. How. It is simple, use of 19's and 20's, no player fee, and a proven coach. Topeka gets a instant winner, and a serious headstart on the team moving up to the NAHL the following year, or even the third year.

Why would anyone in Fairbanks want to get involved? Because they have the financial resources to pull it off, they have the experience to keep it lean. Partnered with the community, this team has an excellent chance.

[quote="mctopeka]What if that team from Alaska doesn't want to move, and they just want to start a new franchise here, would that change your mind?[/quote]

Of course it would.

I sure hope something works out. It sucks not having hockey. Been there, done that, didn't enjoy it.