New hockey group in Fort Erie

[mysay]

Does anyone know anything about Kevin Zimic or David Cole?
These are the two guys that are behind the Powerplay Sports & Entertainment proposal to run a team from the Leisureplex in Fort Erie called the Niagara Frontier Thoroughbreds in the GMJA Hockey League.

[hockeytalk]

David Cole Wow , it sure would be nice for the Town Councel in Fort Erie to know the back ground on this guy , and the real reasons why he was ousted from St Kitt's and any other teams or leagues he was associated with in the past !!! We've read previuosly alot of "negativity" regaurding the way he runs things in the past .

[smoothassilk]

Ha Ha..hockeytalk, what's wrong? Gotta knock someone because your Fort Erie guys can't pay the bills! Your a joke...Whats your background. Ha ha

[hockeytalk]

Just an avid , local hockey fan that has watched the Meteors play for probably much longer than most . Just thinking it would be a shame to see this group denied an opportunity to continue the hard work for the LOCAL youth . Many in the community are wondering why our city councel would entertain the idea of an outside , self proclaimed hockey guy , coming into our city with a proposed hockey team without a league to play in yet , and if this league that they are planning to play in does get off the ground it is not even governed by the O.H.A. An outlawed league , making the players / families pay as much as $7500 per player to play per season ... It's alittle funny , because there are alot of other topics on this forum that state our teams in the G.H.L. need to or are forced to pay the players to play , and the teams that pay the most usually are found near the top of the league yaer in and year out ... THAT WOULD CERTAINLY MEAN THAT THERE WOULD BE NO LOCAL KIDS PLAYING ON THIS TEAM IF OUR CITY WERE TO EXCEPT SUCH A PROPOSAL !!!

[smoothassilk]

hockeytalk...the paper stated that the "group" was going to try to stay with the OHA. Sorry that your present Jr. B hockey can not pay their bills, but no need to slam others in the forum. I noticed that you are not the only person who likes to put people down on the forum but "grow up" and stick to the facts. I'm a St. Catharines fan and I would rather not see Jr.B team leave Fort Erie either...Always liked to beat Fort Erie. Either way..who ever runs the Jr. B hockey in Fort Erie, I am sure we will see Fort Erie boys playing. Guess I'll see you there. Ha Ha.

[hockeytalk]

Hey smoothasrocks , the O.H.A. will not recognize this "new group " as a member of the O.H.A. CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT ?

[mia]

Fort Erie has paid their bills, now it is up to the town council to decide whether they go will Passaro or the new Cole group.We will find out Tuesday night. What ever happens it is a great place to watch a hockey game.This is a skaters rink! I hope Jr.B stays in Fort Erie!

[tool]

mia: don't you mean it's up to FE council to give the Meteors a break on their ice bills?
I would think as long as the Meteors commit to paying their ice time like every other team in this league must do, they would have the upper hand
ice time is part of running a team at this level
if you can't pay for it, let someone else step in
everyone jokes about the poor attendance at creek games... but yet the bills get paid.
why is this a problem in FE?
are the ice rates different than other centres?
is FE paying players too much? (scholarships and expenses)
what is the budget issue?

[hkyrules2]

as a Fort Erie residence I'm concerned bills are paid which they now are, but I'm also concerned who the Town of Fort Erie enters into an agreement with. In every building in the GHL the rumors as to why Mr. Cole was let go by the Falcons is very troubling. I definitely would want to make sure these rumors have no basis in fact before I entered into any agreement with the group. There are many ways to make sure the Meteors pay for they're ice time: a non refundable deposit..................pre payment based on 2007-2008 rates payable the first of every month etc. The Meteors have been a part of the community for a long time would be a shame to bipass them to enter into an agreement with another organization with no history or track record with the town. Just my thoughts.

[three blind mice]

Wow, the blind leading the blind. Did you guys read your own posts ? You talk like you know whats going on and have all the answers but couldn't be farther from the situation.

First, the Outlaw league already exists. It is the GMHL look it up you may be surprised.

Secondly, the MEteors struggled to make payments last year, mostly do to lack of fan support. Couldn't draw enough fans to pay for game ice let alone practice.

Third, the meteors were for sale but drew back when someone actually made an offer.

The new organization has come in with a business plan which must look relatively viable as the town is considering them. Meteors have given some kind of proposal.

What else do you want to be filled in on???

[mysay]

Well Fort Erie council approved giving the Jr. B Meteors ice time for the upcoming season. A new board is in place and things are looking up up!!!!!

[cleghorn]

Well siad 3 blind mice, so many people make so many assumptions. People make comments and are not even close to knowing the facts. GMHL is run by a professional and going into year 3 have healthier teams than alot of the shoe teams. People need to do their homework before they make comments, just check their websites and check with the towns they are in. personally I hope they come as I am sick of Wheatfiled and a couple other teams, I think our fans in Welland, Fort Erie would love it. Different style, different teams, could be refreshing. I hope they still go into Fort Erie cause spaghetti dinners and selling hotdogs just isn't going to get it done. I have had it going to Meteor games ans supporting that gong show.

[hockeytalk]

That "gong show" must be doing something right , they beat out your beloved Welland Canadians just a few short months ago ...

[tool]

mysay: that is good news and hopefully it will put this discussion to rest.
As for the challenges smaller market teams face in Jr. B, I think we all know when the problems started.
Too many greedy has-beens with hands out looking for some way to justify their failed careers. And too many cash-rich owners who wanted championships to stroke their egos.
And you wonder why teams struggle to compete?
I think pay-to-play is an excellent idea.

[three blind mice]

Hey Tool, better watch what you say. I hear the new owner in the Creek has deep pockets and they're overflowing. Heard he's looking to bring a championship to the Hamilton area.

[tool]

i'll believe it when i see it TBM. talk is cheap. money is one thing... recruitment is everything.

[pettione]

Please people help me out!!!!!!

The GMHL that people are speaking about??

Go to this location and someone confirm for me if this is the league???

The site is www.gmhl.net/teams.html

Now if this the league notice how catchy the team names are?? NOT----go to some sites of the teams to see where the players are from!!!!!!!!!!-----

This league is short of being hockey young adult slave labour!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe that many of these kids recruited have pie in the sky goals with a league that is only there to tap into the young energy of adolescence to make profit----how sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The attendance at some of these isolated arenas is bleak----the revenues are low and the kids playing are probably treated poorly???!!!!!!-----

Get a grib Hockey CANADA----is this the way the adult hockey entrepeneuers skin the backs of young to make a living??-----so sad----

I know that this particular hockey enthusiast will never ever support another red neck hockey league!!!!----

I realize the economy is bad----but if you cannot get a real job----owners----stop using the kids to make cash----this is child labour----hidden under another blanket!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hockeytalk]

Just a quick note to the drama that the Meteors recently have dealt with through the last couple of weeks in Fort Erie, 1 team from the 7 other teams in the G.H.L. stepped up to the plate and supported the Meteors. It seems that class always does rise to the top . Way to go Thorold Blackhawks , and a great big THANK YOU as well !!!

[hopsing]

Hockeytalk
It was nice to see Marrone help out the Meteors, but I heard that Tony is losing 3 points on the Esplanade project.

[hockeytalk]

The Meteors are also very pleased to let you readers know that there was a very nice letter , with great support sent to Town Council in Fort Erie from the N.F. Canucks !! Way to go Terry and his staff !!! Thank you from our staff members and the community .