Story I wrote for the Norwich Bulletin
Locals mixed about NHL talk
By DENIS GORMAN
For the Norwich Bulletin
Tonight, the Hartford Wolfpack will honor its Civic Center predecessor, and the only major professional sports franchise to call Connecticut home, the Hartford Whalers with a "Whalers Appreciation Night."
Nearly a decade after Peter Karmanos moved the Whalers to North Carolina, local businessmen are exploring the viability of having another NHL franchise based out of Hartford in a new multipurpose arena.
But some locals think the Whalers rebirth may be met with a mixture of apathy and excitement.
St. Bernard/Bacon Academy/Old Lyme head coach Chris Avena isn't certain that another NHL franchise would matter to Connecticut hockey fans, players and coaches. "(It) doesn't change anything. It's a chance to see the NHL without having to drive to New York or Boston, but with the Internet and t.v., kids have access. It's not a huge ordeal (to watch a game).
"One of the biggest problems with Hartford is that there are no deep roots,'' continued Avena.
"I'm not sure they'd be successful. There's (not many) die-hard Whalers fans. There are10,000 die-hard Rangers fans."
Avena's senior center, Glen Grave disagreed with his coach's stance.
"Kids would be inspired to be like the NHL players," said the St. Bernard/Bacon Academy/Old Lyme senior captain. "It'd be a great thing. My career is probably over after high school, but I'd love to skate for them; I'd love to play for the Whalers.
"It'd be a good thing for the state; youth hockey programs (in the state) would be everywhere."
Tonight's festivities will highlight the Whalers' history and the careers of Kevin Dineen, Ulf Samuelsson and future Hall-of-Famer Ron Francis.
http://norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060106/SPORTS/601060343/1006
By DENIS GORMAN
For the Norwich Bulletin
Tonight, the Hartford Wolfpack will honor its Civic Center predecessor, and the only major professional sports franchise to call Connecticut home, the Hartford Whalers with a "Whalers Appreciation Night."
Nearly a decade after Peter Karmanos moved the Whalers to North Carolina, local businessmen are exploring the viability of having another NHL franchise based out of Hartford in a new multipurpose arena.
But some locals think the Whalers rebirth may be met with a mixture of apathy and excitement.
St. Bernard/Bacon Academy/Old Lyme head coach Chris Avena isn't certain that another NHL franchise would matter to Connecticut hockey fans, players and coaches. "(It) doesn't change anything. It's a chance to see the NHL without having to drive to New York or Boston, but with the Internet and t.v., kids have access. It's not a huge ordeal (to watch a game).
"One of the biggest problems with Hartford is that there are no deep roots,'' continued Avena.
"I'm not sure they'd be successful. There's (not many) die-hard Whalers fans. There are10,000 die-hard Rangers fans."
Avena's senior center, Glen Grave disagreed with his coach's stance.
"Kids would be inspired to be like the NHL players," said the St. Bernard/Bacon Academy/Old Lyme senior captain. "It'd be a great thing. My career is probably over after high school, but I'd love to skate for them; I'd love to play for the Whalers.
"It'd be a good thing for the state; youth hockey programs (in the state) would be everywhere."
Tonight's festivities will highlight the Whalers' history and the careers of Kevin Dineen, Ulf Samuelsson and future Hall-of-Famer Ron Francis.
http://norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060106/SPORTS/601060343/1006
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 1:43 PM
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