The Ohio Valley Ice Cats have a lot of work ahead of them before the puck drops for their first game Dec. 6.
The Ice Cats, Athens' newest hockey team, will begin play this winter in Bird Arena, sharing the arena with the Bobcats. Ohio Valley will play 20 home games starting Dec. 6 and will end its season in April.
A complete schedule has not been released but there does not seem to be a conflict with the Ohio hockey team. Bird Arena Assistant Director Marcus Marazon said an agreement is in place that the two teams' schedules will not conflict, though he has not heard from the International Independent Hockey League since the original press conference Sept 18.
The Ice Cats have yet to sign any players and will be looking to sign free agents at the Oct. 30-31 tryouts in Ann Arbor, Mich. They have shown interest in a few players including former Ohio baseball player Shaun Peet. Peet won numerous awards in high school for hockey and played at Cornell for one season. He said he is interested in playing with the Ice Cats.
They expressed their interest in me
he said. And I have interest to be on the Ohio Valley Ice Cats.
Ohio Valley is not the only team without any players or coaches, though some teams have a full roster and coaching staff. Peet said teams have even begun practicing.
Some teams have had signings of players and coaches he said. The Michigan team has a roster set and I think has begun on-ice sessions.
IIHL Commissioner Mike Killbreath said players will be paid $300-$600 per week depending on their experience. Teams will also only be allowed to sign at most six foreign players, as the league wants to develop American players and coaches.
Killbreath is trying to set up an office in the area as well as training camp dates for the players they eventually sign.
The Ice Cats are one of eight teams in the IIHL, and the league is still trying to find other cities to buy a franchise. Each organization has a base cost of $90,000.
Family Advantage Marketing, a Florida based sports consulting group, holds the majority with 70 percent ownership of the Ohio Valley Ice Cats. Killbreath said there are two other partners.
Two Ohio graduates will control the other 30 percent with one providing the local ownership
he said. Their names will not be released until contracts are finalized.
Killbreath said the Ice Cats should have a coach hired by the free agent tryouts on Oct. 31. Oct. 22 is the last day the team will take applications for the position. He has talked to five candidates but is still looking elsewhere.
We've talked to five applicants who are pretty good
he said. But we're still looking because we would prefer a player/coach with AAA or National Hockey League experience who can really teach the game of hockey.
Tickets for the Ohio Valley Ice Cats go on sale Oct.18 at Bird Arena.
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Joe Barrett
