Arena denial gets a counter

The Phantoms proposed a counteroffer to the SteelHounds' rejection.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- In the latest round of Ice Wars, here comes a compromise offer.
Bruce Zoldan, owner of the amateur Mahoning Valley Phantoms of the North American Hockey League, is offering Herb Washington, owner of the professional Youngstown SteelHounds of the Central Hockey League, a compromise regarding the use of the Chevrolet Centre in April.
In response to Washington's press release Friday explaining why the SteelHounds won't allow the Phantoms to host a junior hockey tournament in April, Zoldan made a counterproposal.
If Washington (who has the contractual right to disallow other hockey events from taking place at the Chevrolet Centre) will permit the NAHL to hold its championship tournament there from April 24-29, the NAHL will sign a contract to move any tourney games that conflict with any SteelHounds' playoff contests to the Ice Zone in Boardman.
With 17 games remaining, the SteelHounds are 17 points behind in the playoff race.
"If you are truly and sincerely interested in the best interests of the residents of the Mahoning Valley and the success of the Chevrolet Centre, then we can work this out professionally as businessmen to find a way to make this tournament happen," said Zoldan, owner of B.J. Alan Fireworks Company of Youngstown.
Deadline
But Zoldan said the NAHL has to know by Tuesday if the league can play at the Chevrolet Centre.
Otherwise, said Zoldan, the eight-game tournament with two games slated per day will go elsewhere and Youngstown would miss out on all the revenue-making and public-relations bonanza that would come with the tournament. Zoldan says the tournament is expected to attract thousands of fans and visitors to the city.
"You should not punish the city and the people because of mistakes that [some people have made]," said Zoldan, who said he wants to work together with Washington to promote hockey in the area.
Washington, who owns almost all of the McDonald's restaurants in the area, has exclusive professional sports rights at the Chevrolet Centre for the first year. The SteelHounds owner contends that he can't allow the NAHL Tournament to play at the Chevrolet Centre because the SteelHounds might still be in the playoffs.
His explanation
Washington's release said: "Currently, the Youngstown SteelHounds are in the midst of making a stretch run toward the CHL playoffs and a chance to win the President's Cup league championship on the ice.
"With 17 games remaining, including important homestands against division-rivals Bossier-Shreveport and Fort Worth, our players are poised to make a run at securing a playoff spot.
"We owe it to our fans to give every effort, both on and off the ice, to making this happen. I expect my players to fight to the last minute of the last period on the ice, and the SteelHounds players and fans should not expect any less from me as the owner."
And then Washington adds, in response to a request by the NAHL to use the Chevrolet Center for its tournament, that: "I simply could not give my consent without ensuring our fans that our players are given every opportunity to succeed on the ice, and I could not consent to a plan that gave away home playoff ice, especially in the midst of our team's playoff run.
"Ensuring that the SteelHounds have access to their home ice for regular season and playoff games is precisely why our lease with the Chevrolet Centre gives the SteelHounds the right to approve certain hockey events at the Centre," the release said.
Zoldan says it is extremely unlikely that the SteelHounds will make the playoffs.
In the CHL, a team gets two points for a win, one point for an overtime loss and zero points for a loss.
Argument now indefensible
Zoldan says Washington's argument now is moot because of the NAHL's offer to switch any tournament games.
Washington also contends that he was notified at the last minute about the NAHL tournament.
Zoldan countered that claim, saying Global, which runs the Chevrolet Centre for the city, told Washington 21/2 weeks ago that it wanted to sign the NAHL tourney deal, but that Washington balked, saying that he didn't think he would approve it.
Zoldan also said he told Washington 31/2 weeks ago about it, but was unable to get a commitment.
kovach@vindy.com