Tuesday, January 17, 2006
The two hockey teams will share the billing Saturday at the Chevrolet Centre.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Both impeccably dressed and both in love.
Sounds like a great marriage -- and it is.
But Herb Washington and Bruce Zoldan aren't meant for each other, other than their intense interest in hockey.
With that common thread, the two local businessmen with totally different products announced a one-day love-fest at the Chevrolet Centre.
The love child of the union is a doubleheader on Saturday, starting with the Mahoning Valley Phantoms against Team USA at 4 p.m., followed by the Youngstown SteelHounds vs. Odessa Jackalopes game at 7:30.
The Phantoms, composed of players ages 16-20, are members of the North American Hockey League, and the SteelHounds play in the Central Hockey League.
Until now, Youngstown, a pro franchise, has been the only hockey team privy to the Chevrolet Centre.
In the past, both men sought first dibs for the prized downtown convention center. Now they're anything but squabbling partners.
They tossed the word "opportunity" around like it was a set of kitchen dishes.
"A lot of work has gone into this," said Washington, owner of the SteelHounds and McDonald's Restaurant franchises. "I think Bruce and I have always thought that, at some point, there would be an opportunity for the Phantoms to play in the Chevrolet Centre."
One-night stand
The partnership venture, at this point, is a one-night stand.
"This offers Valley fans and future fans an opportunity to see quality, highly skilled players," said Zoldan, owner of Phantom Fireworks. "For the first time, we're working together."
The scheduling of more games remains a possibility.
Although Monday's press conference may have been seen as an attempt to re-direct attention from the Centre's publicized problems about its financial operation, Washington, as the No. 1 tenant, was reassuring, especially on the heels of the SteelHounds' first sellout of 5,717 last Saturday.
"We're pleased with how things are going," Washington said. "The team continues to improve. For me and for the SteelHounds family, we think it is a tremendous opportunity to showcase hockey. When we really get right down to it, this is about building a brand, the brand of hockey."
Both men firmly believe that the future of their investments is in youth.
"The more kids we have skating and playing hockey the better it is for Bruce's franchise as well as our franchise," Washington said. "We need more kids playing, much like in football and soccer, etc. We have to get these kids introduced to hockey at a very early age.
"We have to get them good coaching, good equipment and we have to build on that. That's how you build a brand of hockey."
Each team has its niche
Each owner's franchise has its niche.
Zoldan's team is part of a league that provides players 16-20 a chance to get college scholarships.
So far, the Phantoms have had seven players achieve that goal, coach Bob Mainhardt said.
The appearance of the USA National Team is a chance for fans to see several potential future NHL stars, including Erik Johnson.
The opener is part of the second annual NAHL North Division showcase, starting Thursday at the Phantoms' home rink, The Ice Zone at 360 McClurg Rd. in Boardman.
The partnership is a good move, but, without a doubt, the SteelHounds have been the impetus in the marriage.
"We've been talking about this since early November," Washington said. "It's a business partnership to help promote hockey here in the Valley and we're going to put our toe in the water and see where it goes. I think we can give an audience a bigger attraction here with exposure to these future stars."
Neither man sees the other as a rival.
"I truly don't," said Washington. "Because what the Phantoms and Bruce provide is a different market than what we have. His kids are going on to college. Our guys aren't going on to college, they move to the next level or maybe they went to college and are now playing for us. You may play for Bruce and maybe the next progression may be us or the Eastern League."
Zoldan said the same.
"There's really not a rivalry with our two levels. One complements the other. The interest by the young people in our community wanting to learn to play hockey or figure skate or public skate has increased tremendously since the SteelHounds came to town."
Recently, over 250 youth ages 4-10 signed up for "Come to Learn" sessions.
Teams complement each other
"I see the SteelHounds as complementing us," Zoldan said. "We also complement them because, by teaching people to play hockey or skate, they become hockey fans and they want to bring parents or family to see a SteelHounds game and see a Phantoms game."
He said The Ice Zone is the breeding ground for the future interest of hockey in the Valley.
"We're a recreational facility -- far different from the Chevrolet Centre which is an entertainment facility. We don't compete with each other. Our seating capacity is 900 to the Centre's seating is 5,700."
Washington said it would be outstanding if his team would someday get a homegrown player.
"I could see one of our own [from the Phantoms] making it [to the SteelHounds). They've got to have ice and a place to play and coaching and all of those things. Who's to say that a kid who may see something on Saturday, makes him a star of the future."
bassetti@vindy.com