Will hockey return next year to the Chevy Centre?

YOUNGSTOWN — Conversations between the city and Blue Line Hockey LLC remain “amicable,” said Mayor Jay Williams, even after the termination of any usage rights Blue Line had to Chevy Center.

An agreement was made that Blue Line would relinquish all rights to the downtown facility for the time being, said Herb Washington, president of Blue Line.

“We continue to have conversations to discuss getting hockey back next year,” said Washington, agreeing with the mayor that conversations are civil.

The city filed a court document to remove Blue Line, the SteelHounds parent company, in June after the SteelHounds were kicked out of the Central Hockey League.

But earlier this month it was determined that a mediator would handle any disputes. The recent agreement was dealt with between the city and Blue Line, not the mediator.

The agreement provided the city with some finality to any notion that Blue Line had rights to use the Chevy Center, said Law Director Iris Guglucello.

“It was necessary to get something in writing,” she said.

Hockey in the future is a possibility for Youngstown and there is an interest from a number of players to get professional hockey back to the Chevy Center, said Williams.