Maine Hockey Journal

Decision looming on Lewiston’s future in the NAHL

Could an announcement that a North American Hockey League team soon be coming to Lewiston?

It is very possible.

According to a report, last week from juniorhockey.com three current NAHL teams will make the move to the Northeast for next season.

Rod Simmons, owner and coach of the New Hampshire Fighting Spirit, said a vote is happening this week on that front.

“We are waiting for the vote from the teams in the North American (Hockey) League regarding the Eastern Division,” Simmons said. “There are six teams that are (expected to form) an Eastern Division, so we are waiting approval. We are hoping to know by this weekend. All I know is the higher echelon of the (NAHL) are flying in this weekend.”

The NAHL is consider one of the top feeders for NCAA Division I hockey, which has 126 players committed to play Division I Hockey including University of Maine recruits Mitchell Fossier of the Janesville Jets, defenseman Sam Becker of the Minnesota Magicians and defenseman Konstantin Chernyuk who currently plays for the Wichita Falls Wildcats.

Simmons believes the NAHL brand of hockey would be familiar to what the Lewiston/Auburn community is accustomed to with the former Lewiston Maineiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, who called the Androscoggin Bank Colisee home from 2003-11. The only difference is the lack of NHL draft picks, and unlimited 20-year-old players that a team can have.

The NAHL, which currently has 21 of its 24 teams located west of the Eastern Time Zone, provided this statement through their Director of Communications and Sales Alex Kyrias.

“I am told (NAHL Commissioner and President) Mark (Frankenfeld) will likely not be there for the NA3EHL Championship because he will be in Connecticut for the Tier III Junior Nationals, which will have two NA3HL teams,” Kyrias said.

Frankenfeld is also the commissioner and president of the NA3HL, which is the sister league of the NA3EHL.

According to Kyrias, the NAHL’s Director of Player Personnel Craig Barnett will likely be in Lewiston for the weekend for the NA3EHL Finals, which pits the New Hampshire Fighting Spirit and the Jersey Shore Wildcats in a best of three series.

“It’s exciting for us to showcase what we have to (the NAHL),” NA3EHL Commissioner Wayne Sheehan said of the weekend games which are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night and 3 p.m. on Sunday if necessary. “I think it continues to add how hard our owners and coaches are working on behalf of the kids playing in our programs that the Tier II league, the only Tier II league in the country is excited about us being partners with them.”

The NAHL visited the Colisee in February when the Fighting Spirit played two games. In February, Frankenfeld said the visit “was to lend support to the NA3EHL and to review the facility.”

Jim Cain, president and owner of Firland Management, which owns the Androscoggin Bank Colisee, said a decision could come as early as tomorrow. If the Colisee is awarded an NAHL team, Cain has held talks with the league on whether it will be an existing franchise or an expansion team.

“We have an option for either one,” said Cain. “We haven’t decided on our end on what we are going to do. We will have to make up our mind real quick if the decision is made.”

Tom Upton, general manager and coach of the NAHL’s Minnesota Magicians, said he’s aware that it’s a potential possibility of the league expanding its footprint eastward and that he would love to see the league grow into the Northeast.

“I have heard some rumblings that we are definitely going to expand out east which I think will great,” said Upton. “I think it would give the eastern kids more of an opportunity to play (junior) hockey at our level. Obviously, they have junior leagues out there but you have to pay a certain amount of money to play out in those leagues and live at home. To play at a higher level for the eastern kids, stay close to home and not have to pay money to play the game, I think it will be a great opportunity if the league decided to do that.”

In February, Simmons said he would continue to have the NA3EHL franchise in addition to the NAHL franchise if one is granted to him. He did say on Monday that the plan was still in place to have the NA3EHL team be a feeder to the NAHL team.

The NAHL has two teams that also house NA3HL teams.

Topeka and Coulee Region both currently operate in that capacity very successfully with NAHL and NA3HL,” Frankfield said.

The Topeka Roadrunners of the NAHL average 1,948 fans and the Topeka Capitals of the NA3HL average 209 fans. Both teams play at Landan Arena, which holds 7,777 for hockey. A ticket for the NAHL Roadrunners ranges between $12-$22 while tickets for the NA3HL Capitals are $5.

The Coulee Region Chill of the NAHL average 563 fans a game while the Lacrosse Freeze average 135 fans. Green Island Ice Arena, where both teams moved to this season, doesn’t list their capacity. The Chill are second to last in the league in terms of average attendance. Ticket prices for the Chill are $9 in advance or $10 on game day. Tickets for the Freeze are $4 in advance and $5 at the door.

What separates a Tier II league and a Tier III team is a Tier III league fully pay-to-play, while the NAHL is partial pay-to-play where in addition to personal expenses, players have to pay $300 for room and board per month to help billets with living expenses while living with a host family.

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