Professional hockey is returning to the Mohawk Valley, this time in the form of the Rome Frenzy of the newly formed Federal Hockey League (FHL). General manager Brian Hall, along with his father and Vice President of Sales and Gameday Operations Sam Hall, announced the coaching staff for the Frenzy's inaugural season during a press conference on Friday morning at the John F. Kennedy Civic Arena in Rome.
Gary Gill of Pennsylvania was chosen as the club's first bench boss. Coach Gill comes to the Frenzy after assistant coaching stints with the Mississippi River Kings of the Central Hockey League (CHL) and the Reading Royals of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). Both are "AA" leagues as opposed to the single "A" FHL. Hall noted this experience as a key selling point in the coaching search.
Although there is currently no ice on the arena floor, Gill was eager to get to work building a winning team. "If we could start right now we would be on the ice going at it...Oh and we're going to win too!"
Left to Right: ( Coach Gary Gill, General Manager Brian Hall, Assistant Coach Bjorn Moksness.)
Accompanying Gill was assistant coach Bjorn Moksness. The Norway native has a colorful hockey background, including a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
While playing for the Frisk Asker Tigers of Norway's Elitserien, Moksness was a part of the line that scored the world's fastest hat trick...ten seconds! He previously served as Assistant Coach of the MVCC Hawks where they advanced to Nationals for three consecutive years (07'-09').
Moksness lives in Marcy with his family and was optimistic about the teams' future, "I don't know much about Rome but I know it is a hockey town like Utica...I see nothing but good happening here."
Also at the press conference was FHL Commissioner Don Kirnan. Kirnan is a hockey legend of sorts in Central New York. He was the president and head coach of the Syracuse Stars since 1986 until the team was purchased and relocated to Rochester by Maksymum Hockey in 2010.
The Stars were the region's premier junior hockey organization and boast alumni such as Tim Connolly of the Buffalo Sabres and Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings.
( Commissioner Don Kirnan addresses Friday press conference audience.)
Kirnan knows hockey and s confident that the Frenzy will become an indelible part of the city's culture before long. "Once you have it, you will never want to lose it" the hockey sage prophesied.
The buzzword of the morning was community. Among his goals, Brian Hall is seeking to preserve a "hometown feel" through fan accessibility, "We want to be community focused and family friendly...that is really how we feel that this team can survive and thrive in this community."
Hall sees the Frenzy's civic dedication as the main factor that sets his franchise apart from failed ventures in the past. This is not the city's only recent foray into professional hockey; however, the Hall family hopes that the Frenzy will be more successful than their predecessors.
The Copper City Chiefs of the now defunct North East Hockey League (NEHL) previously occupied the arena for the 2007-2008 season but folded after only eight games, citing economic and facility issues.
When asked how the Frenzy plans to succeed where the Chiefs failed Hall had this to say, "We have done a different approach in our foundation...The way for a team like this to work, it has to be fully integrated into the community...We have tried to be very active in showing that we take seriously our responsibility as good corporate citizens."
( Rome Mayor Jim Brown (far right) lends his support to the Frenzy on Friday morning.)
In the summer of 2008, JFK Arena benefited from a 3.5 million dollar renovation project which saw the addition of four new locker rooms and an increase in seating capacity from 800 to 1,200 along with a list of heating and electrical upgrades.
The investment also signals a commitment by the City of Rome to attracting and keeping a professional hockey franchise.
This support has not gone unnoticed by the team's ownership who lauded praise upon the Rome Chamber of Commerce and other city officials, including Mayor James Brown who was present. It is a relationship that Hall and the Frenzy pledge to reciprocate by giving back to the community.
Chip Travis, director of the Rome Youth Hockey Association, was also present at the press conference. "They (the Frenzy) came to us and wanted to open the lines of communication. Our kids are going to run 50/50 programs...they are going to act as volunteer coaches. They are willing to help in any way that we can use them."
Of course the other key ingredient to financial stability and longevity is on-ice success. It is the oldest rule in sports: fans love a winner and will (usually) come in droves to support one. So how does the Frenzy plan to compete in their inaugural season?
Coach Moksness plans to import a European style of play that emphasizes speed and finesse. However, anyone who has seen the movie Slapshot knows that minor-leauge hockey can be brutal and if the Frenzy are to succeed they will need players who are willing to "put on the foil".
Head coach Gary Gill elaborated on their plan of attack, "What we have talked about is a type of hybrid between the European style and our style...Will we have guys that can play that rough style? Absolutely. We'll also have guys that can shoot and score goals."
GM Brian Hall is confident in his product and promises a fan-centered experience combined with a high level of skill.
Many players are coming to the FHL from NCAA D1, the ECHL, and even AHL ranks. They are currently in discussions with players that have been drafted by NHL franchises as well. "It is going to be a higher level of competition than has been on the ice in this area for a long, long time. Once the fans come out to see it they are going to love it."
In regard to the coaching hires, Hall was very confident with the decision. "We brought in two wonderful individuals who are going to help build this program into something that everybody in the area is going to be proud to call their own."
Rome Frenzy General Manager and Team Owner Brian Hall today announced that longtime Trinity College head men's ice hockey coach John Dunham, who retired following the 2006-07 season, has been appointed Director of Scouting for the Rome Frenzy of the Federal Hockey League.
Coach Dunham was the guiding force behind the Trinity College Ice Hockey program for 37 years. In all, Dunham compiled a 441-306-34 record with 21 post season appearances, NCAA appearances in 2003 and 2005, four ECAC North/South Championship titles, and a New England Small College Athletic Conference Championship crown in 2003.
In 2004-05, Trinity qualified for its second NCAA Division III Championship Tournament and posted the program's first NCAA victory to advance to the NCAA final four.
Dunham's 441 career coaching victories placed him fourth among all active Division III coaches, fifth in Division III history, and 11th among all active coaches in all divisions, and 20th among all coaches in all divisions in wins.
Coach Dunham has many awards to his credit. In 2001, 2003,.and 2005 he was named NESCAC Coach of the year, and in 2003 and 2005 he was a finalist for the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Division III National Coach of the Year.
In 2009, he was selected to receive the Park-York Award by the New England Hockey Writers for his life long contribution to New England Hockey.
Most recently, he was presented the most prestigious John MacInnes Award by The American Hockey Coaches Association. Coach Dunham is scheduled to be inducted into the Brown University Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
"The appointment of Coach Dunham reflects our organization's commitment to assemble a quality professional management team that will provide the Rome area hockey fans with the best available talent in the Federal Hockey League. I had the privilege of playing for Coach Dunham while attending Trinity College and I consider it an honor to have the opportunity to work with an individual of his unique qualifications on a professional basis", stated Hall".
"I am excited to be reunited with one of my favorite hockey players in Brian Hall and to be a part of the Rome Frenzy at its inception as we seek to build a first class minor league hockey team for the Rome area," said Dunham.
The past and the future of professional hockey got together for a press conference, held at the Kennedy Arena in Rome, this morning to kick off "Phase 2" of its Inaugural Season Ticket Sales drive. Federal Hockey League commissioner Don Kirnan, Rome Frenzy Owner and General Manager, Brian Hall and team Vice President Sam Hall, were on hand to host the event and introduce three Rome "Hockey Legends!" Bill Fleet, Ron Townsend and Dave Townsend.
Fleet, Rome's former city Parks and Recreation commissioner, and former Rome Catholic High School Hockey Coach, joined fellow Roman's David and Ron Townsend, former Copper City Chiefs players and longtime Rome area hockey supporters to help support the new team.
All three were excited to discuss the past glory of professional hockey in the Copper City and talk about their efforts to be goodwill ambassadors who will support the efforts of the new league and team as they look to start a new hockey tradition in Rome.
( Ron Townsend, Dave Townsend, Bill Fleet at press conference for "Phase 2".)
Both Dave and Ron Townsend spent time regaling reporters about the good old days when they skated and banged the boards at the old Kennedy Arena.
Dave and Ron plan to do what they can to let people know that it is their mission to see that the great atmosphere and fan support is there when the puck drops for the Frenzy this fall.
The trio als0 were proud to tell those in attendance that they all skated for Rome Free Academy and longtime coach Charlie Dain. Fleet also coached high school hockey at Rome Catholic High and is looking forward to the start of a new hockey tradition in Rome in the form of the Frenzy.
The hockey legends entertained questions from the media regarding professional hockey in the Rome area from the past, present, and into the future. They shared their memories of their professional hockey exploits and the future of professional hockey in the Mohawk Valley.
An excited Brian Hall talked about the past and future of hockey in Rome. "The Rome Frenzy organization is very honored to have such area hockey legends find time in their hectic schedules to assist and mentor the growth of our professional hockey organization. Their support exemplifies the community's desire for professional hockey to be successful in the Rome area," stated Hall.
( Frenzy owner Brian Hall addresses media.)
Hall also spoke about the role the team will play in the community saying, "The Rome frenzy is dedicated to partnering with the community, local service organizations and local government for the betterment of the quality of life within the Rome, New York area."
Brian's dad, Sam, the Frenzy's Vice President, also spoke at today's press conference and said, "Today marks the beginning of phase two of the Frenzy's inaugural season ticket drive, it is our intent to provide the Rome, New York area with affordable, family oriented entertainment by producing the highest quality of single A level professional hockey available."
The Federal Hockey League will kick off its first season in November with six franchises already set to go. The Frenzy will play a 60 game schedule at Rome's Kennedy Arena, which had a $3 million renovation in 2008, including a new ice surface, bleachers,dressing rooms and arena lighting according to Bill Fleet, who oversaw the project.
( Sam Hall talks about season ticket sales and the Frenzy)
Commissioner Kirnan spoke this morning and talked about the new league's makeup telling the audience that along with Rome the Federal Hockey League will have teams based in Binghamton, New York, Danbury Connecticut, Brooklyn. New York, Thousand Islands, New York, and Akwesasne, Canada.
Kirnan also spoke about Rome saying,"The League is looking to the Rome franchise to carry on the outstanding hockey tradition this area is renowned for."
Kirnan also addressed the media about the talent pool that will provide players to the fledgling league, saying players would come from the collegiate ranks, which graduate approximately 600 players a year. No coaches have hired for the teams as of yet, and rosters will be stocked after other leagues have completed their training camps.
Fans wanting to purchase season tickets or find out more about the Frenzy can do so by calling 315-588-1117 or log on to the team's website @ http://www.theromefrenzy.com/. To contact the team by e-mail please use this address: tickets@theromefrenzy.com.
