CHL Hockey

pivalleygirl · Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:08 am Avalanche's old affiliate folds

7/1/2006 4:00:00 AM Email this article • Print this article
Former minor league affiliate of Avalanche folds

By BRAD FUQUA
The Daily Courier

The former minor league hockey affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche ceased operations Friday, the club announced on its Web site.

The San Diego Gulls were in negotiations to sell the club to a new ownership group but the transaction did not materialize in the necessary timeframe as planned.

"This has been a very difficult process for myself, my family and the Gulls staff," outgoing owner Ron Han said. "The Gulls tradition is longstanding within this community and I would love to see hockey return to San Diego in the future."

The Gulls still promoted themselves on their Web site as the "proud affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche." Earlier this month, the Avalanche restructured their affiliate lineup by signing an agreement with the Central Hockey League's Arizona Sundogs.

"We felt that the continuity of our program here was a good fit and are excited about what the future holds and what we can develop," Colorado director of player development Craig Billington said at the Sundogs' "Topping Off" ceremony on June 10. "I'm not disappointed with San Diego at all; it was a good working relationship and I know they feel the same. This was just an opportunity to move in another direction that we feel would strengthen our prospects and development process."

Hahn had reported last week that the he and his partners were in serious negotiations with prospective ownership groups that would keep the Gulls in operation for 2006-07 and beyond.

But that all came crashing down this week.

"We were deep into negotiations with a couple of solid groups; however there was simply not enough time to move forward for this season," Hahn said.

Arena update

The Prescott Valley Convention and Events Center, which will serve as the home venue for the expansion Sundogs, nears completion on the roof.

According to the team's Web site, framing is under way in the "back-of-house" areas, which includes dressing rooms and the star/green rooms.

"Work crews are also moving ahead on the north and west concourse areas, with lavatories and concession stands beginning to take shape," a release on the arena's progress reads. "The base floor has also been laid for the suite concourse, including arena and hockey operations offices."

In addition, steel work including doors, windows, and roofing is closing in on its 12-week deadline in order to be dried-in before the arrival of summer monsoons.

The ice rink will remain dirt through the summer to accommodate the presence of heavy equipment in the arean's interior.

Coach on TV

Arizona Sundogs coach Marco Pietroniro appeared as a co-host for AZ-TV's "AM Arizona" with Tonya Mock on Monday morning of this week.

Pietroniro stepped in for the show's other regular co-host, Lew Rees of Fain Signature Group. AZ-TV is located on cable's channel 7.

Pietroniro, who doubles as the franchise's general manager, has been very active this month in the public relations arena. In mid-June, he took part in the fifth annual Champions for Charity fund-raising event at Harkins Theater in Prescott Valley.

At that event, Pietroniro watched movies for 24 hours to help raise money for Prevent Child Abuse Arizona.

"With my wife Carolina and I being the parents of five boys, child abuse prevention is an issue that we care deeply about," Pietroniro said on the Sundogs' Web site. "When we first were approached with this opportunity, there was no question in my mind that we would be involved."

gorillakido · Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:09 pm

same thing happened to there arena football team. i guess san diego just isnt the place for minor league sports