Blazers Skate Out of Oklahoma City

[USRufnex]

Bob Funk Jr. 'has made his own name'
BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO, Staff Writer, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Published: July 12, 2009
http://newsok.com/bob-funk-jr.-has-made-his-own-name/article/3384758

And as the city kept growing, thoughts of placing an AHL team in Oklahoma City kept growing.

"The thought itself has been on my radar for quite a while. Did I think it would be a reality? Honestly, I'm taking a shot in the dark," Funk said. "I think we have a good opportunity in front of us.

"I've been thinking about this ever since the sports environment changed in Oklahoma City. It has matured as a market since we bought the team nine years ago."

That led to AHL Hockey Club, LLC, a company formed 14 months ago by Funk and Oklahoma City-based attorney Armand Paliotta.

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Hmmm.  14 months ago?  Wasn't that pre-divorce?  Enquiring minds wanna know.... I wanna know.   

[Hoss]

Bob Funk Jr. 'has made his own name'
BY ROBERT PRZYBYLO, Staff Writer, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Published: July 12, 2009
http://newsok.com/bob-funk-jr.-has-made-his-own-name/article/3384758

And as the city kept growing, thoughts of placing an AHL team in Oklahoma City kept growing.

"The thought itself has been on my radar for quite a while. Did I think it would be a reality? Honestly, I'm taking a shot in the dark," Funk said. "I think we have a good opportunity in front of us.

"I've been thinking about this ever since the sports environment changed in Oklahoma City. It has matured as a market since we bought the team nine years ago."

That led to AHL Hockey Club, LLC, a company formed 14 months ago by Funk and Oklahoma City-based attorney Armand Paliotta.

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Hmmm.  14 months ago?  Wasn't that pre-divorce?  Enquiring minds wanna know.... I wanna know.   

They've been talking about this in hockey circles down there for at least that long.  Stemmed out of the failed attempt to move the IHL KC Blades to OKC (when the IHL was solvent and a farm system for the NHL).

[Laramie]

They've been talking about this in hockey circles down there for at least that long.  Stemmed out of the failed attempt to move the IHL KC Blades to OKC (when the IHL was solvent and a farm system for the NHL).

Bob Funk cashed in on an opportunity and he wanted to be the one to bring NHL, or AAA hockey back to Oklahoma City so that's why the KC Blades did not make it to Oklahoma City (Funk, purchased Blazers)  and it was a blessing because the whole league (IHL) failed.

The current ticket prices that Funk was charging to see the Central Hockey (Goon) League are comparable to the current AHL structure.  Unless, Funk prices himself out of the market; he will have Blazer diehearts and a year's rest (hiatus) to get it right.

It wouldn't surprise me to see the AHL average 11,000 its initial year in Oklahoma City unpon ice hockey's return; they will be playing in the 13,909-seat Cox Convention Center across from the Ford Center.    Potential rivals will be Houston, San Antonio (NBA cities), and Austin.

It wouldn't surprise me to see an AHL franchise relocate to one or both  Tulsa's BOK Center or Wichita's new 15,000-seat Intrust Bank Arena (currently under construction) and form the Golden Triangle (OKC-Tul-Wich), a threesome of cities which are arch-rivals.

Intrust Bank Arena Progress Link:  http://www.sedgwickcounty.org/arena/construction.asp

[Breadburner]

The CHL aint a goon leauge far from it these days......

[Hoss]

The CHL aint a goon leauge far from it these days......

Amen.  In the early days it WAS a goon league and did have skilled players.  Nowadays there are so many leagues that fight for AA level talent it's a crapshoot.

Hell, we had two former NHL players on the Oilers for three seasons or more (Craig Coxe, Mike Berger).  You barely get two in the entire league now.

[Breadburner]

Taylor hall played a few in the show as well........As did Sean Whyte....