USHL awards hockey franchise to Bruce Zoldan for Chevy Centre

A big disappointment to all the fans that wanted to see professional, or 'semi-professional' hockey at the Chevrolet Centre. We have seen junior hockey struggle to get 1000 per game, while pro/semi-pro got 3000 per game.

Attendance won't change. I am a huge advocate for Youngstown, but this is something that will not work at the Chevy Centre.

Sorry, my money will stick with YSU Sports.

Nope will not support it. And judging by the Phantoms attendance I think many people feel the same way.

Give it up Red. How many times have you seen the number one or number two draft picks in the NHL play in a Hounds game (either for or against)? Both Eric Johnson and Phil Kessel have played at the Chevy Centre in a Junior A game against the Phantoms. Numerous Phantom players are now at major college programs including Notre Dame, Michigan and Michigan State. A player from last years team, Alden Hirshfeld, played for Miami in the NCAA championship game this year. The Hound players were a bunch of has been's, never were's and never will be's that haven't figured out that it's time to move on and get a big boy job. That brand of hockey was a joke. The first "fight" ever at the Chevy Centre had the spotlight on the two fighters before the puck was even dropped (yeah, that wasn't choreographed for the fans to spike interest). The game was slower and less skilled than a lot of Midget Major programs out there. They were more like WWE wrestling than hockey. If you want professional hockey, go to Cleveland to see the Monsters of the AHL or Columbus to watch the Jackets of the NHL. If you want semipro, the Wheeling Nailers are not too far away. If the product was so great, why did the attendance average per game drop from a little over 4000 for the 05-05 season to 3300 in 07-08? The Phantoms attendance average has been growing every year, and almost doubled when they make the jump to the Chevy Centre. With the announcement of the new league affiiliation and a new marketing plan, the numbers will only increase with or without your presence. If you don't want to support them, that's fine. Just quit speaking for all of Youngstown...at least until you learn the diference between real hockey and a gong show.

Go Pens.

You all are ridiculous! Enough complaining about whether or not we have hockey downtown or what type of team we have in what league.. It is what it is. Personally i'm surprised the city allowed Mr. Zoldan to let his team play downtown again considering he's his OWN business man, using his OWN money to run the team, making his OWN decisions, and not allowing the city to be in control of what he does or borrowing and failing to pay back millions of dollars like Washington. Seems to me the city has a personal issue with Zoldan just not in this situation but in the situation of him offering MORE money for the naming rights of the arena then Covelli. The city gave up thounsands of dollars to go with the deal of Covelli instead of the offer of Zoldan. The phantoms, which Mr. Zoldan has now in the NAHL league has devoted fans that made the move from the Ice Zone in Boardman to the Chevy downtown. They've been to the Championship game for the league the last few years, this year is no exception, and some of the top players in college hockey have come from this team. The people in this town refuse to give them a chance which is why they continue to not have the attendance at their games. At least Mr. Zoldan has the passion for keeping hockey in the area and giving kids a chance to show there skills and give them the chance to grow as well.
Unlike the previous team that has failed here, the Steelhounds, which might I add was a semi pro team and still couldn't bring in any money what so ever, this USHL league has a lot of potential to do great things here. The hockey is hardly any different minus the Steelhound girls, and the fighting just to fight, and the clear entertainment aspect of the game. In the USHL league there are kids who recieve the chance to play college hockey, and as you've read in other posts, possibly even go to the pros. The kids that play in this league deserve better from the people in this town and they deserve to be given a chance. So suck it up, go see some hockey and then decide how you feel about it. This league isn't as bad as everyone is making it out to be.

Just bring back the Steelhounds and we will all be happy. The attendance was getting better every year. They Just need better managment.