Hockeytown?

We have a new hockey and skating venue in Findlay. It’s called the cube. The Hancock Rec Center was taken over by the city and has undergone a $2 million renovation. I haven’t been out there yet but I hear it’s pretty nice.

I understood why the University of Findlay built their hockey arena, they were forming a team and they needed a place to play. I wasn’t surprised hockey didn’t last at UF. Sure we have youth hockey in the area but this isn’t Detroit or Canada and people just aren’t as interested in hockey and don’t grow up playing hockey like they do in other places.

In addition to the ribbon cutting at The Cube yesterday, they announced that Findlay is getting a professional hockey team. The Findlay Freedom will be a Class A team in the North Eastern Hockey League. I just can’t see it flying. I guess all the negative experiences we’ve had with these minor league teams saying one thing and doing another have jaded me over the past 5 years.

The Findlay Wolfpack was going to play hockey here too I think in 2004. But the league folded and the team skipped out on it’s obligations and left town before a puck even dropped at Klauss Arena or HRC. It was a joke.

Then there was Dean Schoenwald and the Ohio Professional Basketball League. They were going to put a franchise in Findlay and were going to play at either FHS or, a laugh aloud when I even say it, the old skating rink, which is now the Jim May Auto Center just off of Twp. Rd. 99 and I-75. That never materialized either even though the organizers of the league charged $50 per player for tryouts across Ohio and never put any league together. I think it was all a scam.

So I’m taking a wait and see approach to the Findlay Freedom. We’ll see if they ever drop a puck and play in Findlay.

NOTEWORTHY:
-- If you check out The Courier website on Friday nights we update the final scores of area games as they come in.

-- Anyone reading the blog…drop me a line and tell me what you think or leave me some feedback. If no one is reading the blog…I’ll cut it back.

NEWSWORTHY:
Pro hockey coming to Findlay
Findlay Courier sports roundup
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Mother at Lorain Clearview not allowed to “save” her seats
Pandora-Gilboa celebrates 50th homecoming game tonight
Mansfield News Journal prep roundup
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Upper Sandusky-Columbian preview
Hopewell-Loudon beats 2nd ranked Stockaders
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Clarett apology read in court