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Post by Tom on Jan 5, 2021 9:07:39 GMT -5
Random FYI for those who care
2 COVID related stories came out yesterday regarding minor league hockey in the Bay State
1) The Springfield Thunderbirds (St Louis Blues' AHL team) has cancelled their season. They are still an active member of the AHL and plan to play in 2021-22, but have voluntarily decided to sit this season out
2) The Providence Bruins have been thrown out of the Providence Civic Center because it is going to be transformed to a field hospital. They will be playing in a big multi rink facility used by lots of high schools and junior hockey teams in Marlborough MA (a small city about 15-20 minutes from downtown Worcester)
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Post by gks on Jan 5, 2021 11:02:18 GMT -5
The owner of the Providence Bruins also owns the New England Sports Center in Marlborough (the mentioned big multi rink facility). I think the place has 7 or 8 ice sheets. Very large, very busy facility.
Interesting to see where the team will practice.
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Post by thecrossisback on Jan 5, 2021 11:13:11 GMT -5
Up to 10 rinks now. I also think he owns the hotel across the street.
They will play in Rink 1 which is the only real looking arena.
They had some World Junior games there in 1996.
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AHL in MA
Jan 5, 2021 16:34:05 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by longsuffering on Jan 5, 2021 16:34:05 GMT -5
Hmmm. If not for the Railers one might think Central Mass was inching closer to stealing RI's AHL hockey team as well as their AAA baseball team. I wonder if the Railers were required to OK this move into their territory, which I'm sure they would during a national crisis, or if hockey doesn't work the same as organized baseball with protected territories, or if Marlborough is in the same territory as Providence like Worcester and Pawtucket are for baseball?
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Post by thecrossisback on Jan 5, 2021 16:59:17 GMT -5
Hmmm. If not for the Railers one might think Central Mass was inching closer to stealing RI's AHL hockey team as well as their AAA baseball team. I wonder if the Railers were required to OK this move into their territory, which I'm sure they would during a national crisis, or if hockey doesn't work the same as organized baseball with protected territories, or if Marlborough is in the same territory as Providence like Worcester and Pawtucket are for baseball? Railers are in ECHL and they have canceled their season. Providence is in the AHL
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Post by longsuffering on Jan 5, 2021 20:39:35 GMT -5
Hmmm. If not for the Railers one might think Central Mass was inching closer to stealing RI's AHL hockey team as well as their AAA baseball team. I wonder if the Railers were required to OK this move into their territory, which I'm sure they would during a national crisis, or if hockey doesn't work the same as organized baseball with protected territories, or if Marlborough is in the same territory as Providence like Worcester and Pawtucket are for baseball? Railers are in ECHL and they have canceled their season. Providence is in the AHL Thanks.
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Post by Tom on Jan 6, 2021 14:28:43 GMT -5
I don't think hockey works like that. It wasn't that long ago there were AHL franchises in Worc, Providence, Springfield, and Hartford (not to mention Lowell and Manchester)All kind of close proximity
The only thing the Railers had was a now expired right of refusal for the Centrum's ice which wouldn't apply because the Prov Bruins aren't using the Centrum
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Post by DiMarz on Jan 6, 2021 20:32:19 GMT -5
New England Sports Center is the largest ice sports venue for hockey, figure skating, and public skating in North America...The owner of the Prov. Bruins also owns the New England Sports center.....
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