Plymouth Whalers move north to Flint to begin 2015-16 season
Wednesday February 4, 2015
By Josh Sweetland/CHL
With the OHL Board of Governors’ approval of a Transfer of Ownership and Relocation Agreement on Monday, the Plymouth Whalers will be moving to Flint, Michigan to begin the 2015-16 season under the new ownership of Rolf Nilsen and IMS Hockey Corporation.
The Whalers franchise, that started out as the Detroit Ambassadors in 1990, has made strong contributions to the Ontario Hockey League in the development of NHL standouts such as 1995 first overall NHL Draft pick Bryan Berard, Nashville Predators winger James Neal and Dallas Stars centreman Tyler Seguin among many others. The Whalers won an OHL Championship in 2007 and are one of two teams in league history to win five consecutive division titles (1999-2003).
OHL Commissioner David Branch was quick to commend Whalers owner Peter Karmanos Jr. on his success and long-standing commitment to the Ontario Hockey League. “On behalf of the Ontario Hockey League and our Board of Governors I would like to acknowledge the contributions made by Peter Karmanos Jr. who has been a tremendous builder of our league for over 30 years and was instrumental in our first expansion to the United States.”
Karmanos, who has been the majority owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes since they were in Hartford in 1994, has been an active contributor to the OHL since 1984 when he owned the Windsor Spitfires. Karmanos brought OHL hockey to the United States with the Detroit Ambassadors in 1990, a footprint that has grown to include three American teams in the league today in the Erie Otters, Saginaw Spirit and the newly established Flint franchise.
Though one chapter ends on a story of unforgettable hockey memories in Plymouth, another opens in Flint; a city with deep hockey roots that has a long history with a nearby rival in Saginaw.
“The rivalry that we had back in the 70’s and 80’s between the Flint Generals and the Saginaw Gears, when there was great hockey in both communities, will once again be on display,” said Saginaw Spirit President Craig Goslin who also sits on the OHL’s Board of Governors.
The Flint Generals, who garnered a large following during their tenure in the Vehicle City from 1969-1985, played in the IHL and won a Turner Cup Championship in 1984. With the nearby Saginaw Gears just 45 minutes north on I-75, the two clubs formed quite a rivalry, one that is sure to be rekindled between Flint and Saginaw in the OHL next season. Like the Flint Generals before them, the new OHL franchise will play out of Perani Arena, a 4,000-plus seat facility located on the city’s east side.
“I can’t even tell you the amount of excitement that we’re feeling,” said President of IMS Hockey Corp. Costa Papista, a former General Manager of the Saginaw Spirit. “We took over the facility on December 30 and it’s been 100% positive. There has been a tremendous amount of support.”
With the team’s future now certain in Flint, the next step will be coming up with a name, something ownership is turning to the public for help with. A naming contest and season ticket campaign is now underway where fans and community members are invited to provide input on the team’s new identity. “I think anything is possible,” Papista told MLive’s Aaron McMann. “We’re going to get thousands of submissions and we’re going to get some amazing ideas none of us thought about. That’s the rationale behind having the contest: we’re going to get some amazing creativity.”
Fans can follow along with the OHL4Flint Campaign on Twitter and Facebook or visit online at www.ohl4flint.com.