AHL team in out-of-the-way Abbotsford not a done deal

Mark down 2008-09 for just such a double debate.

The first, a contentious debate over reducing its schedule to 72 games, ended with no approval and a lot of disagreement between the factions that supported or opposed it. And the issue may not be dead, given that those wanting the change came within a vote or two of the three-quarters majority required to implement it.

That same three-quarters majority is in play again, this time it's the number required to approve an expansion of AHL geography to Abbotsford, B.C.

League president and CEO Dave Andrews discussed with us the pros and cons about this possibility a month ago in his main headquarters office and is likely to receive the formal proposal this week if he didn't get it on Monday.

The league's board will then decide the matter by May 5.

And it's not the slam-dunk others have assumed it will be.

Given that only seven votes may be required to scuttle the Calgary Flames' proposal to move its AHL affiliate from Moline, Ill., into WHL territory just 45 minutes outside Vancouver, much coverage of this story has made far too many assumptions at this point.

We know several things about the proposal so far. The Flames have already moved to cut ties in Moline. Abbotsford has a new arena for about 7,000 fans. And the owners of Calgary's new farm team must be well-heeled -- the starting point for this conversation with the AHL is that a complete travel subsidy be in place for all teams that will visit. With some safe assumptions about schedule, airlines, hotels and buses, we know that number will be at least a half-million dollars per season, compounded by the fact that a new Abbotsford franchise will certainly have the most expensive travel budget in the league.

We also know it is laughable how Abbotsford's location is being described elsewhere -- as a 24-hour bus ride from Winnipeg. If such a bus in involved in this discussion, it's got bush league written all over it.

What is not known is whether AHL owners want, as Andrews put it, "a single flag in the ground that far away from the core of our league."

Knowing the frugality (p.c. word here) of some league franchises and the desire of so many in the east to spend as many nights as possible sleeping in their own beds, this debate and eventual vote will be anything but a formality.

And some league executives may want to know what Calgary's options are if this idea fails for a fourth different AHL home in seven years, since it appears on the surface to be a bridge burned in Moline.

One AHL executive with plenty of experience in distances and travel subsidies is Glenn Stanford, the former boss of the St. John's Maple Leafs who's now the president and governor of the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Stanford said on the weekend that he was surprised Calgary has signed this deal before it's been voted on by the AHL board.

"There's been nothing to the board yet and we haven't discussed it as a board," Stanford said. "We are aware, though, that it's out there."

Having not seen any proposal, Stanford said he couldn't give an opinion as to whether the Bulldogs favour it or not. But he can speak with authority about the hurdles.

"The travel, it's tough," he said. "And the time difference is a factor. A lot of this could potentially depend on being able to tie into trips west (to other teams). That might make sense but given the difficulty there is sometimes with building availability, I'm not sure how you can guarantee that kind of thing in advance."

The Manitoba Moose, who, it bears remembering, got into the league as part of a package deal and not on their own, were making some noises a while ago that they'd favour the concept of a team in Abbotsford, given that it's in the west and in Canada. But asked to comment now, team executives have retreated to mum, saying they need to study the proposal.

The relocation could be approved. It might even lead to new, expanded western footprint for the league.

But forget the rosy press this has received; all that's really known now is that the arm-twisting on a very tough sell has begun.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

Zack is back; Moose pray Pope a blessing

The Manitoba Moose arrived Monday in Rochester, N.Y., where they continue their six-game road trip on Wednesday.

Moose coach Scott Arniel said Monday that injured defenceman Zack FitzGerald, out since Feb. 11, will rejoin the team today and is a likely candidate to return to the lineup by the weekend.

With their current injury situation -- five regulars still missing -- the Moose are also expected to bring in forward Matt Pope for a look. Pope, who will be signed to pro tryout, had scored 30 goals with the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors and had played four games with Binghamton.

The 24-year-old pro rookie from Langley, B.C., played four seasons at Bemidji State.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 17, 2009 B7