Sources say the Moose are projecting a $4 million loss this season. MacLean will have a 50 per cent interest in the Winnipeg venture. His partners are Jeff Thompson-CEO of a Canadian sports apparel licensee-plus Mark Chipman, president of an automotives firm, and former NHLer Thomas Steen. The move is effective next season.
The following THN Archive story by Dave Eminian takes an early look at the eventual move of the Minnesota Moose to Manitoba following the departure of the Winnipeg Jets in the mid 1990s.
(You can read all of THN’s new Archive by subscribing to the magazine.)
Moose Receive Approval to Transfer to Winnipeg
December 22, 1995 – Vol. 49, Issue 15
By Dave Eminian
"The International League followed a sub-committee recommendation by approving the Minnesota Moose for a franchise move to Winnipeg.
Moose owner Kevin MacLean was competing for the territory with Peoria Rivermen owner Bruce Saurs. Both had pending sales to investment groups in Winnipeg.
The Moose were chosen Dec. 7 because of damage to their market viability from ongoing rumors of the NHL Jets’ move to Minneapolis.
The Jets are likely bound for Phoenix, which would displace the IHL Roadrunners. Sources say the Roadrunners joined the Dec. 7 conference call and made an eleventh-hour plea to be given the vacant Winnipeg territory.
“It was a difficult situation,” said Indianapolis Ice GM Ray Compton, part of the four-member sub-committee. “We’re fond of all three markets. I think this critical situation is very sad. The Midwest corridor is crucial to this league.
“Not only are we being threatened at the lower end by the possibility of (small-market teams) Peoria and Kalamazoo leaving, but at the top end by the NHL displacing us.
“Maybe what’s happening is a reality check. Maybe the league needs to be realistic about our goals and know there’s a ceiling out there.”
Sources say the Moose are projecting a $4 million loss this season. MacLean will have a 50 per cent interest in the Winnipeg venture. His partners are Jeff Thompson-CEO of a Canadian sports apparel licensee-plus Mark Chipman, president of an automotives firm, and former NHLer Thomas Steen. The move is effective next season.
“When the Jets’ issue is resolved, I will work hard to bring a new IHL franchise to Minnesota under local ownership,” said MacLean, who lives in California. “Local ownership will have advantages I could not bring to the Moose.”
The Rivermen are projecting a $2.3-million loss if their 4,500 per game attendance doesn’t improve.
Saurs had feelers from three possible local buyers as the vote to block his proposed move was announced Dec. 7. He says he’ll also accept a non-local buyer.
“I think my group (with Winnipeg real estate developers Sandy and Robert Shindleman) would have done the best job in Winnipeg, but obviously the league didn’t agree,” Saurs said.
CASE DELAYED: The sexual assault case against Brian Wiseman of the Chicago Wolves and another man ended in a mistrial when new evidence was brought forward just before legal arguments began.
The men, both from southwestern Ontario, were charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl in 1991. A jury had been selected for the case against Wiseman and his friend Cory Beausejour before it was called off Dec. 5.
New evidence was presented from the Crown Dec. 4. When defense lawyer Bruce Thomas argued for more time to prepare, Justice John Kerr declared a mistrial. A new trial is expected for February in Ontario Court’s general division.
I-OPENERS: Three-time IHL top defenseman Jim Burton was released by Phoenix Nov. 30 and will play in Austria… The Fort Wayne Komets cut enforcer Steve Fletcher, who is 15th on the IHL’s all-time penalty minute list with 1,745…Cleveland Lumberjacks’ winger Dave Michayluk had a three-point game Nov. 30 to pass Chick Chalmers and move into third on the all-time point list with 1,237… The Cincinnati Cyclones had a team record 10-game win streak end Dec. 2 with a 3-2 loss to the Atlanta Knights… Minnesota traded suspended defenseman Bryan Fogarty to the Detroit Vipers for defenseman Alexander Godynyuk… Las Vegas Thunder center Todd Simon was player of the month for November with 24 points in 13 games. He had seven multiple-point games to take over the IHL scoring lead… Cincinnati’s Danny Lorenz was goalie of the month with a 6-0-0 record, 1.85 goals-against and 93.3 save percentage. ■