Florida Seals: Difference between revisions
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The '''Florida Seals''' was a minor league [[ice hockey]] franchise, a member of the [[Southern Professional Hockey League]] (SPHL). Originally the Orlando Seals based in [[Orlando, Florida]], they later moved to [[Kissimmee, Florida]], a suburb thirty miles south of Orlando in [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola County]]. The Seals were one of eight minor league hockey teams purchased or founded by real estate mogul David Waronker starting in 2003. By January 2007 all but one of those teams had ceased operations. At the time the Seals ceased operations Waronker was reported to have sold the team to an ownership group led by [[Bill Lucia]]. |
The '''Florida Seals''' was a minor league [[ice hockey]] franchise, a member of the [[Southern Professional Hockey League]] (SPHL). Originally the Orlando Seals based in [[Orlando, Florida]], they later moved to [[Kissimmee, Florida]], a suburb thirty miles south of Orlando in [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola County]]. The Seals were one of eight minor league hockey teams purchased or founded by real estate mogul David Waronker starting in 2003. By January 2007 all but one of those teams had ceased operations. At the time the Seals ceased operations Waronker was reported to have sold the team to an ownership group led by [[Bill Lucia]]. |
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The team was formed as the Orlando Seals, and played its first season beginning in October 2002 with the [[Atlantic Coast Hockey League]] (ACHL). The Seals original staff was made up of owner Jeff Brubaker and four former Orlando Solar Bears employees, Sammy Wallace, Joe Fellini, Matt Reese and John Dyer. The Seals were the winners of that league's first and only President's Cup in 2003 as well as the Commissioner's Cup as regular season champions. When the ACHL folded, they and two other teams, the [[Jacksonville Barracudas]] and the [[Macon Trax]], merged into the new [[World Hockey Association 2]] (WHA2), founded by Waronker |
The team was formed as the Orlando Seals, and played its first season beginning in October 2002 with the [[Atlantic Coast Hockey League]] (ACHL). The Seals original staff was made up of owner Jeff Brubaker and four former Orlando Solar Bears employees, Sammy Wallace, Joe Fellini, Matt Reese and John Dyer. The Seals were the winners of that league's first and only President's Cup in 2003 as well as the Commissioner's Cup as regular season champions. The Seals swept both Macon and Knoxville in the playoffs to win the championship. That first year's team included four former NHL players, Zac Boyer, David Goverde, Chris LiPuma and Terry Ryan and was coached by former Tampa Bay Lightning player Stan Drulia. The team's celebration event, held at Wall Street in downtown Orlando, drew hundreds of fans to celebrate the city's second hockey championship. When the ACHL folded, they and two other teams, the [[Jacksonville Barracudas]] and the [[Macon Trax]], merged into the new [[World Hockey Association 2]] (WHA2), founded by Waronker and longtime Canadian hockey man Peter Young. Joe Fellini, who finished the first season as GM moved up the the league office to work with Young and Brian Fling, a former Disney World Sports employee, took over as GM of the Seals. The staff was rounded out with Ryan Morris and John Henry. Fling was later replaced by the recently retired LiPuma as GM. After the 2003-2004 season, the [[New World Hockey Association|World Hockey Association]] served a [[cease-and-desist]] order on the WHA2 and it merged with teams from the competing [[South East Hockey League]] (SEHL) to form the [[Southern Professional Hockey League]] (SPHL). |
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The Orlando Seals were scheduled to play in the 2004-2005 SPHL season, but on August 22, 2004, the City of Orlando revoked its lease at the [[TD Waterhouse Centre]] due to a clause stating the team put the city in a negative light, causing them to miss the season. On October 19, 2004, the ownership group announced a new three-year lease with the [[Silver Spurs Arena]] in Kissimmee. The team resumed play in the 2005-2006 season, hosting their first home game against the Jacksonville Barracudas on [[October 29]], [[2005]]. The Seals finished the 2005-06 season with a 32-17 record with seven overtime losses, placing third in the league, but lost the President's Cup to the [[Knoxville Ice Bears]] in four games out of five. |
The Orlando Seals were scheduled to play in the 2004-2005 SPHL season, but on August 22, 2004, the City of Orlando revoked its lease at the [[TD Waterhouse Centre]] due to a clause stating the team put the city in a negative light, causing them to miss the season. On October 19, 2004, the ownership group announced a new three-year lease with the [[Silver Spurs Arena]] in Kissimmee. The team resumed play in the 2005-2006 season, hosting their first home game against the Jacksonville Barracudas on [[October 29]], [[2005]]. The Seals finished the 2005-06 season with a 32-17 record with seven overtime losses, placing third in the league, but lost the President's Cup to the [[Knoxville Ice Bears]] in four games out of five. |
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Revision as of 16:47, 21 February 2007
The Florida Seals was a minor league ice hockey franchise, a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). Originally the Orlando Seals based in Orlando, Florida, they later moved to Kissimmee, Florida, a suburb thirty miles south of Orlando in Osceola County. The Seals were one of eight minor league hockey teams purchased or founded by real estate mogul David Waronker starting in 2003. By January 2007 all but one of those teams had ceased operations. At the time the Seals ceased operations Waronker was reported to have sold the team to an ownership group led by Bill Lucia.
The team was formed as the Orlando Seals, and played its first season beginning in October 2002 with the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL). The Seals original staff was made up of owner Jeff Brubaker and four former Orlando Solar Bears employees, Sammy Wallace, Joe Fellini, Matt Reese and John Dyer. The Seals were the winners of that league's first and only President's Cup in 2003 as well as the Commissioner's Cup as regular season champions. The Seals swept both Macon and Knoxville in the playoffs to win the championship. That first year's team included four former NHL players, Zac Boyer, David Goverde, Chris LiPuma and Terry Ryan and was coached by former Tampa Bay Lightning player Stan Drulia. The team's celebration event, held at Wall Street in downtown Orlando, drew hundreds of fans to celebrate the city's second hockey championship. When the ACHL folded, they and two other teams, the Jacksonville Barracudas and the Macon Trax, merged into the new World Hockey Association 2 (WHA2), founded by Waronker and longtime Canadian hockey man Peter Young. Joe Fellini, who finished the first season as GM moved up the the league office to work with Young and Brian Fling, a former Disney World Sports employee, took over as GM of the Seals. The staff was rounded out with Ryan Morris and John Henry. Fling was later replaced by the recently retired LiPuma as GM. After the 2003-2004 season, the World Hockey Association served a cease-and-desist order on the WHA2 and it merged with teams from the competing South East Hockey League (SEHL) to form the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL).
The Orlando Seals were scheduled to play in the 2004-2005 SPHL season, but on August 22, 2004, the City of Orlando revoked its lease at the TD Waterhouse Centre due to a clause stating the team put the city in a negative light, causing them to miss the season. On October 19, 2004, the ownership group announced a new three-year lease with the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. The team resumed play in the 2005-2006 season, hosting their first home game against the Jacksonville Barracudas on October 29, 2005. The Seals finished the 2005-06 season with a 32-17 record with seven overtime losses, placing third in the league, but lost the President's Cup to the Knoxville Ice Bears in four games out of five.
Suspension of Operation
- On January 1, 2007, the team returned from a road trip to find that their furnished housing was no longer available.
- On January 3, 2007, the phone number for the team office had been disconnected.
- On January 4, 2007, the Silver Spurs Arena issued the following statement:
FLORIDA SEALS LOCKED OUT OF SILVER SPURS ARENA
Osceola Heritage Park/SMG announced today that the Florida Seals will not be permitted to host any more of their hockey games at the Silver Spurs Arena due to their failure to meet their contractual obligations. The first game to be canceled is tomorrow, Friday, January 5.
Patrons looking for refunds, please go to point of purchase.
- On January 5, 2007, the SPHL Board of Governors voted to suspend the Florida Seals from league operations. The players were then subject to a dispersal draft among the seven remaining SPHL franchises. The SPHL issued the following statement:
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Southern Professional Hockey League received notice early on the evening of January 4, 2007 that the Florida Seals would not be allowed to host any future hockey games in the Silver Spurs Arena. The entire post from Osceola Heritage Park (www.ohpark.com) reads as follows:
“Osceola Heritage Park/SMG announced today that the Florida Seals will not be permitted to host any more of their hockey games at the Silver Spurs Arena due to their failure to meet their contractual obligations. The first game to be canceled is tomorrow, Friday, January 5. Patrons looking for refunds, please go to point of purchase.”
An emergency Board of Governors Meeting was called for 9:00AM Friday morning to discuss options and determine the best course of action for the League. After hearing reports from the Director of Hockey Operations, the Chairman of the Board, and former Seals Head Coach Tommy Stewart, it was obvious that the season was not salvageable for the Seals.
The Board then unanimously decided to terminate its affiliation with Orlando Professional Hockey, Inc. (dba Florida Seals) and move forward in making any and all changes necessary to the league schedule. It is expected that the full replacement schedule will be approved at the Winter Meetings on January 15, 2007.
“This situation is very unfortunate for all involved, but the circumstances are beyond our control,” SPHL Chairman of the Board, Keith Jeffries, said. “We as a Board are unified and confident in the overall stability of the remaining teams and the League as a whole. We know we will move through this and come out stronger on the other side. While we are disappointed in this latest development with the Seals we now have complete control of the league and where we go from here is completely up to us.”
Kevin MacNaught, Managing Partner of the Fayetteville FireAntz and Vice Chairman of the Board agrees and said, “The Board will now refocus our efforts to grow this league, as we have for the last two years, in the right cities and with the right owners.”
The Board reconvened at 3:00PM today and held a one-round dispersal draft with each team picking one player. All players not selected in the dispersal draft are free agents. The draft was held in reverse order of the standings based on winning percentage. Here are the selections in order they were taken:
- Pee Dee Cyclones – Justin Keller
- Jacksonville Barracudas – Lawne Snyder
- Fayetteville FireAntz – Rob Sich
- Richmond Renegades – Matt Balser
- Columbus Cottonmouths – Chad Haacke
- Knoxville Ice Bears – Craig Geerlinks
- Huntsville Havoc – Craig Miller
Championships
| Year | League | Trophy |
|---|---|---|
| 2002-2003 | ACHL | President's Cup |
The mascot of the Florida Seals is Sealvester. He wears a jersey emblazoned with the number "05".