Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 34

D2 The Edmonton Journal, Saturday, October 25, 1 997 Oiler fans bitterly disappointed about possible move south BILL MAH Journal Staff Writer FEEL BETFSMiP' John py Short I -ftV' sprts 'TZs Comment Time has come for Puck to go I Ed Kaiser, The Journal People who pay to see the Edmonton Oilers the fans are not too happy about the team possibly leaving town Edmonton Some of the Edmonton Oilers' biggest fans are in no mood to cheer a deal that could send their team south in three years. Season-ticket holders contacted on Friday said they were resigned to the fact their team was as good as gone if a handshake deal to sell the team to the owner of the Houston Rockets goes ahead. Longtime supporter Bob Brown loves the Oilers so much, he sold 60 pairs of season's tickets last summer to help the team qualify for a $7-million NHL handout by more than doubling its long-term fan basa "I feel betrayed. I'm bitter that it's going through so quickly after (Pocklington) getting his deal," said the owner of Battery Electric Manufacturing and Service Brown has little faith that strong profits over the next three years will keep the team in Edmonton. "You and I both know what people can do with numbers." Another self-described Oiler booster, Rob Steinhubl is blunt "We're going to lose the Oilers and to an American, to top it off.

If I bought something, I wouldn't want to keep it 3,000 miles away" Steinhubl has shared season's tickets with his brother for six years but now vows not to let himself be jilted by a team destined to leave "If this deal were to be passed tomorrow, I can guarantee I'm going to cancel my tickets. It's kind of hard for me to care when you know they're going to begone." Under the terms of the reported $85- going to be in trouble" He blasted Pocklington for what he calls a string of broken promises. "They said if they got 13,000 seats, the Oilers could stay here. If we rebuilt the Coliseum, the Oilers would stay here. All that's been done, what more do we have to do?" Mayor Bill Smith should step in to ensure the team stays, Deford said.

Former Gasland owner Cal Nichols, the man who led last season's drive to save the Oilers, refused to comment on the deal. But the man who led the Friends of the Oilers hinted he is involved in Oiler negotiations. "I'm bound by some confidentiality agreements that basically prohibit it. I have good reason, which I can't even mention. It would not be helpful to the cause." "I don't personally know if there's anybody around who wants to spend their money looking after the Oilers." He predicts the team will leave in three years but says he'll remain an Oiler fan until then.

Another businessman who spent last summer soliciting support for the Oilers also doesn't hold out much hope. "My reaction is if the out-of-town buyer buys it it's a matter of time and there'll be no more Edmonton Oilers," said contractor Tony Deford. "It's typical, typical, typical. It's just Winnipeg, only dragged out longer." Deford has befriended many Oiler players over the past few years and has celebrated Stanley Cup victories with them in the locker room. Now he says those glory days are long gone.

"Both Alberta teams are million US deal between Oilers owner Peter Pocklington and Les Alexander, the National Hockey League team will stay in Edmonton for a minimum of three years. Whether it stays or not depends on whether it makes a profit during that time But Steinhubl's brother Doug doesn't buy it. He predicts the Oilers will leave under American ownership profit or not "Would I continue being a fan? Probably not Not with what Hartford and Winnipeg went through, cheering for a team and a dream and having it pulled out from under you," said the safety company employee Season-ticket holder Don Braid doubts local buyers could succeed competing against richer markets. Coach Siciliano bumped off Ice RAY TURCHANSKY Journal Hockey Writer In Out WHO'S OUT: Dave Siciliano, 51 from Thunder Bay, Ont. Hockey: Player-coach, 1975 Allan Cup champs.

uoacn, iaa and 1992 Centennial Cup champs. Assistant coach, 1993 Canadian juniors, world junior champs. Hired as Ice head coach, Jan. 15, 1996. Ice record: I81B2 WM including: -'ftg including: Same old, same old.

Once again, Peter Pocklington or an unidentified source described as "close to Pocklington" has anounced a deal to sell the Edmonton Oilers and turned full circle almost immediately Less than 24 hours after reporters were encouraged to report that a news conference detailing the transaction would be conducted before or after the Oilers' game Friday with the Pittsburgh Penguins, word somehow escaped from the team's inner sanctum that the meeting had been cancelled. If you haven't seen the same act previously presented in almost exactly the same way please raise your hand. This time Pocklington, the franchise-holder of record, has selected Leslie Alexander as his target, er, colleague Only four years ago, Pocklington bestowed similar favours upon wealthy men andor politicians in Hamilton, Nashville, Minneapolis and perhaps a few other communities that escape my memory at the moment Could go either way This might, of course, turn out to be the deal that is, instead of the one that might have been. It might even turn out to benefit the community Pocklington professes to love but is obviously trying to sandbag. All an onlooker requires to believe Alexander wants a win-win for Edmonton and his own neighbourhood is a conviction that a wealthy man who calls Houston home but lives in Florida can possibly care about this obscure community in the Great White North.

Alexander, who owns the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association, has a league-wide reputation as a loose cannon. This does not make him unique in the lodge of sports owners, as we well know in this town. When Pocklington and Alexander next sit in the same room if they ever do there should be enough gunpowder to start an earthquake. The good news is that Alexander apparently has enough money to survive in a wild economic climate. Similar words cannot be securely written about the financial situation of the Edmonton-based loose cannon with whom he plans to continue negotiating.

It seems obvious that Edmonton's long-term NHL future would be more secure with local ownership than with an American in charge, but my concern over the potential loss of a franchise in the near future "three years at the earliest" is the interpretation being handed to reporters is eased by the likelihood that, at least, Pocklington will be gone before we lose the Oilers. Never will I forget his 1979 comment that a franchise is to be "held in trust for a community" Well, in case Pocklington doesn't yet realize it, the trust is gone. It disappeared on the first or fifth or 25th time that he went public with complaints that the town didn't deserve an NHL team or couldn't afford it or was lacking in some essential way Keep Puck out There are strong suggestions Alexander is being asked to buy the franchise at a price high enough to get Pocklington out from under all of his obligations to the Alberta Treasury Branch and potential tax difficulties. Then, the imaginative maintain, Alexander should find a way to keep Pocklington as a partner. It would be a terrible mistake.

If Alexander ever plans to build credibility here, it can only be done if Pocklington is removed from the scene. Years ago, an older reporter uttered a memorable quote while sitting in the Alberta legislature. "There is so much sport in politics and so much politicking in sport, you can't tell the difference anymore." Keeping that adage in mind, a political image presents itself. Near the start of the Second World War, Winston Churchill stood in the British House of Commons and hollered at inept Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain: "In God's name, go!" Pocklington often says he is a student of history If so, he is aware of those world-shaking circumstances. Today we're dealing with sports and business, not a real and painful world.

But the sentiment is equally apt Peter, in God's name, go! Edmonton Dave Siciliano ceased to be a sports cliche on Friday, now he's a nice guy no longer finishing last The 52-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont, was fired as head coach of the Edmonton Ice, after the club got off to an 0-9-1 start in the second WHL season for the franchise Assistant coach Ryan McGill, a Sherwood Park product who spent four years in the WHL and four in the NHL before an eye injury with the Edmonton Oilers ended his career, moves from assistant coach to interim head coach. Darryl Weinberger and Darrell May will be retained as assistants as the team plays Swift Current at 7 p.m. tonight and Prince Albert at 6 p.m. Sunday both games at the AgriCom. Siciliano had a 14-65-3 career record at the helm.

"I think he is a classy individual, but for whatever reason he didn't have the same success as he had before," said Ice general manager Ed Chynoweth. "You don't know how long you can go to try to get something turned around. Most people feel this team is better than last year." But Chynoweth served notice that the players are now on the hotseat to perform. "All 24 players on our hockey club should also be accountable for this decision." Siciliano was regarded as an excellent teacher, skilful at instructing the basics to younger players, but somehow unable to take many veterans to a higher level. The Ice will pay off the remainder of his two-year contract and not exercise the option for a third.

Having joined the club after being the general manager of community services for the city of Thunder Bay he had never been fired as a hockey coach before. "I've got a life in the public sector and a life in hockey or at least I had a life in both," said Siciliano, managing a laugh, after wishing the players well in the dressing room Friday. "So it's just a matter of looking at the options and seeing what we (he and wife Carol) would like to do. "At this point I've got a lot of contacts with people overseas who are in the game. If you've had success winning national championships, one bump in the road does not mean you're not good.

Nobody becomes poor overnight" A tough season-opening schedule and the team's inability to win close games it's 0-3-1 in overtime finally Two Edmonton Journalblue skys Limited Edition" Ffcrty inp Yaiii Pacta Aill IomiU 0vanii0 rnoa tmaA flt tfrtRH 04 Two tickets to the '97 Grey Cup Game Three nights accommodation for two in a downtown Edmonton hotel McGill 14-56-2 in 1 996- 97; 0-9-1 in 1997-98. WHO'S IN: Ryan McGill, 28, from Sherwood Park. Playing careen WHL, 1985-89, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Swift Current; NHL, 1991-95, Chicago, Philadelphia, Edmonton. Coaching: Edmonton Ice, assistant, 1996-present; interim Ice head coach, Oct. 24, 1997.

Darryl Weinberger and Darrell May retained as assistants. did him in. "I guess you have to take responsibility with regards to the record, an 0-9-1 start," said Siciliano. "We didn't play against too many teams that didn't have a winning record. But when I look at the individuals and I see the progress of some of the veterans and rookies, I am quite pleased and proud of how far they've come since I had them last year.

And when you've got four 16-year-olds who are able to be in your top 13 players, I think that's pretty positive, too. "The WHL is a great league. I just can't say enough about it. I enjoyed working with Ed Chynoweth; he's a very honest fair person. "I do wish the team luck and Ryan McGill in particular, if his demeanour can make the team perform better, then so be it There's a lot of great kids there and I know their time will come" Players had a variety of reactions.

"I don't know how to deal with it right now," said Jason Norrie, who went from being almost exclusively a pugilist to an 18-goal scorer last season. "He gave me a chance to play He took me from a fourth-line player to a second- or third-line player." The veterans know the spotlight's on them to produce now. "He was in a tough situation; he wasn't coming in here to coach the New York Rangers or Colorado Avalanche," said captain John Kachux "Hopefully there's a new attitude coming to the rink now. There's been a lot of finger-pointing. We had to get a new beginning." 1 i iwo vicKevs me urey uip uaparet ana Yjj 1 Calgary Hoe-Down parties Two tickets to the Northwestern Utilities Football Experience Two secondary prizes (including two tickets to the '97 Grey Cup Game and two T-Shirts) will also XMv te awarded.

Councillors expecting the worst Lam ALLYSON JEFFS Civic Affairs Writer ENTER TO WIN TODAY! Clip and mail this entry form to The Edmonton Journal "Party in Your Parka Contest" at P. O. Box 2421, Edmonton, AB T5J 2S6 or drop it off in person at The Journal 10006 -101 Street. Name Address Edmonton for a minimum of three years. If the Oilers make money during that time, the team would stay indefinitely If the team loses money it would move to Houston at the end of the three-year period.

But some councillors say not so fast "I certainly wouldn't vote to give council permission for that deal," said Brian Mason, who says an agreement between the city, Economic Development Edmonton and Northlands gives a local buyer the option to purchase the team for $70 million US. Mason says if at all possible, he'd like to see that happen. Edmonton Some city councillors fear a deal to sell the Oilers to Les Alexander of Houston will be the first step in moving the team south. "It's the beginning of the end if this happens," said Coun. Michael Phair.

"The chances of them staying in Edmonton for longer than the minimum (amount of time) would be very unlikely" Alexander is reportedly attempting to purchase the team for about $85 million US and planning to keep it in City Province- Postal Code Phone (res) (bus) Rules Entrants mint be 18 years or older. Prizes must be accepted as awarded. Winners must correctly answer a skill testing question. Entries must be received by Tuesday, November 4 at 4:30 p.m to be eligible for the draws. Contest winners will be declared on Wednesday, November 5th and contacted by The Edmonton Journal.

Mechanical reproductions of this entry form will not be accepted Employees and immediate family members of The Edmonton Journal are not eligible to enter. l.i4ikii i.