ORLANDO, FLA – After several days of speculation, the Federal Hockey League announced Saturday that the Cape Cod Bluefins are officially no more but the franchise is not completely dead.
In a late afternoon press release, the single-A league said that the Bluefins will be relocated to central New York State effective December 17th and be renamed the New York Bluefins. The team will honor all of the Cape Cod road games and “select home games that will be played at neutral sites and current FHL venues”.
The “road team” plan was used a year ago when the FHL created the Delaware Federals to fill the void when the Vermont Wild team ceased operations in mid-December.
The move ends what had been a three-season nomadic existence for the Bluefins, who started play in the FHL as the Broome County Barons in central New York state. The team was relocated to the Cape before Christmas of 2010 because of financial issues. Since then, the team, which has had two different ownership groups, had played in numerous rinks on Cape Cod (and this year even Martha’s Vineyard) to try to build the brand.
Over the last month or so, the team’s financial woes forced the league to seek a suitable relocation situation. One possible scenario was to send the franchise to Biddeford, Maine with select dates being held in Lewiston, Maine, site of last years “Maine Event” series of FHL games. That plan fell through as have attempts to find a new owner up to now.
For now, the FHL Board of Governors is in control of the team until a new ownership group is found. It was also announced that several Bluefins players were traded Saturday to other league teams in return for future considerations. As of 11:59 p.m. Saturday night, any players still on the Cape Cod roster will become free agents. In the upcoming days, the FHL is expected to name the Bluefins roster as well as the new head coach and general manager. The “new” Bluefins will make their debut in Williamsport on December 21st.
The FHL is also facing an issue with the Outlaws outdoor rink in Williamsport. The company that constructed the rink at Bowman Field, Rink Specialists of Naples, Maine, claims that the non-profit group established by FHL commissioner Don Kirnan among others, has not fully paid for the rink. The non-profit organization is counter claiming that Rink Specialists did not complete the construction on time and that the equipment has not worked properly at all times. The suits are set to be heard in a Lycoming County court on December 21st.
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