FRASER, Mich. – In the end, it was not the knight’s sword that killed the Detroit Dragons. It was instead a multitude of bills and lack of cash flow. Monday afternoon, the All American Hockey Association announced that the Dragons, a fearsome team on the ice, had ceased operations after no potential suitor was willing to take on the accrued debt of the franchise and run the team through the remainder of the season. In their place, the Chicago Blaze, an expansion team set to enter the association in the fall of 2009, will assume Detroit’s remaining road schedule. “We met this morning at length to basically vote on everything and come up with a final decision. We’ve worked diligently to resolve the problems that have plagued the Dragons’ franchise,” Evansville General Manager and AAHA co-founder Chip Rossetti said in a phone interview. “After we became aware of the fact that the ownership had pretty much failed to meet its financial responsibilities, this morning the ownership group M & M Holding Unlimited LLC was officially voted out of the association.” The vote was the final step as less than a week ago, team owner/G.M. Matt Mitchell had forfeited control of the franchise back to the AAHA. In the interim, association officials had been talking to three potential ownership groups. None of the groups was willing to purchase the franchise and take over the pile of unpaid bills, which reportedly included ice time at the Great Lakes Sports City in Fraser and monies due to the players and coach Steve Shannon. “One of (the three groups) dropped out relatively quickly. The other two were still doing their due diligence to try to decide what they wanted to do,” Rossetti said. “The potential ownership groups formally decided not to proceed over the past weekend as of 1 P.M. Eastern time on Saturday, basically citing the existing debt of the franchise as well as the lack of revenue potential as the reasons for declining to take over the franchise.” Rossetti added that the remaining three teams – Battle Creek, Chi Town and Evansville – attempted to aid the Dragons by offering financial help but the debt was just too great to take on at this time. He also said both on the phone and in the release that the Detroit coaches and players should be applauded for hanging in through a very difficult situation. “The AAHA has nothing but respect for the Dragons’ players and coaching staff as well as the owner and operators of the GLSC. The players and staff should be commended for their dedication and effort this season despite the plight they have had to endure,” he said. “The Dragons’ fans have been passionate and supportive through all of this. I wish there had been a way to give them what they deserve and provide them with a chance to keep playing up there.” The Blaze, owned by Aaron Mattey, were set to begin play for the 2009-2010 season out of the West Meadows Ice Arena in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, approximately 20 miles west of downtown Chicago. They will also become an immediate rival for the Chi Town Shooters who play in Dyer, Indiana just under 70 miles from Rolling Meadows. For now, the Blaze will be the ultimate road warriors, guaranteeing the other three teams that their home dates will be filled. “The Chicago market is one that we have been looking at for some time,” Rossetti said. “The Blaze organization was ready to start next season but have agreed to step up and help us out this season.” The Dragons players were entered into a dispersal draft during the Monday morning meeting. Rossetti said that information would be released after all of the players were notified of the results. Stay with ProHockeyNews.com for more on this developing story Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com
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