NEW YORK, NY – In December of 2009, these pages featured an announcement about the development of new hockey league based on a 4-on-4 format of play yielding more open ice to improve the offensive side of hockey. Now, a year later, the concept is closer to fruition as Slater Brothers Entertainment ( SBE ) has become involved in the venture. Last year, Pro Hockey News spoke with Norb Ecksl who was spearheading the concept at the time. 
Grant, Wade and Todd Slater, co-founders of Slater Brothers Entertainment have announced the formation of the Global United Hockey League, the first summer professional 4-on-4 hockey league. The new league will provide for talent development, an off-season conditioning opportunity for players in other leagues and more importantly an entertainment outlet in the dog days of summer (June through August).
In a joint announcement, the brothers appointed Norb Ecksl as the league’s first commissioner.
“Norb has so much experience in developing professional sports leagues, and we have known Norb for so long that it only made sense to go after Norb as the League’s first commissioner and bring him into the Slater Brothers company,” Grant Slater said of the new commissioner.
Ecksl responded to the appointment stating, “Grant Slater has a very unique vision for how this league can promote the game of hockey in a big way. I am thrilled to be in business with the Slater Brothers in launching Global United Hockey. I think people will have a great deal of fun watching the game at a 4-on-4 pace during the summer season. We are actively speaking with groups now who are interested in getting involved with this vision.”
Todd Slater echoed Ecksl’s comment stating, “It’s been a pleasure to work with Norb and my brothers in launching this exciting new league. Hockey can benefit from developmental leagues that show off the speed and skill of the players today. With more room to maneuver on the ice, I know the fans of the game will have a lot of fun watching what the GUH has to offer. We also feel the summer will really allow those players to develop for the next level.”
In their press release, SBE stated that ‘Global United Hockey has been structured to capitalize on the existing appeal of live sports and event programming, by offering a new twist to the international sport of hockey while capitalizing on the appeal of uniting the world through sport. Slater Brothers Entertainment focuses their efforts on building international awareness and acceptance both in sport and entertainment’.
“We have found through an extensive amount of research that there is a very large and growing demand for professional hockey to be played on a 4-on-4 level,” said Grant Slater. “The popularity of the sport has been increasing and our goal is to create a unique view of the game that promotes hockey and today’s top emerging players during the non NHL months.”
For Grant Slater, this has been effort five to six years in the making.
“Actually I wrote the business plan about five or six years ago and had discussed it with my good friend Dennis Murphy,” Grant Slater related recently. “His group had contacted me about working with them, but I felt the adjustments that they were making were not really what I had in mind so I decided to wait for the right time and launch our original plan.”
That original plan was built on Slater Brothers Entertainment business and project concepts and focused on core principles in which the brothers had gained experience and expertise.
“Our plan really looks to accomplish three things,” Grant Slater explained. Firstly, as with all Slater Brother projects there has to be an element that is helping the artist or in this case the athlete gain exposure that will help his career. Our league is going to be a great showcase league. Secondly, we wanted to create a professional sports league that was affordable. We wanted the guys that maybe played college or Junior Hockey together or the guys that get together to watch the National Hockey League to have an opportunity to own a professional sport team. And I think we are on to something, because many of the calls we are getting are coming from those types of individuals. And lastly, we wanted a league that would highlight the grace and skill of the game. The four-on-four format and playing under modified IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) rules really accomplishes that.”
Global United Hockey League will be billing the excitement of a “run and gun” style of the 4-on-4 hockey to emphasize the skill and speed (and grace) associated with the game.
The league is targeting a global market for its product. The league expects to start in North America and expand in 2012 into the European market. Ostensibly the league will compete in each geographic region then compete for a global championship, with expansion being considered only after solidification of the local markets.
“When we expand you will see separate divisions come together for a Championship tournament,” Slater said. “The focus is to be on an efficient, well-run league, and then expand.” Global United Hockey’s marketing efforts will focus on the international concept for the league. With a world view for the league and the potential for a true world championship the Slater brothers and Ecksl are banking on the appeal of open ice, world competition and lack of hockey during the “off-season”.
For the first efforts to establishing the new league, SBE is looking to the US northeast as the base of operations.
“For year one, we really see Global United Hockey as a New York State Thruway/ Mass Pike League,” Grant Slater explained. “Although we have interest in both Ct and Vt. To date, groups in New York City, Central New York and Buffalo are pretty committed. So it is all pretty exciting stuff.”
The added benefit to a summer league may be the opportunity to stay in game condition. As has been evident for the last several years, pro players from the United Kingdom make the trek to Australia in the “summer” months to side with Australian pro leagues. The result is a conditioned athlete returning to his home team back in Britain. The Global United Hockey League can serve a similar purpose here in the States and globally.
“Our hope is that our league will be scouted by all the professional leagues operating in the winter,” Slater continued. “Part of our success will be measured by how many players from our league we see playing in the winter pro leagues.”
Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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