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June 20th 2007 - LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO--- In a live announcement
broadcast via United Hockey League (UHL) corporate partner B2 Networks
on Wednesday at the league’s Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, the
UHL announced that it is immediately changing its name to the
International Hockey League (IHL). Paul L. Pickard has been named the
first President/CEO of the new IHL.
The IHL will consist of six teams in
its inaugural season. The Bloomington PrairieThunder, the Flint
Generals, the Fort Wayne Komets, the Kalamazoo Wings and the Muskegon
Fury join the league after being member clubs of the UHL during the
2006-07 season. The sixth IHL team will be the Port Huron Icehawks
based in Port Huron, Michigan. New Governors Frank Kinney and Robert
Lahiff will be announcing more details about their hockey club in the
near future. The Generals also had a recent ownership change as the
transition from the former owners to Bob Perani was approved by the
league.
“I am excited to announce the new IHL, and
I am excited to lead the new era of this league,” stated IHL
President/CEO Paul L. Pickard. “One of the key focuses of the IHL Board
of Governors and the League Office will be to make on- and off-ice
changes for the 2007-08 season that will create a better experience for
the fans. At the top of the list, we are going to put an emphasis on
strong ownership so that the fans can count on our member clubs being a
long-term part of the IHL and on making the on-ice product much more
physical and exciting.”
The IHL also announced its Executive Committee
for the 2007-08 season. The Chairman of the Board of Governors will be
Michael Franke of Fort Wayne, and the Vice Chairman will be Bob Perani
of Flint. Below is other information that was given during the live broadcast and/or transpired during the Annual Meeting:
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The IHL office will be located in Rochester, Michigan and will consist
of four employees, league counsel and the President/CEO. During the
summer, the UHL office in Lake St. Louis, Missouri will close and
transition to the new office in Michigan. Existing UHL employees have
been given the opportunity to relocate to the new league office.
- The IHL league website is being launched this evening at www.ihl-hockey.com.
- The new logo for the league was unveiled during the broadcast.
- The 76-game 2007-08 season will take place between October 19, 2007 and April 6, 2008.
- A deal was signed with B2 Networks to broadcast all IHL games via broadband for the next three seasons. | 
