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Published
by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. CLICK FOR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY
Friday, July 6, 2001
New CHL may lose a couple of teams
Indianapolis, Tupelo franchises could go to different leagues
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times
The wait continues for the Central Hockey League, and as more time passes, its list of prospective teams continues to dwindle.
Formed by the merger of the Western Professional Hockey League and the old CHL, the new league could lose its hold on the Indianapolis Ice and Tupelo T-Rex.
A lawsuit filed last week by the Ice is seeking for the league to release the team from the three years left on its contract. Ice majority owner Gary Pedigo claims the CHL breached its contract with the team when the league merged with the WPHL in late May.
If released, the Ice would be allowed to join the United Hockey League, which would cut travel costs for the team. The CHL also would lose its second-largest market.
"That's what we would prefer to do, but we're ready to go either way," Ice majority owner Gary Pedigo said. "Every reasonable person wants to work it out. They're reasonable people, and I'm a reasonable person, so that's what we're trying to do."
CHL commissioner N. Thomas Berry Jr. could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Tupelo is negotiating to remain in the league. CHL director of communications Steve Cherwonak said the league has been in contact with the T-Rex organization.
"But we have not forced a decision, as we are awaiting the Indianapolis situation to be resolved," Cherwonak said.
Tupelo director of media relations Juliana Nykolaiszyn said general manager Monty Fletcher was told otherwise.
"The league told Monty the ball is in his court," Nykolaiszyn said. "They said he's got to make a decision."
Nykolaiszyn said she isn't sure what the decision will be.
"The ownership group is really trying to explore all their options, be it with the CHL or another league," she said. "They're just looking for what's best. We plan on playing hockey this season."
Contact Javier Becerra at 886-3734 or becerraj@caller.com
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