Published: November 17, 2008 02:01 pm            

The Chiefs’ winning ways | Team’s goal: Boost in fan support, sponsorships

While the management of the Johnstown Chiefs has been courting business sponsors and awaiting Cambria County’s decision on control of the War Memorial Arena, the hockey team’s players and coaches have been doing their part to increase interest in the team.

They’ve been winning.

A 3-1 Sunday loss at Dayton ended a seven-game winning streak, the second-longest run in the franchise’s 21-year history. At 10-4, the Chiefs are in first place in the ECHL’s North Division and are tied with Alaska for the league high in victories.

The team returns home this weekend for games against the Reading Royals (7:05 p.m. Friday) and Trenton Devils (7:05 p.m. Saturday).

“We’ve got a good bunch of guys, and nobody wants to let anyone down,” team Captain Randy Rowe told Mike Mastovich, The Tribune-Democrat’s hockey beat reporter. “Everyone is having fun. ... Everyone is adjusting to moving to Johnstown from wherever they came from. I think that helps when all the guys are out there to have fun.”

Coach Ian Herbers put together the roster and affiliations with the Columbus and Colorado organizations of the NHL, and is guiding the Chiefs’ early success on the ice.

“Everybody is playing well and enjoying playing for each other and competing,” Herbers said Saturday. “This is a good group we have here. The guys want to play for each other, compete for each other and win together.”

Meanwhile, Chiefs General Manager Bill Bredin is working on making the team a winner off the ice.

He has been meeting with area business leaders in increasing sponsorships and is hoping the county decides to allow the Chiefs’ management company – Roustan United Arena Solutions of Richland Township – to take over management of the War Memorial.

Late last week, the team was short of its $380,000 sponsorship goal. But Bredin remains hopeful that things will work out so that the Chiefs can commit to remaining in Johnstown for years to come. Major sponsors include Crown American, The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, Concurrent Technologies Corp. and E.MAP.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the response from the business community so far, as well as the support we’ve received from Bob Layo and the (Greater Johnstown/Cambria County) Chamber of Commerce,” Bredin said.

The Chiefs and Roustan initially hoped to reach their sponsorship goal by Nov. 15.

The critical date is Dec. 1 – the day the team must finalize plans for the 2009-10 season.

We were critical of the team for raising ticket prices in the offseason – despite the fact that the Chiefs’ rates are among the lowest in the league. We continue to hope that can be addressed – for the sake of the fans and the team.

Regardless, we applaud the efforts of Bredin and team management in attempting to secure the team’s future in Johnstown.

And we applaud Herbers and his squad, who have been winning games – which is still the best way to bring fans to the arena.

        

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