The National Hockey League Announces Sale and Relocation of Two Franchises
NEW YORK, New York (August 4, 2011) - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced today in a press conference that two NHL franchises are on the move and will be relocating for the 2011-2012 season. The saga of the Phoenix Coyotes finally comes to resolution as the team has been sold and will be moving to Seattle, where it will become known as the Seattle Metropolitans, bringing back a familiar name in Seattle hockey history. Also announced was the sale of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who were purchased by Minot, North Dakota oil tycoon Dean Carlson. Owner of the Carlson Oil Company, the 58-year-old Carlson will be relocating the Blue Jackets to Minot, and the team will be changing its name to the Minot Norsemen, a name in reference to the large Scandinavian heritage of the region.
The Norsemen will be playing in FarmTech Arena, the 19,523 seat arena completed in February of this year in hopes of luring an NHL team to Minot.
“I’m sure Minot, North Dakota is a city that will surprise many folks, but this is a city that has had tremendous growth over the last several years, due to primarily the oil boom in North Dakota. There is a strong financial presence in place now, and we feel this is a location that can be successful for the National Hockey League,” Bettman continued. “North Dakota, the Dakotas in general really, is a region that has not had much, if any, of a presence in professional sports, and has a great love of hockey, so it is a population base hungry for NHL hockey.”
Both teams will begin play in their new cities in the 2011-2012 season.
The NHL Comes to the Plains of North Dakota
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GoBlue2419
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The NHL Comes to the Plains of North Dakota
Last edited by GoBlue2419 on Thu May 17, 2012 8:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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GoBlue2419
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Re: The NHL Comes to the Plains of North Dakota
This dynasty will quite obviously be a hybrid of fictional-reality, in that in reality, while Minot, and North Dakota itself has seen a bit of a boom as a result of oil, it is still only a town of 40,000 or so. I’m imaging a fantastical boom in which it was grown to the size of a major league-caliber city, able to support professional sports. This dynasty will be part of a multi-sport dynasty I am doing where Minot will gain a franchise in each of the 5 major U.S. sports: MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS.
Why Minot, you might be asking? Well, my parents are both from a small town near Minot, and as a kid growing up in Michigan we would visit my grandparents, who had moved to Minot at that point. Being the nostalgic fella I tend to be, Minot has always had a special interest for me. Plus the idea of major professional sports in North Dakota is almost humorous.
The dynasty will primarily follow the Minot franchise, for which I will be acting as GM, but will also report on other interesting newsworthy items from around the hockey world in this universe.
This dynasty will also occur in parallel with my "Minnesota Forever" dynasty (simply meaning that one does not end as a result of this one). I'm simply an observer in that one, but this one will allow me to play the game.
Why Minot, you might be asking? Well, my parents are both from a small town near Minot, and as a kid growing up in Michigan we would visit my grandparents, who had moved to Minot at that point. Being the nostalgic fella I tend to be, Minot has always had a special interest for me. Plus the idea of major professional sports in North Dakota is almost humorous.
The dynasty will primarily follow the Minot franchise, for which I will be acting as GM, but will also report on other interesting newsworthy items from around the hockey world in this universe.
This dynasty will also occur in parallel with my "Minnesota Forever" dynasty (simply meaning that one does not end as a result of this one). I'm simply an observer in that one, but this one will allow me to play the game.
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GoBlue2419
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Re: The NHL Comes to the Plains of North Dakota
The new General Manager for the Minot Norsemen, Patrick Nelson, announced today that the relocated club would not be retaining head coach Todd Richards and will begin an immediate search for a replacement.
"We sincerely appreciate the contributions Todd has made to this franchise, but with new leadership, we simply felt it would be in the best interest of all involved to go in a different direction," Nelson stated to the press this afternoon.
Scribes have begun compiling lists of potential candidates for the head coaching gig, and some of the names at the forefront seem to be Denis Savard, Ted Nolan, Ron Wilson, and Barry Smith. A potential long shot rumor, but one that could make some sense from the standpoint of a new club trying to make a splash, is Barry Melrose. It seems highly unlikely that Melrose would leave his cushy job with ESPN, but if he has any desire, this may be a good opportunity for him and for the Norsemen.
"We sincerely appreciate the contributions Todd has made to this franchise, but with new leadership, we simply felt it would be in the best interest of all involved to go in a different direction," Nelson stated to the press this afternoon.
Scribes have begun compiling lists of potential candidates for the head coaching gig, and some of the names at the forefront seem to be Denis Savard, Ted Nolan, Ron Wilson, and Barry Smith. A potential long shot rumor, but one that could make some sense from the standpoint of a new club trying to make a splash, is Barry Melrose. It seems highly unlikely that Melrose would leave his cushy job with ESPN, but if he has any desire, this may be a good opportunity for him and for the Norsemen.
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GoBlue2419
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Re: The NHL Comes to the Plains of North Dakota
The Minot Norsemen have announced the hiring of Ron Wilson as Head Coach today. Wilson, 56 years old, most recently was head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs before being fired this summer. He coached the Leafs for 3 seasons, was the San Jose Sharks head coach for 5 seasons, coached 5 years in Washington for the Capitals, and before that was the first coach in Anaheim Ducks history, coaching the expansion team for 4 seasons. He also coached the U.S. Olympic team in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Wilson has a 619-533-101-83 in 1337 NHL games coached.
"Ron has a vast wealth of experience in this league, has been to the Stanley Cup Finals, 8 times to the playoffs, and shown that he can get teams to win games," Norsemen General Manager Patrick Nelson offered. "With a young team, we wanted someone who has had experience winning, and can teach our kids what it takes to win in this league," he continued.
Wilson is known for integrating technology into his coaching, being one of the pioneers in the use of technology in coaching in the NHL. His use of technology should fit in very well at FarmTech Arena, the Norsemen's home, which is sponsored by the Minot-based farming technology firm.
Nelson also announced the hiring of Kevin Prendergast as his assistant GM. Prendergast was most recently in the same role for the Edmonton Oilers, when he was fired after the 2009-2010 season.
Wilson has a 619-533-101-83 in 1337 NHL games coached.
"Ron has a vast wealth of experience in this league, has been to the Stanley Cup Finals, 8 times to the playoffs, and shown that he can get teams to win games," Norsemen General Manager Patrick Nelson offered. "With a young team, we wanted someone who has had experience winning, and can teach our kids what it takes to win in this league," he continued.
Wilson is known for integrating technology into his coaching, being one of the pioneers in the use of technology in coaching in the NHL. His use of technology should fit in very well at FarmTech Arena, the Norsemen's home, which is sponsored by the Minot-based farming technology firm.
Nelson also announced the hiring of Kevin Prendergast as his assistant GM. Prendergast was most recently in the same role for the Edmonton Oilers, when he was fired after the 2009-2010 season.
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GoBlue2419
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Re: The NHL Comes to the Plains of North Dakota
Norsemen Open Training Camp
JAMESTOWN, ND - The Minot Norsemen open their training camp this morning in Jamestown, North Dakota, with a few questions they hope to answer. Coach Ron Wilson and his staff will be looking at resolving the following issues:
* GOAL - Scott Mason will almost certainly open the season as the starter. The question here is who will back him up? It figures to be a three man battle between Curtis Sanford, Curtis McElhinney, and Mark Dekanich.
* DEFENSE - Will young John Moore earn a spot on the blueline? Jack Johnson, James Wisniewski, Fedor Tyutin, Nikita Nikitin appear to be set, and the remaining roster spots will be battled by Radek Martinek, Andre Johnson, Marc Methot, and Moore. Moore is a talented youngster, but Wilson will need to decide if the time is now.
* FORWARD - Alexandre Giroux, Darryl Boyce, Nick Drazenovic, Martin St. Pierre, and Cam Atkinson all figure to battle it out for the final three roster spots among the forwards. The Norsemen lack some grit, and it will also be interesting to see if General Manager Patrick Nelson does anything about that during the preseason as well.
JAMESTOWN, ND - The Minot Norsemen open their training camp this morning in Jamestown, North Dakota, with a few questions they hope to answer. Coach Ron Wilson and his staff will be looking at resolving the following issues:
* GOAL - Scott Mason will almost certainly open the season as the starter. The question here is who will back him up? It figures to be a three man battle between Curtis Sanford, Curtis McElhinney, and Mark Dekanich.
* DEFENSE - Will young John Moore earn a spot on the blueline? Jack Johnson, James Wisniewski, Fedor Tyutin, Nikita Nikitin appear to be set, and the remaining roster spots will be battled by Radek Martinek, Andre Johnson, Marc Methot, and Moore. Moore is a talented youngster, but Wilson will need to decide if the time is now.
* FORWARD - Alexandre Giroux, Darryl Boyce, Nick Drazenovic, Martin St. Pierre, and Cam Atkinson all figure to battle it out for the final three roster spots among the forwards. The Norsemen lack some grit, and it will also be interesting to see if General Manager Patrick Nelson does anything about that during the preseason as well.
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GoBlue2419
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Re: The NHL Comes to the Plains of North Dakota
Norsemen Complete Trade With Pittsburgh
MINOT, ND (9/25/11) - The Minot Norsemen have completed the first trade in its young history today, sending a 5th round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward Craig Adams. "One of my early goals from a roster standpoint has been to add some grit to this team," Norsemen General Manager Patrick Nelson commented.
Adams will be most likely looking at 4th line duties, but could very well get some penalty-kill opportunities as well.
MINOT, ND (9/25/11) - The Minot Norsemen have completed the first trade in its young history today, sending a 5th round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward Craig Adams. "One of my early goals from a roster standpoint has been to add some grit to this team," Norsemen General Manager Patrick Nelson commented.
Adams will be most likely looking at 4th line duties, but could very well get some penalty-kill opportunities as well.