The Demise of the Vermilion County Bobcats
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- This team had issues right out of the gate and never overcame them.
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If this becomes a movie or series we need to make a petition to have Shannon play the ref in the forfeit scene 😂
That'll be a interesting sight to see this as a movie or series
Absolutely!
That would be incredible to see. Made me laugh imagining that.
But who plays Good Oglethorpe?
The fact that they didn’t crack the 10-win mark is just sad. 😢
Look at Matvei Michkov's new team in the KHL. Their current record is 7-53, they ended a 21 game losing streak about a month ago, and they have a -111 goal differential. It's a 68-game season, so they're probably not going to break the 10 win threshold.
Edit: I know that the Bobcats didn't make 10 wins in their entire franchise history which is different of course.
@@jonmendelson1104 yeesh…reaching the ‘74 Caps’ status, huh?
@@jonmendelson1104 In fairness to Sochi, they've had quite a few one-goal losses. Michkov has been decent for them on loan from SKA, for what it's worth.
They did get to beat the defending champs though last month :)
They did crack the 10-coach mark though
From a Roanoke RailYard Dawgs fan I feel really bad for them. What shocked me the most is that they went through 10 coaches through 2 seasons.
I followed these developments closely as I cover the Binghamton Black Bears, a team in the FPHL, and we had a player on loan to the Bobcats. The owner was completely inept at owning and operating a team, and the arena authority complicated things with a bad Zamboni, a bad relationship with Tully and bathroom facilities that would back up and cause raw sewage to seep into the locker rooms. It was a bad situation to begin with and got rapidly worse over the next 18 months. I recommend everyone go to the 10 Minute Misconduct YT page to watch the interview they did with a former Bobcats player.
I’ll look that up. Thanks. I’d heard all that about the facilities over here in the QC as well.
Ok this is epic Shannon is wearing a Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs jersey in a video
On the “unacceptable ice conditions “ note. i’m the head ice technician at the rink i work at, and i find this hilarious because NHL ice is actually pretty bad. worse than you’d think at least (there is just too many outside factors that make it very difficult to keep good ice in an arena, especially with concerts and events that take place during the season) so the fact that it was SO BAD that they had to cancel the games is quite depressing.
Can confirm that, NHL ice can be horrible
It's not that the ice was in poor condition. It's that it didn't exist.
@@frossbog can’t have bad ice if you have no ice haha.
Being from the Quad City area it has been really interesting watching this unfold and some of the details.
Mallards > Storm
@@TheBigfootsfeet 100%
@@SaskTransfer the ECHL owned the name since Melville left the league before the contract was up.
@@SaskTransfer unfortunately they couldn’t due to legal issues. The ECHL owns all of that still under the contract they had to be in the league. Even though the Mallards predated the echl entirely. And the storm doesn’t even fit the Quad Cities area.
Long time no talk Sam! Still netminding somewhere?
I have a buddy who played for this team. Unfortunate but is now playing in Pensacola in the SP and it’s absolutely electric!
Mitchie!!
Pensacola is one of the best run teams in the league. I’m friends with the wife of one of the owners. It’s run as if they’re an affiliated club. Great atmosphere at the Civic Center
I drove by the arena when these guys were putting their equipment in their cars..I was hoping some would get on with other teams.
I work for the Danbury Hat Tricks currently. It’s a fun sport to work in at this level! But so much possible chaos here.
The sea wolves smashed the hat tricks 😈
The Trashers are a better story.
A MUCH better story
This is honestly one of my favourite videos you’ve made Shannon. This was a fun story!
Trust me this isn't even a third of this story! I would point you to this video here, an interview with a Vermillion County player from day 1, it is insane the stuff that was happening. It's a couple hours long so buckle up. Linked the video in this comment.
ua-cam.com/users/liveNoNZhSdGfkE?feature=share
This is wonderful seeing you covering this level of hockey, but sad with what happened to the team....
Oh man, this could be an interesting off season video series. Just random dives into the semi pro beer leagues of the US and Canada. Find out interesting leagues, notable jerseys, any interesting stories.
I live in Newfoundland, and we have the growlers, but we have other leagues too. Thats the type of leagues that would be cool to learn about, and I should really support
Always love when you cover the SPHL! Knoxville Ice Bears fan here. Discussions like these can always make the league better. What happened in VC is truly sad and unfortunate. There is a podcast on UA-cam featuring a former Bobcat and the organization was doomed from the beginning, at least from his perspective. Interesting coverage all around. Thank you!
Yep, on 10 Minute Misconduct's page
The last time I heard of bobcats this inept, Michael Jordan was the owner.
The only situation where I can remember the home team not turning up was footbal world cup qualifier between Estonia & Scotland in 1996. The day before Scotland compliained to FIFA that during a training session the previous day the stadium floodlights were inadequate and FIFA agreed. FIFA changed the kickoff to an afternoon kickoff. Estonia complained that they would lose TV revenue, particularly from Scottish TV due to the game being played during working hours. This was exacerbated due to all Scottish TV channels showing the memorial to the Dunblane massacre (the most recent school shooting in the UK), and therefore unable/unwilling to show the game. Scotland and the match officials showed up at the new time, kicked off, and the game was immediately abandoned. Estonia turned up at the original kick off time with Scotland and the match officials long gone. The game was originally awarded to Scotland but eventually replayed at a neutral venue.
Footnote: Tennis players Andy and Jamie Murray were pupils at the school at the time of the Dunblane massacre.
I just went and saw a Quad City Storm game against the Pensacola Ice Flyers. There weren't more than 2,000 people at The MARK. The game was very exciting, and the Storm came from behind 2 to win 5-4 in a shootout. SPHL games are a great option for those in one of the ten markets. Peoria is our biggest rival, and they kick our butts every time we play them.
Awesome jersey and nice vid. Being from out west I wasn’t aware of this team or know much about the league specifically but wow, sad and incredible at the same time that something like this happened.
Blackeye on Hockey in Illinois...sad..kudos to QuadCities team for staying around and skating with fans.
These kind of videos are some of my favorite. It reminds me of your video on Harold Ballard or however you spell his name 😅
University of Nebraska at Omaha had a open skate with fans after their game on New Years Eve. Players were super cool to the kids and fans that stayed. It was really cool, and I agree more teams should def do these events.
The only North American league that doesn't do post-game skates with players is the NHL. I've seen AHL Iowa Wild and Rockford Ice Hogs, ECHL Iowa Heartlanders and (defunct) Quad City Mallards, and most if not all the SPHL teams do it as well.
As a longtime Rivermen fan it’s a shame this played out the way it did. Geographically VC was perfect for the northern teams in the SP. If you haven’t yet, listen to Dante Juris’ interview with 10 Minute Misconduct here on UA-cam. He’s a former player that goes in depth about a lot of stuff that happened behind the scenes. Tully may have had good intentions but definitely was not a good person and wasn’t fit to run an organization
Long time Rivermen fan as well going back to the IHL days! This was very weird to watch unfold.
Ironic. My girlfriend and I just went to Evansville Indiana for a SPHL game last week. It was really strange. We had 4th row seats and the crowd was so annoying...going nuts just for fights..that we moved further back and we're surrounded by people actually watching a hockey game. It was almost circus levels. I'll stick to Cincinnati cyclones. At least ECHL is a little better. Great video!
Played it that league a long time ago. It was always a bit shaky, but like you said, a bunch of guys wanting to keep playing and put off getting into the real world. Great memories and great guys all around. Also, Scott Darling got his start in that league, went on to make about $15m in the NHL. Pulling for his league!
As a wrestling fan in addition to hockey, this is basically the hockey version of the Universal Wrestling Federation run by Herb Abrams from 1990-1996 in terms of the bizarre stuff that took place & out of depth the owners were when it came to running a team/promotion. However with the UWF their failures were much more publicized because Herb Abrams was a cheapskate & didn't pay anyone & also the UWF was a total disaster when it came to attendance, TV ratings & PPV buys. Also Herb Abrams was dealing with a cocaine addiction at the time the UWF was around which heavily contributed to many of the bizarre things that happened.
Doesn't surprise me as a Rivermen fan. Unfortunately this definitely hurts us since 4 of our remaining home dates were set to be against VC.
I would love to see an overview of all the different hockey leagues in the world. Maybe a good summer playlist to make.
9:48 I actually said “holy shit did they skate instead?” 😂 that’s good on those guys for sure
Eastern Illinois University's club team plays at that rink. Vermilion County (Illinois) borders Vermillion County (Indiana).
Not even the Hanson brothers could save this hockey team!
Went to the Rivermen opening night this year please make a video on them crazy story considering they used to be the Blues AHL team
They used to be a force in AAA minor league hockey in the IHL. Could have competed with most NHL teams in that era.....infact 6 or 7 other IHL clubs could have too. Not saying winning the championship but these clubs could have been competitive and pushing to make the playoffs.
"SPHL fans, be glad I don't have your jersey"
"Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, I'm so glad I have your jersey"
Excuse me
Can't wait for the Peoria Video!
What's going on with Peoria this year?
@@frossbog they may be losing their stadium
@@reedduyvejonck3984 which is a travesty if you know and understand how much history, tradition, and excellence Rivermen hockey has had in that building. Championships in the IHL, and ECHL are the highlights. Along with the wall of fame with the names of all the guys that made it to the NHL. If Peoria loses the Rivermen it will be a tragedy!
Man, this is the take I was waiting for!
Great video. I grew up watching senior hockey in Newfoundland. Maybe a few guys got paid, (very little) but they all loved the game. The stands were always full and the rivalries were spirited. The NHLers are the cream, but there's a lot of milk in the cans.
This was very strange to watch unfold. I'm a long time Peoria Rivermen fan going back to the IHL. This SPHL is not my favorite league as I wish they would get back into the ECHL.
Any ways back on topic....I'm now in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and the QC Storm side of this story was covered extensively here, but they didn't get into the problems with the bobcats front office. It's a shame this didn't work out as Vermilion County (Danville) was a good fit for QC, Peoria, and the other Northern teams in the SPHL. This reminded me of the movie slapshot but without the happy ending of the team getting to play on with new owners.
As for the issues with the Rivermen, I'm sure you have more insider knowledge than I do. Being a long time fan of the franchise I know a little part of the story. The small part I know is the Civic Center is a huge building for minor league hockey. It holds approximately 12k people. I have seen the building sell out on many occasions. Those occasions were in the IHL, AHL, and the playoff run in 99-00 when they won the championship in the ECHL. The SPHL team doesn't draw crowds that large. If they put a hard working blue collar team on the ice the city will support them. Circle back to the arena and attendance.....the Civic Center is asking to much rent compared to the revenue this team in this league can generate. And the city doesn't want to build them a new arena that has 4 to 5k capacity because they wouldn't use it for anything else. Larger events would just use the Civic Center (Carver Arena). That is part of the problem, I expect you know more than I. I haven't followed the team as closely as I used to because the sphl is hard to get into after seeing the higher quality levels play in Peoria. I would love to see them back in the ECHL....as they would have a natural geographic rivalry with the Iowa Heartlanders in Coralville/Iowa City, Iowa. (Odd team name but it won a fan vote)
I mean if you're looking to buy a borderline beer league jersey the Mississippi Seawolves are in the inaugural year in the Federal Prospects League. Nothing better than a team with a player/coach to give you that real Semi-Pro feeling.
EDIT: Made it further into the video. Please don't buy a jersey it's the only close in person hockey I have.
If she had brought Shannon in as either GM or head of hockey ops this team would still be there.
It was maddening to hear how horrible players and staff were treated by the owner.
Nicole Kirnan Hall, who owned the 1000 Islands Privateers (FPHL) treated her players much worse...
As a season ticket holder for Peoria (which if you make a video about their situation, I hope you do the research), watching this unfold for the Bobcats, and having friends who are insiders sounding alarm the Monday prior to the forfeit, hearing rumors from players who had left the Bobcats and made it on other teams in the league...the team, the living situations, all of it was a nightmare from Day 1. And that's not even including what I call the hostile takeover of the arena, cuz the Dashers were going to play in 2021-22, but the arena cancelled their lease for the Bobcats.
We were season tocket holders in the AHL days
What’s going on there now?
@@lordrayden3045 There's a lot of details to go through, but to keep it short, this season is the last season of the team's lease. Team is wanting to negotiate an extension, arena is wanting to wait until after the season to negotiate. This causes issues, as teams are usually required to provide home dates around March/April (during the season) for next season's schedule. Also, there is tension around the ice system. Its over 40 years old, leaks, and the refrigerant it uses is no longer allowed to be produced, so limited supply with high demand is causing prices to skyrocket. To replace, numbers before the shutdown said costs would be around $2.5 million, and the arena is being hesitant to replace it. The arena did receive state grant money for capital improvements, such as a new roof and other projects around the building, but the ice plant is so low on the list, that the grant money may not get to it. Combine that with the teams average attendance being in the low 3Ks per game for an arena that can seat almost 10K and a new arena board that is more focused on profits and not being a loss leader for the city, and Peoria and us fans find ourselves in limbo.
I thought I saw somewhere a few weeks ago that Pekin was going to try and bring them there? Something about Bloomington too. Their arena hasn't had a pro team since the Central IL flying aces. I remember going to see Matthews and Tkachuk play when they were with u18 nation development team.
@@calebswier577
Bloomington was in the SPHL for like a year or two,
Then they did the amateur thing, I don’t think they have a team now
@@calebswier577 Pekin would have to build a new building, and that would take a few years. The team needs a place now.
Bloomington has been a strong rumor, since its close and the arena is a good fit for the league. But the city's pro hockey history and questions about if they even want a pro hockey tenant again knocks them down a few pegs.
Reminds me of the Plattsburgh Pioneers in the QMJHL for 1984 having so many issues they didnt finish ONE season
Hate to see a town lose their team, but given the list of issues I’m not surprised fans didn’t come out. If they can’t do some of this basic stuff I have to image it wasn’t a good fan experience.
It reminds me a little of the movie "Slap Shot". I also think of the minor league team from yesteryear (early 1970s), the Columbus Owls. I was a big Owls fan and I have told people that given how poor the Blue Jackets have performed over the last 20 years, I'd love to see the Owls resurface. I might see them win a title, and at 1/5 the ticket price.
I remember when the Columbus Owls moved to Grand Rapids in the middle of the season.
@@raytaylor6412 I think those were the Dayton Owls that moved to Grand Rapids. The Columbus Owls moved to Dayton first.
Slap shot was made about a team in Johnstown PA. They have a team in the NAHL now but was around with most of the SPHL cities in the old ECHL days
As a QC resident it always feels that we love hockey down here. It was a shame to see the Mallards go.
For some reasons, this bring to mind the story of the ABA's Baltimore Hustlers/Claws.
SPHL is about the only hockey I get live in my area so I'd love to see more from you on it! I get that it may not be the best business move to talk on it, buy hey, it's a fun niche and I'll take this bine thrown my way for today!
Living in the Quad Cities and following not only the Storm, but the SPHL as a whole, this franchise has been a mess since day 1. With everything you said, early this season, Ellen Tully sued the arena. Many fans around the league were wondering if they were going to fold then. Everything I've heard, Ellen was a very hands on owner. She wanted to run things her way to the demise of her own team. One day when someone makes a documentary about this franchise, it will definitely be interesting to watch.
She micromanaged that team to death. Literally.
@@geoff3103 that would be great! The ushl is good stuff. Cedar Rapids Roughriders fan in that league lol. QC would fit right in with Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque, Des Moines, Sioux City, Greenbay, Madison, Chicago ect.....all reasonable driving distances. Yes there are also teams farther out but they would have a great short commute most of the time.
Since you made a video on it... it'll be hard to forget it!
Videos like this are what set Shannon apart. Brilliant.
Read about this in the Toronto Star's sports section couple of days ago. Utterly crazy, a definite first that a team just doesn't show up for their game. All through your great video on this story was the reminder of the classic hockey movie "Slapshot". This is so ridiculous, it's comedic on a lot of levels. Have to feel bad though for the players, their families, and the fans. The league itself should have stepped in, but... nothing. In the movie, they would all be at the bingo hall when it happened.
Back in the 70's I played at the 4 rinks, one night one of the rinks had bare concrete showing, we just skated around the bare patch.
Knoxville ice bears fan here, SPHL isn't the best hockey but the vibe is great and it's always fun being there. They do a lot for the community. Also, Wes McCauley played for their predecessor the Knoxville Cherokees
Ellen Tully looks like she’d be better off as an ice girl than an owner
She was a hockey photographer before saying “hey let’s own a hockey team!” 🤣
QC fan here. Still irritated that Abbotsford ended up with our AHL team!
Being close to Danville, there’s a lot of stuff mentioned by the VC fans about Ellen. Her ownership style was apparently beyond lacking….
I’m close to Danville and I didn’t know they existed
@@lordrayden3045 I live an hour south of Danville. Went to 6 or 7 games. The hot dogs were excellent.
Also one of their coaches was David Ayres
THEY JUST LOST TO A 42-YEAR-OLD ZAMBONI DRIVER WHO WORKS FOR THEM!!
The Danville Dashers won the Federal League Title a few years back.
I’m a Dawgs season ticket holder. We had over 6000 fans last Saturday night, and the other teams average 3-5 thousand fans a game. This team and situation was a one off for the SPHL and they didn’t belong in this league.
I have dropped off two carloads of for the Bobcats players that are still here because they were not getting paid and had no food.
Food, sorry.
Lol being from champaign IL never thought something crazy like this would blow up so close to me.
10 coaches in 100 games, damn that's inept. I was getting flashbacks of the movies Bad News Bears, Major League, Slap Shot, Unnecessary Roughness, etc.
86 games
The name makes a little more sense when you consider that Bobcats are native to the area.
I don't understand how they can call it a pro league when players aren't even earning enough to not have another job.
Pro league just means you get paid. There are professional actors who don't make very much and athletes have that issue as well.
@@TheHockeyGuy I guess in sports like football (soccer) they would be considered semi-pro
There are always some medical people there….. at least in Illinois.
For contact sports they are legally required to have an ambulance at the ALS level on site.
I’ve been at Rivermen games where someone was carried out on a stretcher and they couldn’t restart the game till another ambulance showed up
I know it’s not a doctor, but there are people there
Shout out Birmingham bulls
Shout out Alabama hockey
Roll Tide!!!!
This seems worthy of the WHA videos.
My brotha played for vc before signing in the echl from what I heard it was chaotic there
Gotta hit some college hockey this march ;)
Danville IL is a slowly dying post industry town they can't support a team. When I lived there 15 years ago I did not meet a single hockey fan.
Did you ask about hockey? They sold out the Bobcat's first two games and 3 of the first 5.
Also heard rumors Tully was sleeping with the players too....
Like WHA teams moved around in season and teams were in existence that never played a game..
Great video Shannon
The best sweater you've ever worn!
...but what if hockey DID have run-ins?
I think that the 8 remaining players were there at the end because they made their homes in Danville
She was having inappropriate relations with players
I was behind the camera that night.
Should look into the El Paso Buzzards from the old WPHL/CHL. The last owner got arrested for stealing the team's equipment.
I would trust Nancy Dowd with writing the manuscript for the movie version.
You're an international treasaure, Shannon, keep this up and you'll wind up in the Builders Wing!
Scott Darling is the only SPHL player to win the cup. An amazing life tale of good, to bad, to great, to bad.
As a fan of Knoxville in the SPHL market ... keep your eye on the Macon Mayhem, I wouldn't be shocked if they go this same route soon. They consistently have low attendance and a poor record.
Macon's ownership group is at least stable. They should make it until year's end.
At least they could have brought back the Macon Whoopee. Best team name ever.
Get this man a stick. Sticks are unbelievable
I don't think the SPHL will give Danville another chance...
I honestly couldnt believe the headline when I read it on ESPN
So many SPHL cities are leftovers from the old IHL, UHL, CHL days. VC was never one of them.
I was exposed to the dashers about 6ish years ago and made me enjoy the sport! (I’m not a sports guy by any means). So I was kind of disappointed when I’m they were taken out of Danville. I had super high hopes for the bobcats. Being a better league/better hockey. After the first half the the first season it was extremely hard to go to a game. I use to not miss a game.
Well, we now understand why they could not win. No training camp. They literally had no preparation for their first game. They were basically improvising and doing the best they could. Owner would not leave the roster alone long enough to allow them to gel at all. They were set up to fail from the start. They've had some legit good players (Zach White, Houston Wilson, Joey Strada, Egor Borschev and others) but no chance to become a team.
Roanoke is great and the Carolina Thunderbirds of the FPHL are so fun to watch.
Yeah that would make a hell of a movie.🍿
I can tell you part of the problem
I love an hour away and never knew they existed till it was on the news they went out of business
I wish the SPHL or some other minor league would come back to Richmond, Virginia. However our only possible building, the Richmond Coliseum, is condemned and slated for demolition and any replacement is still only in the early planning.
You don't want the sphl it's a joke. The ECHL is the bare minimum for pro hockey. If you can get into junior hockey the ushl is great!
I don’t think I’ve heard Shannon laugh this much before.
What's the documentary THG mentions here? I haven't heard of it, but I don't watch much TV/Film.
Didn't show up, not even to start a fight? Nah, no doctor. I'll bet those guys have good memories of their championship seasons.
Now I am imagining ovechkin cashing in a MitB briefcase on who wins the Stanley cup
Dude that jersey is sick
1400 a game is more than half the arena,
They should get together for one final jaunt around the ice
This is like the real life version of the Flint Tropics
I see your Roanoke rail yard dawgs best team name in hockey claim and raise it the ECHL’s Savannah Ghost Pirates
Edit: Apparently this was false information
This is inaccurate information tho. Adam Eby was NOT our captain. Justin Portillo was. And NOBODY from the bobcats showed up that day, especially not Eby, as he was called up to the ECHL the day this game took place. Not sure where that information came from.
**** you, Shoresy!