Minor League Hockey could return to Roanoke in 2012

ROANOKE, Va. – It’s been nearly six years since the last time Jamey Greenway saw a minor league hockey game in Roanoke.  So when he heard that a new league was starting up and looking for cities to place teams in, he wanted to make sure The Star City was on their short list.

“I’ve been a hockey fan for many years now, since back in the 80’s when they played in Vinton,” said Greenway.  “I thought it would be something to show support for the new team if we could possibly get it here.”

He started a facebook page encouraging other local hockey fans to contact the Northern Professional Hockey League and tell them to bring the sport back to Roanoke.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said Greenway.  “There’s a lot of excitement.”

NPHL Commissioner Chuck Harrison says when he began looking at cities, Roanoke was nowhere on his radar screen.  But when the calls and emails started coming in and the facebook page grew, he couldn’t ignore them.

“The interest, even to this day, is just overwhelming,” said Harrison.

He says the Roanoke fan base has been more vocal than any other city the league looked at.

“They kind of snowballed the whole thing,” said Harrison.  “When people from other parts of the country were looking at it and saw what they were doing, they all thought we should do that.”

It’s because of that response, the NPHL announced this week that Roanoke was on its final list of cities for its inaugural season.

“I think it’s great,” said Greenway.  “I really enjoyed doing it.”

The league says it’s in the early stages of working out a leasing agreement with the Roanoke Civic Center and as long as that and an owner fall into place, the team will launch in October.

Harrison says he’s “fairly confident” that will happen and that this won’t be another team that comes and goes after a season or two.

“Anyone who looks at our business plan, it is different,” said Harrison.  “It does take into account the economic situation we’re all in and if I’m an investor, it is manageable.  It’s also going to be a very high priority of ours to be community involved.  Our teams will be a part of their communities.”

He says the venue and owner have to be in place by July 1 or else the team is a no go.  Greenway says he’ll continue to do his part to keep the momentum going.

To visit Greenway’s facebook page, log on and search for NPHL Roanoke.  To learn more about the league, you can visit their website at www.nphlhockey.com.