Echl

Centre Management, the arm of Abe Pollin's sporting empire that manages several arenas along the East Coast, isn't sure Baltimore wants to buy the product Tom Ebright is selling.That product is an East Coast Hockey League team in a town on the brink of losing its American Hockey League Skipjacks.And when Ebright, the Skipjacks owner, began negotiations this week on a lease at the Baltimore Arena for his would-be ECHL team, he was in for a surprise."There seems to be some resistance on the part of Centre Management to have the Coast League team in the building, in that we have made a money proposal to them that's better financially than the existing contract," Ebright said.

Lorraine Kelley was in full uniform, from the blinking "Jacks" earrings to her American Hockey League pins to the hockey charms she worn around her neck.And it all adorned a crisp, red, white and blue Skipjacks jersey.A Skipjacks fan if ever there was one.Kelley was on hand last night when Skipjacks owner Tom Ebright made an on-ice pitch for renewal of season tickets for next year. Although Ebright didn't say it, his AHL team is almost certainly moving to Portland, Maine, for next season, and in its place will be an East Coast Hockey League team.

Skipjacks owner Tom Ebright took his case for the continuation of hockey in Baltimore to the Arena ice last night.Between the first two periods of the Skipjacks' American Hockey League game against Rochester, Ebright asked fans in the crowd of 5,219 to make a $50 deposit toward season tickets for an East Coast Hockey League team here next season.His strategy is to replace the departing AHL franchise with one of three ECHL possibilities -- existing franchises in Knoxville, Tenn., or Roanoke, Va., or an expansion team.

In the space of 12 months, Trevor Halverson has progressed from an AHL rookie who was unsure of himself to a Skipjacks leader.A native of Ontario and then barely 20 years old, Halverson came to the Skipjacks last season out of junior hockey in Canada and was shocked that he had so much to learn."

The roof fell in on the Roanoke Valley Rampage in Vinton, Va., last Saturday night -- literally, figuratively and perhaps even appropriately.In its final East Coast Hockey League game of an abysmal season, the Rampage trailed the Richmond Renegades, 6-2, when play was stopped with 6:03 left in the second period. A beam supporting the roof of the LancerLot arena began to buckle under the stress of 16 inches of snow and 40 mph winds.Within minutes, the decision was made to evacuate the building.

Skipjacks owner Tom Ebright told the Portland (Maine) Press Herald Sunday night he is negotiating with officials there about moving his American Hockey League team to that port city.If negotiations are successful, the Skipjacks would play in the 6,726-seat Cumberland County Civic Center next season.Ebright was unavailable for comment yesterday. He was scheduled to fly to Detroit and then to Portland, Ore., on business for Quest Advisory, a New York investment firm of which he is vice president.

The Skipjacks are leaving, but another hockey team is comin to Baltimore to replace them, owner Tom Ebright said yesterday.Calling this "decision week," Ebright said he expects the matter to be resolved in a few days.Ebright said he expects to move his American Hockey League Skipjacks toWilkes-Barre, Pa., Syracuse, N.Y., or Portland, Maine, and to buy a franchise in the East Coast Hockey League, a rung below the AHL on the minor-league ladder, and bring it to Baltimore.Ebright refused to identify the ECHL franchise with which he is negotiating, but he did say Roanoke and Knoxville are reportedly for sale, and it is believed that Ebright favors Knoxville.

BaseballErie Panthers (ECHL) -- Named Barry Smith assistant coach.

The East Coast Hockey League, once considered the lowest of the U.S. minor hockey leagues, has been growing steadily the past five years under Pat Kelly, the league commissioner.The ECHL has as many teams as the well-established American Hockey League (15) and five more than the International Hockey League. Two of its teams, the Cincinnati Cyclones and Hampton Roads Admirals, have the best attendance in minor-league hockey. Cincinnati, with former Baltimore Skipjacks radio broadcaster Terry Ficorelli as general manager, is averaging nearly 10,000 customers to the Cincinnati Gardens.

The Skipjacks' first road victory in their current 10-game swing through Canada's Maritime Provinces took a week, but the team has been seeing signs of life for three games.Last night in Moncton, New Brunswick, the Jacks defeated the Hawks, 5-1, behind a pair of goals from Steve Seftel and strong goaltending from rookie Olaf Kolzig."We've been working hard in every game and we finally got rewarded," said Jacks coach Robbie Laird, whose club is 1-3-1 on the trip. "Three of the games could have gone either way but last night we had the hot goalie and that was the difference."