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Dayton Pro Hockey Goes Dormant for 2016-17 Season,

July 13, 2016 - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Dayton Demolition News Release


To the best fans in hockey,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the players, corporate sponsors, booster club, season ticket holders and fans for making my arrival in Dayton a memorable one.

We turned a bad season into a great season with the help of Brett Wall, Teresa Woodhouse, Sandy Shiverdecker, Dylan Kuhn, Tim King and Leah Cowgill. From everyone in the front office to the off - ice officials and Hara Arena staff everything was first class.

Dayton hockey has been an ongoing project of mine since the spring of 2015, I planned on being in Dayton last summer to create a winning atmosphere between Hara Arena, the team, fans, local communities and businesses. Unfortunately for reasons out of my control the membership was awarded to an ownership group from East Coast United States. This started what turned out to be a bad experience for the players, fans, corporate sponsors and our home Hara Arena.

As soon as the franchise became available I jumped at the opportunity to purchase the team. I purchased the team from the league for the love of the game. I couldn't have been happier that it was in Dayton where I feel they had the best fans and arena in the league where the opportunity to get involved was a dream come true.

My role as the Owner and Head Coach was to turn the organization, players and atmosphere around as fast as possible. I had no idea how bad things were until I arrived in Dayton and began to field phone calls on an hourly and daily basis from unhappy corporate sponsors, season ticket holders and purveyors.

I never diverted from my goal of turning this organization around and running a first class team from top to bottom. I want to personally thank everyone that supported the team and myself through the ups and downs of the transition period and the dream of making the playoffs, which the boys did.

I came to Dayton to run a professional hockey team for not only this year but for years to come. Unfortunately due to circumstances out of my control Hara Arena is unable to sign leases not only to myself but to other tenants.

At this time I regret to announce that Dayton Professional Hockey will be going dormant for the 2016-2017 season due to arena availability and lack of lead up time.

Like I told my players we never say never, I will be eagerly pursuing to find a location to house our professional hockey team in the Dayton area if Hara Arena is not available for the 2017 - 2018 season.

Yours in Hockey,

Coach Joe Pace Sr.

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