|
Post by Calgary Cowboys on Jul 8, 2014 20:47:10 GMT -5
Flames Return to Great Fanfare New Flames owner Andy Sorensen took to a stage at a downtown Atlanta hotel tonight to confirm what had been rampant rumors in the streets of Atlanta and on social media all day: Atlanta would once again host professional hockey. What was a surprise though, was who joined the Atlanta based media mogul on stage: Coca-Cola CEO Mutar Kent, former Atlanta Brave Tom Glavine, and music superstar Usher. All three gentlemen will be co-owners of the Flames along with Sorensen, as Mr. Kent was representing Coke’s 15% stake in the team. Mr. Sorensen and his company Sorensen Holdings owns 75%, while Mr. Glavine and Usher both retain 5% shares. Sorensen also took time to introduce his self described “hockey brain trust”. Lou Lamoriello will be President of Hockey Operations and will be charged with supervising the Vice President and General Manager Peter Chiarelli. Behind the bench, Sorensen named popular but controversial Canadian television commentator Don Cherry as the club’s first head coach with Francois Alliare and Roger Neilsen assisting Cherry. When a reporter asked Sorensen if the Cherry hire was to “purely create headlines”, Sorensen backed up Cherry’s credentials. However, what really captivated those in attendance was the announcement of the broadcast arraignments. Borrowing once again from the Great White North, Sorensen has hired two legendary broadcast crews: Beloved announcer and Canadian icon Foster Hewitt will announce all Flames home games for television and radio solo, while on the road Danny Gallivan and Dick Irvin Jr. will relay the action for Flame fans also on radio and television. In the studio, James Duthie and Atlanta resident Anson Carter will preview and analyze the game on Flames Tonight before and after each game. Regional sports network SportSouth and Sorensen’s own channel WPCH-TV, channel 17 will air all regular season and select playoff games between them under the “Hockey Night in the South” banner. Why Sorensen picked WPCH to air games, besides owning the channel, is a unique one. WPCH, dating back to its WTBS superstation days, is still on many Canadian cable and satellite lineups. By engaging a Canadian audience, Sorensen believes that more viewers will drive higher merchandise sales and consequently more Flame fans both in hockey mad Canada and league wide. Sorensen said “We want ‘Flame Nation’ to carry a spark of excitement, passion and heart around the league. Whether we play in Seattle, Oakland, Ottawa, or Hamilton, the flame will burn bright amongst our fans.”
|
|
|
Post by International Hockey Club on Jul 8, 2014 21:01:04 GMT -5
Great opening PR! I do dislike your head coach immensely and thus will hope Gustav Nyquist gets a hat trick first Flames/Mariners game.
|
|
|
Post by Toronto Ice Frogs on Jul 8, 2014 21:20:14 GMT -5
When a reporter asked Sorensen if the Cherry hire was to “purely create headlines”, Sorensen backed up Cherry’s credentials Which, of course, further cemented the rumors, due to his extensive resumé at the CBC of "purely creating headlines".
|
|
|
Post by northstar74 on Jul 8, 2014 21:39:36 GMT -5
DON CHERRY AS COACH!??!? oh merde man... that gonna be one hilarious season to watch him.. but that guy sometimes is dead on some stuffs and I would hate to be on the wrong side of that, and for others as well lol...
|
|
|
Post by Calgary Cowboys on Jul 8, 2014 21:42:42 GMT -5
DON CHERRY AS COACH!??!? oh merde man... that gonna be one hilarious season to watch him.. but that guy sometimes is dead on some stuffs and I would hate to be on the wrong side of that, and for others as well lol... Every league has to have its mad genius
|
|
|
Post by northstar74 on Jul 8, 2014 21:47:42 GMT -5
DON CHERRY AS COACH!??!? oh merde man... that gonna be one hilarious season to watch him.. but that guy sometimes is dead on some stuffs and I would hate to be on the wrong side of that, and for others as well lol... Every league has to have its mad genius Entirely possible but gonna see... hooo that ought to be something... as long as the flying pieces of s**t aint gonna fly in my direction or anyone's direction lol...
|
|
|
Post by Calgary Cowboys on Jul 8, 2014 21:49:32 GMT -5
Every league has to have its mad genius Entirely possible but gonna see... hooo that ought to be something... as long as the flying pieces of s**t aint gonna fly in my direction or anyone's direction lol... Let's just be thankful there's not European teams in the mix. Or mandatory visors (To my knowledge).
|
|
|
Post by International Hockey Club on Jul 8, 2014 21:50:31 GMT -5
Entirely possible but gonna see... hooo that ought to be something... as long as the flying pieces of s**t aint gonna fly in my direction or anyone's direction lol... Let's just be thankful there's not European teams in the mix. Or mandatory visors (To my knowledge). Don Cherry is an enemy of the Moncton Mariners. We are a team that is made up of only college alumni and European players. (Matthias and Bouma are the lone holdouts but I'm expecting to do away with them soon) EDIT: spelling
|
|
|
Post by Calgary Cowboys on Jul 8, 2014 21:52:15 GMT -5
Let's just be thankful there's not European teams in the mix. Or mandatory visors (To my knowledge). Don Cherry is an enemy of the Moncton Mariners. We are a team that is made up of only college alumni and European players. (Matthias and Bouma are the lone holdouts but I'm expecting to do away with them soon) EDIT: spelling What's the over/under on the "Plinko" quotes for the first Moncton game?
|
|
|
Post by International Hockey Club on Jul 8, 2014 21:53:08 GMT -5
Don Cherry is an enemy of the Moncton Mariners. We are a team that is made up of only college alumni and European players. (Matthias and Bouma are the lone holdouts but I'm expecting to do away with them soon) EDIT: spelling What's the over/under on the "Plinko" quotes for the first Moncton game? NLHS DRINKING GAME: Take a shot every time Don Cherry calls the Mariners a "pinko" organization. Wait, scratch that, you'll kill someone in the first period
|
|
|
Post by northstar74 on Jul 8, 2014 21:59:22 GMT -5
Looks like there gonna be plenty of monkeycrap flying soon lol
|
|
|
Post by Nova Scotia Titans on Jul 8, 2014 22:02:52 GMT -5
Oh man I cant wait for the first Flames-Mariners clash lol
|
|
|
Post by Calgary Cowboys on Jul 8, 2014 22:02:59 GMT -5
Looks like there gonna be plenty of monkeycrap flying soon lol Of course, it's Don Cherry. What were you expecting, a tea party?
|
|
|
Post by Calgary Cowboys on Jul 8, 2014 22:06:17 GMT -5
Oh man I cant wait for the first Flames-Mariners clash lol Pretty sure this means Atlanta and Moncton will be in the same division.
|
|
|
Post by International Hockey Club on Jul 8, 2014 22:07:49 GMT -5
Oh man I cant wait for the first Flames-Mariners clash lol Pretty sure this means Atlanta and Moncton will be in the same division. Wouldn't surprise me. Depends on where Hewitt's team goes.
|
|