Amarillo Gorillas cease Operations

The Amarillo Gorillas have announced today that they will cease operations and will not be playing for the first time in the Central Hockey League since 1996 when they entered the what was then the Western Professional Hockey League. The Gorillas entered the league in 2001 when the WPHL & CHL announced a merger that also included teams like the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

Rumors are heating up in Amarillo that they will be a junior team in the North American Hockey League that will be taking the place of it.

From the Amarillo Gorillas Website: www.amarillogorillas.com

Here's a story from the City of Amarillo Website: www.amarillo.com/stories/051910/new_news1.shtml

With deep regert, the Amarillo Gorillas will not play in the 2010-2011 hockey season, the team announced Wednesday.

"Despite our best efforts to secure local and other investors, the Gorillas could not find financing to play in Amarillo," commented owner/president Randy Sanders. "Our dedicated season ticket holders will receive full reimbursement for their 2010-2011 season ticket holders."

All 2010-2011 season ticket holders will be granted a full refund by contacting Box Office Director Michelle Macfadden at 806-242-7825 x 106.

A press conference has been scheduled for Friday May 21 at 2 PM CDT in the "Ape Escape" of the Amarillo Civic Center. Owener/President Randy Sanders will present to answer questions regarding the present situation.

The Amarillo Gorillas front office is located at 901 South Buchanan, Amarillo, Texas 79109 in downtown Amarillo. For Media Inquiries, contact Cody Eastwood at 806-242-7825.