New Poll Question: Who do you want to Become the new Dallas Stars Owner

With the Forbes Report saying that a possible sale of the Dallas Stars is starting to become more of a reality. Today's new poll question deals with who do you want to see become the team's new owner.

The two main players are both Western Canadian Billionaires in the Western Hockey League as Bill Gallacher (Portland Winterhawks) & Tom Gaglardi (Kamloops Blazers) are going to be fighting each other to become the new owner hopefully by the October 8 Season Opener against the New Jersey Devils and the NY Islanders the next night.

I would love to see either one of these guys owning the team as turning around Junior Teams to their former glory has a huge part of both their resumes and they will be looking to turnaround one of the most successful hockey franchises, not only in on-ice success, but growing the game and being a major part of the city of Dallas. They would both have the ability to bring in big name free agents and make the players, fans and team staff excited to be with the Stars.

The Major Wild Card right now is Mark Cuban where with his forward thinking style and his ability to make the Mavericks a NBA Powerhouse. He would give the National Hockey League a badly needed names to bring some new ideas to help make the game more reverent in the USA on a full time basis. Eventhough he's denied interest in the Dallas Stars, his name keeps coming up and with how close he came to getting the Texas Rangers, they're a lot of reasons why he would be interested in possibly getting involved in the Dallas Stars.

Or it could be someone that we don't know yet that could steal the show and jump in to make things very interesting.

So the Question who do you want to see become the new Dallas Stars Owner?

Bill Gallacher (Portland Winterhawks Owner)

Tom Gaglardi (Kamloops Blazers Owner)

Mark Cuban

Somebody Else


Be sure to vote on the poll and leave comments both on the website and on my twitter page at http://twitter.com/tanman9

Nothing to confirm or deny in the Stars Sale

After Forbes Magazine reported that a sale of the Dallas Stars was close yesterday, many reporters around the National Hockey League, and in particularly Mike Heika with the Dallas Morning News, weren't able to confirm or deny anything big or this huge puzzle that is the Dallas Stars Sale and who is ultimately going to own this team for the 2010-2011 season which gets underway on October 8 against the New Jersey Devils.

To me, if we don't hear a report of a new owner by the start of Training Camp when the Stars head to Charlottentown, PEI on September 17, then were going to get some angst as fans will want to see a new ownership by the start of the season or at least in the early part of the season so he can get used to his surroundings and have the ability to have the flexibility to sign current contracts, have the ability to trade, cut or add players to make the team more competitive and get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

If this turns into a dejavu like the Texas Rangers did until recently, the results will be a lot worse then with the Rangers. With sagging ratings the last 2 years, only a handful of sell out crowds when teams like Detroit when they invade the AAC (Which they will on October 14 for the Stars Home Opener).

Even if the new owner doesn't throw a lot of money to start out, getting players signed like Brad Richards and Loui Eriksson are important to make sure they stay with the Stars for the long term and to continue the youth movement the team is doing, and maybe get the ability to get some veteran leadership and ability to help out players like Jamie Benn, Loui Eriksson and James Neal as these guys grow and mature to become the next big forward trio to build around for the Stars.

Some of the major issues outside the Stars themselves include the 5 Dr. Pepper Starcenters, some of the property around the Ballpark in Arlington, and perhaps the trickiest part of all this could include the Cedar Park Center (Home of the Texas Stars) which is a separate entity.

So was this possibly some of the reasons why the price went up to nearly $300 Million after many thought that the team would go around $225 Million Dollars earlier this month. We will have to wait and see, it will be interesting to see which parts will go and what will stay with Hicks. I would not be surprised to see these groups involved, the Dr. Pepper Starcenters have been huge towards growing the sport of hockey in the D/FW Area. My prediction is that these properties will bring up the amount that whoever owns the team will play a major factor in all this.

And with the success of the Texas Stars seeing them to the Calder Cup Championship and with a strong future it's looking like they would be a lot of interest from just about anyone who's looking at buying the Dallas Stars.

So it sounds like a second false alarm after a report by Ken Campbell that was reported earlier this month that had to be taken out. So for now, were back into the unknown about who will be the owner of the Dallas Stars this season. But something better happen soon, or your going to start seeing a lot of angry and frustrated Stars Fans that could be trapped into a Texas Rangers Type Situation.

We need to have an owner in place so he can be ready to make any important roster moves needed to come around.

The other major role could be the creditors, after the Rangers sale, hopefully that part will be done with. If not, then the creditors will be just plain greedy and will trap the Stars into a bad situation that would see them possibly miss the playoffs for the 3rd straight year.

Mike Heika can't confirm anything on Stars Ownership

Reports: Sale of Dallas Stars is Close

Theirs several reports coming out that a sale of the Dallas Stars has been rapidly moving forward over the last couple of days and many of them have the team selling somewhere in the neighborhood of $275-$300 Million Dollars which is more then the $250 Million that many thought that the team would sell four.

No word on which person is behind it, just a reminder, the main players right now looking to own the Stars are Tom Gaglardi of the Kamloops Blazers & Bill Gallacher of the Portland Winterhawks (Both WHL). Both of these owners have done a great job of turning around struggling Junior Clubs back to the glory, and in the case of the Portland Winterhawks, kept them from possbily being moved to a place like Victoria, BC or Boise, Idaho.

The only possible wildcard could be Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban who just after missing out on owning the Texas Rangers, could very well be looking to get involved in the Dallas Stars Situation to turn around the team like he did after he bought the Dallas Mavericks in 2000.

So regardless of who's doing it right now, it would be a win-win for the Dallas Stars as they look to move forward and to put an official end to the Tom Hicks era.

Here's the Report from Forbes

Stars Hope to Avoid the Same Circus with Ownership Change

With the Texas Rangers Ownership mess now behind us, the thing that Stars fans are hoping now is that the same thing doesn't happen to the Dallas Stars. For many reasons, the Stars can't afford an ownership mess as the team has missed the playoffs the last 2 years and with sagging ratings, add on the little trust with coach Marc Crawford and Joe Nieuwendyk.

And very few high level prospects in the Stars system, it would make things a lot worse for the Stars then for the Rangers as they are currently running away with the American League West with a month-and-a-half left in the baseball regular season.

Stars Fans want to see success and they need it more badly then the Rangers or even the Mavericks right now. If the ownership doesn't get done by the start of the season like Tom Hicks said it would. It could be a Tom Hicks dejavu with the Stars Ownership as the possible owners are down to 2 as the Fox News Corp. has officially withdrawn from the ownership bidding process as Mike Heika confirmed in his exclusive this morning.

In an email from FSN VP Chris Belliti to Mike Heika gave him a one line statement that read.

"Fox will not be submitting a bid for ownership for the Dallas Stars."

Belliti believes that Fox News Corp. Rupert Murdoch gotten out of the bid process and just wants to focus on keeping the Television Rights. The Rights don't expire till the 2013-2014 season, so it's not a high profile issue right now.

Here's the Full Piece from the Exclusive

The Stars are currently down to 2 with both having ties in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Bill Gallacher (Portland Winterhawks) and Tom Gaglardi (Kamloops Blazers). Both owners have taken these teams back to their former glory - and in the Portland Winterhawks - saved from them relocation as rumors of the team moving to places like Vancouver Island and Boise, Idaho were rampart just a couple of years ago.

I didn't want to see FSN get involved in the ownership, in many instances like this the ownership group usually don't care about the team. It would allow the team to sink into oblivion and just sees it as an investment and won't give the coaching staff and GM the players and know how to help the team be more success. Especially in a situation where they have been out of the playoffs the last 2 years and I wouldn't be surprised to make it 3 in a row with the team being in its current shape.

The only prominent wildcard out there right now is Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban. Heika believes that Cuban is not interested right now, but with how close he was to getting the Texas Rangers, he should never be counted out when it comes down to major sports in this town.

Personally, I would love to see Mark Cuban get into the fray here, with how the NHL has kind of sagging recently in the national and international spotlight in some places. He would have some interesting ideas to give commissioner Gary Bettman to spice up the game both on and off the ice and to help get the NHL back on the spotlight and more national television exposure.

Regardless of who the new owner or ownership group is, he needs to put a lot of pressure on Marc Crawford and Joe Nieuwendyk to put a strong team on the ice and not see another year of missing the playoffs and letting the team and the fans down. Stars fans are angry and many would like to see them both go once when the ownership comes in.

However, my take is lets see how good they are when they have the monetary resources and the ability to get be more aggressive on getting high profile players. If they don't, then it would be time to let both of them go and bring in a coach and GM.

To me, it's not critically important again yet. But to me, if we don't see much movement before the start of NHL Training Camp which on September 17 in Charlottentown, PEI. That's when I think when fans will really want to see something done as the season is getting ready to start.


Here's an article that Mike Heika wrote on Tuesday about the Ownership Situation. www.dallasnews.com

While the completion of the sale of the Rangers shouldn't directly impact the Stars, the process the Rangers went through has been educational, those who are running the Stars sale say.

"I think the biggest thing is we learned a lot with the Rangers, and we're trying y hard not to make some of the same mistakes," Stars owner Tom Hicks Said. "In that regard, we do expect it to go more smoothly with the Stars."

Hicks said he thinks the deal can get done before the start of the season on October 8, and the NHL Agrees. There are three legitimate bidders, they have all gone through the diligence and should be ready to put in bids pretty soon. However, Hicks, and the NHL and brooker Sal Galatioto have confirmed that all parties have signed confidentiality agreements and that there will not be talk of specifics about the deal.

While it has been confirmed through sources that the three potential buyers are News Corp, Portland Winterhawks Owner Bill Gallacher and Kamloops Blazers Owner Tom Gaglardi, the actual negotiations process should be different then it was with the Rangers. That negotiation was done in a public bankruptcy hearing, so fans got to see which bidders were bidding what. The Stars sale is a private one, so the bids will happen behind the scenes and probably will not be released unless the information is leaked.

Because the relationship between Hicks and Major League Baseball was strained, the sale was delayed and was eventually pushed into a bankruptcy court. Currently the relationship between Hicks and the NHL is a solid one, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said, and the two sides have agreed on Galatioto Sports Partners as the broker in the deal. That's important, because GSP is the second leading lien holder behind Monarch Investment Group, which holds the largest debt for Hicks Sports Group.

The thought there is GSP will be able to broker a deal that is fair for the lenders, because it is one for the lenders. However, there is some concern whetever the lenders can all agree, because there were moments in the Rangers Sale when they lenders were not on the same page. In fact, the relationship between the lenders could be the biggest wildcards in this negotiation.

The bankruptcy protection granted by the NHL by the loan covenants agreed to by the lenders will expire this month. When it does, the lenders could take the Stars into bankruptcy.

That's not currently the plan, especially when it comes to the NHL or the Stars. When the Phoenix Coyotes went to bankruptcy court, Ontario Businessman Jim Balsillie tried to put the Riders on the sale of the team that would allow the Coyotes to move to Hamilton, Ontario. The courts eventually decided a league could not be forced to move a team, but the decision cost time and money. The NHL eventually bought the Coyotes and is still seeking a permanent buyer.

That's not something anyone wants to happen with the Stars. The League, the Stars and the lenders would like to hold the auction without needing bankruptcy court. All would like the highest possible sale price, and buyers would like a fair shot at ownership. That's the plan right now. Whoever ends up owning the Stars, Hicks said he believes they will be in good shape moving forward.

Q&A with Texas Tornado Owner Bill Yuill

Back at the 1st of June, Bill Yuill was officially announced as the new owner of the Texas Tornado after over a decade of Bob and Kirby Schlegel owning the team from when it started till last season. During that time the Tornado have won 3 NAHL Robertson Cup Titles from 2004-2006.

And have been a regular in the playoffs and have been one of the most successful Junior Teams in the Country at any league when it comes down sending players to the NCAA and Professional Ranks. A few of them include the recent success of current AHL'ers Trevor Ludwig, Al Montoya and Ben Bishop have at the very least become regulars in the AHL with a shot of maybe making the NHL in the near future.

Bishop was the starter for the Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis Blues AHL Affiliate) and also was the 3rd goalie for Team USA at the recent IIHF World Championships, despite the team finishing in 13th Place.

Meanwhile Trevor Ludwig played some critical minutes and impressed in his opportunities after taking over for Andrew Hutchinson when he got hurt during the Texas Stars AHL Calder Cup Playoff Run.

For Bill Yuill, he's been with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League where he sits currently the team president and has been part of a successful club since the team was first est. in 2003. Which includes having one of the most successful expansion seasons in team history and fielding a winner which includes 3 Division Titles and making the WHL Championship Series in 2004.

In the Q&A, I asked Bill Yuill about why he choose to come to the Texas Tornado, getting the team back to being Championship Contenders, comparing the WHL to the NAHL and so much more including looking to get big time hockey events to Texas like the NCAA Frozen Four and World Championship Events.


Here's the Q&A to Bill Yuill

1. You haven't been in Texas very long, so what made you choose coming to Texas to help run the Texas Tornado? Also what do you think of the D/FW Metroplex as a whole in the short time you have been here?

We feel that the hockey traditions that are being built in North Texas are very strong. The Dallas Stars have done a terrific job making hockey into a mainstream sport and with the growth of Frisco has experienced in the last decade we're very optimistic about the future of Tornado Hockey.


2. What are some of your biggest strategies you and your group are going to use to both bring back the fans and increase media attention. This past year, the team averaged only about 1,600 fans per game during the regular season.

I tell Coach Curtale that he has to win more games then he loses and he has to get home ice advantage in the playoffs. Then we worry about winning the Championship. With 3 National Championships under his belt, it is clear that he knows how to win hockey games and we're very confident that we will continue to win. Our sales staff is aggressively promoting the team at the grass roots level. In addition to gaining more corporate support we're also working hard to increase our group sales as well as our box office numbers. This is definitely a tough media market. We'll continue to pursue the big guys but we're also putting more focus on the smaller media outlets and electronic media.


3. Why did you choose the NAHL Route over the USHL Route? With the USHL being a much stronger league overall then the NAHL. What got you so interested in running an NAHL Team?

The NAHL produces some very strong hockey players and the league is very well respected from a business standpoint. This NAHL has an extremely bright future.


4. What do you think will be the biggest difference will be running the Everett Silvertips in the WHL compared to the Texas Tornado of the NAHL?

We've had a very successful operation in Everett for quite some time. We're talking to many of our operational successes from that team and we're trying to put them into practice in Frisco. Scouting and recruiting players along with developing minor hockey in the NAHL is very similar in the WHL. We hope that our hockey ops in Everett can assist the guys in Frisco with player development and vice versa. From a business standpoint the Everett/Seattle and Frisco/Dallas Markets are not much different from one another.


5. What part would be willing to play to possibly play bringing in a major national or international hockey event like the Frozen Four would you use to come to Dallas?

We've not really considered that it too much but I think that with all Frisco and North Texas have to offer, the market would be very attractive.


6. How much of a distraction could it be to run two teams in the same league as your also going to help operate the Amarillo Team as well. It's one thing to run two different teams in different leagues (AKA Tom Hicks). But are you worried that backlash may occur for Tornado Fans you are also going to run the new team in Amarillo who will most likely be in the Same Division.

We're keeping our hockey operations for the two teams very separate. We're seeing some crossovers in our business operations but I can assure you that hockey operations are completely separate.


7. You have run a pretty successful team in Everett in the Western Hockey League since the team started in 2003. What's been the biggest key to that constant success in the WHL? Keeping that in Mind, How long do you think that Coach Curtale can seriously contend for the NAHL Robertson Cup Championship with how little turnover that's expected with just one player (Ben Bishop) committing to the University of Maine for his NCAA Career?

We've been very successful in Everett because we have a very hard working staff and great network of scouts. They're committed to winning and very good at their jobs so as long as we focus on what has made us successful I would anticipate nothing less then a positive result. In addition to managing a great team on the ice, Coach Curtale continuously prepares for the future. He and his staff are involved in scouting throughout North America and they know the Minor Hockey Programs very well. They respected by University and College coaches for the players they develop and midget coaches trust they'll prepare players for a great future.


8. I know pretty much the entire team has left to go back home for the off-season. Have you been in contact with any of the players since you officially took over and if so, what has the reaction been from current players?

The responses I've heard have been very positive.


9. Going back to bringing back fans to a moment, any major ideas your looking at to help increase the fan experience when the season starts in September?

For starters, we're bringing back our video boards. We know that the fan experience is important and we're making some other changes that should make the show more entertaining and give it a bit more style.


Any final thoughts as you start getting ready for the 2010-2011 season in September?

We are very excited about we've come to learn about the Texas Tornado and North Texas in the past few months. The reception from the fans has been very positive and we look forward to winning some hockey games this year.


Quick Hits

Outside of work, how are you going to enjoy the offseason in Texas?

We don't get much of a vacation in the front office but I'll golf when I can.


Better food to try in Texas? BBQ or Tex-Mex

I'm a little partial to BBQ?


Favorite Hockey Movie?

Do you really need to ask?

More on Texas Tornado Ownership Situation

The day after the Texas Tornado officially announced that Bill Yuill will be taking over the team with his group Sports Holdings USA, the team's news release goes more in depth and says thinks to previous owners Bob and Kirby Schlegel for what they did to the club turning it into one of the premier junior teams in the country.

Which included 3 League Titles from 2004-2006 and numerous players heading to the NCAA & Professional Ranks, including a few players who went to the NHL and former goalie Ben Bishop who was named to the USA Team for the Ice Hockey World Championships.

From the North American Hockey League: www.nahl.com

The North American Hockey League has announced that its board of Governors has approved its transfer of ownership of the Texas Tornado.

The new ownership group is led by Bill Yuill, president of Consolidated Sports Holdings USA, inc.

A native and resident of Medicine, Hat Alberta, Yuill, which is also the chairman and CEO of the Monarch Corporation, a privately owned companies with three operating divisions - communications, investments and sports franchises - has owned and operated successful baseball and hockey teams for over three decades.

"Since 1999, the Texas Tornado has been one of the premier junior hockey organizations not only in the NAHL, but all of North America, and we're excited for Bill Yuill and consolidated Sports Holdings to carry on the winning tradition." said NAHL Commissioner Mark Frankfeld. "His business experience and expertise, along with his success owning and operating hockey teams speaks for itself."

"Were proud to become members of the North American Hockey League and participate in its continued growth and success," said Yuill. "We see a bright future."

Consolidated Sports Holdings EXC. VP Gary Gelinas, who boasts owning and managing sports franchises, will oversee the operations of the Texas Tornado.

"I'm delighted with the opportunity to become est. in the Dallas Market," Yuill said. "Over the years, our company has operated franchises in seven different states, but this will be one our first ones in Texas."

The Tornado plays its home games at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco. One of the premier junior hockey facilities in North America, the recently renovated arena also serves as the practice home of the Dallas Stars.

"The Texas Tornado have built a successful following here in North Texas and we are very excited to be a part of that continued tradition under Bill Yuill and Consolidated Sports Holdings," said Randy Locey, executive vice president for the Dallas Stars and Dr. Pepper Arena. "We look forward to working with Bill and Gary and continue growing the sport of hockey in Texas."

Under the teams previous owners, Bob and Kirby Schlegel, of Schlegel Sports Group, the Tornado solidified itself as one of the elite junior hockey programs in North America, on and off the ice.

The Tornado won three straight league championships from 2004-2006 and seven NAHL Regular Season division titles thinks to seven straight 40 plus winning seasons from 1999-07. The Tornado also developed and moved over 80 players onto the NCAA & Professional (four of its former players skated in the NHL this season.)

"Bob and Kirby have been at the forefront of helping the NAHL evolve into one of the best junior hockey league in North America, and we can't think them enough for the commitment they've shown over the years," said Frankfeld. "Their involvement has done so much with the Frisco community, the fans, and most importantly, the players and their success."

"I'd like to think Schlegel family and the Dallas Stars for their cooperation and support throughout the transition."

for more info, checkout www.tornadohockey.com

Confrimed: Bill Yuill be new Texas Tornado owner

Yesterday the Texas Tornado has announced a news conference regarding the team's new ownership.

Today the name will by Bill Yuill who's coming from the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League that will be announced at a news conference that will be set for 10:00 AM tomorrow morning at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco to announce the ownership deal along with Texas Tornado Head Coach/GM Tony Curtale and Dallas Stars President.

In addition to the ownership announcement, a tip from an unidentified source has also released the details what all will happen tomorrow in Frisco. In addition to the ownership announcement, the following will happen tomorrow.


Bill Yuill Profile form the Everett Silvertips Website
www.everettsilvertips.com/team/staff_bio.cfm?ID=49&DeptID=11

Texas Tornado Website: http://texastornado.pointstreaksites.com/view/texastornado

• Bill Yuill is the head of the group called Sports Holdings USA which also runs the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL)
• Yuill and Sports Holdings USA will also announce a new lease that will keep the team playing at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco for the long term. Terms and the length were not disclosed. They schedule to sign it to make it official at the press conference
• The following people will also be at the Press Conference.
• New Owner Bill Yuill
• Gary Gelinas, who is the exc. vice president of Consolidated Sports Holdings USA. He will oversee the business operations of the Texas Tornado.
• Tony Curtale, Head Coach and GM of the Texas Tornado
• Jeff Cogen, President of the Dallas Stars.
• After the morning Press Conference, they will be a Tornado Townhall to discuss the changes more indepth and take some questions from fans and media as well.

Bill Yuill has been a part of the Evertt Silvertips since the very beginning of the team back in 2003. The Silvertips have had a ton of success throughout the team's history which included being one of the top expansion teams in major junior history. Hopefully this will mean that Yuill can help bring the success that the Silvertips that the Tornado have been lacking the last few years.

Not only on the ice, but off the ice as which included getting fans back after the Tornado only averaged about 1620 fans per game. Opposed to the Championship years of 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 when they were at or near the top by averaging about 3500 fans per game in the league. With game capacity at just under 6,000 since the arena reneventions in 2008-09, they hoping to bring in some of the best and best fans in the NAHL.

In addition to the Fans, the strong 2nd half of the season will hopefully help him out as the team with players like Jack Prince, James Howard and Eric Ware where only one player has officially committed to play NCAA Hockey and that was goalie Dan Sullivan who committed to the University of Maine just after the season ended.

Hopefully the strong ending to the season will help them out as they were able to overtake Springfield for 3rd and nearly upset St. Louis in the Division Semifinals as the Bandits made the NAHL Robertson Cup for the 4th straight year, before finishing 4th in the Round Robin and fell short of a shot of a 4th straight NAHL Robertson Cup Championship.