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Jackals long term future depends on community support Officials answer community concerns about making the Elmira Jackals a community-owned team. Fans of the Elmira Jackals hockey team have three years to start filling the seats in First Arena to boost ticket revenue or the team could be sold. That's the situation as plans are in the works to turn ownership of the Jackals over to a local development corporation. Tom Freeman and Nate Cook announced last week that they would convey all of their rights and interests in Victory Associates, current owner and operator of the Jackals, to Chemung County Economic Development. A board of directors made up of local business leaders, residents and elected officials would oversee ownership of the team. An Elmira law firm that has reviewed plans to turn ownership of the Elmira Jackals hockey team over to the community expressed concerns about generating sufficient ticket revenue to cover costs. On the Chemung County Legislature's behalf, Chairwoman Donna Draxler, R-14th District, asked the Keyser, Maloney and Winner law firm to review the proposed transaction. According to an Aug. 27 letter obtained by the Star-Gazette that is signed by Richard D. Keyser, if all of the 2015 forecasted revenues are received and all operating expenses incurred, Jackals operations would essentially break even, and for that to happen, first-year ticket revenue must increase by $448,700, or almost 60 percent. If it is not achieved, the Jackals will continue to operate at a deficit, using the balance of bank financing to make up the difference, according to the letter. While the revenue forecast is based on a significant increase of about 1,000 people in Jackals game attendance, it is within the historical range of past seasons, Freeman said in a letter responding to Keyser. He and Cook are willing to provide a minimum three-year "backstop" on future losses, so that if unreserved losses exceed reserves, they would be covered by the arena. "I want this to succeed, and I think it's going to succeed," Freeman told the Star-Gazette Friday. "I think it's more of a question of what we do with the profits than how do we handle losses. The team can be very profitable. The team was very profitable in the first years, and all we need is attendance." There are 71 communities with professional hockey, and Elmira is the smallest market in the country and consequently has the smallest fan base in the country, he said. All things being equal, getting people to come to the games is probably one of the bigger challenges, and while attendance was up last year, it wasn't back to historic levels, he said. "It really wasn't so much the losses but we wanted it to be a bigger success," Freeman said of making the Jackals a community owned team. He used Green Bay, the smallest NFL market, as an analogy. "That team will never move from Green Bay because it's community owned. I wanted to make sure this team never moves, and this is a way to do it," Freeman said. "If Ralph Wilson, the owner of the Buffalo Bills, would've donated the team to the community, there would be no talk of a team ever moving. We don't ever want to be in a position that anybody's ever thinking of moving," he said. "I just never want to see that happen." Draxler, who sought the three-year protection, said Friday she is not concerned about the planned change in ownership but for the protection of the county. Getting the community involved gives people more ownership of the team, she said. "Any new business that starts up, it take three to five years to get established. That's kind of a given. I had asked if they wouldn't do it for three years, and they agreed. It's going to take them that long to find out whether they can make it," she said. "The concept is a very good concept. I really think it's a very good idea and a good way to go. I'm very happy with it. I just want to make sure that all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed and the county's protected," Draxler said. "That is all of our jobs on the legislature. It's to make sure we don't end up paying for something 20 years that's not existing. That's the only concern that I have at the moment." County Executive Tom Santulli emphasized that the Jackals would not be a government-owned team either by the county or the City of Elmira. "For the people out there saying this is huge debt being taken on by government, that is absolutely not true," he said Friday. "I don't want the message to be that there's going to be huge debt created. That's not what's going to happen." For a number of years, Jackals attendance was terrific, but attendance number declined largely because neglect by the arena's prior owners resulted in its deterioration, Santulli said. After Freeman and Cook took over the arena, they probably put about $2.5 million into it. "The place has never looked better," he said. "The place needed work. It wasn't in good condition. They let it deteriorate, and I think a lot of people left." There is a lot of enthusiasm among members of the business community who said the ownership change is an idea that's worth looking at, and a meeting is scheduled Thursday with them, he said. "I look at this as a positive," Santulli said. "We're talking about a team that has real value." The team is an asset with an appraised valued between $1.5 million and $2.5 million, he said. "If it becomes obvious very early on that despite all of our efforts as a community that the seats can't be filled, then you sell the asset, pay down whatever debt the team has — not the arena — and move on. I hope that's not the case. I hope the community feels that this is worth saving," he said. "I can tell you what the alternative is. It's just the whole place goes dark."

Check out this well-written piece by Greg Wyshynski, editor of Puck Daddy on Yahoo! Sports. https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/hockey-s-green-bay-packers--echl-elmira-jackals-become--community-owned-174850134.html

Elmira Jackals Name Jamie Russell New Head Coach Russell Becomes the 11th Head Coach in Jackals History ELMIRA, N.Y. - June 27, 2014 - The Elmira Jackals announced today that they have named Jamie Russell the 11th head coach in Elmira Jackals history. "We could not be more excited to have Jamie [Russell] on board as our new head coach," said Jackals owner Nate Cook. "The Buffalo Sabres organization gave us tremendous support and assistance throughout the entire search process. After a lengthy round of interviews, we agreed with the Buffalo organization that Jamie [Russell] was our number one coaching candidate." Russell spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Providence College. The Elmira Jackals ownership worked in conjunction with the Buffalo Sabres organization throughout the coaching search. A couple of Sabres executives played key roles in narrowing down the qualified candidates as well as providing insight and input during the interviewing process. "I'm extremely excited for this opportunity," said Russell. "I want to thank Tom Freeman and Nate Cook as well as the Buffalo Sabres organization - Joe Battista and Toby O'Brien. The Jackals will be reborn with this ownership group, the Sabres affiliation and a new coach. We have the opportunity to build something very special. We will be a team that plays the game with passion and an outstanding work ethic and we will make First Arena a tough place to play. I am excited to get going and start laying the foundation to build a championship culture." Russell, 47, joins the Jackals following three seasons as an assistant coach at Providence College. While there he coached and developed a stout defensive unit that allowed the seventh-fewest goals in the NCAA last season. The Kamloops, British Columbia native also coached the team's penalty killing unit, which ranked third in the nation in 2014. He contributed to a program-record three consecutive Hockey East semifinal appearances, helped guide the Friars last year to their first NCAA tournament since 2001 and in that same season posted the third highest win total in program history. "On behalf of the Sabres, we are really excited to welcome Coach Russell into the family," said Buffalo Sabres Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Battista. "He brings the experience as a player and coach and a tremendous network of coaches and players throughout the hockey world. His experience in recruiting and developing young players is outstanding and the fans of Elmira will enjoy the energy and style of play his teams will bring to the arena." Russell ranked second in Michigan Tech program history for career wins. Russell brings some head coaching experience with him to the Jackals' bench, as well. He was the bench boss at Michigan Tech University from 2003-2011. During his tenure there he ranked second in program history for career wins, was named the 2007 WCHA Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the 2007 NCAA National Coach of the Year. In the 2006-2007 season, Russell steered the Huskies to the their highest season win total since 1995 and recorded their best conference finish since 1992. He coached one Hobey Baker Award finalist, two All-Americans, five All-WCHA selections, 60 WCHA All-Academic selections and 16 WCHA Scholar athletes. "I've known Jamie for a long time as a coach and person, he brings character, commitment and leadership that the players and fans of Elmira will really like," said Buffalo Sabres NCAA and USA scout Toby O'Brien. "The big thing is that I feel he is truly excited about the opportunity to build a strong and winning program in Elmira. It's been a pleasure to be part of the selection process." Russell also has roots in the region dating back to his stint as the lead assistant coach at Cornell University from 1999-2003. He helped mold Cornell into a national powerhouse during his time there.Russell was responsible for the NCAA's top ranked scoring defense and the nation's top ranked penalty kill unit. The Big Red qualified for two NCAA tournaments, advanced to one Frozen Four appearance, won two ECAC regular season championships, the 2003 ECAC Tournament championship and was ranked number one in the nation for the first time in program history. Prior to joining Cornell's staff Russell served as an assistant coach at Ferris State University from 1994-1999. Russell does bring ECHL experience to Elmira from his playing days. The former defenseman spent two seasons with the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds. He recorded 25 points (6 goals, 19 assists) and 66 penalty minutes in 64 games and captained the Thunderbirds during the 1989-90 campaign. Russell also played four games in the American Hockey League with the Binghamton Whalers during the 1989-90 season. He played his collegiate hockey at Michigan Tech from 1986-89.

Elmira Jackals Announce First Signing Of The Season Lucas Bloodoff Brings a Warrior’s Mentality to Elmira Wednesday, June 18, 2014 ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals announced today that rookie forward Lucas Bloodoff has signed a Standard Player Contract for the 2014-2015 campaign. Bloodoff is the Jackals' first signing for the upcoming season. "We are thrilled to have Lucas join the Elmira Jackals organization," said Jackals owner Nate Cook. "His drive and determination exemplifies the new image we are committed to on and off the ice." Bloodoff, 25, joins the Elmira Jackals organization following a successful four-year career at Saint Mary's University in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport ranks. "I could not be more excited to be part of the Elmira Jackals and the Buffalo Sabres organization," said Bloodoff. "When the opportunity came to sign with Elmira I was immediately excited because it was a team we were hoping to be a part of after I graduated from [saint Mary's] University in Halifax. I have heard nothing but great things about the Elmira organization and I am very excited to be a part of the family and bring what I can to the team next season." The Castlegar, BC native recorded 99 points (47 goals, 52 assists) in 109 career games for the Huskies. This past year Bloodoff was labeled the team captain after two seasons with the alternate captain patch on his sweater. He posted a career-high 20 goals, 18 assists and 38 points in the 2012-2013 season. That season Bloodoff was named to the AUS First All-Star Team, the CIS All-Canadian First Team and was awarded the Kelly Trophy as the AUS Most Valuable Player as well as the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy as the CIS Player of the Year. Prior to attending Saint Mary's University, Bloodoff notched 124 points (64 goals, 60 assists) and 356 penalty minutes in 259 games as a member of the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. Skating alongside his brother Evan, who plays for the Florida Everblades, Bloodoff helped the Rockets win the WHL Championship in 2008-2009.

Elmira Jackals @JackalsHockey · 2h Jackals Announce 2014-15 Schedule #QuestForKellyCup http://conta.cc/1iXU81k

Finally some good news for our team. Now hoping that we have a coach that can bring us a winning season.