The Ice Pilots are no more

The ECHL has terminated the Pensacola Ice Pilots franchise.

Monday the ECHL Board of Governor’s decided to terminate the franchise owned by Mario Forgione after he informed the league he didn’t want to put a team on the ice next season.

According to ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna, “The Ice Pilots advised us that they didn’t plan to play hockey in the ECHL next year or the year after. According to our bylaws that is grounds for termination.”

There are no plans at this time for the ECHL to keep the franchise in Pensacola while searching for a new owner.

Reports have the Ice Pilots ownership wanting to move the franchise to a completely different league.

Team President Greg Schuh stated that rising costs and a struggling economy, were a double shot the team could no longer deal with as a member of the ECHL.

Schuh added that in a lower league there would be fewer games, less travel lower salaries, and lower operation costs.

The only way hockey could remain a part of the Pensacola sports communitty would be in a lower level hockey league.

Last year the Ice Pilots seemed doomed when there were concerns over a lease between Escambia County and the Ice Pilots over use of the Pensacola Civic Center, which the Ice Pilots have known as home since leaving Nashville when they were the Nashville Knights.

Currently the franchise is in the process of refunding sesson tickets.