Thursday, May 9, 2013

Former Vipers Captain Ullrich Becomes Unrestricted Free Agent:


The ownership group of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) Trenton Titans has pulled the franchise out of the ECHL.  It looks like former Vernon Vipers Captain-forward Mike Ullrich has become an unrestricted free agent.  According to a statement from the ECHL, all Titans players signed to ECHL contracts, except those owed as future considerations, are unrestricted free agents.

Ullrich played for three different teams this season, was in his first season with the Titans. In 26 games this year with Trenton Ullrich collected (15-14-29).

Ullrich started the season with the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) South Carolina Stingrays after signing a contract over the summer. Ullrich left the Stingrays before signing with the Central Hockey League (CHL) Tulsa Oilers on November, 7th 2012. The Stingrays suspended Ullrich after leaving the club but then took Ullrich off suspension before trading the rights of Ullrich to the ECHL Trenton Titans for future considerations on January, 18th 2013. In five games with the Stingrays Ullrich collected 1 goal & 4 assists. The Oilers then suspended and then deleted Ullrich from the clubs roster on January, 17th 2013 after Ullrich left the Oilers for the ECHL Trenton Titans. In 29 games with the Oilers Ullrich collected (7-12-19).

Ullrich played last year with the CHL Tulsa Oilers. In 66 games as a rookie with the Oilers Ullrich collected (29-35-64) and was named to the CHL All-Rookie team. Ullrich was near the top of the rookie scoring list for the entire season. Ullrich also was a finalist for the CHL Rookie of the Year award. In 29 games this season with the Oilers Ullrich has collected (7-12-19). Ullrich played parts of two years in Vernon (2005-2007) Ullrich left the Vipers during the 2005-06 season before returning to Vernon the following season after a short stint with the WHL Lethbridge Hurricanes.  In 103 games with the Vipers Ullrich collected (39-92-131).

Mike Ullrich's Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=82968 

Thanks to Gregg Drinnan for posting this article on his blog.

This was in the Times of Trenton Newspaper:

Trenton Titans minor league hockey team pulls out of Sun National Bank Arena, ECHL

Print By Jenna Pizzi/The Times of Trenton 

April 23, 2013 

TRENTON — The Trenton Titans will not return to the Sun National Bank arena for the next season and have pulled out of the East Coast Hockey League, the team announced today.

The team has struggled with low attendance, according to Phillip Miller, executive director of the Mercer County Improvement Authority, which oversees the arena. Team president and CEO Rich Lisk denied that, but would not say why the team decided not to participate in the season that was scheduled to start in October.

“It’s an issue that is bigger than me,” Lisk said. “I think the ownership group here is looking and is doing everything right to bring the team back.”

The ownership team, the Delaware Valley Sports Group, which includes investors Lisk, Jim O’Connor, Jim Cook and Tim Curran, are hoping to bring the team back after a year away, he said.

Lisk previously worked with O’Connor, Cook and Curran when they made an unsuccessful attempt to buy the Camden Riversharks, a minor league baseball team.

The team will be fully refunding tickets already purchased by fans for the upcoming season, he said.

“We fully support our fans and we appreciate all of the support that they gave us,” Lisk said.

He said players and coaches for the team were understanding when they learned that the team pulled out of the ECHL.

Miller said the team told him about the decision on Friday.

“My understanding is that they have decided not to renew,” Miller said. “The economics did not work for the ownership.”

Lisk said the shutdown was not a result of attendance problems, and claimed attendance has been up for the last three years. He said attendance has risen in each of the last two years, but could not provide numbers.

Announced attendance for the Titans averaged 2,578 fans per game at its 36 home games last season, ECHL spokesman Joe Babik said. The arena holds about 8,100 fans for hockey events.

The company that manages the reana has starting trying to book events for the 36 nights that were reserved for the Titans’ games next season, Miller said.

“We look forward to filling those open dates with other events,” he said.

The Titans are the only professional sports team based at the arena and Miller said there is no other event that books as many nights at the county-owned facility.

Babik said it is too late for the ECHL to add another team to play in the upcoming season, but the league is open to accepting applications for new teams for the season that begins in 2014.

To play in the league, a team would have to apply for a new membership and be approved by the league’s Board of Governors. He would not disclose the cost of a membership.

The Titans were originally founded under different ownership and joined the East Coast Hockey League for the 1999-2000 season. The team was later bought by the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils and in 2007 was renamed the Trenton Devils.

It played under that name until a new company, Blue Line Group, bought the team in 2011. Last year Blue Line Group was purchased by Delaware Valley Sports Group.

Lisk was the team’s general manager from 2001 to 2005 and returned in 2011.

The Titans finished their season at the end of March with a record of 32 wins and 40 losses.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from Rich Lisk and information from the ECHL.

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