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Ice Edge group back in the Phoenix hockey picture

David Shoalts, Globe and Mail, March 29, 2012

Anthony LeBlanc and his group of businessmen once known as Ice Edge Holdings are back in the Phoenix hockey picture.

Only this time it is not to make an ownership bid on the financially moribund Phoenix Coyotes but to manage Jobing.com Arena in suburban Glendale and try to bring in a minor-league hockey team if the Coyotes move to another city this summer.

On Mar. 1, LeBlanc sent an e-mail message to Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs, city attorney Craig Tindall and each member of city council. It was prompted by Scruggs’ public musings the city needs a “Plan B” if the Coyotes leave.

LeBlanc said his company, now known as Lakehead Yale Sports Holdings LLC, is willing to sign a long-term contract to manage the arena, try to find a minor-league team as a tenant and work to increase the events at the arena if the NHL decides to move the Coyotes.

LeBlanc also wrote in the e-mail offer that he received approval from the NHL to “pursue these discussions in more detail.”

However, city manager Ed Beasley appeared to raise an objection in an e-mail to Mayor Scruggs, saying NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told him no such approval was granted. Beasley also did not want to take the proposal to city council for discussion, as the mayor suggested in an e-mail, because he argued a process needs to be developed for any alternative plan and a new management contract for the arena needs to be put up for bids.

Neither Scruggs nor Beasley could be immediately reached to confirm if their e-mail messages were legitimate or if LeBlanc’s offer was discussed by city council. However, a source said the matter was discussed Mar. 6 at an executive session of council, which is not open to the public, and set aside because the Coyotes situation is not resolved.

LeBlanc said there was a partial misunderstanding with Daly about approval from the NHL. He said Daly did not tell him to proceed with attempts to get an American Hockey League or ECHL franchise or negotiate a management contract with Glendale, only that the NHL would not object if he researched the matter.

“I think [the NHL] really is trying to keep the Coyotes in town, LeBlanc said, adding that his group is willing to wait until that situation is resolved before pursuing an arena management contract. He said he discussed the offer with Tindall but has not received an official response.

“We like Glendale, like the building and see an opportunity,” said LeBlanc, who added the ball is now in the city’s court. “If they come to us and say we’d like you to help, then we can talk.”

LeBlanc is also pursuing an AHL or ECHL franchise for his hometown of Thunder Bay, Ont. He said the name of his company was changed because Ice Edge Holdings was formed for an unsuccessful bid to buy the Coyotes.

Daly said in an e-mail message that the NHL may come to support a Plan B like LeBlanc’s but only if a point is reached where “it becomes necessary to explore other opportunities.” He said the NHL is still “doing everything possible” to find a new owner for the Coyotes.

“Any other focus or consideration at this point would be premature, and would serve only to distract from what we believe is our jointly-held objective [with Glendale],” Daly said. “Only to the extent the current situation were to change, would we be supportive (theoretically) of the consideration of any other alternatives. And that's what I told [LeBlanc].”

Both Scruggs and Beasley, the architects of the plan to build sports facilities to attract major-league teams that left the city of 250,000 facing a massive debt in the wake of the recession, are stepping down from their posts later this year. Beasley plans to retire at some point this year and Scruggs announced this week she will not seek a sixth term as mayor in this summer’s election.

Their departures could change the city’s approach toward keeping the Coyotes. In the last two years, the city poured $50-million (all currency U.S.) to cover part of the team’s losses. But the city of 250,000 is facing a total debt approaching $1-billion and a new mayor could be unwilling to pour more money into the NHL team.

The NHL, which claims to be negotiating a sale of the Coyotes with multiple parties although no deal is in sight, has to make a decision on moving the team by the summer. Candidates for landing the Coyotes are Quebec City, Seattle and Kansas City.