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Uncovering
The Classic
During the 2002-03 AHL All-Star Game, the action wasn't always
out on the ice.
By Dan Hickling
MinorLeagueNews.com
02.07.03 - Portland, Maine -- Are All-Star games important? It depends on whom you ask.
Hockey purists may turn up their noses at what routinely turns into a chuck-and-duck goal fest.
For others, an All-Star appearance can make the difference between a good year or a lean one.
That's true for players, for salesmen, or even for the franchise that plays host to such blowouts.
Not Just Another Game
Certainly taking part in this year's AHL gala was important to Portland Pirates' center Chris Ferraro. Probably more so than any of the three previous All-Star games he had been named to.
Of course, much of the reason for that is he has a much different take on hockey, and life, since the tragic passing of his wife Jennifer from stomach cancer, last Nov. 5.
Also, Chris will be playing with twin brother and co-captain Peter before their home fans.
"This was very special," he said. "It's rewarding. It's complimentary. For Peter and I to be co-captains at an event like this is an unbelievable honor. My brother and I don't have the type of mentality that, just because we're at another all-star game, it doesn't mean much to us. Each year we play, we want to do the best we possibly can. Of course, this is real, real important."
It's Gotta Be The Skates
Outnumbering the scouts during All-Star weekend (according to one estimate) by a 10-to-1 ratio, were hockey equipment salesmen representing a host of companies, all of them vying for the attention of the next wave of hockey stars.
Rival reps from the likes of Bauer, CCM, and Itech, came to Portland, all in the hopes of keeping one's current clients happy, while luring away another's.
"It's a business," said Scott Walker of Bauer/Nike. "Just like hockey is a business. You're pushing your product versus somebody else's."
Thus the premium put on building relationships with the sport's budding stars. And what better place to schmooze with so many at once than at an All-Star game?
"It's important because you can get with guys who can potentially go on to become excellent NHL players," said Les Kuntar, North American Sales Manager for CCM, and former goalie for the Montreal Canadiens. "So you get them the stuff early, and try and show them that we're here to support them, and give them the best service that we can."
That said, a salesman's "locker-side manner" often is the difference between success or failure.
"There's such a fine line," Kuntar admitted. "A lot of the stuff is really similar. There's not a lot that's unique. So, it's (all in) the service .Because if they can't get something, or they're on the road and they want something, we try to get it to them. They appreciate that, and they remember that for years. Some of the guys in the NHL have been offered huge money to wear other equipment. But a guy like (Mike) Modano, says he won't wear any other skate, because we've taken care of him."
Restoring Passion
Staging an All-Star game is no simple matter. It takes a year to plan, and (if you ask them) takes several years off the lives of host club staffers who have to bring those plans to life.
For the city of Portland, the life at stake may be that of its Pirates.
The team enjoyed a tremendous honeymoon with the city upon arrival in 1993,winning the Calder Cup in that first season.
Then petal-by-petal, the bloom fell away, leaving the franchise in disarray,and in danger of moving.
But in 2000, the Pirates were purchased by businessmen Brian Petrovek and Lyman Bullard, who then began the process of restoring the club's stability.
Petrovek felt a successful bid for the 2003 AHL All-Star Classic was key to the restoration process.
"We saw this as an opportunity to celebrate 25 years of hockey (in Portland)," he said, "as well as give something back to the fans. We did want to re-energize some folks who haven't been supporting the program for the last couple of years. The quality of play, and the fact that this is Triple-A city. We really just needed that extra-added energy to get back involved. An event like this brings that on."
Petrovek downplayed the idea that future of the Pirates was intertwined with a successful All-Star showcase.
"I think that may be overstating it," he said. "We did this for a whole bunch of reasons. Obviously, first and foremost, we wanted to express our commitment as new owners to this market. This is not meant to be 'either pay attention or we're going to look at other markets'."
It remains to be seen whether they received the jumpstart they hoped for. Certainly with both night's events, (the skills competition and the game itself) having been sellouts, the signs are good.
Even so, this success can only help buy them some time until the means can be found to replace their outmoded, aging, 26-year old Cumberland County Civic Center home.
The failings of the Civic Center, which has no luxury boxes, or any space to build them were brought to light at the most inopportune time.
An hour before All-Star game time, the building's seven year-old sound system, underwent a complete meltdown, and wasn't repaired until late in the second period.
While such malfunctions can happen anywhere, it served to underscore the facility's frailty.
"Our focus clearly remains on re-building the franchise," Petrovek said. "We've been owners now for 28 months, and we think we've made some progress. But we need to focus our attention on a new venue. We've got to find a place that has the amenities that the fans deserve, and that the corporate market has been yearning for. That's been our focus from the beginning. Now that we've got All-Star behind us, it takes on a much more important light."
