Niagara Icedogs 2024-25 Season Thread, Part IV
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knowescape
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Nope, they shouldn't? Nope, they won't? Nope, you don't like the idea? Nope, the OHL is not that proactive? Nope, the OHL was not aware? Nope, the OHL has no responsibility? Just curious which part you are "nope-ing".
I think fans would support a year regroup/retool but if it’s multiple years they might not (I’m more thinking about the casuals here)
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I’d argue it’s more than just partially their fault for the exact reason you mentioned they approved him if fans on here and the former IceDogs board could figure out he might be a problem with a little bit of research surely they could’ve figured it out before approving him
Dogs Enthusiast
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Ya, it was just several months in when the rumours started to swirl on the old board. There were two red flags that had me wondering.
- why didn't Gretzky make a very early appearance in an effort to boost ticket sales
- the cost cutting measures impacting the fan experience
I know some of you might say that I fought back against the regular complainers. I said repeatedly I had no idea what was going on inside the organization. That I didn't trust rumours alone. I didn't hate the draft picks or "all" the trades.
I do hope when the OHL season is officially over we get a new ownership announcement and I hope it includes some locals with a deep connection to the community, for a change.
knowescape
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It's not only that, it's their duty of care afterwards that I am most critical of. Basically, there is nothing stopping an owner from coming in and running a team that doesn't win. Making bad trades is still also within the discretion of a poor owner as well. But what about code of conduct?
From past incidents, we know the OHL is the sole oversight body for "how" an organization operates. What standards they have in place, what you can and cannot do with the so-called student athletes. The OHL stepped in previously, banned two players outright and sanctioned Niagara's GM.
Where they attract liability, is what they did next. What was that you ask? Nothing. They did nothing. Again, I don't mean the owner raising the price of hotdogs or buying high and selling low, I am talking about the management of the players entrusted to the care of the IceDogs by the league.
Unlike with the first investigation, where DD was essentially an unknown entity, this time around, the OHL knew exactly who they were dealing with. Yet armed with this knowledge, they did the square root of fluff all, to manage the "how" of the team and maintain the strict code of conduct that only they could defend.
I can confirm Rankin no longer one of the groups looking to purchase the IceDogs. The results of the first investigation were announced on May 4th, 2023, so DD suspension would officially be over on, coincidently, the same day (May 4th, 2025) that the results of the most recent investigation will be presented to the IceDogs (public too?)
knowescape
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Any word on what prompted the change of heart for Rankin? I was looking forward to a new team name and orange themed uniforms.
I imagine the public version will be a few days after May The Fourth.
They definitely won’t go public with it on the 4th that’s a Sunday and unless the new regime is different the league doesn’t announce anything on the weekends unless they absolutely have to
Rankin said they have too much on their plate to put in the work required to run the organization to a high standard.
At least they were being honest and not attempting taking on something they could not be fully commit to.
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Dogs Enthusiast
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Two possibly three interested groups still. The May 4th ruling will drive this narrative through
Dogs Enthusiast
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Well I have a lottery ticket for tonight. So maybe another potential buyer!
knowescape
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I've mentioned it a few times based on my opinion, but I'd be more interested to hear from others on the topic. If a new owner was the end result in all this, do you believe they should pick up where DD left off and try to rescue the IceDogs? Or do you think the team name is sufficiently tarnished both in the league and in the community that a new owner should re-brand and begin anew?
The IceDogs as an organization have always been the red-haired step-child of the OHL, and that stretches back to the Mississauga days. They were discarded in favour of the St. Michael Majors and forced to relocate. Its heyday was the Burke/Williamson era. A new arena was built, attendance climbed and the team name was highly regarded across Niagara. The downward slide started with Williamson's departure and the installment of Burke's sons as HC and GM. Their disgraced departure led to the to DeDobbelaer. From there, the team hit bottom and kept digging both in terms of on-ice play and goodwill with fans and others. Some saw this year as a bit of redemption, but even that was overshadowed by the recent controversy and the win record in 2025.
So... what do you think? Is it time to take Bones off of life-support, or should they charge the paddles and see if they can get his heart started?
The IceDogs as an organization have always been the red-haired step-child of the OHL, and that stretches back to the Mississauga days. They were discarded in favour of the St. Michael Majors and forced to relocate. Its heyday was the Burke/Williamson era. A new arena was built, attendance climbed and the team name was highly regarded across Niagara. The downward slide started with Williamson's departure and the installment of Burke's sons as HC and GM. Their disgraced departure led to the to DeDobbelaer. From there, the team hit bottom and kept digging both in terms of on-ice play and goodwill with fans and others. Some saw this year as a bit of redemption, but even that was overshadowed by the recent controversy and the win record in 2025.
So... what do you think? Is it time to take Bones off of life-support, or should they charge the paddles and see if they can get his heart started?
From a community standpoint I don’t think you need to change anything league wise you might have to though. I think the fans are still going to come out and support them no matter what IF they have ownership that fans believe in I think this year somewhat proves it
Your jerseys are a classic and tie back to the St. Catherines BlackHawk days, (I'm that old) I don't think I'd rebrand. After all the Knights did pretty well not rebranding after the Doug Tarry days when they were setting futility records, other then the hideous spidey jerseys. Get a good operation, front office and everyone will pretty much put the last couple years or so in the distant rearview mirror.
Dogs Enthusiast
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I would be in favour of keeping IceDogs as the name/brand. If it was changed I won’t automatically hate a new name/brand. It would completely depend on their choice.
There are too many dog themed teams anyway.
There are too many dog themed teams anyway.
One thing that the whole DD mess has shown me is that the majority of Niagara residents really don’t pay close attention to the IceDogs. If new owners change the name, it will take some time (and marketing dollars) for people to realize that the new team is the replacement IceDogs. Right now everyone knows who the IceDogs are so I wouldn’t change the name.
Dogs Enthusiast
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I used to say this on the old board. Most people have no idea of all the minutia that we follow. They buy a few tickets a year as part of a night out downtown. Or a family activity. They don't even know the owners name.
knowescape
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I disagree with "most people". Yes, there are casual fans who are just there to watch the game, they don't know the owners name and if they took the player's name off the back of the jersey, they'd be at a loss as well. There's nothing wrong with being a casual fan, it is a fun night out.
Beyond that, there are dedicated fans who know the game, know the players, even know the team management, but don't get involved in the stuff behind the scenes. These folks know the score, they know the standings and they read the news online when it's right in front of them.
The last group are the fanatics or the "die-hards". Folks who get involved in the minutia of the team, players, politics, trades, stats, standings, and so on.
Niagara has a higher quotient of people in the last two categories. This isn't us blowing our own horn, this is the consistent observations of visiting media over the history of the organization. This is also the reason why attendance has plummeted over the last few years. Folks realize somethings wrong and they are staying away in droves.
knowescape
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I think it is a tangible way of separating the past from the future. The IceDogs name has a stink to it and it has been the punchline of every OHL joke for too long.
Dogs Enthusiast
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Oh hell no.
I would hire the best, most experienced hockey person possible. I have seen enough of "learning on the job".
