Bombers continuing with efforts to regroup

Owner Costa Papista says he’s in ‘serious talks’ with three potential investors.

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By Debbie Juniewicz, Contributing Writer 8:07 PM Saturday, May 30, 2009

While the Dayton Bombers won’t be on the ice next season, work continues to bring the financially strapped ECHL team back in 2010.

“I’m very pleased with the season-ticket pledges and the interest in the minority shares,” Bombers owner Costa Papista said.

Papista said he is in “serious talks” with three potential investors in hopes of finding a controlling-interest partner, which he sees as key. He’ll present his plan to the ECHL board of governors June 25.

“I’m feeling optimistic because I believe in the ECHL and I believe in Dayton as a hockey market,” Papista said. “The ECHL is the premier double-A league in the country, there’s no comparison, and I think that’s what Dayton hockey fans deserve.”

Meanwhile, other hockey outfits are sprouting up like dandelions across the Miami Valley. An International Hockey League franchise, apparently to be called the Dayton Gems, hopes to play next season and the Troy Bruins, an amateur team, will play at Hobart Arena.

The Troy Bruins first took the ice at Hobart in 1951 as an IHL team. They are being reincarnated as a Junior “A” squad for players age 16 to 21.

“I’m happy that hockey fans in the region will have an opportunity to get their hockey fix next winter during the Bombers’ reorganization,” Papista said. “There are many diehard hockey fans in the Miami Valley and we totally support any effort to bolster the sport.”

Shane Hicke, son of former NHL player Ernie Hicke, was hired last week to coach the Bruins. They will host a tryout camp June 19-21 at Hobart.

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