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Gems owner fears IHL takeover

Bruner says he would fold the hockey team first; search for key investor is ongoing.

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By David DiCenzo, Contributing Writer Updated 10:37 AM Friday, November 27, 2009

TROTWOOD — The Dayton Gems aren’t going anywhere. That was the clear message conveyed from International Hockey League chairman of the Board of Governors Michael Franke upon hearing that Gems president Richard Bruner believed the franchise was going to be taken over by the league if certain financial obligations were not met by the end of this month.

Franke, the president of the Fort Wayne Komets, denied the IHL was about to take over.

“The Dayton Gems franchise is fine,” Franke said Thursday, Nov. 26. “Payrolls are being met. The team is not going away.

“We have tremendous interest in keeping the Dayton franchise healthy for years to come.”

According to Bruner, however, the status of tonight’s game at Hara Arena is uncertain.

Bruner said Thursday that he possessed an e-mail from the league attorney, dated Nov. 25, stating the franchise was in violation of league bylaws that pertain to finances. He said he is waiting to hear about a potential investor.

“If he comes in as a partner, we will be able to meet the league bylaws,” Bruner said.

According to the league’s communication office, the board of governors does have the right to revoke a franchise but that doesn’t appear to be happening in the case of the Gems.

“It’s 100 percent not true,” said Brad Jones, the IHL’s vice president of operations.

Bruner sees it differently.

“So tomorrow (Friday), if this potential partner tells me that they are not coming in, then essentially I know the league, according to this letter that they gave me, is going to try and take the team.”

Bruner said rather than allow that, he would fold the team.

“I will not allow them to come in and take away something that we have put months and hundreds of thousands of dollars into on a technicality,” he said, noting that he was initially told the Gems would receive financial assistance as they worked on establishing sponsorships and improving sales.

Bruner said he believed Franke’s comments were sincere but said that the Fort Wayne president’s opinions aren’t necessarily those of the other governors.

Bruner said he and partner Ryan Yerrick made an initial investment of $300,000 for the Gems.