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League removes owners of Gems hockey team

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By David DiCenzo, Contributing Writer Updated 6:33 PM Wednesday, December 2, 2009

TROTWOOD – Richard Bruner and Ryan Yerrick are officially out as owners of the International Hockey League’s Dayton Gems. Their replacements will be revealed at a press conference scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2 at Hara Arena.

The league’s Board of Governors voted unanimously to remove Bruner and Yerrick in a conference call Tuesday night. The reason cited was that the pair failed to fulfill ownership by-laws.

“They didn’t live up to their obligations,” said IHL Commissioner Dennis Hextall.

Hextall, who has only been with the league for a couple of months, admitted that he was disappointed the drastic action of removing the original Gems’ owners had to be taken so early in the season.

“You always hope that whatever franchise comes in will be strong,” he said.

“We’ve been fortunate that a local group in Dayton has stepped up.”

Neither Bruner nor Yerrick were available when contacted by the Dayton Daily News. Earlier in the day, Bruner told the Fort Wayne Gazette, “The bottom line is the league felt it was better that our group be replaced and the reason that they cited is that we didn’t pay our dues.

“It’s personally disappointing and I don’t want to focus on the negatives,” Bruner added.

“We went into an area and were able to bring hockey back there and revitalize the Gems. We were able to get a team on the ice, and we brought in a great coach (John Marks). Personally, I think the team is going to survive.”

According to the Gems’ communication office, the new local owners will be introduced at the press conference. Members of the team are also expected to be present.

The Gems’ schedule on the ice will not be interrupted. Dayton hosts the Fort Wayne Komets on Saturday, Dec. 5 and the Port Huron Icehawks on Sunday, Dec. 6 before heading out on the road next Friday, Dec. 11 for the team’s first ever meeting with the Quad City Mallards.

Gems’ head coach John Marks said that the ownership issues and rumored revenue problems had not affected the actual hockey operations.

“The players have always been paid, they have always gotten their per diems and we always had a bus ready,” said Marks, who has been on the bench with three teams that closed up shop in the past four years.

“I always say, owners own, coaches coach and players play. I can only control what I can control.

“We’ll be pros. We’ll do what were here for – practice hard and play hard.”

Marks said he will be an interested spectator at the press conference, adding that he hopes to stay in charge of the Gems on the ice.

“It looks like things will go on,” said the coach. “I hope the future is bright for many years to come.”

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