DaytonDailyNews.com

Rob Garfield grew up a hockey fan in Enon. He followed the Dayton Gems and the national scene until the Dayton Bombers came to town in 1991.

Already a trucking company owner, Garfield soon added a produce and freight brokerage to his Garfield Logistics Inc. fold while rooting for the Bombers. Last year, Garfield noticed the need for the Bombers and other teams to have reliable and comfortable transportation to road games. He found a charter bus in Lebanon, Tenn., and put in $10,000 of work to push the size to 21 beds, a usual travel number for a hockey team.

With the Bombers as the first primary customer, Garfield's new Dream Catchers Coaches Ltd. charter bus improved the team's road record to 19-13-4 after it went 18-47-7 from 2004-06.

Over the summer, Garfield updated the coach further and added new clients, including hockey teams in Cincinnati and Columbus and area high school teams. He estimates the bus will travel up to 100,000 miles this year transporting sports teams because he saw a need, bought a bus and started a business. (To reserve his coach, call Garfield at (937) 767-2360.)

In his words

"It's not just a bus where guys sleep. The bunks have TVs, there's satellite TV, wireless internet so the passengers can get on computers. It has a shower, microwave, fridge, big-screen TV in the front lounge, a table, a couch. There's even a DVD so a player can study opponents.

"The bus upkeep is a big part of our success. We hit a deer last year on the way home from Trenton, N.J. It was a Sunday, and we were scheduled to go out Wednesday morning. There was $6,000 in damage to the front of the coach, so on Monday morning our guys from Clarke Power Service got the inventory, called the supplier, had it overnighted in, got it Tuesday and everything fixed on bus by Tuesday night ready to go Wednesday. That's the thing about a team like the Bombers, it provides business beyond just sports. They give us business, and we give business to Clarke Power Service.

"My favorite trip has been going to Dallas with a AAA Blue Jackets team. These are kids who are 17 or 18 years old, very good at hockey at a young age. We keep in touch with some of these players.

"The only thing we've had to stress is the way the teams leave the coach after they get out of it. My wife will be cleaning and find banana peels, apples and pop in the beds. Think about it: When the bus comes in we have to change 21 beds, completely clean the inside, clean the carpet, wipe down everything.

"We had no idea what the demand would be. Now we're finding enough that we're thinking about getting another bus."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389

or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Story ideas?

Our weekly Sports People feature gives us an opportunity to spotlight folks in our community who normally aren't in the spotlight. Do you know volunteers, support staffers or outstanding youth athletes who deserve some publicity? Or maybe a rec sports star who has a great story to tell?

If you do, please contact sports editor Brian Kollars at bkollars@DaytonDailyNews.com.