Thursday, January 05, 2006
Ice Storm Move to Empire Football League
Ice Storm move to Empire Football League
Published: Wednesday, December 7, 2005
By Mike Donoghue
Free Press Staff Writer
The Green Mountain Gladiators semi-professional football team has sold its spot in the Empire Football League to the Vermont Ice Storm.
The sale means the Ice Storm, who had played in the New England Football League, will move up from Double A to Triple A for the 2006 season.
Sean Sulikowski, chairman of the Gladiators board, said Tuesday the Green Mountain team has not been sold. He said the franchise still exists but does not expect to field a team in 2006. The Gladiators took a leave of absence from the EFL this summer due to a lack of players.
EFL deputy commissioner Gary Shaver said the Gladiators would be free to apply for reentry to the league or could find another semiprofessional football league.
Shaver said the Empire league is expected to have at least 11 teams in the summer. He said were a couple of other communities express- ing interest, but no decisions will be made until the annual league meeting in late January in Ottawa. Each team plays a 10-game schedule on Saturday nights.
Ice Storm spokesman Scot Aguglia said the team is excited about making the move to a different league.
"We are five years old and we have a good relationship with the Empire Football League," he said. A large number of the Vermont players and coaches were once affiliated with EFL teams, primarily the Lake City Stars in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
The Ice Storm have one year remaining on their deal with the Colchester School District to play home games at the town high school, Aguglia said.
Contact Mike Donoghue at 660-1845 or mdonoghu@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com
Published: Wednesday, December 7, 2005
By Mike Donoghue
Free Press Staff Writer
The Green Mountain Gladiators semi-professional football team has sold its spot in the Empire Football League to the Vermont Ice Storm.
The sale means the Ice Storm, who had played in the New England Football League, will move up from Double A to Triple A for the 2006 season.
Sean Sulikowski, chairman of the Gladiators board, said Tuesday the Green Mountain team has not been sold. He said the franchise still exists but does not expect to field a team in 2006. The Gladiators took a leave of absence from the EFL this summer due to a lack of players.
EFL deputy commissioner Gary Shaver said the Gladiators would be free to apply for reentry to the league or could find another semiprofessional football league.
Shaver said the Empire league is expected to have at least 11 teams in the summer. He said were a couple of other communities express- ing interest, but no decisions will be made until the annual league meeting in late January in Ottawa. Each team plays a 10-game schedule on Saturday nights.
Ice Storm spokesman Scot Aguglia said the team is excited about making the move to a different league.
"We are five years old and we have a good relationship with the Empire Football League," he said. A large number of the Vermont players and coaches were once affiliated with EFL teams, primarily the Lake City Stars in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
The Ice Storm have one year remaining on their deal with the Colchester School District to play home games at the town high school, Aguglia said.
Contact Mike Donoghue at 660-1845 or mdonoghu@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com
Copyright ©2006 Burlingtonfreepress.com All rights reserved.
