On a day city officials called “very rewarding,” the ownership group of Independence’s new hockey franchise was introduced to the public.
Independence Professional Hockey, LLC owners Matt and Mark Adams and Mike Carper were introduced during a news conference Thursday, promising an exciting brand of hockey with its entry into the Central Hockey League, a 18-team minor pro hockey league with teams in 10 states.
For eight years the group owned the Lubbock Cotton Kings of the CHL.
“We know a little bit about running a hockey team,” Carper said.
Brad Lund will serve as president of IPH and run the day-to-day operations of the franchise. Lund comes to Independence following a successful 16-season stint as the Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma City Blazers, a CHL team that posted an average of 8,900 fans during Lund’s tenure.
“Our franchise philosophy, is that it’s the fans’ team,” Lund said. “Not the owners’, not the political fathers’, not the press, the fans.’ We want (fans’) input. This will be their franchise. The fans come first.”
Before speaking, Lund introduced Paul McGannon, owner of NHL 21. NHL 21 is trying to bring a National Hockey League team to Kansas City’s Sprint Center.
“We are not here to endorse,” McGannon said, adding he hopes the Independence franchise is a minor league affiliate of a potential Kansas City-based NHL team. “This is a ringing endorsement. It’s a huge day for hockey in Kansas City and it’s a huge day for Independence
City Manager Robert Heacock called the day “very rewarding” after two-and-a-half years or work to build an arena and bring a hockey franchise to town. Heacock credited Bob Rennison, IPH director of communication, for getting the ball rolling on the process. Rennison is an Independence native.
“Bob really was the motivation behind the Events Center coming to Independence in the first place,” Heacock said. “Bob approached a couple of our council members and they came to me after talking to Bob and said, ‘this guy has so much enthusiasm (for hockey), we think it would be a great idea, can you check into it?’”
The Independence City Council on Monday approved an arena lease agreement between the city and IPH. The 10-year lease calls for franchise to play at least 30 home games at the multi-purpose events center under construction in the Eastland Business Center at Interstates 70 and 470.
The center is scheduled to open the weekend of Nov. 13-14, a date that coincides with the new hockey team’s home opener
“We are unveiling a facility and a team that nobody else in the area has,” Heacock said.
The Independence franchise will play 64 regular season games and will be in the Northern Conference of the CHL.
Independence, MO —
