Possible Arena Issues for Catters in the Playoffs

[DenisGScott]

CLICK BELOW FOR KELLY CUP PLAYOFF BRACKET

http://www.echl.com/upload_images/2007KellyCupBracket.pdf

Now pay attention very closely to the dates on there.....The best of 3 series being Apr 8-10, or read as April 8th and 9th and 10th if necessary between the 4th and 5th place teams to play the #1 team.

Then get into the best of 5 division semi-finals Apr. 10-22....  If the Catters finish 1st or 2nd we would have home ice advantage in this round.....  problem #1 if you check the ford park website...  Disney on Ice April 12th thru 15th....  for those not familiar with Disney on Ice, the ice setup is TOTALLY different, the ice has to be built up to 1 1/2" thick from where it is right now at about 3/4".... the ice must also be completely painted white, no lines, sponsors etc..  then would have to be shaved back down for hockey purposes. 

So lets just say we finish 1st and have to wait out the winner of the best of 3 series, that team could possibly be playing in either Georgia or in the Carolinas on the 10th, and possibly have to be here in Beaumont for a game on April 11th (also my birthday..shop now avoid the rush) then have to sit around until the 16th at the earliest for game 2 depending upon how long it would take to get the ice back into hockey setup after Disney On Ice.  That is IF they could even play on the 11th from setting up, building the ice up and painting it for Disney. 

Now add to that, the Drillers have a home game scheduled for April 21st as well, also not sure of the turnaround time to go from arena football to hockey, as the floor has to be laid down the turf over it and the glass all taken out. 

So we have the distinct possibility of not even starting our best of 5 series here until the 16th or 17th, then if it goes 5 games, having to travel on the 18th, play on the road the 19th and 20th, then have to come back here to play probably on the 22nd.

IF we win that round and then go into the division finals a best of 7 series scheduled for April 23rd thru May 5th... if that series also goes the distance 6 or 7 games ..the arena is booked with the YMBL Rodeo on May 3rd thru the 5th also adding in prep time for the rodeo to move in and move out add in a couple of days on each side, and the Drillers have already scheduled a home game for Monday May 7th.

The Conference Finals are a best of 7 scheduled for May 7th-19th, we've already established May 7th cant be done with a Drillers game and the Drillers also have a home game on Saturday May 12th.

If we can make it past all of that the Kelly Cup is May 23rd - June 6th the only interfering date there is a Drillers game on May 27th

First things first that opening beat of 5 round with Disney, maybe the guys could go practice in Houston since the ice here wont be available, but the travel and all and scheduling around dates sure looks to be difficult.