Jay Peak, VT March, 2011 – The Federal Hockey League is pleased to announce the acceptance of the Green Mountain Rock Crushers into the league as an expansion franchise for the 2011-12 season. The Rock Crushers will play at the Ice Haus Arena at Jay Peak Resort.
The Green Mountain Rock Crushers bring professional sports back to Vermont and will be the state’s first ever professional hockey team. The Rock Crushers will be active in local minor hockey programs, school reading programs, and fund-raising for charitable organizations.
“Geographically, the Vermont market is an exciting and untapped market for professional hockey, and professional sports in general,” said FHL Commissioner Don Kirnan. “With the work and research the ownership group have put into this, we feel Vermont can be a great success on and off the ice.”
“This organization is committed to serving what we consider the ‘four pillars’ of any successful hockey franchise: our fans, our corporate partners, our players and our community,” added General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations Andy Makal. “We look forward to being a community-based organization that makes a positive impact the benefits everyone in the community.”
The team begins play in October 2011 for the sophomore season of the Federal Hockey League, a single A professional league operating in the Northeast. Green Mountain joins the Akwesasne Warriors, Cape Cod Barons, Danbury Whalers, New York (Brooklyn) Aviators, and Thousand Islands Privateers. Other expansion teams are also planned.
The Green Mountain Rock Crushers will be holding a press conference to officially announce the team on March 9, 2011 at 2 pm at the Ice Haus Arena at Jay Peak Resort. The press conference will be followed by a meet and greet at Griff’s Pub in Newport, VT.
