January 1991

The ECHL began play three years ago and is currently run by Commissioner Pat Kelly, who was a head coach during the first year of the World Hockey Association's Birmingham Bulls in 1976.

Clarkson is impressed by what he's seen of the new league. "I like the league. They are trying to do it the right way. The franchise fee is low ($100,000), and the season would not conflict with baseball. That's one reason I didn't want to become involved with the (World Football League's Birmingham Fire) football team here. It would bump heads with the baseball team," Clarkson said. The ECHL plays a sixty-four game schedule that ends by the middle of April. 

"I think we could make a go of it in Birmingham. I think there's a market for it. I just hope we get a chance to give it a shot," Clarkson said.

If Clarkson is successful, there will be no 'name the team' contest, however. Clarkson says the team would be named the Birmingham Bulls.

"Getting hockey on the ice depends on three things. One, getting the franchise. Two, working out an agreement with the Civic Center. Three, establishing working agreements with at least two National Hockey League teams. I'm optimistic about all three. I have talked with other leagues, but I want in the East Coast League," Clarkson said. 

Civic Center Director Jack Boggan confirmed that he has spoken with Clarkson. "We're in the process of attempting to negotiate a contract with Art. We'd be delighted to have hockey back, and the East Coast Hockey League is a stable minor league. I haven't heard anything else from the league that came in here last year (the Global Hockey League). They haven't bothered to follow up on anything with us since the league decided not to operate this season," Boggan said.

March 1991

February 1992

He has received offers from former Greensboro Monarchs owner Bill Coffey and current Nashville Knights owner Godfrey Wood. Wood is representing a group headed by Cincinnati Cyclones owners Ron Fuller, Doug Kyrchhofer and Bob Polk. 

The amount of both bids is believed to be around $250,000. Brabham says that both offers will be taken to the ECHL's board this week for a vote.

July 1992

It is announced that Birmingham will be fielding a team in the East Coast Hockey League for the 1992-93 season. The Cincinnati Cyclones, the ECHL's most successful team last year, will be relocating to Birmingham.

The group that owns the Cyclones was granted a new franchise in the International Hockey League, a step up in play for the city. They also retained the rights to an ECHL franchise. Art Clarkson, a former majority owner of the Southern League's Birmingham Barons baseball team, persuaded the group to bring their ECHL franchise to Birmingham. Clarkson, who's official title is team consultant, will also be the primary minority owner. The ownership group is comprised of Doug Kirchhofer, Bob Polk and brothers Ron and Robert Fuller. Ron Fuller is best known as the former professional wrestler known as the Tennessee Stud.

The ECHL was founded by Henry Brabham and Bill Coffey. Five teams comprised the ECHL during their inaugural season in 1988-89. The ECHL has been one of the most successful leagues in professional sports over the last four years, growing from five teams to fifteen teams last season.

The league's Commissioner is Pat Kelly, a former head coach of the World Hockey Association's Birmingham Bulls in 1976-77. "I remember some big crowds a the Civic Center for Bobby Hull and the Winnipeg Jets, and some not so big crowds for the other teams," Kelly said.

At the press conference, Clarkson announced that the team will be known as the Birmingham Bulls. "The name Bulls is familiar to hockey fans. We thought it a good name to keep," Clarkson said.

Polk, who will be the team's president and general manager, said getting a head coach is a top priority. "I hope to have a coach in eight to ten days. We're talking to three or four NHL teams about working agreements. If we receive a working agreement, that club's general manager will have some say so about the coach he wants to develop the three or four players sent to us," Polk said.

League play begins in October with thirty-two home games and thirty-two road games.

August 1992

The 35-year old Garber's coaching career started in 1981 when he became an assistant coach at Providence College. In 1984, he became a sales manager for hockey equipment manufacturer CCM. During that time, he also worked as an assistant coach at the Community College of Rhode Island. After coaching as an assistant there for two years, he was promoted to head coach in 1986, where he remained for six years. 

Garber came highly recommended; "In my five years in the East Coast Hockey League, I have never had two Presidents of National Hockey League teams cold call me and recommend a coach, until Bruce," Bulls co-owner Bob Polk said.

October 1992

??? 1993

October 1993

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October 1994

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October 1995

October 1996

October 1997

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January 1998

October 1998

October 1999

March 2000

The ECHL is forcing the Bulls to forfeit three games due to playing an ineligible player. Defenseman Dereck Gosselin was picked up from Mobile last week and ECHL rules prohibit a player from competing for more than one team within the same ownership group during the same season. Gosselin played for the Jacksonville Lizard Kings earlier in the year before playing with the Mobile Mystics. The Jacksonville and Birmingham franchises are both owned by the Berkman Group. Gosselin, who was since put on waivers, has been picked up by the Arkansas RiverBlades. 

Part-owner Charles Felix said, "As soon as I was contacted, although having a difference of opinion, I said I understand your position and we'll put him on waivers immediately. It's not like we're trying to cover it up. The rule as I understood it was we could not trade with a related team, that since the guy had gone from Jacksonville to Mobile - since it's not a direct trade or involvement - that it wouldn't be a problem." When asked about the game forfeitures, Felix said, "Do I think it's fair? No. Is it according to the rules? The answer is yes."

April 2000

"I don't like the way they run their business. They can run their business any way they want to, but I don't have to be a part of it," Desrosiers said. The Bulls finished the season 29-37-4 and missed the playoffs for the first time in the past four seasons. The Bulls lost 18 of their final 20 games, including three forfeited victories for using an ineligible player. Desrosiers said the team's ownership structure also makes it too difficult to sign players. Felix's ownership group also owns the Jacksonville Lizard Kings and Pensacola Ice Pilots. 

Desrosiers said the team's front office "made moves that killed this team," and questioned the value of the team's scouts, including Josh Felix, son of Bulls President Charles Felix. Josh Felix is listed in the Bulls' program as director of scouting, and Joe Bucchino as director of hockey operations. Felix recently completed college in North Carolina, and Bucchino lives in New Hampshire and did not attend a Bulls game this season. "Where's the qualifications?" Desrosiers asked. "Where are these people and what are they doing?" Felix defended the team's front office, and said Bucchino, who handles personnel for all three teams, does most of his advance scouting of junior players from home. Felix said his son Josh often scouted games in North Carolina while attending school. Charles Felix said Josh's position recently was changed to director of sports operations.

"You need to be a good hockey team to sell hockey tickets. There just isn't any respect (from the owners) for the players or for the game," Desrosiers said. Felix disagreed and blamed Desrosiers for the team's slide. "My commitment to winning is very, very strong. We were in first or second place in January and February. To take that team and have it finish the way it did is pretty amazing," Felix said.

Reports are surfacing that the Bulls paid nearly $4,000 per week extra to players during their 1997 season, the last year that Art Clarkson was the team's owner. According to documents, extra payments ranged from $50 to $400 per player per week. One document, addressed to an agent and dated 07/29/1997, says the Bulls agree to pay two players $20,000 for the season. The document, signed by Head Coach Dennis Desrosiers, states "The payment has to show $350 per week for the salary cap. The remaining payment scheduled can be worked out."

Desrosiers said, "I have no clue what you're talking about. And even if I did, what difference does it make? What do I care? What's that got to do with anything? Let me tell you something, Art Clarkson never got fined for cheating. They (the current Bulls owners) got fined for cheating in Pensacola. So what are they talking about? Are they trying to see if Art Clarkson was cheating? He's not in the league."

Clarkson states, "I have never, ever been caught or investigated for any violation of anything in the ECHL. I had a clean, 100 percent record for six years. That's a fact. You can verify that with the ECHL office."

The Bulls announce Mike Zruna as their new head coach. Zruna had served for 3 years under former Bulls head coach Dennis Desrosiers before leaving last year to become the head coach of the Western Professional Hockey League's Alexandria (LA) Warthogs. The Alexandria job was his first as a head coach. The Warthogs have since suspended operation, which left Zruna without a job. 

According to Bulls President Charles Felix, Zruna's close ties to Desrosiers didn't hamper his chances at becoming the Bulls head coach. "He had his own way of coaching and bringing up young players. It's a break from how Dennis handled the team to Mike. It's not a continuing philosophy," Felix said.

August 2000

Hicks says he met with Bulls management on the 11th seeking a multi-year contract. Instead, he was offered a 30-week contract. "I'm very disappointed. My family and I wanted more than a 6-month deal, and when it became apparent that was the route they were looking at, I had to look at other options. At this point in my career (the Bulls' offer) is not good enough for my family. My production has not gone down. I wanted more security. My wife and I love Birmingham and we don't want to leave. I would have been willing to sign for the same contract I had last year. I know I could make more money somewhere else, but we consider Birmingham our home. We're leaving a lot of friends," said Hicks. Before their meeting, Hicks said he had spoken with Bulls President Charles Felix only once in the past 3 months. "I thought I would have gotten a phone call," Hicks said.  

Felix confirmed the Bulls were accepting trade offers, but didn't know who the offers were coming from. "I have no idea. Mike Zruna is handling all of that," Felix said. New Head Coach Mike Zruna declined to comment. Felix went on to say, "We made an offer based on what the league requires us to do, which included a 7 1/2 percent annual raise. The reason Jamey was not offered a multi-year contract is because it is our policy with all of our teams not to offer more than the one-year, standard ECHL contract. I think Jamey is a good player, but not one player is going to make the team. On the ice, it is based on producing a winning team, not just a winning player. The sports business is always changing, that is what our league is all about."

September 2000

Hicks said the Arkansas offer was attractive because the team would have offered him year-round, long-term stability, and he would have had input as to the club's direction, just as he does with the Bulls. "When I'm in Birmingham, I don't have final say on anything. But my input is taken whether it's off the ice in marketing or on the ice in personnel. (Arkansas) wanted Jamey Hicks off the ice before they wanted him on the ice. That sounded really attractive," Hicks said.

October 2000

Zruna added, "As far as I know, the attendance has dropped. But we need to have a good team. We need to make the playoffs. We need to put people in the seats and play an entertaining brand of hockey, and we have to win games. The players' jobs and my job is to come out here and win hockey games and be consistent. Hopefully that translates to butts in the seats."

November 2000

Addressing the growing concerns of the team's future in Birmingham, Zruna said, "It's a business. These guys (the owners) say you have to win games, put people in the building and they're going to be here next year, they're going to still have a franchise or blah, blah, blah. Who knows what the party line is now? We're 3-10-1... we're dead last in the league. It's nothing to be proud of."

Felix said there will be no removal of Zruna at this time.

December 2000

The sale will also give Berkman more time and energy to devote to his hockey teams in Pensacola and Birmingham. "David can direct his passion now toward the Bulls without having to have the concern or decision making relating to the two teams here. He can really focus on the hockey team. And his passion is for hockey," Felix said.

There is speculation that the Birmingham Steeldogs new owner, Steven Umberger, has an option to also buy the Bulls at a later date. However, he currently has no intentions of doing so. "I don't know anything about hockey and I really want to do one thing right and that's get the best af2 team on the field. David loves hockey and I'm passionate about football, so at this point, no," Umberger said.

March 2001

According to ECHL President Rick Adams, the Bulls ownership asked for a one-year voluntary suspension of operations at a February meeting. The league denied the request because they want to keep a franchise active in Birmingham. "It's not a solution. The Birmingham (club) will continue to operate. It's not a proper long-term solution," Adams said. When told about Adams' comments, Felix responded, "I wouldn't say we discussed (suspension). We talked about a lot of other cities' situations, and how the league could help cities for next season."

While majority owner David Berkman has met with former owner Art Clarkson several times lately, Clarkson indicates he is more of an advisor to Berkman than a serious threat to purchase the Bulls. The current ownership group still owes $575,000, 25 percent of the sale price, to Clarkson's group. Felix said the team is being paid for in installments. "The chances of me getting back into it are really a long shot. I don't want to see hockey leave Birmingham. That would be terrible," Clarkson said.

Much of the reason for declining corporate support and sponsorship lies directly with the differences between Clarkson's group and Berkman's group. Bob Sulfstede, co-owner of an upscale clothier, used to award players who scored hat tricks or had a plus-five game with thousand-dollar suits. Sulfstede-Phillips is still a sponsor, giving a suit to the monthly MVP, but has curtailed its involvement significantly. Sulfstede said things have changed since the Berkman Group hit town, "They're not as close and friendly. A lot of old sponsors have declined." As a business owner, Sulfstede said the new owners might be wise to take a look at Clarkson's philosophies. "If you don't want to look at what other people have done and been successful with," Sulfstede said, "then you don't want to be successful."

April 2001

Regardless of the outcome, the Bulls will probably lose the services of fan favorite Jamey Hicks. "We can't control anything that's going to happen. Both of my kids were born here and this is a special place for me. I'd love for Art to take it over. This is always his franchise whether he owns it or not. I'll be somewhere else next season, but I have a special feeling for this place. I'm going back to my wife and kids in Canada. I'm going to start fresh somewhere else," Hicks said.

In one of the more touching moments, immediately after the game Hicks skated to center ice, kissed his hand and then placed it on the Bulls logo.

"I've talked to (Shinn). But we haven't agreed to anything. There's no letter of intent to sell," Felix said.

The franchise has also allowed the deadline to renew their lease of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena to pass. "We've received an extension and we're working together with (BJCC General Manager) Frank Poe," Felix said.

If Shinn's bid fails, the Central Hockey League is on record stating that it would strongly consider placing a franchise here for the 2001 season. 

CHL Commissioner Thomas Berry said, "From the WHA (World Hockey Association) days through the ECHL days, (Birmingham has) had a storied career of success... and difficulties. It is a large enough market, and the facility is quite large. It lends itself to the possibility of being a very good market again. We've had inquiries from several different groups who have expressed an interest in hockey being played there. But we have told all of them that until (the Bulls) decide they are leaving, we're not going to interfere in their business. From a geographical standpoint, it would certainly be amenable to following through to see if the groups that have contacted us would be willing to spend the money necessary to snap them out of their doldrums down there." Berry said the league's deadline for adding a new teams is May.

Birmingham has previously had two franchises in the "old" Central Hockey League, the Birmingham Bulls in 1979-80 and 1980-81 and the Birmingham South Stars in 1982-83. The old CHL folded before the 1984-85 season and was reborn before the 1992-93 season. The twelve-team CHL is rumored to be merging with the thirteen-team Western Professional Hockey League at some point in the future.

Of his interest in the CHL, Clarkson said, "I've talked to a lot of people. I'm an interested spectator. Until someone comes up with the right deal, I'm just looking. I'd hate to see hockey die in Birmingham. It can succeed with the right ownership and management."

Poe said that if a new team become reality, they'd have to move fast to keep hockey here next year. "If thirty days from now, someone comes to me and says he wants to put a team in here, I'd say it'd be tough to find good (weekend) dates by then," Poe said.

ECHL Commissioner Rick Adams said he would not stand in the way of the Berkman Group moving the Bulls to another city. "Our desire continues to be to play hockey in Birmingham. We've worked hard with that ownership group to continue that. Ultimately, I can't control whether they come and ask for a relocation. They are in the (first draft of) the schedule, and we are moving forward. In a day, a week, a month, whether that changes, they are beyond the scope of something I can control," Adams said.

Most concert promoters want to schedule dates months in advance and Poe says he has no other choice but to protect the BJCC's financial future by booking the events in what has normally reserved for the Bulls. "We make more from two good concerts than we did from the entire Bulls hockey season this year," Poe said.

Poe said he has extended the lease deadlines several times to accommodate Felix, but could not do so again. "I wanted to give him every opportunity to make this work. The lease that we had been working to extend into next year is null and void. I'm willing to work with a new owner. I realize hockey has some great fans in Birmingham," Poe said. 

Clarkson still denies he has any part of the ongoing negotiations. "Unless I get a deal where they give me sixty-five percent of concessions, fifty percent of parking, naming rights to the building that I can sell for $20-$30 million dollars, I'm not interested," Clarkson jokingly said.

May 2001

The team will play in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, which has been the home of the Miss America Pageant since 1940 and is currently undergoing a $90 million renovation. The city authority has reportedly guaranteed Shinn $1.6 million in season ticket sales for the next three years.

Shinn is currently co-owns numerous sports franchises, including the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Hornets, the Women's National Basketball Association's Charlotte Sting and the ECHL's Charlotte Checkers. In 1985, Shinn tried unsuccessfully to buy the United States Football League's Birmingham Stallions after owner Marvin Warner pulled out.

ECHL Commissioner Rick Adams wanted the franchise to remain in Birmingham. "It's a very disappointing day in the ECHL. It was not a market that we were interested in leaving. But ownership there was not prepared to operate, and they were not able to find an investor willing to operate in Birmingham," Adams said.

However, Felix and others agree that minor-league hockey could return to Birmingham. "We want to bring hockey back into this market, working hopefully with some strong local ownership. But we also will be open to interest from other leagues for opportunities to bring hockey back to Birmingham and will not be passive in our pursuit," Poe said. Former Bulls owner Clarkson agreed by saying, "I don't think it's dead. If the situation's right, I'll get involved. If not, I won't get involved. I still think Birmingham is an excellent hockey community. The six years I was involved proved it. It's a sad day. I hate to see it go, hate to see it happen."

Many fans felt the Berkman Group lacked the ability to run a hockey team successfully and point to the group's history as proof. Over the last few years, the group has folded or moved franchises in Atlanta, Nashville, Quebec City and now Birmingham. Their Jacksonville franchise sits dormant awaiting the construction of a new facility. One outspoken critic is former Bulls coach Dennis Desrosiers, who is now coaching the United Hockey League's Kalamazoo K-Wings. "It's pretty obvious what happened. When (Clarkson) left, that was pretty much the end. I had my two most miserable years in hockey under those guys. Art was a great businessman and a great promoter, who had great fans. You'd think it'd continue to be good. I don't think (the Berman Group) can blame the fans, players or the city. I think they better look in the mirror. Whatever Art did, that group didn't do because Art had done it. I don't know how many times in that office I heard disparaging comments about the way Art ran things. In the the back of my mind, I though, 'They should take a page out of what Art did.'," Desrosiers said.

Felix said the main reason for the Berkman Group selling the Bulls is a $1 million dollar loss over the last three years. "This is not an easy thing to do. But the financial partners of this team made the decision to sell. I tried to pull the old rabbit out of the hat, but I couldn't do it. To remove a team is a very, very tough thing to do. But (the move is) economically driven. It's a business," Felix said.

Epilogue

After four years in Atlantic City the team was sold and moved to Stockton, California in 2005 and became the Stockton Thunder.

In May of 2003, the East Coast Hockey League decides to change its name to the ECHL to better reflect their goal of becoming a nationwide hockey league.