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

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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