Guppies Terminate Pigeons Contract!

 

07/21/2005 Killingworth Guppies SportsNet announced today that they would be ending their Three year relationship with the Charlotte Pigeons/Shenanigans hockey organization at the end of this season. The Pigeons have served as Killingworth top minor league affiliate for the past year and a half. Guppies Senior VP of Public Relations Shasta McNasty made the announcement at the Guppies training facility in Clinton, CT "At this point both organizations feel that we have helped each other as much as we could and it's time to move on. We wish the Pigeons all the best moving forward".

Many insiders said they saw this coming, ESPN Hockey Analyst Bill Clement "Killingworth is and has been a top team for many years and they need a strong Farm system. The Pigeons had a great 2004 season but have ceased operations for the 2005 campaign. The Guppies need a place to let their top prospects thrive". Clement also added "The other major problem with the Killingworth-Charlotte marriage is geography. They are just to far apart, 12 hours by bus, It just doesn't work! Killingworth needs to look in their own back yard for a new affiliate".

Clement raise a good point! Since the Guppies and the Shenanigans, then Pigeons, signed their agreement in 2002 only one Charlotte player has been called up to the parent club. Peter Fink played one game for the Guppies in December of 2002.

So what about Fink and the other two top prospects under contract with the Guppies, Steven Fink and Kyle Bilafer? Peter Fink is coming up on the end of a ten contract he signed in August 1995. Both Steven Fink and Bilafer are under contract till 2006. However, many people in the hockey world doubt either one will ever wear Guppie Blue again.

Some Guppie players were actually relieved to hear the news, Tim Poulin "Hey I have to work in the morning and all I know is that Charlotte, NC to Middletown, CT (where Poulin's office is located) is one hell of a commute!" Poulin added "Then again it's not like I'm Crayton, hanging on to my spot in Killingworth by the skin of my teeth. They would never send me down!"

Rob Murphy was sad to hear about the announcement. "I have friends in Charlotte and I've been there a few times, just to visit, its a great town. Hopefully, in the future the teams can work out another deal, I mean Charlotte has always had great fans".

At this time the Pigeons have yet to make any announcements on the future of their organization. All calls to their offices in Denver, NC have not been returned. Meanwhile, in Killingworth the search begins for a new minor league affiliate.

Jim Carr

Killingworth Krier