Johnstown waits unrolling of Alaska Avalanche from AHL to refresh ‘Snap Shot’ memories-NHL News
The rich culture of ice hockey in Johnstown, a small town in the western Pennsylvania city of Canada, which had inspired making of a cult movie,
Snap Shot, is going to get a real chance to play hosts for a junior hockey league team.
Snap Shot was filmed in the town based on local ice hockey culture and some of its lines are going to be seen in reality when the Alaska Avalanche, a team from the junior hockey league, North American Hockey League (AHL), relocates to the town in
near future.
The relocation of the club is going to take place as a result of an investment deal from an investment firm, Esmark Inc.
James Bouchard, the chairman of the group, announced during a press conference on Thursday, May 03, 2012, that his firm, Johnstown Sports Partners LLC, has reached a deal with the owners enabling him to bring the team in the town.
This has already refreshed memories of the film to people, who have seen the town’s characteristics and attitudes towards the game and craze of the fans.
The movie, however, was about Johnson Jets and released in 1977, the year when the team folded.
Although there is no confirmation of the timeline for completion of the entire process, which will have to be through some regulatory hurdles, local fans have expressed excitement over the prospects.
Soon after knowing about the deal, they have already started linking the move to the film. Some of the commentators believe that the stage seems well set for unrolling of the team the way the film had started.
Also, the level of popularity and knowledge of the game, which has been aided by the film, is going to serve the cause of the new investors who might not need to market the team as much as they might have needed without the film being in the context.
The owner of the investment firm said:
"When you say `Slap Shot' and Johnstown, it's nationally recognized. We're going to play up on the heritage of the movie and all that stuff."
So, the move is going to help fans in terms of having a new team to support, while serving the cause of the owner, at the same time.
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