Published: October 26, 2005 08:07 am            

Mike Mastovich | Stanley Cup back in town

Lightning will strike twice for the Johnstown Chiefs and the NHL’s Stanley Cup.

The Cup, one of the most prestigious and storied trophies in team sports, today is making its second visit to Johnstown in the past 16 months.

It will be tough, if not impossible, to recapture the astounding response and turnout for the Cup’s first visit on July 9, 2004. That day, approximately 2,000 fans lined up three wide from Section 1 the whole way to the Zamboni entrance. Many waited hours to view the Stanley Cup or pose for photographs.

Tonight, the Stanley Cup will make its rounds throughout Johnstown, then be on display at Cambria County War Memorial Arena during the Johnstown Chiefs 7:30 p.m. game against the Toledo Storm.

Defending Cup champion Tampa Bay now has an ownership interest in the Chiefs, which initially led to the return visit. Since then, the ECHL has joined the NHL in using the Stanley Cup to raise money for hurricane victims by displaying the 35-pound, 3-foot silver Cup that lists the names of players, coaches and staff of past and present NHL champions.

The Stanley Cup first was presented in 1893. It travels about 250 days a year and has logged 400,000 miles during the past five seasons. The Cup helped raise more than $4 million for charity during the past three seasons.

“We’re hoping for a nice crowd. For a lot of people, this will still be their first opportunity to see the Cup up close and personal,” said Chiefs Vice President of Business Operations Kevin McGeehan. “You can see the first Johnstown native to have his name on the Stanley Cup.”

Lightning assistant equipment manager Dana Heinze of Westmont won a Stanley Cup ring with Tampa Bay in 2004. On his day with the Cup, Heinze brought the hardware to Johnstown, where he was the Chiefs equipment manager for seven seasons during two tenures with the ECHL team.

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Mastering ticket sales: Computerized ticket sales through TicketMaster eventually will be a big benefit to Chiefs fans and the War Memorial.

But there have been a few bumps during the transition period since the new system was implemented a week before the regular season.

Reports of somewhat longer waits for tickets and other glitches cropped up, especially in the early going, as the box office staff learned the system. In theory, the growing pains will pay off when a streamlined, modern – and long overdue – system operates.

Fans also might have been surprised to see the ushers scan their tickets with a portable laser device rather than simply rip the stub in half.

“We had a few kinks we need to work out with TicketMaster,” McGeehan said. “A lot of people were very patient, and we’re thankful for that.”

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Seen and heard: New Chiefs primary owner Jim Weber and veteran minority owner Ned Nakles were very visible before, during and after Saturday’s home opener against Reading.

About 90 minutes before face-off, Weber walked through the front doors of the arena lobby and yelled enthusiastically to a group of 50 fans waiting for the gates to open.

Both Weber and Nakles greeted fans, shook hands and even passed out fliers announcing the Stanley Cup promotion.

After the game, Weber was on Market Street, talking to people and asking for feedback as fans wearing Chiefs jerseys left Scott’s By Dam sports lounge.

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Offering a ride: Exactly how committed is Weber to the Chiefs?

He’s staking his Lincoln Continental as a potential prize to the beefed up “Score-O” promotion.

As in the past years, several fans have a chance to shoot at the net during intermission.

Hitting an open net from the blue line earns the shooter gift certificates to local restaurants. Making a tougher shot from a greater distance will fill a fan’s gasoline tank for a few weeks.

Making the seemingly impossible shot will net a fan Weber’s Lincoln.

The shooter must place the puck into an extremely small opening in a barrier placed in front of the net. The shot is from beyond the far blue line at one end of the rink to the cage at the opposite side.

No one can make that, right?

Chiefs account executive Mark Runco volunteered to try an end-to-end “Score-O” shot during the staff’s rehearsal for opening night activities a day before the game.

“First shot. Far goal line. About 180 feet,” McGeehan said. “Slam dunk through the wickets. He makes it.”

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Streak stoppers?: The 0-2 Chiefs will try to avoid being the first Johnstown team to drop its opening three games in regulation since 1989-90. The 1993-94 Chiefs opened 0-4-1, but the overtime loss was in the third game.

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ECHL honors: Reading’s Mike Pandolfo scored twice against the Chiefs, including the game-winner in the home opener. The league noticed and named Pandolfo Player of the Week.

Augusta goaltender Seamus Kotyk is the ECHL Saver of the Week after going 2-0-0 with a shutout, 0.59 GAA and .983 save percentage.

        

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