THE NHL / HELENE ELLIOTT : Nothing Minor About This Fan Interest

Although many NHL teams are having trouble filling their arenas, hockey’s minor leagues are enjoying an unprecedented boom.

The International Hockey League, in its 49th season, is on a pace to exceed last season’s record attendance of 3 million. IHL attendance has jumped 150% over the last three years and 200% over the last five. Denver and St. Paul will join the league next season, swelling its ranks to 15.

The Central Hockey League is averaging about 6,100 fans a game, led by Oklahoma City’s 10,000-plus average. The Blazers are challenging the minor league hockey attendance record of 9,400 set in 1991-92 by Cincinnati, then of the East Coast Hockey League. The 58-year-old American Hockey League, with an average of more than 4,100 a game, will probably exceed last season’s record total of 2.8 million.

The ECHL, whose 19 teams include Johnstown of “Slap Shot” fame and such unlikely hockey locales as Knoxville, Tenn., and Huntsville, Ala., is averaging 4,700 and expects to total 3 million fans for the first time in its six-year history. The Columbus Chill has sold out 56 consecutive games at the 5,700-seat Ohio State Fairgrounds Coliseum, relying heavily on gimmicks, such as “Tie-dye Night” and having a fat woman in a Brunhilde costume stand up and sing “God Bless America” when the Chill is about to win a game.

Said IHL Commissioner Tom Berry: “Our league has consistently improved its ownership and its buildings, and our games are an entertainment package that is very affordable for families. Mom and dad and a couple of kids come to a game, buy a couple of hot dogs and park for less than what one NHL ticket would cost.

“Our hockey isn’t that far off from NHL caliber. Seventy-four IHL players played 25 or more games in the NHL last season. For a lot of people, it makes sense watching a game for $5 or $8 instead of $65, which is what a lot of NHL teams charge.”

Doug Price, director of operations for the ECHL, agreed that low admission prices are crucial to minor-league hockey’s success. Most tickets cost $7 or $8, and many teams offer student or senior-citizen discounts. The ECHL is equivalent to double-A baseball, supplying players to the AHL and IHL.

One of its four expansion teams, the South Carolina Stingrays, might also break the minor league hockey attendance record. The Stingrays average 9,300 and often sell out the 10,480-seat North Charleston Coliseum.

“Overall, things are going quite well for us,” Price said.

Said Berry: “The more people we can get into games, the more people who are exposed to hockey and the more youngsters get involved. This boom is wonderful for all of us.”

TAKE NOTE

Memo to Chicago Blackhawk Coach Darryl Sutter: You might want to reconsider your ideas about building a team of grinders, guys who play the way you did. There’s nothing wrong with demanding hard work, but your skill players are suffering.

Jeremy Roenick has scored only two goals in his last 19 games and Patrick Poulin, a promising left wing who had 20 goals for Hartford last season, is afraid of being benched if he doesn’t bang someone in his first shift. Brian Noonan is a plugger, but he gets more ice time than he probably deserves.

And Darryl, your loyalty to your brothers, Rich and Brent, is admirable, but aren’t you taking this nepotism thing too far? You’re letting Brent play when he would be better off resting his injured right triceps muscle. He has only four goals and his streak of 12 consecutive 20-goal seasons will probably end. As for Rich, you’ve got a half-dozen other players like him. Think about it.

RISING STOCK

The recent world junior tournament was a showcase for Russian defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky. No Russian has been picked first overall in the NHL draft, but Tverdovsky, who plays for the Red Army team, might earn that distinction.

“He’s really a good one,” said Chuck Grillo, vice president and director of player personnel for the San Jose Sharks. “I think he’s going to go No. 1.”

Just in case he does, Tverdovsky has hired Don Meehan as his agent.

COMING AND GOING

Gee, what a surprise. It appears that Peter Pocklington will keep the Oilers in Edmonton after all.

Commissioner Gary Bettman interceded in Pocklington’s dispute with the commission that runs the Northlands Coliseum and Pocklington will get a lease that gives him more concession revenue. The taxpayers of Edmonton will pay for it and Pocklington justified that by saying that funding from the city “is not an expenditure but an investment.”

Yeah, right. Let’s call it what it is: extortion by Pocklington.

SLAP SHOTS

Cam Neely wants a guaranteed, three-year contract for $8-10 million from the Boston Bruins, who are reluctant because of his frequent injuries. . . . Brian Lawton has become an agent, and among his clients is junior defenseman Deron Quint of the Seattle Thunderbirds. Quint is projected to be a first-round pick in June, which could make Lawton the first former first-round pick--he was No. 1 overall in 1983--to represent another.

The Dallas Stars will miss Mike Modano, out for a month because of a knee injury. . . . The Quebec Nordiques wouldn’t let holdout defenseman Steve Duchesne play for the Canadian Olympic team. Duchesne met with General Manager Pierre Page last week in Los Angeles, but they didn’t reconcile. The Nordiques are weighing offers for him.