Sherry Bassin expected to make the Erie Otters’ two-year Tullio Arena lease extension official Friday.
Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, said Friday he planned to sign the paperwork that night and present it to Casey Wells, the Erie County Convention Center Authority’s executive director. On March 19, Bassin announced they had reached an agreement in principle that would keep the OHL franchise in Erie through the 2013-14 season. The current three-year lease expires at the end of June.
“There’s no dramatic moment because I believe it was going to be done anyway,” Bassin said Friday at the Bayfront Convention Center, where he introduced center Connor McDavid as the No. 1 pick in today’s OHL Priority Selection.

- Victor Fernandes

Sherry Bassin has done more than search for available goaltenders this week.

Bassin, Erie Otters managing partner and general manager, confirmed Wednesday he has moved closer to finalizing a new multi-year Tullio Arena lease with the Erie County Convention Center Authority.

Bassin said he agreed in principle on certain aspects of a deal with Casey Wells, the Convention Center Authority’s executive director, during a meeting Tuesday. The lease will be for at least two years, Bassin said. Bassin said he hopes to have the complete lease done in principle in the next two weeks.

“I’d like to think we’re real close,” Bassin said. Wells wasn’t immediately available for comment.

- Victor Fernandes

In our history, the Erie Otters have never discussed our business dealings with the press. In light of recent speculation regarding the Erie Otters, we would like to clarify our position regarding our commitment to Erie.

Mr. Sherwood Bassin, General Manager and Majority Owner of the Otters, and Mr. Casey Wells, Executive Director of the Erie County Convention Center Authority, have met several times over the course of the season to negotiate a new lease for the Otters at Tullio Arena. Their most recent meeting Thursday afternoon was an open and healthy discussion.

Mr. Bassin expressed his ideas and concerns regarding the structure of the present lease, and Mr. Wells was very receptive to those concerns. Both gentlemen expressed their ideas through brainstorming and have asked for a couple of weeks to resolve issues and sign a commitment.

The $42 million renovation of Tullio Arena, which began in December, is a positive step forward for the future of the Otters in Erie.

The Otters will not comment any further on speculation of the team being relocated or lease negotiations until a new lease is secured with the Erie County Convention Center Authority.

- From Erie Otters

The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team didn’t receive one of the top four seeds in the NCAA Women’s Division I playoffs. Instead, the Lakers (29-5-0) will travel to third-seeded Boston University (25-6-4) for a 3 p.m. game Saturday in a rematch of a 2010 quarterfinal, won by Mercyhurst 4-1 at Mercyhurst Ice Center. The winner of Saturday’s game earns a spot in the Frozen Four, set for March 18 and 20 at Tullio Arena. Check out the complete bracket and the selection show by clicking the links.

The NCAA Women’s Division I Frozen Four will consist of more than just hockey games.

Starting with the sold-out Welcome Banquet March 17, the tournament features events that complement the semifinal doubleheader on March 18 and championship game on March 20 at Tullio Arena.

USA Hockey’s Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Ceremony & Brunch is set for March 19 at 10 a.m. at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. The award, named after the former standout at Princeton (1981-86) who lost her battle with a rare blood disease in 1990 at age 28, honors the nation’s top women’s player.

Last year, Vicki Bendus became the first Mercyhurst College player to capture the award. She joined an exclusive group that includes seven Olympians. This year’s nominees will be unveiled in February.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by contacting Yevet Anderson at (814) 450-7008. They cost $65 for individual seats, $300 for a half table (five seats) and $600 for a full table (10 seats).

Young girls can participate in one of two free hockey clinics on March 19 at Mercyhurst Ice Center.

Girls ages 4-10 currently playing hockey can enjoy instruction from members of USA Hockey’s American Development Model staff from 3-4 p.m. at the NCAA/USA Hockey Girls Clinic. Those interested can register by e-mail at eriehockey@earthlink.net.

Girls ages 4-12 can experience hockey from 4-5 p.m. in the Girls Try Hockey Free Program. No skating or hockey experience is necessary to participate. Equipment and skates will be provided for free. Visit www.usahockey.com/erietryhockeygirls to register or contact Anderson for more information.

On the same day, the Alumnae Hockey Game for former women’s college players will begin at 6 p.m. at Tullio Arena. Admission is free.

Meanwhile, coaches wishing to earn their next level of Coaching Education and Certification can attend the USA Hockey National High Performance Coaching Workshop on March 19 and 20 at Courtyard by Marriott’s Crystal Ballroom. Visit www.usahockey.com and click on Coaching Clinics to register.

All-session tickets to the tournament, which covers all three games, cost $50 for adults and $40 for students. They can be purchased at the Tullio Arena box office (814-425-4857), Mercyhurst Ice Center (814-824-2277) and through TicketMaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

Frozen Four schedule

March 17

7 p.m. – Welcome banquet (sold out)

March 18

5 p.m. – Semifinal No. 1, Tullio Arena

8 p.m. – Semifinal No. 2, Tullio Arena

March 19

8:30 a.m. – USA Hockey National High Performance Coaching Workshop, Courtyard by Marriott’s Crystal Ballroom

10 a.m. – Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Ceremony & Brunch, Erie Bayfront Convention Center

* Tickets cost $65 for individual seats, $300 for a half table (five seats), $600 for a full table (10 seats)

3-4 p.m. – NCAA/USA Hockey Girls Clinic, Mercyhurst Ice Center (girls playing hockey ages 4-10)

4-5 p.m. – Girls Try Hockey Free Program, Mercyhurst Ice Center (girls ages 4-12)

6 p.m. – Alumnae Hockey Game, Tullio Arena

March 20

8:30 a.m. – USA Hockey National High Performance Coaching Workshop, Courtyard by Marriott’s Crystal Ballroom

2 p.m. – Championship game, Tullio Arena

What: Kitchener Rangers (4-1-0-0) vs. Erie Otters (3-3-0-0)

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.; Monday, 1 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena (today); Kitchener Memorial Auditorium – Kitchener, Ontario (Monday)

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points), C Mike Cazzola (3-6-9), LW David Broll (2-4-6), D Tyler Hostetter (2-3-5), RW Shawn Szydlowski (2-3-5)

Kitchener – D Ryan Murphy (4-9-13, plus-8), RW Gabriel Landeskog (5-4-9), RW Tobias Rieder (4-5-9), RW Jason Akeson (3-5-8), Matthew Tipoff (3-2-5)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters enter the home-and-home series against their Midwest Division rival on a two-game winning streak. … They lost the first meeting in the eight-game season series 7-3 in Kitchener on Oct. 1. … The Otters have lost nine straight games against the Rangers by a combined 51-20 score dating back to last season. … McKegg and Cazzola are among the OHL’s top 20 in scoring. … McKegg has points in five straight games (four goals, seven points). … RW Anthony Luciani (undisclosed injury) joined D Brett Cook (undisclosed injury) and rookie C Connor Crisp (concussion) out of the lineup for Friday’s win in Guelph. … The Otters have allowed power-play goals in five of six games this season.

Kitchener – Murphy leads the league in points and assists and ranks among the top 10 with three power-play goals. He had a goal and four assists in last weekend’s win against the Otters… Landeskog (2 goals, assist), Akeson (goal, 2 assists) and C Michael Catenacci (goal, 2 assists) had three points apiece in that game. … The Rangers remain without C Jeff Skinner, who has begun the season with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. LW Jeremy Morin, who was the final cut from Chicago Blackhawks’ training camp, was assigned to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs earlier this week. The duo combined for 22 goals and 33 points in eight games against the Otters last season.

Up next: vs. Kitchener (Saturday, 7 p.m.), at Kitchener (Monday, 1 p.m.)

The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team and Erie Otters will play three day-night doubleheaders at Tullio Arena this season. The games are a lead-in to the NCAA Women’s Division I Frozen Four, set for March 18-20 at the downtown arena, Lakers coach Michael Sisti said Monday.

The Lakers have moved three games – Nov. 27 against Colgate and a two-game series with Brown on Jan. 14-15 – from Mercyhurst Ice Center to Tullio Arena. All three games are scheduled for 2 p.m. starts, said Casey Wells, Erie County Convention Center Authority executive director.

The Otters have home games against Kitchener on Nov. 27, Barrie on Jan. 14 and London on Jan. 15. All three games begin at 7 p.m.

“(The Tullio staff will have) extra people with locker rooms and things to juggle,” Sisti said. “It’s a nice trial run for everyone to get used to things and to smooth out anything as they get closer to hosting the (Frozen) Four.”

- Victor Fernandes

Otters-Lakers doubleheader schedule

at Tullio Arena

Nov. 27

Colgate at Mercyhurst, 2 p.m.

Kitchener at Erie, 7 p.m.

Jan. 14

Brown at Mercyhurst, 2 p.m.

Barrie at Erie, 7 p.m.

Jan. 15

Brown at Mercyhurst, 2 p.m.

London at Erie, 7 p.m.

The Saginaw Spirit took a pair of one-goal lead. The Erie Otters erased those deficits both times.

But the third time around wasn’t the charm for the Otters.

Spirit center Vincent Trocheck’s second goal snapped a tie with 3 minutes, 42 seconds left and handed the Otters a 3-2 loss in front of a home-opening crowd of 4,746 at Tullio Arena on Saturday night.

The Otters (1-1-0-0) began the game with the spirit of former Otter Vince Scott on their side. The club honored Scott, who died in automobile accident in April, by retiring his No. 16 in a pregame ceremony.

But the Spirit overcame the Otters’ emotionally charged start to the game. Then Saginaw snapped the scoreless tie on rookie Brandon Saad’s first Ontario Hockey League goal 5:33 into the opening period.

Saad, a Pittsburgh native and projected top-five pick in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft, banged in a rebound on the power play during a goal-mouth scramble.

Two minutes later, Otters defenseman Tyler Hostetter fired a wrist shot past Spirit goaltender Mavric Parks to tie the score at 1. Other than that, the Otters couldn’t solve the overage Parks. He stopped 14-of-15 shots in the first period. The Otters outshot Saginaw 15-6 in the period.

Erie’s commanding lead in shots continued in the second. The Otters fired 14 more shots at Parks. But the Spirit scored midway through the period, as Trocheck fired a wrist shot over Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov’s left shoulder for a 2-1 lead at the 9:20 mark.

Yet the teams headed to the second intermission tied at 2. Anthony Luciani, who has filled departed captain Zack Torquato’s spot on the Otters’ No. 1 line, scored his second goal in two nights off assists from linemates Greg McKegg and Mike Cazzola with 30 seconds left in the period.

The Otters dominated the opening half of the third period. They held the Spirit without a shot on goal for 10-plus minutes. But the Otters failed to capitalize on several quality scoring chances.

The Spirit responded with 12 shots on goal down the stretch. Trocheck scored the game-winner on a 4-on-4 situation to snap the 2-2 tie and hand the Spirit (1-1-0-0) their first win of the season.

SUMMARY

Spirit 3, Otters 2

Saginaw  1  1  1  —  3

Erie  1  1  0  —  2

1^st Period — 1. Saginaw, Brandon Saad 1 (Ashman, Telegin), 5:33 (pp). 2. Erie, Tyler Hostetter 1 (Luciani, Cazzola), 7:36. Penalties — Szwarz (S) slashing. :04; Paton (E) checking from behind, 4:55; Saad (S) 10-min. misconduct, 7:36; Trocheck (S) unsportsmanlike conduct, 10:53; Szydlowski (E) hooking, 15:06; Hermenegildo (S) roughing, 16:46.

2^nd Period — 3. Saginaw, Vincent Trocheck 1 (O’Connor, Saad), 9:20. 4. Erie, Anthony Luciani 2 (McKegg, Cazzola), 19:30. Penalties — Broll (E) 5-min. fighting, :02; Kantor (S) 5-min. fighting, :02; Sgarbossa (S) cross checking, 11:02; Hermenegildo (S) checking from behind, 19:49; Appio (E) 10-min. misconduct, 19:49; Kantor (S) 10-min. misconduct, 19:49.

3^rd Period — 5. Saginaw, Trocheck 2 (Szwarz, O’Connor), 16:18. Penalties — Shalla (S) interference, 11:46; Austin (E) checking from behind, 14:18; Walch (S) holding, 16:02.

Shots on goal — Saginaw, 6-10-12—28; Erie, 15-14-7—36.

Goaltenders — Saginaw, Mavric Parks 1-1-0-0 (36 shots, 34 saves); Erie, Ramis Sadikov 1-1-0-0 (28 shots, 25 saves).

Power plays — Saginaw (1-3), Erie (0-7).

Referees — Jason Faist, Darcy Burchell. Linesmen — Fraiser MacIntire, Ray King.

Attendance — 4,746.

Three stars

* Vincent Trocheck, Spirit (2 goals) ** Anthony Luciani, Otters (goal, assist) *** Mike Cazzola, Otters (2 assists)

Vince Scott (Contributed/Erie Otters)

The No. 18 took one final spin around the Tullio Arena ice. Then before the Erie Otters’ home opener against Saginaw on Saturday, No. 18 ascended to the rafters.

“No one will ever wear No. 18 ever again,” Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, said during a pregame ceremony honoring the late Vince Scott, an Otter from 2003-07 who died in an automobile accident in April. Scott joined the No. 16 of Brad Boyes, the club’s revered former captain.

But first, Otters winger Brett Appio skated onto the ice for pregame warm-ups wearing a No. 18 sweater.

Appio wore that number last season after joining the Otters in January. But on this night, it was merely a loaner. During the emotional ceremony, he skated to the east end of the rink to present the sweater to Scott’s parents, Bob and Sue. Then Bob Scott handed Appio his new No. 8 sweater.

“This is a special night to honor a special memory. He was a special, special kid,” said Bassin, as he fought back tears. “We lost a special person. But his memory will never ever be lost here.”

Several members of Scott’s immediate and billet families stepped onto the ice before a moment of silence was observed. Then they glanced towards the center-ice scoreboard for a video salute featuring photos of Scott’s childhood and his days with the Otters. He totaled 29 goals and 71 points in 202 career games.

Moments later, the rest of the Otters joined Appio in exchanging hugs and handshakes with Scott’s family and friends. Then club officials presented Scott’s family with a poster and plaque bearing, among other things, Scott’s name and number. Bob Scott’s poignant parting words capped the ceremony.

He spoke about his son’s love for the Otters. “I know the day he became assistant captain was one of the happiest days of his life,” Bob Scott said. “Vinny loved playing for the Otters and skating on this ice.”

The elder Scott also addressed his son’s love for Erie and the team’s fans.

“The people of Erie really made Vinny feel welcome,” Bob Scott said. “He really loved you guys.”

The Otters and their fans loved him, too. “His memory will never ever end,” Bassin said.

- Victor Fernandes

What: Saginaw Spirit (0-1-0-0) at Erie Otters (1-0-0-0)

When: Today, 7 p.m.*

Where: Tullio Arena

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points), C Mike Cazzola (1-1-2), RW Anthony Luciani (1-0-1), RW Shawn Szydlowski (0-2-2), G Ramis Sadikov (1-0-0-0 record, 1.00 goals-against average, .979 save percentage)

Saginaw – LW Josh Shalla (1-1-2), C Michael Sgarbossa (1-0-1), C Vincent Trocheck (0-1-1), C Brandon Saad (0-0-0), G Mavric Parks (0-1-0-0, 5.00, .889)

Vince Scott (Contributed/Erie Otters)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters will retire the late Vince Scott’s No. 18 in a pregame ceremony. Scott, who played in Erie from 2003-07, died in an automobile accident in April. Scott, whose family will attend the game, joins Brad Boyes as the only players in franchise history to have their numbers retired. … The Otters have an 8-5-1 all-time record in home openers. They snapped a two-game home-opening winning streak with a 5-4 overtime loss to London last season. … The Otters haven’t won two straight to start a season since a three-game streak in 2002-03. … McKegg, who was named the 11^th captain in team history on Friday, rejoined the team in time for a season-opening win in Brampton. He scored a goal in his NHL preseason debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs. … Rookies Kris Grant, Chris Marchese and Adam Pelech recorded their first OHL points in the opener.

Saginaw – The Spirit opened the season with a 5-2 loss in Kitchener on Friday. … Saad, a native of the Pittsburgh suburb of Gibsonia, joined the Spirit this season after completing a two-year stint with the United States National Team Development Program. Saad, a projected top-five pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, didn’t record a point in his Spirit debut. … The Spirit lost all four meetings with the Otters last season. … Sgarbossa signed an entry-level contract with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.

Up next: at Niagara (Thursday, 7 p.m.), at Kitchener (Friday, 7:30 p.m.)

* Opening faceoff is set for approximately 7:20 p.m. because of the pregame ceremony