Pro Hockey coming to St. Clair Shores’ Civic Arena
Fresh off his recent honeymoon in the Caribbean and back in the Detroit area, Brandon Contratto knows his days of relaxing in the sun are over for now.
The former Birmingham Brother Rice hockey star will instead be immersed in his new role as associate head coach and general manager of a new expansion minor league hockey team coming to St. Clair Shores this fall.
As the latest franchise to join the Federal Hockey League, the team will make its home at Civic Arena on Stephens Road in St. Clair Shores — where “Miracle on Ice” Olympian Mark Wells got his start. The team’s name, jersey and schedule will be announced at a news conference May 18.
“I’m back in the hockey world and ready for the grind,” said Contratto, 25, who played hockey at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and then in the Czech Republic, among other stops overseas. “Nobody is going to make a ton of money in this league — players or coaches — but our team will provide fans a great product.”
According to Contratto, former U-M hockey standout Dave Debol, a St. Clair Shores native who went on to play for the Hartford Whalers, will be the team’s head coach and director of hockey operations.
Ontario businessman and former Czech hockey player Michael Kolarik will head the St. Clair Shores franchise under the ownership of newly formed Global Hockey Management, of which Contratto is part.
“St. Clair Shores is a huge hockey community,” said Contratto, who participated in the U.S. Men’s National University team in 2011 and later suited up for Czech Republic team HC Banik Karvina of the Czech 2 Liga.
“It’s one of a kind. Generation after generation of players come from the area. There’s so much junior hockey heritage in St. Clair Shores.”
Paul Doppke, president of the St. Clair Shores Hockey Association, has been following the Federal Hockey League expansion plan closely since the St. Clair Shores City Council unanimously approved plans to bring a new league team to Civic Arena on April 18.
Adding the team would mean the construction of four new locker rooms at the arena at a cost of around $250,000, of which the city will pay $50,000, and a general upgrade in seating and amenities.
