The Johnstown Chiefs Are Dead. Long Live The Johnstown Chiefs!

Watching the Pens lose was tough. Tough enough to maybe not want to think about hockey at all for months on end. Fortunately, there's some good news to bask in: Johnstown is getting a new junior hockey team to take up the mantle of the ill-fated Chiefs.

The Ithaca Journal summarized it well:

The gritty western Pennsylvania city whose rich minor-league hockey history helped inspire the cult movie "Slap Shot" is getting another chance to support a hockey team -- this time a junior league squad that's moving from Alaska.

Johnstown Sports Partners LLC is announced the deal Thursday at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, where the yet-to-be-named team will play.

James Bouchard, chairman and chief executive of private investment firm Esmark Inc., is leading the deal bringing the North American Hockey League's Alaska Avalanche to Johnstown, about 60 miles east of Pittsburgh.

 But things are still early in development, so there are still details to be worked out.

Although the team has yet to announce a new logo or name, Bouchard has hired two former Chiefs players to key positions. Former tough guy Rick Boyd is the general manager and director of hockey operations, while Jean Desrochers is director of business operations.

The NAHL team is steps below minor league. Players aren't paid, although the team covers some of their expenses. The new owners are hoping lower overhead will help keep ticket prices low…

And who exactly is going to play? That remains to be decided, but it will definitely bring in some fresh, young faces to the town:

The league's players are typically 16 to 20 years old and will likely board with local families and attend high schools or community colleges, all the time hoping for a shot with a major college, minor league, or higher level junior team.