San Diego, Toronto RHI Teams Get an Ultimatum

Just a week before training camps open, two franchises in Roller Hockey International--San Diego and Toronto--have been given until noon today to decide whether to play or fold.

San Diego controlling partner Dennis Murphy Sr., of Fullerton, confirmed Thursday that he probably will dump the Barracudas because of personal and business concerns after a major sponsor pulled out. With two games to go in the 1996 regular season, Murphy took the Barracudas out of the San Diego Sports Arena in a dispute with city management and said he was headed out of state. But this winter, with new financial backing, he changed his mind.

The Toronto Waves were recently sold and are believed to be working out a deal to remain in the league. If both fold it would leave RHI with 10 teams, down from a high of 19 in 1995. Minnesota folded two weeks ago after plans to move to an outdoor arena were scuttled by the city of Minneapolis.