02.18.08 HOCKEY TEAM DISBANDED, DESTROYS HOTEL

When the Jamestown Vikings, a minor league hockey team in western New York, learned the news that the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League was canceling the rest of its season last week, their reaction was perfectly calm and measured — assuming, of course, that the team is composed of actual vikings.

This is what it looked like inside the old Vikings Lodge in Jamestown. Shattered glass, busted windows, barstools thrown through doors, beer cans and trash everywhere. Police responded to a report of a broken window yesterday morning, and quickly discovered the damage was much more extensive…

Many players are reportedly owed money, and mistakenly thought team owner Andrew Haines owned the building. Mike Ferguson, Jamestown Ice Arena General Manager, "I told them that this building had historic significance in this community and that it wasn't owned by Mr. Haines so doing any damage to it but the owner of the building and the community as well as their reputations."

Police say the players also tried to set fires inside the kitchen. Damage at the building is estimated at more than 25-thousand dollars.

Well, that's what happens when you name your team the Vikings.  If you wanted a bunch of fixer-uppers, you shoulda named 'em the Habitats 4 Humanity.  Somewhat less catchy, but also less likely to destroy historical landmarks.

[Also see: sports by brooks]