TRENTON — Mediation efforts by Mercer County officials on behalf of various charitable organizations have succeeded in freeing cash from the owners of the defunct Trenton Titans hockey team, but season ticket holders are still owed thousands, and more than a half-million dollars is sought by creditors in bankruptcy court proceedings.

The Titans, a former East Coast Hockey League member based at Sun National Bank Center, went out of business a year ago and all but shut their doors to appeals by creditors for reimbursement.

This week county spokeswoman Julie Willmot said funds were recovered for several charitable institutions that were promised a share of revenues generated through promotional events at Titans games. Those organizations were left unpaid when reportedly disappointing earnings and attendance forced the Titans off the ice.

With county intervention, The Breast Cancer Resource Center and Autism Speaks were paid the full amounts raised through the promotions: $5,000 and $228, respectively, Willmot said. The Alzheimer’s Association was paid $264, which was half the $528 raised through promotions for that nonprofit.

Judith Hutton, CEO for the YWCA in Princeton, said she appreciated the county’s efforts. “We were very satisfied,” Hutton said, adding that the mediation “really worked well.”

The Titans announced in April 2013 that they would not be returning to the ice for the 2013-2014 season. They still owe $499,452 to a variety of creditors including professional hockey teams, nonprofits and approximately 100 season ticket holders.

The Titans filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in March, and in the documents filed the team’s ownership company, Blue Line Sports, says it made $454,390 in 2012, and $852,606 in 2013. It is listed as having no assets currently.

Those who purchased advance season tickets last year are owed between $144 and $3,024 each. Among them are Carol Moriggia-Kassabian and her husband Mark Kassabian who, with about 20 others, filed a class action lawsuit against the hockey team. She said the case is still wending its way through court.

“My attorneys feel that there’s a chance that we’re going to get our money back, or else they wouldn’t be wasting their time,” she said.

The team owes the New Jersey Devils $12,000 for player transactions and the Philadelphia Flyers $70,000 in trade debt, according to documents.

Also listed as creditors are former head coach Vince Williams and marketing director Gene Kolber, who have each sued the team for payment.

Kolber, whose marketing firm placed advertisements for the team, said he reached a settlement with the Titans after previously filing suit, saying he was owed more than $30,000 in fees and commissions. He would not say how much he settled for, citing a confidentiality agreement.

Williams filed suit a month after the team’s April 2013 shutdown announcement, saying he was owed $100,000 in lost salary as well as benefits and other damages. It could not be determined whether he received any money as result of the legal action.

Front Row Marketing is listed as a creditor in the bankruptcy documents, seeking $123,871.38 for an alleged breach of contract for marketing services, and has also filed a lawsuit in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

Willmot said while Mercer’s Division of Consumer Affairs has been aggressive in its pursuit of reimbursement for ticketholders, the bankruptcy filing puts a hold on further payouts and prevents the county from “exerting further muscle.”

The consumer bureau has since referred the matter to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for review, Willmot said.

Casey DeBlasio, spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office, said no new information was available.

Other creditors include medical firms, transportation companies and advertisers.
The minor-league hockey team’s departure from league play was just a year after the Delaware Valley Sports Group — comprised of then-team president and CEO Richard Lisk and investors Jim O’Connor, Jim Cook and Tim Curran — acquired Blue Line Sports.

Delaware Valley Sports Group, Cook, O’Connor, Curran, Lisk and the East Coast Hockey League all were named co-debtors in bankruptcy documents. Lisk was the team’s general manager from 2001 to 2005 and returned in 2011.

The Titans were originally founded under different ownership and joined the East Coast Hockey League for the 1999-2000 season. The team was later bought by the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils and in 2007 was renamed the Trenton Devils. For a time the Titans also were the minor-league affiliate for the Philadelphia Flyers.

David Smith, attorney for Blue Line Sports, and team representatives could not be reached for comment.

Contact James McEvoy at jmcevoy@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5680.

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