Pro squad of former CHS hockey standout to suspend operations

Well, there’s now a recession in the world of hockey, and because of that, one local product is looking for a new job.

The Dayton Bombers of the East Coast Hockey League announced earlier this week that the minor league hockey franchise will suspend its operations at the end of the regular season, according to the Associated Press.

Former Colony High School standout Nathan Schwartzbauer is skating in his first season with the Bombers. In 69 games, the 2000 graduate of CHS has a goal and 11 assists, and has a +8 plus-minus rating.

This is Schwartzbauer’s second season of professional hockey. Following a stellar four-year career at Bemidji State, where he became arguably the top blueliner in the Beavers program, Schwartzbauer initially signed with the Phoenix RoadRunners of the ECHL, but ended up with the Youngstown Steelhounds of the Central Hockey League.

The Bombers, located in Dayton, Ohio, signed Schwartzbauer in September of 2008.

According to the AP, the Dayton ownership is not folding the franchise, just suspending operations, and officials do see the Bombers taking the ice again in the future. The Bombers have been in the ECHL, the league that also includes the Alaska Aces, for 18 years.

— Jeremiah Bartz