Pirates sign Civic Center deal

PORTLAND – The Portland Pirates have signed a five-year agreement to remain at the Cumberland County Civic Center, ensuring that the team will remain in the city through at least 2010, team officials announced Thursday.

Pirates owner Brian Petrovek has long said he is concerned that the aging civic center is too small with its 6,700 seats, but he expressed interest in renegotiating a long-term lease in December after a developer unveiled a proposal for a 10,000-seat arena.

The new civic center project remains in limbo, but Petrovek said that he was happy with the outcome of negotiations with the civic center. The new lease calls for a new scoreboard and video display board, locker room renovations and new rent rebate incentives tied to attendance figures.

“We’re very pleased with the result and are thrilled to now be able to represent that we are here for the long haul,” Petrovek said.

Portland has had a team in the American Hockey League for more than 27 years, dating back to the days of the Maine Mariners.

But because of the uncertainty surrounding the civic center, there has been speculation that the Pirates might leave for a city with a more fan-friendly arena.

The Pirates were in the midst of a two-year lease the team signed in November 2003. While the team was contractually obligated to spend at least one more season at the civic center, team officials could have opted out of the lease and relocated the franchise.

In January, Petrovek met in Worcester, Mass., with officials who wanted to find a new AHL tenant for the 14,800-seat DCU Center. Worcester’s AHL team, the IceCats, are relocating to Peoria, Ill., after this season.

The president of the American Hockey League was pleased to see the Pirates stay in Portland instead of moving elsewhere. David Andrews said the team and fans “are a storied part” of the league’s history.

Pirates sign Bourque

Chris Bourque, son of NHL Hall of Famer and longtime Boston Bruins star defenseman Ray Bourque, has signed an amateur tryout contract with the Pirates.

Bourque just finished his freshman season with Boston University.

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound forward was a second-round draft choice of the Washington Capitals in the 2004 NHL draft.

He was named to the Hockey East all-rookie team after scoring 10 goals and making 13 assists in 35 games with the Terriers. Bourque was also named MVP of the Beanpot Tournament after scoring the winning goal over Northeastern in the championship game.