In an 1890 edition of Harper’s magazine, Thomas Edison is quoted as saying he “constructed 3,000 different theories in connection with the electric light, each one of them reasonable and apparently likely to be true.”

Edison’s never viewed his process as 3,000 separate failures. Each of those failed combinations was merely one of 3,000 examples of how not to make a light bulb. All Edison needed was one combination that worked.

In the same vein, each of the hockey teams that have called the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena home were built on a plan that seemed reasonable and apparently likely to succeed at the time. Each were examples of how not to make hockey successful in this market. Give credit to the area businessmen who make up Jamestown Area Hockey Associates – Gene Aversa, Jim Campion, George Carlson, Dr. James Cirbus; Chuck Hall, John LaMancuso, Tom McFall, Chuck McGowan, Tim Shults, Chris Smith, Randy Stuart, Vic Tarana and Tim Trageser – for learning from past hockey failures in building what could be a viable, long-term presence at the arena.

This attempt is much different from past teams. Ticket prices are slated to be about $5 a game with season passes for the team’s 22 to 24 games priced around $99. The new team will also start a pair of feeder teams at the under-16 and under-14 levels in Jamestown to promote interest in the new program as well as give local players a new chance to play more competitive hockey. Jamestown Area Hockey Associates officials who spoke Monday said they will have much more community involvement than past hockey tenants at the arena.

The Titans, Vikings, Jets and Ironmen didn’t work out, but perhaps they should be viewed as lessons in how not to build a hockey organization rather than as failures. It’s likely true local ownership, ticket prices that match the area economy and a focus on the community are the ingredients missing from those previous hockey teams.

Just like Edison, all the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena needs is one combination that burns brightly for all to see.