An unidentified group of investors is seeking to purchase the Washington Power and move the struggling franchise to Edmonton in time for the 2002-2003 season.

The Power would play at Skyreach Centre, home to the NHL's Edmonton Oilers.

It is believed that the group includes at least some members of the group which failed to secure an expansion franchise this past spring. The bid failed because league owners feared another expansion team would dilute the talent pool, since four teams had already been added for this season.

Power owner Steve Comiskey discussed the possibility of a move last weekend in the Washington Post.

An anonymous NLL source tells the Edmonton Sun that the City of Champions "has always been in the plans."

"This may or may not come about," the source says. "There was a group of guys on the league committee talking about it today. It's an opportunity and we'd like to see a team in Edmonton."

How soon that comes about, though, is unknown. The league's Board of Governors convened an emergency conference call Monday night to discuss the Power's troubles. What came out of that call is not encouraging.

The Power refuses to guarantee that the six remaining home games on its schedule will be played at Capital Centre, where attendance was reported as 4,834 on Saturday but believed to have less than 2,000 paying customers.

Although he wouldn't comment on the reported relocation to Alberta, Power executive vice president Steve Govett admitted to the Toronto Sun's Mike Koreen that some games could be played elsewhere -- at the road team's home arena, or even at neutral sites.

"There are discussions being held right now that will determine the future of this franchise," Govett said. "Our intention is to play the rest of our home games this season at the Capital Centre."

The next home game, a 5 January tilt with the Toronto Rock, is likely to happen at Capital Centre. It can't happen at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, because the NHL's Maple Leafs have already booked the arena for a 4:00 PM start.