After two poor seasons under the Lumber Kings moniker (the second in the renamed United Hockey League), however, the club was sold in 1998.

New owner Khaled M. Shukairy decided to rename the club the Saginaw Gears after the former IHL team.

[1] The move had the blessing of United Hockey League commissioner Richard Brosal after the city of Massillon, Ohio, announced they were to build a new 6,500-seat arena.

Playing at a small community rink in nearby North Canton, Ohio, with a capacity of 400 and almost no one in attendance, the Gears had a 5–40–5 record for the rest of the 1999–2000 campaign.

But plans to build the arena collapsed, forcing the team to remain dormant for another year.