ANCHORAGE, Alaska, June 29: In one of the most-expensive auctions ever on eBay Inc, the cash-strapped owner of a professional hockey club in Alaska is gambling that he can unload the team over the Internet.

Anchorage Aces owner Michael Cusak, whose team is reportedly US$2.2 million in debt, filed for Chapter 11 protection last month.

Cusack said he went to the unusual step of putting his team up for sale on eBay because he had nothing to lose.

He claims the club is valued at US$3.5-million and enjoys “strong support from the community and local government as well as an excellent arena to play in”.

Cusak, whose team had the worst record (19-44) in the West Coast Hockey League last season, bought the Aces seven years ago.

The original minimum bid required to get involved in the online auction was 1.5 million dollars.

The Alaska businessman received one bid of 2.3 million dollars on Friday but it turned out to be false. Cusak’s creditors are owed about 2.2 million dollars.

The winning bidder would still have to be approved by the bankruptcy court and the league.

The eight-team league also has teams in San Diego, Idaho, Colorado, Tacoma, Was., Long Beach, Cal., Fresno, Cal., and Bakersfield, Cal.

Ten months ago a Gulfstream II business jet sold for 4.9 million dollars, making it the biggest sale on eBay.—AFP