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bags
(Person With Nothing Better To Do!)
USA
2224 Posts |
 Posted - 11/23/2007 : 4:44:46 PM
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AMERICA
North west
1 Cincinnati Cyclones
2 Wheeling Nailers
3 Johnstown Chiefs
4 Dayton Bummers
*** (Toledo Storm on return)
Northeast
1 Elmira Jackals
2 Reading Royals
3 Trenton Devils
4 Charlotte Checkers
Southeast
1. Gwinnett Gladiators
2. Augusta Lynx
3. South Carolina Stingrays
4. Columbia Inferno
Southwest
1. Texas Wildcatters
2. Mississippi Sea Wolves
3. Pensacola Ice Pilots
4. Florida Everblades
NATIONAL
North
1 Victoria Salmon Kings
2 Stockton Thunder
3 Fresno Falcons
4 Bakersfield Condors
5 Alaska Aces
South
1 Las Vegas Wranglers
2 Phoenix RoadRunners
3 Idaho Steelheads
4 Utah Grizzlies
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Dannielle
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
519 Posts |
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hrc666
(Loves To Post!)
1363 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2007 : 03:11:37 AM
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I think Reno is dead in the water. Best I can recall, Myrtle Beach is waiting for an arena to be completed.
I have a feeling that there are going to be substantial changes in the make up of the ECHL next year. At least 3 teams will suspend operations/fold more than likely. Johnstown could be on its last legs. Phoenix doesn't draw well. Pensacola announced they were discontinuing operations after last season only to return. And they're not drawing well. Augusta and Texas are not doing well either. Our 'friends' in Dayton ain't exactly spinning the turnstiles either. They are in year four of their current ownership and rumor has it that the financial well is running dry. There are other situations that aren't ideal other than these.
Also, the IHL has only 6 teams of which 2 (Port Huron and Flint)are not solid. Port Huron is in deep hockey stew. The remaining teams (Fort Wayne, Kalamazoo, Muskegon and perhaps Bloomington could be candidates to join the ECHL. Youngstown of the CHL is rumored to join a league more suited geographically for them. Most likely our league.
If there is one thing that is certain about the configuration of the ECHL next season, it is that it will be different from this year's. |
"The only way David Desharnais will see an NHL game is if he buys a ticket".
--donnie hockey
"David Desharnais will be invisible during 5 on 5 hockey. IN THE AHL"
--donnie hockey
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Edited by - hrc666 on 11/24/2007 03:12:24 AM |
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Jericho
(The Next Level!)
336 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2007 : 4:42:17 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by hrc666
Also, the IHL has only 6 teams of which 2 (Port Huron and Flint)are not solid. Port Huron is in deep hockey stew. The remaining teams (Fort Wayne, Kalamazoo, Muskegon and perhaps Bloomington could be candidates to join the ECHL. Youngstown of the CHL is rumored to join a league more suited geographically for them. Most likely our league.
If there is one thing that is certain about the configuration of the ECHL next season, it is that it will be different from this year's.
You need to realize something about Flint and PH. Both of their new owners have deep pockets. They also are local guys who know the damage done in those markets by previous ownership groups. If they jumped in and planned on making money in their first season they are foolish. I think PH and Flint's ownership will stick it out for a few seasons before folding tents.
The IHL will be expanding by a minimum of two teams next year. These teams will fit in the IHL's desired geographical footprint and will not increase travel costs for the teams.
I spent the last weekend at home at IHL games (Two in FW and one in Flint.) The report of 2,153 on Flint's Friday game was an honest an accurate count of fans in the arena (I'm allowing for some error. I also have no way of knowing how many of those tickets were comps, but the people I spoke to at the game informed me that comp tickets have been very rare this year.) If you look here http://www.mib.org/~lennier/hockey/graph.cgi you will also see that Flint is pacing (as of the last update) 19% ABOVE last year's gate.
Port Huron, not doing nearly as well, but as I've said, their owners have deep pockets. I wouldn't call them one and done.
I honestly don't see any of the IHL teams defecting to the ECHL. The reason for this league forming was to cut down on costs and provide a more exciting product on the ice for the fans than "NHL Developmental League Hockey"
I think at this point they are succeeding at both of these things. |
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Dannielle
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
519 Posts |
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