Daily Dish: Just CH1L - Junior Hockey

Daily Dish: Just CH1L

We have been talking about it for a year, I have been suggesting it for ten, and now numerous sources within the Central Hockey League and Amateur Athletic Union are confirming that the minor professional league is establishing their own ...
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I noticed you listed a Las Vegas number for info. Who is in charge of this program, and why is the contact in Vegas? Also, are they not going to charge a billet fee or any fees for this league?

Had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn't April Fools day. This is an absolute joke. The game that we all love is so diluted right now and these clowns think that they can start a Tier 1 junior league??? There are only so many players of that caliber in the WORLD. Watch the USHL and the 3 leagues of the CHL and most of them can't hardly put 4 lines out there that can truly go at that level. Throw in the Euro junior leagues that are also depleted, major programs in Russia, Sweden, Czechs, etc.. that have nothing beyond 3 lines at the WJC.

This season was pathetic at the TII and TIII levels compared to where the game was at as recently as 2 seasons ago. Why?? We all know why....to many teams. Now you think that the hockey fairy is going to manufacture 150 or so more Tier 1 players??? I have no problem with AAU, just idiotic team and league owners that only care about money. I care about the money but if you can't put the product on the ice you won't last long. We've all seen it to many times. How many teams will fold this year? Even better, how many idiots are going to start new teams?

You rip a strip out of the NAHL at every turn and believe me I am not a fan of their greed but they had the right vision in the beginning. We all need USAH to grow a set and take control of the ship but we also need responsible people running responsible leagues and obviously this probably isn't one of those groups. This is no different than Frankenfeld starting another half dozen teams or him chasing his Tier 1 fantasy.

I'm happy you got the scoop you wanted but if folks truly cared about the demise of the game they would put their money into the education and growth of hockey astarting with the kids. Maybe if we start now with the Mites and really focus we can have enough Tier 1 players for these teams in 2025 or so. Here's a homework assignment for all of you who say you care; put 2 games up on side by side screens. One from this year at TII and one from 2-3 years ago. Do the same thing again for the TIII level. Helen Keller could see the differences in the skill and speed of the games. This continued vacuum to the top has to end before it kills junior hockey.

What a joke.

Can you spell over-saturation?

Stephan:will Johnstown be joining the NAHL North for next season?

Jack, Yes.

Randy,Over-saturation or just a market correction? Canada has WAY more teams per-capita than the United States. There are ten leagues like the NAHL across Canada, three leagues like the USHL and CH1L, and a truckload of Junior B and other leagues.

Like Canada before the US, there were too many minor-pro teams that operated outside of the developmental system, the junior level is a better business model. Above all, the kids win when business elects to fund player development.

Lori,
This is a no-cost league. The teams are covering all living and playing expenses.

Josh,
Where do I start? Why is hockey the only sport with import restrictions? If the game is so watered-down, why should we not lift the restrictions?

I like where AAU is going with this, the idea is to attract the World's best young prospects and develop them alongside North American prospects and they want to cover all of the players' expenses in the process.

You call that a joke? I call it the most aggressive developmental move in the history of the game.

The people that run the CHL have done a very good job for a number of years through difficult times just like other leagues. I would encourage people to get all the facts before jumping to conclusions. In my opinion the CHL people, at least that I am aware of will do a first rate job and this will be a premier league. The USHL is a first rate league and the CHL will attract upper echelon players as well. I would suggest that the CH1L will probably not have as many import or foreign player restrictions. After all a hockey player is a hockey player who cares where he is born. I think this is exciting!

Stephan, David,

I still think it is over-saturation. You are right about the many junior teams and leagues in Canada but look at the Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the number of teams that have contracted from it over the past few years. Just my observations, men. I'm a big fan of junior hockey. But I often think that "less is more."

Sorry, Stephen, not Stephan, my bad. I am reading too many of Jack's posts. Talk to you later today, man.

Stephan:Thanks but there is NOTHING on the NAHL website or the Johnstown web edition paper.

Jack,
North Division met this week and approved Johnstown market for the division.

Next step is to get team moved to Johnstown and then NAHL board will have to give that the nod.

Next will be USA Hockey, which should be the easy one.

Curious on why people think the Johnstown move is a done deal...BCHL can throw a major monkey wrench in this matter. They have said they are not making a decision on this till the end of the month. They already have everything in order for next season, adding Wenatchee would be a major PITA...(changing schedules, unbalanced divisions, etc)

Wenatchee has already said if the BCHL does not approve their membership this season, they will be back playing in the NAHL next year...Which may also help to keep Fresno around.

If I'm not mistaken, I think the BCHL has already approved the Wenatchee deal.

I believe that Wenatchee is going to stay in NAHL for another year and one of the other teams will move to Johnstown.

Nope....
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/mar/14/bchl-


Stephen - Thank you for that tidbit of info. The easiest thing is for the BCHL to accept Wenatchee and possibly another franchise for the 2013-14 season, that means the NAHL West will have Fairbanks, Kenai, Wenatchee, Fresno, and..........

Johnstown should be able to field at team next season, but which current franchise will transfer? New Mexico? Coulee Region?, Dawson Creek?......CHICAGO???????

New Mexico, St Louis, Alaska are all in play...