Daily Dish: Tier II Standards of Operations - Junior Hockey

Daily Dish: Tier II Standards of Operations

There seems to be a lot of confusion amongst North American Hockey League owners about USA Hockey's Tier II Standards of Operation. I am going to provide a link to the full text at the bottom of this to give all NAHL team owners ...
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4a) this produces a conundrum for many organizations. The 250k mandate was written around the time of Gretsky. It is unreasonable and unrealistic. However it is there and it lures many potential owners in without the tacit knowledge that it is unworkable. The NAHL should take it upon themselves to change this but it would significantly their fishing for new ownership.

I think it is the biggest underlying problem with the league and all subsequent issue are a result.

Stephan

Nice article and comments but I do have one question. You state under player equipment:

"If a member team refuses to comply, simply yank the franchise and continue operation under league control."

Does the league have this kind of money to run a franchise? As I see it if the team is charging for equipment and other expenses it is losing money, taking away the franchise that is costing the owner dollars may be what the owner wants. Why would the league want that albatrose around it neck? I completely agree that before a season starts each franchise needs to show it has the capital to properly operate or be put in moth balls, but to take a franchise over may be detrimental to the bottom line of the entire league. I also understand the last thing anyone wants is to mid season end a teams operation, so the best thing to do is guide the owner through the rest of the year as best an possible, (spending the owners money afterall he signed up for this) and then make the neccessary changes.

If I am not mistaken Junior hockey clubs are running on thin profit margins if any and a league take over may not be in the best interest of the entire league.

Ralphy,
Each team puts up a $150,000 letter of credit and has a franchise value of $300,000. That should be enough of a buffer to cover expenses for most of a season.

Better yet, if a team is looking to charge players for these items, the kids should just say no and report the charge to the league. Enough of this crap already.

When the NAHL took over the NA3HL, I really thought we would see a number of teams slide down to that level. Now I am hearing that a group wants to just take the entire league down with them.

There are very few NAHL teams that make a profit. That is why since 2006, 60 teams have moved, changed ownership or found new investors.

The sad part of this is the departing teams leave a bad taste in the mouth of fans, community leaders, and government officials who stuck their necks out to support the team.

Trying to bring in a lower level tier team into a former NAHL city is not an easy task.

When a league compensates a commissioner for the addition/replacement of teams, this is the result. When the investment goes bad, then bad press follows it.

Stephen you should do a follow-up story on communities losing their team this year. Need I say Trenton, Chicago, Owatonna as past and present examples.

Eventually, Mr. MF will run out of communities to move to. That's why nobody thought the proposed Mexico NAHL team was an April Fool's joke.

I can tell you for a fact that a billet cordinator from a last place team the past 2 years has had 4 players stay with him to pay his mortgage. And buy 6 pizzas and tell thats food for the week.

I'd love to get more info on this...contact me directly.

Steve

I appreciate your taking the time to respond to "this high ranking NAHL official" in the manner you did. However, I believe it may have been a waste of time.

One can also assume that "High Ranking NAHL Officials" SHALL have a brain. However, we have seen proof that is not a necessary requirement....have we not ?


11th Commandment...........
"THOU SHALL NOT FIX STUPID"