2022-23 ECHL Season Thread
- Thread starter JMCx4
- Start date
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
JCo with his never-ending pot stirring. He must be needing a boost in spirits after his hometown blood suckers were shutout & eliminated all in one 60-minute Game 7, especially with a goal disallowed in the 3rd period on a goalie intereference review. That's gotta hurt WAY more than sleeping on the dressing room floor.
Maybe they should set up the Steelheads in tents in Toledo. (They're still going to smoke the Walleye)
In fairness, it does sound like a crappy situation. But there's a little more to the story, apparently.
Hotel fiasco: Walleye players forced to sleep at arena after Game 1 in Idaho
BOISE — A perfect storm of weekend events in downtown Boise created a less-than-ideal hotel situation for the Toledo Walleye. The players ended up staying ...
www.newsbreak.com
Fort Wayne media jumping to conclusions about a story that doesn't even involve them? Shocking!!Maybe they should set up the Steelheads in tents in Toledo. (They're still going to smoke the Walleye)
In fairness, it does sound like a crappy situation. But there's a little more to the story, apparently.
Hotel fiasco: Walleye players forced to sleep at arena after Game 1 in Idaho
BOISE — A perfect storm of weekend events in downtown Boise created a less-than-ideal hotel situation for the Toledo Walleye. The players ended up staying ...
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
The Growlers managed to tip the ice in Estero in their favor on Monday night. The two teams either will or already have shared a flight to St. John's to prepare for the next two (or 3 or 4) games in the Newfoundland springtime. I hope the air crew were prepared. 
GindyDraws
I will not disable my Adblock, HF
My one joy as an Indy fan is mockery of the Komets.
wildcat48
Registered User
BOISE — A perfect storm of weekend events in downtown Boise created a less-than-ideal hotel situation for the Toledo Walleye.
The players ended up staying in the suites inside Idaho Central Arena on Saturday night after Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the host Idaho Steelheads.
No hotel rooms were available in the downtown area and vicinity due in large part to a concert by country music star Luke Combs on Saturday night at nearby Boise State University.
The lack of available hotel rooms also was because of the Idaho state high school sports tournaments being held in and around the downtown area. There also were several conventions in the city. Rooms were booked as far as a month in advance.
www.toledoblade.com
The players ended up staying in the suites inside Idaho Central Arena on Saturday night after Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the host Idaho Steelheads.
No hotel rooms were available in the downtown area and vicinity due in large part to a concert by country music star Luke Combs on Saturday night at nearby Boise State University.
The lack of available hotel rooms also was because of the Idaho state high school sports tournaments being held in and around the downtown area. There also were several conventions in the city. Rooms were booked as far as a month in advance.
Hotel fiasco: Walleye players forced to sleep at arena after Game 1 in Idaho
BOISE — A perfect storm of weekend events in downtown Boise created a less-than-ideal hotel situation for the Toledo Walleye. The players ended up staying ...
wildcat48
Registered User
"A little more context on this only-in-the-ECHL drama:
As our Walleye beat writer, Mark Monroe, reported, the Walleye arrived in Boise on Thursday, but the downtown hotel where they spent the first two nights was booked Saturday. No other downtown hotels were available, either, thanks to a perfect storm of conventions, Idaho state high school sports tournaments, and a concert Saturday night by country music star Luke Combs that drew some 40,000 fans to Boise State University’s football stadium.
We’re told the Steelheads — who as the host team are responsible for making the hotel arrangements — provided the Walleye with several options for Saturday, including a Hampton Inn and Suites, Holiday Inn Express, and a Courtyard by Marriott.
But those were at least 40 miles away, and, really, not options at all.
Think about it: Imagine a playoff opponent of the Red Wings busing to Toledo after a game one night, then heading back up first thing the next day for a morning skate before an afternoon game.
Instead, the Walleye chose the closest place on the list, a three-star chain hotel 10 minutes outside downtown, because, hey, how bad could it be?
Well ...
Let’s just say they learned why it was available.
One player found mouse droppings in his room, others bed bugs, and, judging by the hundreds of online reviews of the hotel, those might have been the honeymoon suites. (One of the nicer reviews: “Found dirty socks in the drawer next to the bed with a sex toy.”)"
www.toledoblade.com
(paywall)
As our Walleye beat writer, Mark Monroe, reported, the Walleye arrived in Boise on Thursday, but the downtown hotel where they spent the first two nights was booked Saturday. No other downtown hotels were available, either, thanks to a perfect storm of conventions, Idaho state high school sports tournaments, and a concert Saturday night by country music star Luke Combs that drew some 40,000 fans to Boise State University’s football stadium.
We’re told the Steelheads — who as the host team are responsible for making the hotel arrangements — provided the Walleye with several options for Saturday, including a Hampton Inn and Suites, Holiday Inn Express, and a Courtyard by Marriott.
But those were at least 40 miles away, and, really, not options at all.
Think about it: Imagine a playoff opponent of the Red Wings busing to Toledo after a game one night, then heading back up first thing the next day for a morning skate before an afternoon game.
Instead, the Walleye chose the closest place on the list, a three-star chain hotel 10 minutes outside downtown, because, hey, how bad could it be?
Well ...
Let’s just say they learned why it was available.
One player found mouse droppings in his room, others bed bugs, and, judging by the hundreds of online reviews of the hotel, those might have been the honeymoon suites. (One of the nicer reviews: “Found dirty socks in the drawer next to the bed with a sex toy.”)"
Briggs: Were Walleye sabotaged with fleabag hotel and midnight fire alarm? No, but debacle was avoidable
Usually, the Toledo Walleye arrange for visiting hockey teams to stay at one of two downtown hotels: the Renaissance or Hilton Garden Inn. Here’s hoping ...
www.toledoblade.com
(paywall)
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
@snowave beat you to this first report above.BOISE — A perfect storm of weekend events in downtown Boise created a less-than-ideal hotel situation for the Toledo Walleye.
The players ended up staying in the suites inside Idaho Central Arena on Saturday night after Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the host Idaho Steelheads.
No hotel rooms were available in the downtown area and vicinity due in large part to a concert by country music star Luke Combs on Saturday night at nearby Boise State University.
The lack of available hotel rooms also was because of the Idaho state high school sports tournaments being held in and around the downtown area. There also were several conventions in the city. Rooms were booked as far as a month in advance.
Hotel fiasco: Walleye players forced to sleep at arena after Game 1 in Idaho
BOISE — A perfect storm of weekend events in downtown Boise created a less-than-ideal hotel situation for the Toledo Walleye. The players ended up staying ...
Anyway, thanks for sharing the additional info.
Again, it sucks and I truly feel bad for the Walleye... but probably not anyone's fault. When there is an event at BSU (concert or big football game)... getting a room anywhere near downtown is next to impossible. Heck, same could be said for many cities when there is a big event at a stadium. (I remember trying to get a room near Pasadena/LA when the Rose Bowl was booked for U2. Nothing available for 25 miles in any direction! And that's LA)!
personally, I think getting all those beds and putting them into the suites is a generous idea and I'd be thankful the Steelheads were even able to do that.
Again, it sucks and I truly feel bad for the Walleye... but probably not anyone's fault. When there is an event at BSU (concert or big football game)... getting a room anywhere near downtown is next to impossible. Heck, same could be said for many cities when there is a big event at a stadium. (I remember trying to get a room near Pasadena/LA when the Rose Bowl was booked for U2. Nothing available for 25 miles in any direction! And that's LA)!
personally, I think getting all those beds and putting them into the suites is a generous idea and I'd be thankful the Steelheads were even able to do that.
wildcat48
Registered User
While both teams should carry some blame equally, I don’t blame either directly because I don’t believe there was any malice Idaho’s part nor do I believe that Toledo didn’t do its homework.
But...
As someone who worked in professional hockey, and traveled for that work within professional hockey I have to say that mistakes were made. When I was involved with the AHL, it was always the league that handled travel once you got to the conference finals and Calder Cup. I’m shocked that’s not the case in the ECHL although I do understand there is some cost constraints which likely prevent that, however, that would have prevented a lot of the mistakes that were made.
Once Idaho earned the top seed they should have been blocking off rooms in Boise, and especially when they learned of Luke Combs concert and other events, they should have been proactive. The ECHL has a block of dates for when each series is scheduled to be played regardless of opponent. Boise knew as the home seed they’d likely be playing last weekend before the playoffs begun regardless of whom they were playing.
Idaho wasn’t proactive enough so that leads to the second point. They shouldn’t have left it to Toledo to book its own rooms, and they should have maintained close consultation with Toledo about the marketplace. Idaho ownership owns multiple hotels in Boise including the one attached to the arena. Notwithstanding, the hotel’s Idaho did recommended to Toledo they should have been sounding the fire alarm about where Toledo eventually ended up.
And, Toledo should have known better than to book some two star dive that from all accounts wasn’t fit for man nor beast. Was it about saving a buck? That’s silly because this likely cost them a whole lot more in the end. You get what you pay for.
I commend Idaho for working to get something workable, but here’s the biggest point that I believe got lost in the story. There are minimum requirements for accommodations in the ECHL CBA when a team travels on the road. And, whether its the two star dive or the last minute slumber party accommodations, neither one of them met those guidelines and I can almost guarantee the PHPA is speaking with every player and there will be some sort of grievance filed to the ECHL at some point.
The league could solve all these issues by taking control of travel in the later rounds of the playoffs. It done already in the AHL where they handle all travel among the remaining teams, of course working with each host city, but the responsibility falls on the league to make sure each city is required to have designated hotels, meal plans and appropriate medical facilities available to the league for scheduling purposes, and if the perfect storm happens as did in Boise then the league will be make adjustments for the playoff format. An example was during the 2005-06 playoffs, the Portland Pirates went to the Eastern Conference Finals. Due to scheduling in the Divisional Finals vs. Hartford, Portland played a 2-4-1 series due to arena availability and other events. It continued in the Eastern Conference Final where it was a 2-2-2-1 series, again due to arena availability in both Hershey and Portland. Game 7 which would have been scheduled in Portland was played in Hershey – and history was written as Hershey won in OT, and went on to win the Cup.
Point is the league could have prevented many of these issues by taking a more proactive approach, but they didn’t, and under the circumstances kudos to Idaho for stepping up to the plate and coming up with a plan, but I hope there are some valuable lessons learned for the future.
But...
As someone who worked in professional hockey, and traveled for that work within professional hockey I have to say that mistakes were made. When I was involved with the AHL, it was always the league that handled travel once you got to the conference finals and Calder Cup. I’m shocked that’s not the case in the ECHL although I do understand there is some cost constraints which likely prevent that, however, that would have prevented a lot of the mistakes that were made.
Once Idaho earned the top seed they should have been blocking off rooms in Boise, and especially when they learned of Luke Combs concert and other events, they should have been proactive. The ECHL has a block of dates for when each series is scheduled to be played regardless of opponent. Boise knew as the home seed they’d likely be playing last weekend before the playoffs begun regardless of whom they were playing.
Idaho wasn’t proactive enough so that leads to the second point. They shouldn’t have left it to Toledo to book its own rooms, and they should have maintained close consultation with Toledo about the marketplace. Idaho ownership owns multiple hotels in Boise including the one attached to the arena. Notwithstanding, the hotel’s Idaho did recommended to Toledo they should have been sounding the fire alarm about where Toledo eventually ended up.
And, Toledo should have known better than to book some two star dive that from all accounts wasn’t fit for man nor beast. Was it about saving a buck? That’s silly because this likely cost them a whole lot more in the end. You get what you pay for.
I commend Idaho for working to get something workable, but here’s the biggest point that I believe got lost in the story. There are minimum requirements for accommodations in the ECHL CBA when a team travels on the road. And, whether its the two star dive or the last minute slumber party accommodations, neither one of them met those guidelines and I can almost guarantee the PHPA is speaking with every player and there will be some sort of grievance filed to the ECHL at some point.
The league could solve all these issues by taking control of travel in the later rounds of the playoffs. It done already in the AHL where they handle all travel among the remaining teams, of course working with each host city, but the responsibility falls on the league to make sure each city is required to have designated hotels, meal plans and appropriate medical facilities available to the league for scheduling purposes, and if the perfect storm happens as did in Boise then the league will be make adjustments for the playoff format. An example was during the 2005-06 playoffs, the Portland Pirates went to the Eastern Conference Finals. Due to scheduling in the Divisional Finals vs. Hartford, Portland played a 2-4-1 series due to arena availability and other events. It continued in the Eastern Conference Final where it was a 2-2-2-1 series, again due to arena availability in both Hershey and Portland. Game 7 which would have been scheduled in Portland was played in Hershey – and history was written as Hershey won in OT, and went on to win the Cup.
Point is the league could have prevented many of these issues by taking a more proactive approach, but they didn’t, and under the circumstances kudos to Idaho for stepping up to the plate and coming up with a plan, but I hope there are some valuable lessons learned for the future.
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
One David Briggs of said Toledo Blade should be assigned to beat writing for a season in a Single A hockey town. Establishing credible perspectives are a key element of journalism.
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
On Wednesday night, the Toledo Bedbugs overcame another emotional trauma by rallying from a 3-goal deficit & defeating the Idaho Mouse Droppings by a final score of 5 to 4.
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Toledo took an early lead in Game 4, lost it in the 2nd, then mounted an exciting comeback in the 3rd. But the horse (or the Fish) couldn't finish the stretch run. Final Score = Idaho 4-Toledo 3. Steelheads lead the Western Conference Finals 3-1, with Game 5 on Saturday night in The Glass City.
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Everblades score 4 unanswered goals, and now lead the Eastern Conference Finals series 3-2. Game 6 on Tuesday in NFLD.
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Make that a second overtime period, after Florida lost the argument on a disputed goal in Period 4.
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Florida's John McCarron scores in double OT to send the Everblades to the Finals to face Idaho. Final Score of Game 6 = 3-2.
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JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
TRIVIA ITEM: The Everblades v Steelheads championship matchup is the first repeat pairing in ECHL history, last meeting in the 2004 Finals (IDA won that series 4-1).
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JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
[Everblades lead series 2-0]2023 Kelly Cup Finals
an hour ago
The ECHL announced on Tuesday the schedule for the 2023 Kelly Cup Finals between the Idaho Steelheads and Florida Everblades.
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wildcat48
Registered User
Komets making a coaching change: Ben Boudreau, 2 years removed from winning Kelly Cup, is out as team's bench boss
Just two years removed from guiding the Komets to a Kelly Cup championship, coach Ben Boudreau is out of a job. Team management opted not to renew Boudreau's contract, after
JMCx4
Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Just two fruitless years, and NOW he's removed.Komets making a coaching change: Ben Boudreau, 2 years removed from winning Kelly Cup, is out as team's bench boss
Just two years removed from guiding the Komets to a Kelly Cup championship, coach Ben Boudreau is out of a job. Team management opted not to renew Boudreau's contract, afterwww.journalgazette.net
