2020-21 NAHL Return To Play Plans

[mk80]

Copying part of my post from the other thread:
Regarding the NAHL: New Mexico, Shreveport, Wichita Falls, Lone Star, and Odessa have all made statements that they are planning to play this fall after Corpus Christi and KC both suspended and there was word on Twitter the entire south may not play. Nothing from Amarillo but they did tweet about their arena putting the ice in.

Also I can't confirm yet so this is purely rumor for now, but I have word that Fairbanks will be playing in Marshall, MN until January.

 

[JMCx4]

Copying part of my post from the other thread:
Regarding the NAHL: New Mexico, Shreveport, Wichita Falls, Lone Star, and Odessa have all made statements that they are planning to play this fall after Corpus Christi and KC both suspended and there was word on Twitter the entire south may not play. Nothing from Amarillo but they did tweet about their arena putting the ice in. ...

The Bulls are all in, too ...

 

[mk80]

I finally found some confirmation of the Fairbanks Ice Dogs playing in Marshall, MN for the first half of the season.



No word on where Kenai River will take up temporary residence yet but here's an interesting interview about their season preparations (I don't have time to listen to it as of typing this post so maybe a temporary home is covered in it).

 

[JMCx4]

... No word on where Kenai River will take up temporary residence yet but here's an interesting interview about their season preparations (I don't have time to listen to it as of typing this post so maybe a temporary home is covered in it).

Both audio clips from the interview are transcribed in their entirety below each related clip player. Nothing said about relocation for the Brown Bears; just the GM's lament over how to accommodate a 1/2-capacity crowd for games.

 

[mk80]

Both audio clips from the interview are transcribed in their entirety below each related clip player. Nothing said about relocation for the Brown Bears; just the GM's lament over how to accommodate a 1/2-capacity crowd for games.

Well at least I'm not missing much by skipping out on taking a listen for now. I just wanted to CYA myself in case I posted that and there was talk about it in one of the clips.

 

[The Ice Hockey Dude]

New Mexico team committed to play this season. They have 20 returning players
and look for standings improvement.

Ice Wolves reiterate commitment to play 2020-21 season

 

[The Ice Hockey Dude]

be interesting to see what the schedule looks like, if there are divisions, etc.

 

[JMCx4]

be interesting to see what the schedule looks like, if there are divisions, etc.

I don't see how NAHL teams who choose to proceed with play would survive if they didn't stick to current or revised regional divisions. Extra travel could bury them financially. Just having division teams sitting out 2020-21 is gonna put a strain on remaining teams' budgets, unless the League allows/adopts a single-location tournament-type game scheduling. I, too, am anxious to see how their schedule looks; but my stake as a fan is far less than that of the owners & the players.

 

[The Ice Hockey Dude]

I don't see how NAHL teams who choose to proceed with play would survive if they didn't stick to current or revised regional divisions. Extra travel could bury them financially. Just having division teams sitting out 2020-21 is gonna put a strain on remaining teams' budgets, unless the League allows/adopts a single-location tournament-type game scheduling. I, too, am anxious to see how their schedule looks; but my stake as a fan is far less than that of the owners & the players.

Well, we'll all see how they are going to handle this pretty soon id guess.

 

[mk80]

be interesting to see what the schedule looks like, if there are divisions, etc.

Minus the 2 that have dropped out the South will play within their division.

The Alaska teams are currently finding temporary homes in MN for the first of the season at least. I expect there will be some blending of the two upper midwest divisions as there's some speculation that due to state regulations Springfield may not be able to play. As for the East who knows what happens there with some of those teams.

I would expect the majority of teams in the league will play though, like I said maybe some blurring of the divisional boundaries for the two intertwined divisions in and around Minnesota.

 

[JMCx4]

... I expect there will be some blending of the two upper midwest divisions as there's some speculation that due to state regulations Springfield may not be able to play. ...

Oh sure, first you take away my Shawnee road trip option, and NOW you pour warm water on my Springfield, IL dreams for '20-'21. What's next: Tellin' me the STL Bandits are never gonna return to their old home ice?

 

[mk80]

Oh sure, first you take away my Shawnee road trip option, and NOW you pour warm water on my Springfield, IL dreams for '20-'21. What's next: Tellin' me the STL Bandits are never gonna return to their old home ice?

I hear the golfing is good these days at Hardees Iceplex. The Janesville Jets owner has said his team will be playing so I'll allow you that relatively close road trip option.

 

[JMCx4]

... The Janesville Jets owner has said his team will be playing so I'll allow you that relatively close road trip option.

Hmmmmm ... a Janesville/Oregon juniors weekend ... that could work.

 

[mk80]

Hmmmmm ... a Janesville/Oregon juniors weekend ... that could work.

If it lines up right you may be able to catch the Jr. Blues on the road up there.

 

[mk80]

The 3HL has started releasing their schedule today beginning with the Central Division, each division individually will be put out over the course of the week.

NA3HL releases 2020-21 Central Division Schedule

 

[JMCx4]

So NAHL schedules following soon?

 

[mk80]

Looks like I'm taking another close trip away from you @JMCx4

 

[JMCx4]

Looks like I'm taking another close trip away from you @JMCx4

Cryin' shame, but totally understood. Hopefully all of their protected players can land with teams that can give them playing opportunities, and hopefully Mr. Ferguson can sustain a Springfield fanbase to resume ops in 2021-22.

 

[JMCx4]

Commissioner Frankenfeld interview from Saturday morning, starts talking about the NAHL schedule release @ 0:58 of the video. He wraps up with: "I'm pretty confident you'll have a ... '20-'21 North American Hockey League schedule announced next week."

 

[JMCx4]

And some hopeful activity in the South ...

 

[mk80]

And some hopeful activity in the South ...

Slow progress, but it's something

 

[JMCx4]

The Commissioner also interjected this when talking about the 2020-21 schedule building process: "We're down to one more project, hoping to land it in a good spot ... ." Indication of another NAHL team considering sitting out for the season?

 

[mk80]

This rounds out the expected teams to sit out the season.


Also still no word on where Kenai River has set up a temporary residence yet.

 

[JMCx4]

This rounds out the expected teams to sit out the season.

I wonder how the NAHL found the latest hometown of the Rebs to confirm they were sitting out.

 

[The Ice Hockey Dude]

Commissioner Frankenfeld interview from Saturday morning, starts talking about the NAHL schedule release @ 0:58 of the video. He wraps up with: "I'm pretty confident you'll have a ... '20-'21 North American Hockey League schedule announced next week."

Good news that their will be some kind of schedule / season.