East to NAHL
- Thread starter Nuch3232
- Start date
WBS seems like a done deal. The other two teams are in the NYC metropolitan area but I've heard different things from different people so I don't want to go ahead and start naming them without being sure. The one big rumor was NY Bobcats but I was just told from a team source it's not happening.
From what I was told, it'll be one EHL team and one USPHL team, but not a USPHL team that plays at the Premier level, so no difference there.
From what I was told, it'll be one EHL team and one USPHL team, but not a USPHL team that plays at the Premier level, so no difference there.
Latest I've heard: NJ, NY (but not Bobcats), Lewiston ME, Philadelphia, WBS will be the markets for NAHL's new Eastern Division. Prevailing belief is that it's NY Aviators but I've heard different things about the rest of the markets.
My Guess
1 USPHL Team to the NAHL (Philadelphia??)
Keystone to Wilkes Barre PA (From EHL)
Soo Eagles to New Jersey ..
Michigan Warriors to Brooklyn NY ..
Lewiston ME new NAHL Franchise
Johnstown Tomahawks
Eastern Division of the NAHL ??
1 USPHL Team to the NAHL (Philadelphia??)
Keystone to Wilkes Barre PA (From EHL)
Soo Eagles to New Jersey ..
Michigan Warriors to Brooklyn NY ..
Lewiston ME new NAHL Franchise
Johnstown Tomahawks
Eastern Division of the NAHL ??
Have to take my word for it since I don't have pictures, but I was just at Tier I youth nationals in Buffalo and saw the WBS Knights coaching staff there in Knights jackets with NAHL patches on the sleeves. Nothing confirmed by the organization but that should say it all.
JungleJON
Registered User
- May 10, 2011
- 306
- 10
I remember reading a story that said Soo was staying put, just because Michigan was leaving management confirmed that Soo was staying in the NAHL.
Would be nice for Johnstown to have a few closer teams in the mix. Waiting for Wheeling to close up shop in the ECHL and make the move.
Wouldn't mind seeing Elmira make the jump down to the NAHL either. With teams in Johnstown and Wilkes-Barre and rumors of Jamestown moving back up from the NA3HL it would make for a good little circuit. The Jackals are not viable with the attendance they have been getting the last couple years, and fans are tired of the ECHL product.
I stopped in at a Jackals game about a week and a half ago to take a break from driving (going from NYC to Ontario) and was shocked at how few people were there. Seemed like a couple of die-hards who would watch any hockey in the building and a couple of families who weren't all that interested..not much going on. I had an entire section to myself.
Realize that there's a lot of speculation so far but would these moves likely happen before the draft> Would there be an expansion draft too?
hutdevil
Registered User
any word on what is going on? we haven't heard anything here in Lewiston Maine.hoping we get one here for this fall.
JungleJON
Registered User
- May 10, 2011
- 306
- 10
Really interesting that the Ice Miners could potentially stay with that bid for the team and the arena. I am a bit doubtful, but it's intriguing. I made the drive from Pittsburgh to see the Ice Miners a few times this past season. They really put on a great overall experience in an otherwise limited facility, and it's especially a good crowd if the rival Johnstown fans are in house. The attendance is obviously bad and because of the size of the town I'm not sure they could get it much higher. The fans they do have are pretty dedicated though and I'd hate to see them lose their first ever hometown team. But if someone were to own both the rink and the franchise, the costs might be so streamlined that attendance might be nearly irrelevant. If not, it would definitely be a great market for a Tier III team.
Looks like the NAHL finally announced that the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights are officially on board for next year. They're actually acquiring the dormant Dawson Creek franchise, and not one of the rumored active franchises.
The owners already own their arena, so this is likely how they can manage to remain financially viable despite being in the shadow of a pretty successful AHL side. Interesting in light of the rumor that an interested buyer of the Keystone franchise only wants the team if they can buy the arena too.
Another note about Keystone: not only are they not the franchise on the move here, they're specifically referenced as though they're staying put. The NAHL press release speaks of how the WBS Knights will make three Pennsylvania franchises as it joins Johnstown and Keystone. Is another announcement forthcoming?
http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=14771
The owners already own their arena, so this is likely how they can manage to remain financially viable despite being in the shadow of a pretty successful AHL side. Interesting in light of the rumor that an interested buyer of the Keystone franchise only wants the team if they can buy the arena too.
Another note about Keystone: not only are they not the franchise on the move here, they're specifically referenced as though they're staying put. The NAHL press release speaks of how the WBS Knights will make three Pennsylvania franchises as it joins Johnstown and Keystone. Is another announcement forthcoming?
http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=14771
And now another move-- this time with an active franchise, and not necessarily one of the ones expected to shift.
NAHL confirms the Soo Eagles will be moving to Middletown, NJ to become the New Jersey Titans.
http://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=14789
NAHL confirms the Soo Eagles will be moving to Middletown, NJ to become the New Jersey Titans.
http://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=14789
Lewiston, Maine will not have a team this year. we will have a Tier 3 team in the NA3EHL, but the owner decided not to take a team here for the NAHL. Hopefully we will get one in the next season.
Yeah, I see the Junior Hockey News has reported this now. Probably a good decision. If they can get ownership straightened out for Keystone, and the relocated teams in Wilkes-Barre and New Jersey are successful, there will be a decent division foundation with returning Johnstown.
After a season with that base, they can add Lewiston and hopefully some franchises in between. With the FHL getting the boot from Danbury, you have to imagine the NAHL is eyeing up the arena there. If the FHL also loses the Watertown Wolves there would be a freshly renovated arena there. Jamestown's NA3HL team has also done remarkably well and could be thrown in. Could Pegula's Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo work? Or the Penguins' Iceoplex training center in Washington, Pa that will be without a tenant this summer? The NESC in Marlborough, MA? Conway Arena in Nashua? Notre Dame Arena in Berlin, NH?
My favorite location that would never maintain attendance but would just be awesome to have in a league: the historic Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, NY. Who wouldn't be tempted to buy a jersey of the Lake Placid Miracles or at least make a road trip to see a game there?
NESC is owned by the Junior Bruins owner and Harborcenter as an OJHL franchise that does well, those two will never go NA despite being good enough arenas for the league. No clue how many seats are at Conway but they do have an NA3E team
Nuch3232
Registered User
Hearing now Rio is closing up to head to Aston, PA. The Ice Works Arena. I believe a local JR team skates out of there.
JungleJON
Registered User
- May 10, 2011
- 306
- 10
They were given a 48 hr. extension to find a new owner to keep them in Rio Grande. Nothing reported since.
I'll be at Middletown (NJ Titans) tomorrow for the day. Fairly big East Coast showcase, maybe an indicator for how many they can draw for a big junior game?
Have also been told that at least one other team in the NY metro area has spoken with the NA. Could possibly be 5 or 6 teams in the NA East Division.
Have also been told that at least one other team in the NY metro area has spoken with the NA. Could possibly be 5 or 6 teams in the NA East Division.
SemireliableSource
Liter-a-cola
What do you think the NAHL out east will do the USPHL Premier out east? The USPHL % actually is equal or edged out the NAHL in college D1 commits this year. Most likely because there are so many NA teams-but do you think this will have any effect on the USPHL Premier?
