Atlantian
Registered User
I found this article and it looks like the FHL plans to directly compete with the SPHL
SOURCES: FHL Focus Full-Tilt Shifting South
SOURCES: FHL Focus Full-Tilt Shifting South
If nothing else, that Bus League Hockey guy sure has a lot of spunk & a lot of time on his hands.I found this article and it looks like the FHL plans to directly compete with the SPHL
SOURCES: FHL Focus Full-Tilt Shifting South
I found this article and it looks like the FHL plans to directly compete with the SPHL
SOURCES: FHL Focus Full-Tilt Shifting South
Isn't that like White Castle trying to compete with Five Guys?
based off past history of leagues/ owners? clarify the point, please....Question: There's no way Port Huron can support anything above FHL, right?
the arena itself needs structural upgrades, from what I'VE BEEN reading although Robbie Nichols has a standing offer to get a team there if that is done.... nothing I'VE read STATES the NAHL has any interest in Elmira knowing the history of how the Jackals ended or were portayed the last 5 or 6 years before their demise in 2017I also saw that article on Arena Digest. I've heard the NAHL has kicked the tires in the Southern Tier as well to relocate one of their attendance-poor East Division teams. Not completely familiar with the situation, but it would appear that there's an issue with the rink or the lease or something infrastructural that is a repelling some teams.
Having played Elmira College's D3 team this past season, their home rink (which by itself is a great barn, even though it looks like a golf ball sunk into the ground from outside) is probably 30 minutes north of the college into the wilderness even though they have this arena down the street. If the college isn't even playing games at the arena, there has to be something going on.
What I was told by the locals when I used to go up for Royals games is that Elmira College originally had a deal in place to play at First Arena, but then backed out. I don't think they ever played games there on a regular basis, so the fact that they aren't there now isn't due to the current state of the arena necessarily.I also saw that article on Arena Digest. I've heard the NAHL has kicked the tires in the Southern Tier as well to relocate one of their attendance-poor East Division teams. Not completely familiar with the situation, but it would appear that there's an issue with the rink or the lease or something infrastructural that is a repelling some teams.
Having played Elmira College's D3 team this past season, their home rink (which by itself is a great barn, even though it looks like a golf ball sunk into the ground from outside) is probably 30 minutes north of the college into the wilderness even though they have this arena down the street. If the college isn't even playing games at the arena, there has to be something going on.
What I was told by the locals when I used to go up for Royals games is that Elmira College originally had a deal in place to play at First Arena, but then backed out. I don't think they ever played games there on a regular basis, so the fact that they aren't there now isn't due to the current state of the arena necessarily.
I believe the biggest issue with the building is replacing the ice making equipment. There were problems with the ice during the last season of the Jackals. There are other smaller issues too, but fixing or replacing the ice making equipment would probably be enough to get a team in the building.
Ideally I would love to see Single A hockey at 16 teams max, in only one league. Play would be almost all within your division with the conference winners facing off in the finals and having one league creates a uniform salary cap and set of rules for Single A hockey. No more expanding to community rinks (FHL) and you can look to build off the improvements in play the SPHL has seen in recent years. There is definitely a niche market for this style of hockey in smaller towns and if the league is tight knit geographically it would have a chance.
North: Elmira, Peoria, Bloomington, Quad City, Richmond, Roanoke, Port Huron, Evansville
South: Macon, Mississippi, Pensacola, Birmingham, Carolina, Fayetteville, Knoxville, Huntsville
North Backup Markets: Dayton, Chicago, Danbury, St. Charles, Jamestown, Johnstown, Lewiston
South Backup Markets: Columbia, Louisiana, Augusta, Columbus, Laredo, RGV
Your ideal plan makes a lot of sense, but when it comes to the real world leagues have to make compromises, just as you did with your north division. You say you want a tight geographic footprint, but you have Elmira with five Midwest teams and two southern teams. There isn't another team within a ten hour drive of Elmira and Richmond/Roanoke to those Midwest teams is probably a two day drive. They are both closer to all the South division teams than they are to the north teams.Ideally I would love to see Single A hockey at 16 teams max, in only one league. Play would be almost all within your division with the conference winners facing off in the finals and having one league creates a uniform salary cap and set of rules for Single A hockey. No more expanding to community rinks (FHL) and you can look to build off the improvements in play the SPHL has seen in recent years. There is definitely a niche market for this style of hockey in smaller towns and if the league is tight knit geographically it would have a chance.
North: Elmira, Peoria, Bloomington, Quad City, Richmond, Roanoke, Port Huron, Evansville
South: Macon, Mississippi, Pensacola, Birmingham, Carolina, Fayetteville, Knoxville, Huntsville
North Backup Markets: Dayton, Chicago, Danbury, St. Charles, Jamestown, Johnstown, Lewiston
South Backup Markets: Columbia, Louisiana, Augusta, Columbus, Laredo, RGV
That redevelopment plan has been bouncing around Richmond for many years. It's still a long skate from RFP to replacement.... on a related note, it seems Richmond is ready to return with a newer or updated version of the Coliseum aka "The Freezer", BUT THAT has been blocked by the Times Dispatch policy of subscriber only.....
correct, that's why there's a deadline set by Wednesday, from what I've been reading, Robbie has a standing offer to get a team back in Elmira, provided the arena is up to code from the group that bought First Arena separately and allowed the Jackals to cease ops when they did....
on a related note, it seems Richmond is ready to return with a newer or updated version of the Coliseum aka "The Freezer", BUT THAT has been blocked by the Times Dispatch policy of subscriber only.....
That redevelopment plan has been bouncing around Richmond for many years. It's still a long skate from RFP to replacement.
You've noticed that to?Apparently links are too hard...
AGAIN, Elmira newspapers/media are kinda hard to link now as is most sources behind paywalls, today.... besides I DON'T RUN THE RISK of having it go against the forum rules if it's not allowedApparently links are too hard...
BREAKING: Hockey to return to Elmira for 2018-19 season