Likelihood of a CHL "Premier League"

[Frankenrogers]

What would you think the likelihood of a new junior league starting up to compete with the existing CHL leagues? I'm thinking more of a league of 6-10 teams with the strongest franchises. With a smaller pool the idea is that the league would be stronger. Any thoughts?

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[Pilky01]

I hate the idea of a competing league, but I would love to see some sort of "Champions League", or generally some sort of Cup style, single elimination tournament that runs throughout the CHL season (think FA Cup).

However I am pretty sure logistics make it pretty much impossible. These teams don't have the money to be regularly flying across the continent for a single elimination game tournament.

 

[Frankenrogers]

I really like that Champions Cup idea. Would be neat if they filled out the fourth spot in the Memorial Cup.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Seems about as likely as the USHL getting an invite to compete for the Memorial Cup, tbqh.

 

[goldengladiator]

better idea:
get rid of the regional leagues and create a soccer-style relegation system with 3 leagues of 20 teams. The top 10 of division 1 stays there, bottom 10 drops to d2, top 10 d2 move up to d1, bottom 10 d2 drops to d3, top 10 d3 move up to d2, bottom d3 stays d3. Host city and 3 division winners play for memorial cup

 

[Raimu]

better idea:
get rid of the regional leagues and create a soccer-style relegation system with 3 leagues of 20 teams. The top 10 of division 1 stays there, bottom 10 drops to d2, top 10 d2 move up to d1, bottom 10 d2 drops to d3, top 10 d3 move up to d2, bottom d3 stays d3. Host city and 3 division winners play for memorial cup

as previously mentioned, 3 words, location, location, location.

Halifax will never be in the same division as Vancouver. Doesn't make any logistical sense.

 

[Prairie Habs]

better idea:
get rid of the regional leagues and create a soccer-style relegation system with 3 leagues of 20 teams. The top 10 of division 1 stays there, bottom 10 drops to d2, top 10 d2 move up to d1, bottom 10 d2 drops to d3, top 10 d3 move up to d2, bottom d3 stays d3. Host city and 3 division winners play for memorial cup

Enjoy riding the bus from Halifax to Vancouver because these teams don`t have the money to fly.

 

[PCSPounder]

Since the WHL flies teams for the championship series, I wonder if the way to reformat the Memorial Cup is as follows:

(1) Secure TV rights and a better sponsorship in order to afford flights.

(2) Double round robin with the three champions.

For as much "heat" as I've read about the automatic slot for the cup hosts and the related troubles selling tickets, it seems this could be a better answer.

 

[Rocko604]

Enjoy riding the bus from Halifax to Vancouver because these teams don`t have the money to fly.

Vancouver does.

Since the WHL flies teams for the championship series, I wonder if the way to reformat the Memorial Cup is as follows:

(1) Secure TV rights and a better sponsorship in order to afford flights.

(2) Double round robin with the three champions.

For as much "heat" as I've read about the automatic slot for the cup hosts and the related troubles selling tickets, it seems this could be a better answer.

Don't teams already fly to the Memorial Cup?

As for the host slot and not selling tickets, it might be more difficult in some markets to sell tickets without the host team. Take Vancouver for example. Highest selling Memorial Cup, IIRC. But take the Giants out of it, and you probably only get 6-7000 max for Medicine Hat, Plymouth and Lewiston.

 

[VictoriaJetsFan]

Split the WHL into 2 leagues, a prairie and a BC/US league. Have 12 teams each. Move a moribund OHL team to Nanaimo, Winnipeg or Thunder Bay. 4 league champs play for the mem cup.

 

[andpro]

This is a terrible idea for many reasons.

First and foremost the CHL is a developmental league, relegation/ promotion works well for professional league, but this kind of system would not work well for a league that focuses on development. you would have a lot of players opting to play NCAA and staying in Europe rather than play for a second tier team that would stunt their development.

Not to mention all of the small town teams that thrive off of local rivalries would suffer, interest would go down in these markets and a lot of the little guys will fold.

I say keep it the way it is, although the occasional (like once or twice a year per team) interleague game would be cool to see and may work.