[NEW] 2024-25 SPHL Season Thread

[JMCx4]

With closeout of the SPHL 2023-24 thread sanctioned by @CHRDANHUTCH, we can advance to 2024-25 matters. So far the new-news I’ve seen has centered around SPHL team coaching positions …

• Knoxville interim head coach Andrew Harrison stepped down

• Fayetteville head coach Ryan Cruthers left for a USHL head coaching position, and was replaced by his assistant coach Kyle Sharkey

• Quad City head coach Dave Pszenyczny is out for the sake of “a change in leadership”

ETA: Birmingham extended their head coaching pair.

ETA: QC named their new head coach, someone familiar to lingering Mallards fans.


Beyond the want ads, SPHL teams are focusing on season ticket sales & releasing home game schedule announcements & all the other usual off-season administrative tasks that leave hockey fans to their Silly Season musings. So … whaddya got?

Click to read more...

 

[GindyDraws]

Time for the Macon deathwatch, guys. Sure, Fayetteville bought 'em, but let's be real.

 

[JMCx4]

Time for the Macon deathwatch, guys. Sure, Fayetteville bought 'em, but let's be real.

Their fans don't seem concerned at this point, at least according to the F/B page.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

reminder besides the team websites for links here's the League website:

Home Page

www.thesphl.com

 

[JMCx4]

SPHL teams have been releasing their 2024-25 home schedules in advance of the League schedule ...

• (Thunderbolts) 2024-25 Home Dates Released

• MARKSMEN ANNOUNCE 2024-25 HOME SCHEDULE

• Havoc Announce Home Schedule for 2024-25 season

• Macon Mayhem Release 2024-25 Home Schedule

• ICE FLYERS ANNOUNCE 2024-25 HOME SCHEDULE

• THE QUAD CITY STORM ANNOUNCE '24-'25 HOME SCHEDULE

• (RAIL YARD DAWGS) 24-25 HOME GAME SCHEDULE

 

[I am Bettman]

Any way too early standings predictions?

 

[JMCx4]

Any way too early standings predictions?

I'm ALWAYS bad at this, so I'm ready to keep my streak alive ...

Here's the 2023-24 end-of-season rankings for reference ...

My Cut for next season ...
▪︎ Birmingham will feel they have unfinished business, and a returning coaching staff should help them. If they just make sure they finish Top 2, they should be more competitive in post-season & in a better spot to finally get their shot @ the President's Cup.
• Huntsville & Roanoke - and maybe even my '24-'25 dark horse, Pensacola - will leap frog defending champs Peoria, who will see a lot of turnover ... hopefully including a long overdue change behind their bench.
• Fayetteville is headed for a slip after losing their head coach to the USHL, and sticking with the "safe" promotion of an assistant will hurt them more than help them.
• The rest of the field will trip over one another (and themselves), and have roughly equal chances to make or miss the playoffs - though this season's #9 & #10 are more likely to remain there.

 

[I am Bettman]

I'm ALWAYS bad at this, so I'm ready to keep my streak alive ...

Here's the 2023-24 end-of-season rankings for reference ...

View attachment 880089​

My Cut for next season ...
▪︎ Birmingham will feel they have unfinished business, and a returning coaching staff should help them. If they just make sure they finish Top 2, they should be more competitive in post-season & in a better spot to finally get their shot @ the President's Cup.
• Huntsville & Roanoke - and maybe even my '24-'25 dark horse, Pensacola - will leap frog defending champs Peoria, who will see a lot of turnover ... hopefully including a long overdue change behind their bench.
• Fayetteville is headed for a slip after losing their head coach to the USHL, and sticking with the "safe" promotion of an assistant will hurt them more than help them.
• The rest of the field will trip over one another (and themselves), and have roughly equal chances to make or miss the playoffs - though this season's #9 & #10 are more likely to remain there.

To clarify, you think Peoria should move on from Trudel? Or did you mean Pensacola? 2 Cups in the last 3 years for Peoria means that Trudel will remain for a long time unless he gets a great opportunity elsewhere.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

The SPHL should pay JMCx4 for covering them in detail.

 

[I am Bettman]

The SPHL should pay JMCx4 for covering them in detail.

They can give him ownership of a Danville, IL franchise, that has to be worth at least a dollar or two right?

 

[VaCaps Fan]

He wants that…. I want security Sam’s polo shirt from the bobcats though as a collectible.

 

[JMCx4]

To clarify, you think Peoria should move on from Trudel? Or did you mean Pensacola? 2 Cups in the last 3 years for Peoria means that Trudel will remain for a long time unless he gets a great opportunity elsewhere.

Trudel, yes, though that's been my opinion for years. If you read the link I included in my prediction post, you'll see that Mr. Eminian hinted at a JGS decision point approaching. I assume that would be a full-time hockey ops management position with PEO, leaving coaching to someone whose style is less bully & more brains.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

if only the SPHL knew how to communicate to fans….

 

[JMCx4]

He wants that…. I want security Sam’s polo shirt from the bobcats though as a collectible.

Chances are all that's left would be the buttons with tooth marks.

 

[I am Bettman]

Trudel, yes, though that's been my opinion for years. If you read the link I included in my prediction post, you'll see that Mr. Eminian hinted at a JGS decision point approaching. I assume that would be a full-time hockey ops management position with PEO, leaving coaching to someone whose style is less bully & more brains.

The article seems to be referring to last may, why switch to somebody else after winning 2/3 cups in the last 3 years? He has the highest points percentage in league history so I’m not sure there are many coaches out there with more brains.

 

[JMCx4]

The article seems to be referring to last may, why switch to somebody else after winning 2/3 cups in the last 3 years? He has the highest points percentage in league history so I’m not sure there are many coaches out there with more brains.

It's one of those: "Do you use them for good, or for evil?" conundrums.

And BTW, where's your prediction?

 

[JMCx4]

if only the SPHL knew how to communicate to fans….

Have you personally experienced a communication problem with them? They let the teams handle business-fan interactions, which reduces League oversight & overhead. 2024-25 will be the League's 20th season, so they've made the model work (in large part) for a goodly amount of time.

 

[I am Bettman]

It's one of those: "Do you use them for good, or for evil?" conundrums.

And BTW, where's your prediction?

Birmingham number one for the same reasons as you.
Roanoke 2nd, champions a year ago and we know they are good.
Huntsville 3rd, I think they ride the adrenaline of the finals run and build throughout the year.
I think Peoria takes a step back without Hagaman, likely finishing 4th but I could see them finishing higher if Hagaman decides to coach and if Trudel (player) steps up.
I have no clue about the rest of the order.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Just spitballing after reading the basic website and enjoying your posts way more.

Have you personally experienced a communication problem with them? They let the teams handle business-fan interactions, which reduces League oversight & overhead. 2024-25 will be the League's 20th season, so they've made the model work (in large part) for a goodly amount of time.

 

[JMCx4]

Just spitballing after reading the basic website and enjoying your posts way more.

"Traditional web content" (aka, "websites") is used less & less to market sports at all levels. Fans prefer hot takes & quick bites of info, then move on to the next shiny thing that catches their attention. If I was in the business, I'd ditch the www. and focus my marketing $$ on whatever that week's popular social media platform was.

 

[SemireliableSource]

The article seems to be referring to last may, why switch to somebody else after winning 2/3 cups in the last 3 years? He has the highest points percentage in league history so I’m not sure there are many coaches out there with more brains.

Trudel wants to focus on the NA3 team. The plan was to have Hagaman be the assistant this past year and take the head job in 24-25. There was a change in the family situation (I think it was his wife's family?) and that's why he got back on the bench and actually retire this summer instead of continuing in coaching.