And I'll preface this by saying I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone yet this week, so this is probably incredibly stupid of me to post about yet, but it won't be the first time or the last. ;)
Here goes: I really don't think as much is happening with this as a lot of people think. I think the CHL and the IHL are talking, but not about a merger but more of an association. I think they are trying to work out a way to play some inter-league games against SOME of the CHL teams located in the Midwest (Anyone remember the old Eastern League in the early 1960s?), but the IHL is still going to be around in the same format it has been the last three years and there won't be an official merger. Why do I think this? It really doesn't make any financial sense for it to be anything more than that for either league. What does either side gain from a merger other than being able to say they added teams? Nothing, really, and that's not good enough to gamble in this economic environment. As I reported two weeks ago, the IHL was already considering cutting the number of vets and the salary cap, which I still think will happen. I also think the IHL will play 70 games. These discussions have been going on forever, and there was no reason for the IHL to announce 70 games then if they weren't going to play 70 games.
I'm wondering if a lot of fans are trying to put 2 and 2 together and come up with 6 because they want the IHL to fail. I'm not convinced a merger with the CHL answers any of the problems the IHL or the CHL has, though. Right now, I don't see another better option which makes as much sense financially than for each league to stay where it is and experiment with this a little.
When the Komets announced their season-ticket package for this season, they also talked about the possibility of a champions playoff series against another leauge, which was one of the reasons given for tightening the schedule. I wonder about how and if that would work. Would fans in anyplace else but Fort Wayne and Colorado pay for this? Would it mean as much to the players as going for their regular league title? Would this be something that the fans care a lot more about than the players, sort of like an all-star game? Does that diminish the league titles? Would you drive to Port Huron or Flint or Bloomington to watch those games if the Komets were not involved?
Hopefully we'll find out a lot more definitive answers this week.
Comments
Welcome back, Blake! Hope you got a lot of R&R, 'cause you're gonna need it with all this banter going on!
Welcome back, Blake.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I wish someone would get out in front of this and make an announcement so that people paying for season tickets would have some sort of idea whats going on. The timing of all the rumors picking up isn't that great for the Komets. I don't know if the rest of the IHL teams have deposit deadline approaching or not.
I think any deal with the CHL is silly for the Komets. I see the benefit to QC and Bloomy. And really the remaining 3 teams don't have the attendance to justify a "AA" franchise. It sure would make a lot more sense for the Komets to go to the ECHL, QC and Bloomy to the CHL, and Flint and PH to the NAHL or another jr league... I just don't see Dayton being a franchise that can sustain itself.... but then again, why would any of them do anything that makes sense?
So do we play dayton, port h. in tha FHL??????
Here's what out in cyberspace:
1. Bloomington has also moved back thier early bird cutoff date...
2. A reliable source has passed along that its a done deal, that 4 IHL teams (from what he's been told) are going to the CHL and they are: Dayton, Fort Wayne, Quad City, Bloomington.
3. Sounds like they were unable to secure new ownership for Flint and Port Huron has accelerated talks with the NAHL. Could see Mr. Kinney involved somewhere else at some point...
4. If rumors are true we could see some K's brass traveling to Arizona for the CHL meetings this week....
Whatever happens we should be hearing something really soon due to the fact that the new early bird date is Friday... I am really looking forward to the announcement because from what we're hearing in cyberspace this could be the first step towards some very big and logical happenings in minor league hockey... More and more people are coming together and talking which is positive for all fans of minor league hockey, IMO....
BTW, There is alot of good information out there in cyberspace if you take the time to read up if fans are so inclined. Blake's blog is one of many good sites to obtain information about the IHL. FYC is a great source of solid information and would invite Blake or anyone else to check it out who have the time to visit...
What is FYC?
FYC is a message board/hockey blog that is a great source for information, conversation, rumors from many different sources in many different forums for IHL hockey, Juniors, ECHL, NHL, etc... Good overall site for sports lovers (especially hockey).
If Blake gives his blessing, I'll give the address... If not, can you give RunningKomet my new email address I have listed now Blake??? Thanks!
Sure, go ahead, JR.
Welcome back, Blake.
I agree with what you printed in your third paragraph. There are people out there who can't wait for the IHL to fail. I just don't understand them and couldn't disagree with them more. I also agree with your question involving why this would be of any real benefit financially to anyone.
As proof, I offer these posts which I hope will prove my personal feelings of the proposed merger, affiliation, agreement, or whatever this process is.
"Tailing The Komets" (Which was the best team?)- one post on 5/27, and one post on 5/29.
"Ice Chips" (Thomas, Ramsey: Product would be similar)- one post on 5/31. (Don't call it a merger)- four posts , two on 5/28 and two on 5/29. (ECHL appears out)- two posts both on 5/27. (I have a theory)- one post on 5/26.
For the most part in each I have questioned the common sense used in such an arrangement, but more importantly I have been consistant in holding that all of this means nothing, just pure conjucture from everyone until there is a hard, fast agreement. Let's just be patient and see what the outcome is.
Then, and only then, will we be able to make an intelligent decision on the effect it will have on Komet hockey and the fans.
I am grateful for the supporting remarks by HitSomebody, Chuckitt, mitebite, and Ashley regarding the various posts.
Sometimes it is nice to hear that others feel that your remarks are worth reading.
I'm locked in for next year, no need for me to wait, Komet hockey will be back and thats all that matters to me. i would drive to Flint, they have good Chili and cookies.
Did the FYC replace the O.H.I.C.?
Thanks Blake... Welcome back.
RunningKomet: finishyourcheck.com Good reading for minor league hockey enthusiasts.... I think you'll enjoy it!
Burgee, I understand your attempt at a joke at FYC's expense; but it has some solid membership that include; but not limited to agents, GM's, journalists, scouts, etc... Makes for some good and thought provolking discussions....
Thanks for posting that Blake- hope you enjoyed your vacation. Now back to dealing with us... LOL
I'm also locked in for next year, as long as the K's don't go juniors I'm fine. I don't want to start a whole discussion about how juniors is good hockey, it just doesn't sound like something I'd be interested in. Can't bring myself to heckle a bunch of kids who aren't even getting paid.
I had an interesting weekend unintentionally touring some of the current and former IHL cities. We drove past Kalamazoo on our way to the races this weekend, then on the way home my boyfriend decided to go home a different way and missed our exit. We drove around Flint and I thought we were gonna end up in PH before we managed to make our way back to 69. I so wished I had some Komet stickers to slap on the KZoo highway signs...
Alan: I understand what you are saying about waiting and being patient. I think more people would do so if they weren't trying to decide what to do concerning season tickets. It'd be like buying a car on ebay and having the seller tell you "I'll give you a description of what you're getting after I have your money, but I guarantee you it will still be some form of a car." Are we talking Ford or Ferrari? Air conditioned or not? Working heater? Power windows?
And yes, I do know there are those out there who will pay out the money as long as the people on the ice, no matter what level they are, have an orange K on their jersey. However, I think that number is going to begin to decrease as those who have "always had season tickets" get longer in the tooth. I'm still in the "younger" crowd and a lot of people I know aren't into paying over $600 just for hockey entertainment. There are a lot of other ways to be entertained. Those who are willing to buy season tickets because they want to see high-level hockey care enough about what they are watching to want to know exactly what level they are going to be seeing before shelling out the cash. There are a lot more rumblings in the stands by people who get tired of watching the same 5 teams play each other over and over than you think. I know a couple people on here can come on and say "I'm happy just playing those teams and I'll still buy my tickets even if there are only four teams," but they are in the vast minority, at least from how it sounds with those I sit around and talk to.
These are pretty tough times and I'm glad I don't have to make the decisions. I don't know that I agree with the statement about an agreement not happening because it doesn't make financial sense though. How many times has it been written on here that nothing in minor league sports makes sense, why would this be any different?
Five Minute Major, I gotta tell you I laughed out loud when I read your last sentence. Your heart is definitely in the right place.
patience is a virtue and the frankes always told us they had a plan to reorganize aa hockey but there are a lot of egos involved and slowly some of these people are comming around. like i said before maybe we need to go to chl for a couple of years and wait for the rest of aa hockey to wake up or maybe for the nhl to wake up and see that following baseballs feeder system is a money maker and a more sensible way of doing minor league business! time will tell who is right or wrong, i just want komet hockey
I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I think its going to take a lot more than the Franke's to "reorganize AA hockey".
Dang, JM, you just leave me a line like that sitting there to tee up.... You're lucky I just got back and I'm feeling mellow or your butt would land about three counties over.
Chuckitt - So the Frankes have a plan...so what? What influence do they have beyond the "I" that would help them accomplish it? And, beyond their primary AHL affiliations, the NHL doesn't really do minor league business, so it's not obvious why they should expend effort or $$ to help rationalize the AA leagues. The most common path for an NHL player is from Juniors or college to the "A" or straight to the show. I would venture an uneducated guess that less than 20 current NHLers have any ECHL/CHL/IHL time on their resumes. So why should the NHL care?
Tee it up, i'll clear the way..... F O R E
Dang Blake!
How dare you take a vacation! How dare you not beat down the Frankes/Frankees/Frankys/Frainkes door demanding answers? Don't you know you are expected to be on top of things 24/7? Don't you know it is your fault that no announcement has been made because you were not reporting last week?
Blake I really think you must take a look at your life and your priorities and ask yourself if taking a vacation is something you should EVER do again....
This message brought to you by the members of A.O.O.L.B.A.F
(Association Of Other Lame Blogs And Forums)
Oh....and to all the Franke haters on this forum and others....if you aren't smart enough to spell their name correctly, you probably aren't smart enough to know how to get on the escalator to get to the arena anyway so your loss of season tickets won't matter.
I thought Blake's first post was going to be a "Settle down folks" post w/ my name on it. Good to have ya back Blake.
The only way that this CHL thing makes sense at this point, especially w/ only 4-5 IHL joining the ranks, is to go under that company's name to get visa privileges to allow imports (meaning Canadians, etc) to play in the IHL. I don't want to see just a CHL association, then where are we? The same IHL w/ one less team.
Runningkomet, you, my friend, are a frickin genius! Excellent post. Burgee, why do I see brown letters when you type?
Horribly said Mr Snuff, horribly said. More attacking of the people that don't agree w/ your views.
Blake, assuming that being called a jerk would hurt my feelings is an assumption that shouldn't be made. :-) That being said, feel free to take the shot... I rarely want to beat anyone up for what they say on a hockey blog, unlike some others (see above).
Really, we can all argue about this CHL thing, but until someone actually tells us for sure whats going on, its kind of pointless.
SPORTS BULLETIN
This just in : The IHL , CHL & ECHL have just merged to form the ICEy Hockey League.
It will feature such teams as the Allen TX Eagles, Bakersfield CA Condors , and the Kalamazoo MI Wings !
WEST DIVISION
Alaska ( ECHL )
Victoria BC (ECHL )
Stockton CA (ECHL)
Utah (ECHL)
Bakersfield CA ( ECHL)
Las Vegas (ECHL)
Colorado ( CHL )
Arizona ( CHL)
Rapid City SD (CHL)
Idaho (ECHL)
CENTRAL DIVISION
Missouri (CHL)
Wichita (CHL)
Tulsa (CHL)
Mississippi (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport ( CHL)
Odessa (CHL)
Allen (CHL)
Texas (CHL)
Laredo (CHL)
Rio Grande Valley (CHL)
MIDWEST DIVISION
Ft. Wayne ( IHL )
Bloomington ( IHL)
Quad City (IHL)
Toledo (ECHL)
Cincinnati (ECHL)
Kalamazoo (ECHL)
Ontario ( ECHL)
Port Huron ( IHL )
Dayton (IHL)
Wheeling PA ( ECHL)
EAST DIVISION
Charlotte (ECHL)
Greenville SC (ECHL)
South Carolina - Charleston SC (ECHL)
Guinette GA (ECHL)
Florida (ECHL)
Elmira NY (ECHL)
Reading PA (ECHL)
Trenton NJ (ECHL)
keep dreaming komethockeyluckynumbersouvineerprogram
Chaulker, thanks for reading ;)
click tools.
click internet options
click colors
deselect brown and select orange.
F O R E
also, i am in no way affiliated with or have merged with A.O.O.L.B.A.F.
At least we know who Snuffy is.
Nope still, brown.
I'm surprised you guys aren't all over Blake for talking about this, he didn't have one source in his post.