California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west?

[Rightnut]

With the announcement that 5 AHL teams will play in California next season, with a couple more likely to follow in a year or two, California is arguably the new State of Hockey. I know that will make all the Minnesotans' heads pop off but at least with regard to pro hockey, does any one state have more (8) professional teams (I haven't looked). Anyway - does all this professional hockey in California have a positive or negative impact on getting more college hockey programs in the west or is it completely a different animal so it will have no effect?

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

With the announcement that 5 AHL teams will play in California next season, with a couple more likely to follow in a year or two, California is arguably the new State of Hockey.

Yea a few AHL teams moving there will now make it the state of hockey. Yep. OK.

[SanTropez]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

With the announcement that 5 AHL teams will play in California next season, with a couple more likely to follow in a year or two, California is arguably the new State of Hockey. I know that will make all the Minnesotans' heads pop off but at least with regard to pro hockey, does any one state have more (8) professional teams (I haven't looked). Anyway - does all this professional hockey in California have a positive or negative impact on getting more college hockey programs in the west or is it completely a different animal so it will have no effect?

Warning - You have awoken something you really don't want to wake.

[Rightnut]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

Warning - You have awoken something you really don't want to wake.

Ha- I know. Was trolling a little bit there!

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

I know that will make all the Minnesotans' heads pop off but at least with regard to pro hockey, does any one state have more (8) professional teams (I haven't looked).

NY has more, currently and going forward.

NHL: Rangers, Islanders, Sabres
AHL: Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Albany, Utica, Glens Falls (obviously they will move west next year, but they are supposed to get an ECHL team instead)
ECHL: Elmira

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

With the announcement that 5 AHL teams will play in California next season, with a couple more likely to follow in a year or two, California is arguably the new State of Hockey. I know that will make all the Minnesotans' heads pop off but at least with regard to pro hockey, does any one state have more (8) professional teams (I haven't looked). Anyway - does all this professional hockey in California have a positive or negative impact on getting more college hockey programs in the west or is it completely a different animal so it will have no effect?

Even with the re-alignment, NY will have the Sabres, Rangers, Islanders (NHL); Albany Devils, Binghamton Senators, Comets, Crunch, and Amerks (AHL); Glens Falls will pick up Stockton's ECHL team, Elmira Jackals (ECHL), amongst others.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

NY has more, currently and going forward.

NHL: Rangers, Islanders, Sabres
AHL: Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Albany, Utica, Glens Falls (obviously they will move west next year, but they are supposed to get an ECHL team instead)
ECHL: Elmira

Doesn't Watertown have a team in the league below ECHL, or are we considering that a beer league?

[Tipsy McStagger]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

With the announcement that 5 AHL teams will play in California next season, with a couple more likely to follow in a year or two, California is arguably the new State of Hockey. I know that will make all the Minnesotans' heads pop off but at least with regard to pro hockey, does any one state have more (8) professional teams (I haven't looked). Anyway - does all this professional hockey in California have a positive or negative impact on getting more college hockey programs in the west or is it completely a different animal so it will have no effect?

Yes. The NHL putting 3 teams in the most populous state in the country already proved that it is the true state of hockey. The 5 AHL teams cements it. Clearly there is no state more hockey crazy than California. Just look at all 30 of the players in the history of the NHL that were born in California.

http://www.hockey-reference.com/friv...ince=&state=CA

[Rightnut]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

Yes. The NHL putting 3 teams in the most populous state in the country already proved that it is the true state of hockey. The 5 AHL teams cements it. Clearly there is no state more hockey crazy than California. Just look at all 30 of the players in the history of the NHL that were born in California.

http://www.hockey-reference.com/friv...ince=&state=CA

Its hilarious how bent the Minnesotans get. But it seems that NY has more teams so can lay claim to the title. I hereby anoint NY the new State of (pro) Hockey.

But the real point of the thread was the question about whether these AHL teams will have any impact on getting additional schools (like ASU did) to offer hockey? My guess is there is no effect although I am hoping I am wrong.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

Its hilarious how bent the Minnesotans get. But it seems that NY has more teams so can lay claim to the title. I hereby anoint NY the new State of (pro) Hockey.

But the real point of the thread was the question about whether these AHL teams will have any impact on getting additional schools (like ASU did) to offer hockey? My guess is there is no effect although I am hoping I am wrong.

Do native Californians even know that ice doesn't always come in a glass?

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

Doesn't Watertown have a team in the league below ECHL, or are we considering that a beer league?

There is a team in that Federal Hockey League... which I guess is technically a step below the Coast. Alexandria Bay had a team in the league as well until this season.

[Tipsy McStagger]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

Its hilarious how bent the Minnesotans get. But it seems that NY has more teams so can lay claim to the title. I hereby anoint NY the new State of (pro) Hockey.

But the real point of the thread was the question about whether these AHL teams will have any impact on getting additional schools (like ASU did) to offer hockey? My guess is there is no effect although I am hoping I am wrong.

It is a ridiculous premise, even if California had more teams than New York. Just because I pointed out how stupid your claim was doesn't mean I am "bent" about it. It can't even be taken seriously, how could I be mad about it?

[BigAl]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

I am a native Californian who was introduced to hockey 3 years when I started attending Quinnipiac. While it is great news that these teams are heading west we must remember there have been teams in Bakersfield and Stockton for some time now and it hasnt moved the needle much. Growing up in California I never once watched an NHL game on TV. The problem is there are almost no kids playing ice hockey. For the game to grow significantly in the state, I believe it will have to come from the bottom up. The Kings can win the Cup every two years but until there are a good amount of kids playing the sport the needle wont move much IMO

[Rightnut]

Re: California - The State of (Pro) Hockey - does that impact College hockey out west

It is a ridiculous premise, even if California had more teams than New York. Just because I pointed out how stupid your claim was doesn't mean I am "bent" about it. It can't even be taken seriously, how could I be mad about it?

Of course its a ridiculous premise. It was intended to be. That's why I said all the Minnesotans' heads would pop off. Which yours apparently has. Which shows how bent you got, which is funny. You got so upset you missed the entire point of the thread, which was about college hockey out west, which reinforces your bent-ed-ness, which is also funny. Relax, just poking a little fun. San Tropez was so right on his post!

[northeastern]

..we must remember there have been teams in Bakersfield and Stockton for some time now and it hasnt moved the needle much. Growing up in California I never once watched an NHL game on TV. The problem is there are almost no kids playing ice hockey. For the game to grow significantly in the state, I believe it will have to come from the bottom up. The Kings can win the Cup every two years but until there are a good amount of kids playing the sport the needle wont move much IMO

whole state has like 40 odd ice sheets.. that is another issue.. accessability to facilities. these teams moving out west will def help with the increase in facilities, fan base, interest as a whole.. which in term will tie into.. if you build it.. they will (might?) come. My personal opinion is California & hockey have a great future ahead.