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My Stanley Cup Runneth Over

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Re: My Stanley Cup Runneth Over

Becoming a Wolves fan, I've had to get up to speed myself with it.

When the IHL folded after the 2001 season, (due to over-expansion of teams, lack of solid ownership for some teams, travel costs, etc.) six of the remaining IHL teams were accepted into the AHL for the 2002 season; Chicago Wolves, Utah Grizzlies, Manitoba Moose, Milwaukee Admirals, Houston Aeros, and Grand Rapids Griffins.

There seems to be some animosity from AHL president Dave Andrews towards the IHL teams, as they've been perennial contenders for the Calder Cup ever since their joining the AHL. The IHL Six were known as running their own show and were all more concerned with winning over the AHL's philosophy of league development. There also seems to be a perceived bias by fans from the AHL league offices against the IHL teams.

The only remaining IHL franchises in the AHL are Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Milwaukee.
 
aparch said:
Becoming a Wolves fan, I've had to get up to speed myself with it.

When the IHL folded after the 2001 season, (due to over-expansion of teams, lack of solid ownership for some teams, travel costs, etc.) six of the remaining IHL teams were accepted into the AHL for the 2002 season; Chicago Wolves, Utah Grizzlies, Manitoba Moose, Milwaukee Admirals, Houston Aeros, and Grand Rapids Griffins.

There seems to be some animosity from AHL president Dave Andrews towards the IHL teams, as they've been perennial contenders for the Calder Cup ever since their joining the AHL. The IHL Six were known as running their own show and were all more concerned with winning over the AHL's philosophy of league development. There also seems to be a perceived bias by fans from the AHL league offices against the IHL teams.

The only remaining IHL franchises in the AHL are Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Milwaukee.
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IMO, I never liked AHLs expansion because it took it way out of its traditional footprint and I liked the idea of a northern eastern US plus Canada league. I liked playing against Cape Breton and both St. John teams.

I understand that needs need to be met, but it was sort of like having your own particular regional league not unlike what one sees in the CHL.

I dunno, not trying to say it should be at the expense of the remains of the IHL. Maybe had it just remained around the Great Lakes plus what was then the footprint I'd come easier to it.

Edit: the meese are gone because of the NHL. I'm suprised about Houston but at least it puts a stop to the NHL to Houston idea.
 
Re: My Stanley Cup Runneth Over

The Western NHL teams have already notified the AHL that they're interested in a Western expansion. There has been dabbling in the Western movement, with Calgary and Dallas trying to lead the charge with Omaha and Iowa in 2006. Abbotsford made a sweetheart deal with Calgary to woo the Flames affiliate to the Pacific Northwest, and other NHL teams want to follow, but cannot find willing ownership. It takes some deep pockets to fund an AHL team, add in the additional travel costs between cities and it makes owning/running an AHL team more of a tax-write off hobby for a business looking to balance their profits in another division.


An interesting twist is that in the recent CBA agreement, buried way in the back of it (I saw the chapter/verse quoted on HFboards, and now I cannot find it) that lays the groundwork for both the agreement between the NHL and the AHL, and for the NHL and a secondary minor league equivalent to the AHL (backup/alternate plan?).
 
Re: My Stanley Cup Runneth Over

Patman said:
IMO, I never liked AHLs expansion because it took it way out of its traditional footprint and I liked the idea of a northern eastern US plus Canada league. I liked playing against Cape Breton and both St. John teams.

I understand that needs need to be met, but it was sort of like having your own particular regional league not unlike what one sees in the CHL.

I dunno, not trying to say it should be at the expense of the remains of the IHL. Maybe had it just remained around the Great Lakes plus what was then the footprint I'd come easier to it.

Edit: the meese are gone because of the NHL. I'm suprised about Houston but at least it puts a stop to the NHL to Houston idea.
Click to expand...
Houston's only gone because the Wild moved the franchise to Des Moines...not that a Houston based NHL team is a good idea...
 
Re: My Stanley Cup Runneth Over

Patman said:
IMO, I never liked AHLs expansion because it took it way out of its traditional footprint and I liked the idea of a northern eastern US plus Canada league. I liked playing against Cape Breton and both St. John teams.
Click to expand...

The AHL expansion is nowhere near to the level of the ECHL -- no longer the "East Coast" Hockey League. :)

2013_14ECHLTeamMap.jpg
 
SteveP said:
The AHL expansion is nowhere near to the level of the ECHL -- no longer the "East Coast" Hockey League. :)
Click to expand...

They droped the acronym when they absorbed the old WCHL (West Coast Hockey League).


I still can't believe the Frankes family held out from joining the AHL or ECHL for so long. Fort Wayne absolutely packs their place for every game, but they refused to be part of the PHPA. So they kept the UHL together for years, created the fake IHL from the ashes of the UHL, merged the New IHL with the Texas based CHL, and finally accepted defeat and joined the ECHL.
 
Re: My Stanley Cup Runneth Over

And SteveP, the ECHL's expansion is almost as wild as the IHL (from what I've read) only the ECHL has stable ownership.

When the IHL folded, the DeVos family only could get the Griffins in the AHL, because they also owned the Orlando Solar Bears and Kansas City Blades.
 
Re: My Stanley Cup Runneth Over

aparch said:
And SteveP, the ECHL's expansion is almost as wild as the IHL (from what I've read) only the ECHL has stable ownership.

When the IHL folded, the DeVos family only could get the Griffins in the AHL, because they also owned the Orlando Solar Bears and Kansas City Blades.
Click to expand...

The franchise merry-go-round in the CHL impacted my niece's boyfriend. He was an assistant captain with the Bloomington Blaze. He played for the Brampton Battalion, so maybe he'll wind up back at the PowerAde Center with the new Brampton franchise.
 
aparch said:
And SteveP, the ECHL's expansion is almost as wild as the IHL (from what I've read) only the ECHL has stable ownership.

When the IHL folded, the DeVos family only could get the Griffins in the AHL, because they also owned the Orlando Solar Bears and Kansas City Blades.
Click to expand...
The ECHL is basically two leagues in one, the Western teams almost never play the Eastern teams and vice versa. Problem is is that they've basically hit every viable market in the West.
 
Re: My Stanley Cup Runneth Over

You think this is what mom & pops had in mind when their spent all those hours trekking their little angel to figure skating?
 
Re: My Stanley Cup Runneth Over

aparch said:
I still can't believe the Frankes family held out from joining the AHL or ECHL for so long. Fort Wayne absolutely packs their place for every game, but they refused to be part of the PHPA. So they kept the UHL together for years, created the fake IHL from the ashes of the UHL, merged the New IHL with the Texas based CHL, and finally accepted defeat and joined the ECHL.
Click to expand...

This. I grew up watching the Koments (I live about 20 minutes from the arena) and always wondered why they didnt move up if you will. I remember hearing the exact same thing about the Frankes back in like the mid-90s. It became even more frustrating when they expanded the arena to seat something like 11-12k. They were in a league where most teams were luckey to get 2-3k.
 
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