brokentwigg
Registered User
Re: NHL-CWHL affiliation on the horizon
CanHock, thanks for the positive feedback (never easy to receive when what I say may come across as negative). I too believe that there is a market for a women's league...but what exactly is a "pro" league?? This league has always done well when they have played games in small centres that have an established base for girl's hockey. Usually, these games were held during tournaments or special events..and they would draw..BIG! Well, big compared to the 20 people you would see in Missy, or the 30 people in Vaughan. You would get anywhere from 900 to 2000 people at these games. There were several reasons for this with the biggest being that the CWHL was kept out of the organizing of these events!!
We look at there possibly being a "pro" league. But what exactly is a "pro" league?? Where lies the difference?? This league could have been exceptional if the right people were allowed to do what was necessary in the first year, like organizing a draft, looking to a US division and aligning with the WWHL. All those suggestions were shot down by the player board. "Pro" is just a word. What signifigance does it truly hold? It's just a word.
If you want to build a league, claim to be "Where the Elite Compete", then build it, they (players) will come and you don't need the "Pro" label affixed to it. I see this the same as the ever popular debate in ON regarding Intermediate girls hockey vs Junior Girls hockey...it's all in a name! People make the argument that junior players get paid and that is the reason why it is called junior. Junior is a classification and has nothing to do with income.
As I have said many times. At one end, you had the NWHL. At the other, you have the CWHL. Somewhere in between is the correct structure. The problem with the current format, certain players have just way too much control in the decision making process and are only now looking at alternatives because of the state of the league.
Honestly, $25 a game is nowhere near enough to attract the best players from Europe. But nevertheless, we have enough homegrown talent in Canada and the US to facilitate a wonderful product. The key is that the "leadership" correctly identify and hone in on their target market. That is something that they have failed miserably at.
Brokentwigg ah, Negative Nancy, um, Constructive Criticism Callista, ya...nice post....Spoke to the father of a top player (one of the best) yesterday and he thinks there is a market for a pro league in women's hockey. Might be wishful thinking, but I hope he is correct. He made reference to some showcase games they have had in the past. Funny, I don't remember them.
CanHock, thanks for the positive feedback (never easy to receive when what I say may come across as negative). I too believe that there is a market for a women's league...but what exactly is a "pro" league?? This league has always done well when they have played games in small centres that have an established base for girl's hockey. Usually, these games were held during tournaments or special events..and they would draw..BIG! Well, big compared to the 20 people you would see in Missy, or the 30 people in Vaughan. You would get anywhere from 900 to 2000 people at these games. There were several reasons for this with the biggest being that the CWHL was kept out of the organizing of these events!!
We look at there possibly being a "pro" league. But what exactly is a "pro" league?? Where lies the difference?? This league could have been exceptional if the right people were allowed to do what was necessary in the first year, like organizing a draft, looking to a US division and aligning with the WWHL. All those suggestions were shot down by the player board. "Pro" is just a word. What signifigance does it truly hold? It's just a word.
If you want to build a league, claim to be "Where the Elite Compete", then build it, they (players) will come and you don't need the "Pro" label affixed to it. I see this the same as the ever popular debate in ON regarding Intermediate girls hockey vs Junior Girls hockey...it's all in a name! People make the argument that junior players get paid and that is the reason why it is called junior. Junior is a classification and has nothing to do with income.
As I have said many times. At one end, you had the NWHL. At the other, you have the CWHL. Somewhere in between is the correct structure. The problem with the current format, certain players have just way too much control in the decision making process and are only now looking at alternatives because of the state of the league.
Honestly, $25 a game is nowhere near enough to attract the best players from Europe. But nevertheless, we have enough homegrown talent in Canada and the US to facilitate a wonderful product. The key is that the "leadership" correctly identify and hone in on their target market. That is something that they have failed miserably at.
