Oh yeah kids, death has been busy the last two weeks, just waiting for the right time to pick off the Port Huron Fighting Falcons. Whew, I bet those people are glad to be out of there.
I mean really, what brain surgeon thought that Port Huron would ever be a good market? Its surrounded by the OHL, and has an NHL team an hour or so away. Ummmmmm yeah, lets not forget that the economy in Port Huron isn’t what anyone would call strong. Sure, they got some good hockey fans out there, but if they want junior hockey they go to Saginaw, Plymouth, Sarnia or Windsor to get their fix.
Lets face it, Port Huron is a minor pro hockey market. Always has been and always will be. Maybe they can get a CHL team or something.
But hey, here comes Connellsville Pennsylvania. Got to say, the arena looks pretty spiffy, and being so close to Johnstown should make for a real nice rivalry. Not to mention, Pittsburgh is less than an hour away and has a pretty damn good hockey community. I think there might be some pretty good fans there since the Penguins only sell out every game and you cant find a piece of advertising space available in their arena.
Rumors are already spreading that Jamestown might now make a return being only a few hours away from Connellsville and Johnstown. They got a NA3HL team for next season and if things go well, it could open up the east just a little more for the NAHL.
Hey, speaking of things dying off, I wonder how the good ole Federal Hockey League is doing these days! HA HA HA So much for that team in Connellsville eh boys! Might make just a little more sense to join the ranks of junior hockey huh?
Can you imagine Danbury, Dayton, Danville in one of the junior hockey loops? Notice I left out that Thousand Islands team? No one wants to go to Watertown NY and freeze their ass off for a whole season.
So who’s next kids? Already hearing some Tier III teams are so desperate to sign players that they are offering deals on the spot to kids who haven’t played at the AA level! But hey, who cares right boys? You got your expansion franchises and now its time to sell the dream. Yep, everyone can play some level of junior hockey now.
But hey, don’t follow the USHL who only expands when they feel the market can support the level of play. Don’t follow the NAHL who stopped expansion in order to keep the player market stable. Nope those leagues, even though they are the most successful development leagues in America, they don’t know what they are doing do they? Take a lesson kids, you don’t reinvent the wheel as long as the wheel is working.
How about this new Colorado league? Smack dab in the middle of the WSHL footprint, and surrounding the USA Hockey offices. Think that wasn’t a strategic move?
Looks like a busy summer boys and girls, there’s no way there are enough Tier III players to pay to support all these new teams. Got my shovel and the dirt is thawed, bring on the bodies!
David Wagner – The Angel Of Death – For Those Who Live Stupidly I salute You
*The Death Pool is a mix of comedy, and satire in connection with recent events. It is not an official report of current events although it may look as though the news is so accurate that it could one day happen or may be happening
