2017 was a very exciting year. We had an ass load of expansion following the winter meetings last January, and that really set the tone for the rest of the year.
It all started with the ill fated Independent Junior Hockey League. Independent but claiming they would be under USA Hockey. Yes. That made so much sense. About as much sense as a couple of kids as owners and league officials. A few months after announcing the entire league was gone.
No Tier III league was immune from the plague that killed off teams. It spread quicker than you can say “lets expand again next year”! Ha Ha Ha
The USPHL, EHL, and WSHL all lost a few teams. They all lost some teams that needed to go away anyway. The CPJHL killed off a half dozen teams on their own.
The RMJHL was its usual bad self. Again unable to actually put a complete league on the ice. But USA Hockey just lets them keep plugging away with players who cant make AAA rosters! Indeed, nothing says development but openly admitting that AAA hockey was too good for many of the players in the league.
Then we have the “G” Show. The good old GMHL. The laughing stock of all junior hockey. Laughing stock of all junior hockey because its not at a level you can call junior hockey. This shit show is so bad someone needs to just make it disappear. The hockey world would be a better place without it.
The surprise of the year?
The NA3HL. The league where most dreams go to die. It looks like parents and players finally figured out that the few teams that do move players on to higher levels do not represent the entire league.
The marketing plan of trying to get people to believe that a few teams success represents the entire league has failed. So what’s next? If you guess more expansion, you are a genius! Yep, more bullshit being flung against the wall for 2018.
How about that super awesome NAHL Prep league being proposed? Like anyone thinks that the NAHL/NA3HL/NAPHL needs more influence in hockey? Yeah, not so much.
But hey that “Tier III A” idea being proposed by the same group is sure great! Really? We all still want to know what moron came up with that idea?
Nothing says “money grab” like more pay to play expansion. Its all about the kids though. Right?
We set the over under on teams folding at 28 and blew that number away with 36 teams hitting the shitter in 2017! Now that is what I call an exceptional year!
So, I would like to thank all of you for sticking around this year. Its been great. But 2018 is shaping up to be even better. With more expansion on the minds of nearly every league, we are sure to be pretty damn busy next year.
Before I go though. All of you need to come back on Monday January 1st, 2018 for some exciting news we have been following up on. We are going to start the new year off in a good way with this news. Go figure its just in time for those good old USA Hockey meetings in Orlando!
Happy holidays everyone!
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.
