Standards. The North American Hockey League, and USA Hockey claim to have such a high set of standards for Tier II operations that they allow only the best operations to exist within their framework. Unfortunately since the Eastern Hockey League left USA Hockey in 2022, the standards for operating at any “Tier” within USA Hockey are no longer published in the annual guide.
When no one has access to a list of standards, then of course no one knows exactly what they are. If not publicly available, standards are subject to change or to be manipulated to suit anyone’s current needs.
Tier II standards have until now always been very clear. No players pay to play, and families were only responsible for paying billet or living expenses. Arenas were also required to have a minimum of 1500 seats.
Those “standards” were public, and everyone in hockey knew what they were. Owners, players, parents and coaches alike could always look to them publicly to measure any team or league.
The funny thing this year is that the Maine Nordiques are being allowed to survive and relocate to Auburn Maine. Why thats funny is that it has taken the ownership group a month to pay off what they owed the Auburn arena, in order to keep the NAHL from getting more egg on its face in regard to the franchise.
Another funny thing is how the NAHL and NA3HL are being sold a bill of goods that will likely come back to haunt them.
Darren Anderson the owner of the Nordiques NAHL and NA3HL franchises also owns the NA3HL Carolina Rage. Unfortunately for Mr. Anderson, the NAHL and NA3HL he has just received another lawsuit for six hundred and fifty thousand dollars from the person he bought the Carolina Rage home arena from.
The Limited Liability Company tree Mr. Anderson has formed is extensive. Attempting to hide behind these companies and limit his personal exposure. This lawsuit though in Greenville is different, and will likely pierce the corporate protections Anderson has been hiding behind. When over, the results could prove devastating to all three teams and to both leagues.
The lawsuit, which is publicly available, not only claims non payment, but claims the defendants made false and misleading statements in order to receive the financing for the arena. Suddenly I am reminded about how President Trump was treated when similar accusations were made.
This lawsuit is said to be one of many more that are heading in the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. I wonder if these will be taken into consideration when looking at the “standards” the NAHL, NA3HL and USA Hockey selectively apply to operators?
Whats more poblematic for the NAHL is those pesky standards are not being applied equally. But being honest they have never been applied equally.
The arena in Auburn has roughly 800 seats. Not even close to the old standard. The NAHL is completely aware that Shift Sports as an ownership group is about as reliable as a spounge is to stop a flooding river. But, they cant allow the team to fold due to PR, and the Andersons are willing to do anything to have their son in the NAHL.
But, it gets better. Remember those standards now. Those same standards that the NAHL, USHL and USA Hockey used as the reasoning behind not letting the NCDC within the Tier II sanctioned family start with most of the NCDC arena sizes. Standards. Use them one day, and dont use them the next.
How about the Colorado Grit? A team the NAHL allowed to go dark for this year also asked for permission to relocate, and the NAHL denied them permission earlier this year. Those pesky standards you know.
Not that we are unhappy to see more free to play hockey, because we are very happy these players arent getting screwed.
Think about this for a minute. Everyone in hockey knew the Nordiques owed money everywhere. Everyone knew they were operated like a lemonaide stand. Everyone knows about multiple lawsuits against the ownership group in South Carolina. And yet this has been allowed to drag out for over a month.
Now you will have an NAHL team playing in a recreation arena, or one that is suited for Tier 3 teams, and has had multiple Tier 3 teams fail. And that team is right down the road from a competing team at the Tier II level, in the building they used to play in. Brilliant operating strategy there.
News flash. Lewiston/Auburn is not big enough to host two Tier II teams. And if by any chance the NA3HL keeps a franchise in Auburn as well, this likely only means a short delay in moving the Nordiques out of the area. If anyone had any real standards, this show would have been stopped a month ago.
Stick around though, this issue is long from over, and what happens in Maine, will effect what happens in South Carolina with the NA3HL Rage.
