The Superior International Junior Hockey League. Not many in the United States know about it outside of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Not many want to know about it either because they do everything possible to stop their own forward progress.
A small town league based in Canada with two teams in the United States. Cold locations and long bus trips. But its cheap, and its still considered Tier II so its not all bad in that regard. And there is some talent on the teams.
But the Minnesota Iron Rangers have been an absolute disaster the last few seasons since new management took over. An absolutely terrible team on the ice competitively, and an even bigger disaster of an organization running the thing.
Ice bills unpaid, other bills in the city unpaid, you know the story. Its all been said and done before.
The real problem is, the league has been aware of this for months. The league had offers that would have turned the team around financially and with new players. But the league, for some absolutely unknown reason decided to stick it out with the current regime.
Well sticking it out with the current shit show operators, got them next to zero attendance for their big showcase. It got them scouts who showed up, leaving early. It got them angry players and parents on all teams.
From a lack of people to run the event, to teams having to commute more than an hour to hotels, to what appeared to be total disorganization. This is what the league decided they wanted to have represent them at the most important event of their season.
This league left their showcase in the hands of a team that doesn’t have a full roster at the Tier II level? They left it in the hands of a team that gives up more than 8 goals per game on average? They left it in the hands of a group of people operating the team that owe money to the arena and other vendors, knowing full well that money was owed?
Yeah, this sounds like whoever is making these decisions needs to actually learn how to run a business. This sounds like the league doesn’t know their asses from a bag of taco bell. And this is what players and parents around the league get when they entrust the league to market their skills to the next level?
This team hasn’t been competitive since the 2015-2016 season. How much time does a league give to people to put a product on the ice that actually looks like a Tier II team?
But it gets better. Multiple reports are stating that there were multiple attempts by people to take over the team. These people were allegedly denied that opportunity by the league.
Even better is that the SIHJL is planning more expansion with another group lead by someone who has already proven they cant find their ass with both hands. Yes, someone who already lead an SIJHL expansion and shit the bed.
The cherry on top though is the league has denied entry to legitimate operators with money and experience.
If you aren’t scratching your head saying “WTF?” Then you really don’t know anything about hockey.
What does the league say when we reach out to them? Here ya go:
“It has no doubt been a trying season both on and off the ice for the Iron Rangers organization, but the league is working diligently with the team’s board of directors and the SIJHL is very optimistic the long term future of Junior “A” hockey will be secure on the Iron Range for the coming years.”
Yes. The league is sure. The league has been working with the board of directors. bla bla bla
More political parlance for “Yeah, well we got these guys and we are married to them because we don’t know what we are doing, and we don’t have the balls to get rid of them.”
The Iron Rangers have been a shit show for years. This one simply needs to go away or needs some real operators. Its pretty clear to everyone except the league that this joke of an organization needs to be put out of their misery.
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.
