Youngstown leaving?

[djchuckc]

Now that the season is wrapping up, does anyone have any scoop on if Yougnstown is leaving the league for sure or not? Do we know of any teams looking to join the league that are currently in a different league? If the IHL has teams in trouble, maybe we can get the ones that are fiscally sound.

[903]

The Youngstown team will be in place next season, and it looks like it will be with the CHL. Season tickets for next season are now being sold.

The owner has been looking at other leagues secondary to several legal disputes between the franchise and the CHL, but nothing has come out as of yet to indicate a move to another league, at least for next season.

[mvred]

I don't know where you heard or saw they were selling season tickets, but rest assured, sparring anything drastic, the Steelhounds will NOT be in the CHL Next year. Tonight they lost to the Eagles 1-0, which ended their season. At the end owner Herb Washington said "Next year, we will win a championship, in whatever league we will be in."

Washington can not stand the CHL, and even held up a sign tonight that said REFS SUCK, and at the same time signaling the Holding Sign, only worse; which is not the nicest thing to signal to the refs.

Washington is pushing for the ECHL. So we shall see if he gets in... He has tried all season long to reach a deal, we will find out in the coming weeks.

[mvred]

From the Youngstown Vindicator SUNDAY:

YOUNGSTOWN — Following the SteelHounds’ season-ending loss Friday at the Chevrolet Centre, owner Herb Washington said he intends to send a team onto the ice this fall.

For now, he’s not exactly certain what league the SteelHounds will be a member of for 2008-09.

“In all likelihood, it’s going to be CHL [Central Hockey League],” Washington said after the SteelHounds lost 1-0 to the Colorado Eagles in Game 5 of their best-of-seven series. “The CHL voted a union in, the players voted a union in — I don’t know that is going to affect things for next year. That vote was recently taken so we have to see what takes place.

“At this point, we are proceeding [that we] will be playing in the CHL next season.”

Asked what would be the ideal situation for Washington’s team, the owner responded, “Less travel.”

The SteelHounds have been members of the CHL for three seasons. Most of the teams in the league are in Texas and its neighboring states.

Youngstown is the only CHL team in the Eastern Time Zone. The team closest to the SteelHounds is the Mississippi RiverKings who are based not far from Memphis, Tenn.

“It’s definitely grueling,” said SteelHounds coach Kevin Kaminski whose team set a CHL road record with 19 victories. “Our guys were road warriors. The guys found a way [to win].”

The CHL’s parent corporation is Global Entertainment, the former manager of the Chevrolet Centre. Last fall, Global and the city of Youngstown agreed to dissolve the management contract.

Last fall, Washington said he had made inquiries about joining the ECHL (another Double A hockey league formerly called the East Coast Hockey League).

The ECHL has teams across the country but the eastern teams don’t play western squads during the regular season.

Among the nearby cities with ECHL teams are: Wheeling, W. Va.; Johnston, Pa.; Dayton; and Cincinnati. Toledo will return to the ECHL in 2009.

Kaminski estimated the SteelHounds could save $200,000 by switching.

“That’s a huge difference for the owner,” Kaminski said. “And you’re home a lot more with your family.”

Another possibility is the International Hockey League, formerly known as the United Hockey League.

The six-team IHL has teams in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. In 2007, the UHL had 10 teams before two folded and one joined the ECHL.

In June 2007, the CHL and UHL explored merging, a sequence that would have given Youngstown rivals much closer to Ohio. But merger talks collapsed.

Washington was careful not to mention the ECHL when questioned about changing leagues.

“We need less travel,” Washington said. “If we could get in, we would jump at the opportunity.”

Before the SteelHounds could switch, the CHL owners would need to release the team from its league commitment. Anything is possible now that Global no longer has a presence here.

Both the league and Washington say they have unresolved money issues.

“They would probably be happy to let me go,” Washington said.

The CHL provides money to the teams who travel to Youngstown so the league would save thousands of dollars if the SteelHounds were released.

Washington suggested that the deadline for announcing a move would be February.

But the CHL owners will gather in early June for league meetings. The schedule for next fall is finalized after those meetings end.

Washington said he’s very pleased with the results Kaminski has achieved in earning two playoff appearances.

This season, the SteelHounds went 39-20-5 for 83 points, the fourth-best record in the league.

“I’m very proud of how our team has improved and [with] the competitiveness of our team,” Washington said. “The product is a very good product. I’m extremely pleased with how out guys have played and the job that the coach has done.”

By going 5-1 down the stretch against the Laredo Bucks (Southeast Division winner) and Eagles (Northwest Division winner), the SteelHounds earned the third playoff seed.

But even though they had more points than Colorado, the Eagles had home-ice advantage in the series.

The SteelHounds couldn’t hold a 4-2 lead in Game 1 in Colorado, losing 6-4. They lost the next two games (5-0, 4-1) before rebounding for a 5-2 win in Game 4.

“Next year, we will bring you a championship in whatever league we’re in,” Washington told fans following the 1-0 loss on Friday.

“Every season, we’ve gotten better. We will continue to do that because of the kind of coach we have and the kind of team [we] will put on the ice.

“I just as that you bring one more person with you next season when you come to the games,” Washington said.

Washington spoke to the team following the loss. Captain Chris Richards said Washington “didn’t enlighten us on what’s going on for next year.

“He thanked us for the good year, saying he was proud of the way we played, the way we hustled.”

[djchuckc]

That would be unfortunate if they pulled out, but the CHL has seen several teams come and go over the years. They averaged 3,333 this season in attendance. Not great, but could be worse. It does make more sense for them to go play in the IHL or the ECHL as far as the travel aspect goes.

[mvred]

That would be unfortunate if they pulled out, but the CHL has seen several teams come and go over the years. They averaged 3,333 this season in attendance. Not great, but could be worse. It does make more sense for them to go play in the IHL or the ECHL as far as the travel aspect goes.

The attendance was low for a couple of reasons; the big one was this:
1. Competing head to head with local high school basketball games, including tournament games.

But remember, tentatively, the NAHL Phantoms are merging with the Steelhounds, that is 1000-1200 additional season ticket holders/fans that could come to the games. The goal for the Hounds next year should be to get 4000+ to the games... That is definitely possible considering the merger that should take place.

[903]

mvred,

I assume you were at the last game in Youngstown also since you mentioned the sign that Herb Washington was holding up, and his speech at the end of the game. It was a good game, but an unfortunate loss.

I was there and I was glad that Washington addressed the fans, because they are in fact selling season tickets for next season. I'm ready to renew my tickets for '08/'09, but I wanted some type of reassurance as to what level of play will be in place before I renew, regardless of which league. And it appears at the moment that the league will be the CHL. I would be happy with any of the three "AA" leagues, although for the financial health of the team, I agree that it would only make sense for Youngstown to be in the ECHL or the IHL because of the travel issues. Time will tell.

And I still wonder if there is any possibility of a merger between the CHL and the IHL. There's been a lot of discussion amongst the fans on sites like this, but I've never seen any official comments from the leagues. Is anyone aware if there ever has been any actual discussions between the leagues?

[mvred]

I would not mind a merger of the IHL and CHL; that be a lot nicer than what we have now. Remember Herb Washington was promised that additional teams would be added closer to Youngstown; and so far none really ever have.

The IHL would do just that and make travel a lot easier for the Hounds.. Keep your fingers crossed it will be the ECHL man!

[djchuckc]

903 -

The CHL and IHL were working on a deal last year, it fell through at the last hour. From my understanding the IHL walked away from the table. I have it on pretty good authority that the CHL will not approach the IHL again, however they would be open to discussions if the IHL approached them. It would be a bonus for both leagues I think. The six teams or so in the IHL hae to be tired of playing the same teams over and over again.

[mvred]

A 6 team league seems rather silly. If I were an owner of a team in that league, I'd got to be wondering what the hell I was thinking. The teams that have good financial backing in the IHL need to join the CHL. Youngstown needs to do their all to get into the ECHL, but if they can't; the CHL better help them and the rest of the league out by creating a TRUE Northeast Division!

[903]

I don't think that I would like only six teams either.

But an interesting note is that the NHL went something like thirty or forty years with only six teams. It wasn't until the late 1940's (I don't recall the specific year) that they expanded beyond the original six.

[rams80]

I don't think that I would like only six teams either.

But an interesting note is that the NHL went something like thirty or forty years with only six teams. It wasn't until the late 1940's (I don't recall the specific year) that they expanded beyond the original six.

Try 1967. The depression cut the league down to Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, New York Rangers, Detroit, and Boston, and it stayed that way until the 1967 "doubling" expansion of St. Louis, Minnesota, Oakland, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.

[mvred]

Breaking News:

Mr. *********,

The ECHL membership for 2008-09 has already been determined.

It does not include the Youngstown Steelhounds, and the ownership has not applied for a membership in the ECHL.

Thank you for your interest in the ECHL.

Regards,

Jack Carnefix

[djchuckc]

Hmm..looks like the Steelhounds, Icebats and Ice Rayz are all not playing in the CHL this year. Here is the scoop on the Steelhounds:

’Hounds scramble to find a league

Published:Wednesday, June 4, 2008

By Tom Williams

Owner Herb Washington and the Central Hockey League have been at odds over money for some time.

YOUNGSTOWN — A day after the Central Hockey League delivered a bodycheck to the Youngstown SteelHounds, ownership began scrambling to find another league for the 2008-09 season.

Monday night the CHL announced that the SteelHounds “are no longer participating in the league,” which came as surprising news to coach Kevin Kaminski and general manager Joe Gregory.

Owner Herb Washington has not responded to phone calls requesting an interview. Neither has Duane Lewis, the CHL’s senior vice president of operations.

Washington and the CHL have been at odds over money since the team’s first puck drop in October 2005.

Last fall, Washington said he had paid his expansion entry fee (believed to be $500,000) but still owed money to the league. He said he hadn’t paid it because he believed the league owed him for travel expenses.

Neither Washington nor the CHL are discussing economic specifics.

In November 2007, Washington, citing travel expenses as his motivation, said he made inquiries about joining the ECHL, which has teams in Wheeling, W.Va.; Toledo; and Johnstown, Pa.

Most of the CHL teams are located in Texas, Colorado and Oklahoma. Both are considered the equivalent of AA leagues in baseball’s minor leagues.

If the SteelHounds take to the ice in October, most likely it will be with the six-team International Hockey League, which was known as the United Hockey League until spring 2007. It’s also considered a AA-level league.

Paul L. Pickard, IHL president, said Tuesday he and Washington have spoken about the possibility of bringing the team into the league for the 2008-09 season.

Pickard said he is trying to set a date for a visit here.

“Youngstown would certainly fit into our business model,” Pickard said. “We will do what we can to try and accommodate them.”

The IHL has four teams in Michigan (Port Huron, Flint, Kalamazoo and Muskegon). The other cities are Bloomington, Ill., and Fort Wayne, Ind.

The IHL web site has posted a 2008-09 schedule.

“There is a lot of due diligence, but it’s not like they [SteelHounds] are an expansion team,” Pickard said. “They’re a franchise with a track record and are an up-and-coming team.”

Pickard said he’s proceeding slowly.

“We try to act with the utmost integrity, so out of respect to the other leagues nothing has been decided,” Pickard said.

The IHL league meetings are set later this month.

Kaminski coached a Missouri team for two seasons in the UHL.

“It’s more of a veteran league,” said the SteelHounds coach who just completed his second season here. The SteelHounds qualified for the playoffs both years.

The CHL permits each team to carry up to four players age 26 and older. Kaminski said he thinks the IHL allows each team to have seven veterans.

He described the level of play in the IHL as “a little more old school with clutch and grab style. But it’s very good hockey.”

Should the SteelHounds join the IHL, Kaminski said the older SteelHound players from last season would be more interested.

Younger players with dreams of playing regularly in the AAA-level American Hockey League would be better off in the ECHL because those clubs have affiliations with National Hockey League teams.

SteelHounds goaltender Andy Franck, this season’s co-Most Valuable Player, said he “was a little shocked” at Monday’s announcement.

Franck, who lives in Lakewood, wouldn’t rule out playing for the SteelHounds again, but said it’s too soon to make a decision.

After a terrific start with the SteelHounds last fall, Franck was called up by the AHL’s Providence Bruins where he went 7-1 before returning to the SteelHounds.

“Hopefully, my performance up there stirred up some interest in me from some of the teams I played,” said Franck, 26. “If that doesn’t happen, anything is possible.”

Franck said he signed with the SteelHounds two weeks before last October’s training camp. He said most AA players ink deals in later summer.

Right wing Mark Odut, who lives in Manitoba, said he learned about the CHL’s move from defenseman Adam Smyth, who had signed a contract for next season.

“Adam said the CHL notified him that his contract ‘has been suspended,’ ” said Odut who played for Kaminski in the UHL before joining the SteelHounds in 2006-07. “It’s quite strange.”

Defenseman Jeff Alcombrack, who suffered a concussion in late January and missed the rest of the season, prefers the SteelHounds join the ECHL.

“I was hoping to stay another year in the CHL,” said Alcombrack who added that he enjoys living here. “The league has been good to me and gotten a lot better.”

Alcombrack, 28, is concerned because the IHL does not play with NHL rules.

“You can clutch and grab, you’re allowed to hook,” Alcombrack said. “It strikes me as more of a fighting league, rather than run-and-gun.”




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[SeaToby]

I think Youngstown is too far from the rest of the CHL. And with the CHL heading westward, its too far for bus rides from the rest of the league. I believe the Ice Rays were saved by a new owner. Only Austin and Youngstown will shut down this year.

[Geoff]

You're right but those are obvious observations and we knew about Austin and Youngstown. Not to be rude, but there is no need to bring up a topic when the last post was almost 3 months ago.

[SeaToby]

Why doesn't the Youngstown franchise move into the ECHL instead? And why haven't the Michigan IHL merged with the ECHL either? Same for the CHL?

[Hockey]

This guy has a good idea, someone email all these teams and just tell them to merge. They probably never thought of it before.

[Geoff]

I'll get right on it.

[rams80]

Why doesn't the Youngstown franchise move into the ECHL instead? And why haven't the Michigan IHL merged with the ECHL either? Same for the CHL?

Egos, the ECHL doesn't want these teams, take your pick.

[nksports]

The CHL took a look at merger, but backed off.

[djchuckc]

From my understanding the UHL and the CHL were at the table and a deal was ready to be put in place and then the UHL decided to become the IHL. The last I heard the CHL had no plans to look at the "I" again.

[Pounder]

...and I believe all this transpired too late for the ECHL to consider Youngstown for this season. Keep an eye out.