State-of-The-League Address

[HockeyFan70]

Now that we are well-into the season I would like to hear what fans have to say about their teams. I would like to hear local rumors and conversations, ideas and thoughts as to how the UHL moves forward. Anything anyone wants to say really. I especially would like to hear from fans in Port Huron, Flint and Elmira. Thanks for any input guys and have a great Holiday Season!

[sportsguy12]

Now that we are well-into the season I would like to hear what fans have to say about their teams. I would like to hear local rumors and conversations, ideas and thoughts as to how the UHL moves forward. Anything anyone wants to say really. I especially would like to hear from fans in Port Huron, Flint and Elmira. Thanks for any input guys and have a great Holiday Season!

Anybody hear anything on the move to the AHL? I'd say the UHL has definitely put itself on more solid footing. Although they need to decide what geographic base they want. I think Elmira should be let go and have them move to ECHL.

[HockeyFan70]

Geographically, Elmira is a good fit for the ECHL. But it has been said that the ECHL refuses to work with the AFR family because of their poor track record as owners. The UHL might be the only league that will have them.

[sportsguy12]

Geographically, Elmira is a good fit for the ECHL. But it has been said that the ECHL refuses to work with the AFR family because of their poor track record as owners. The UHL might be the only league that will have them.

the ECHL won't work with the Afr family, but how much $ can you lose before you throw in the towel. I mean there aren't many prospective cities in the east that aren't in the ECHL or AHL.

Williamsport is supposed to be building an arena, Lehigh Valley already threw in the towel. Maybe Utica or Lowell (if the Devils move to Newark)?

[BreakersFan]

Utica has already lost 2 UHL teams. Word on the in the crease boards is that the U is looking at Jamestown, NY and still Williamsport to give the Jackals a bit of travel relief.

[freddypuck]

Well we have a couple of rumors floating around here.

the only one I can get any trusted info on is Indianapolis. looks like something pretty solid going on there. Maybe K-wings move, new home for Motor City or Rockford. I do know that the city, the league and Kzoo management have been talking and passing proformas, business plans and budgets around.

Heard the Afrs are doing the same old stuff in Elmira. Why has Robbie Nichols taken over coach? bet its money and Dr. Afr doesnt want to pay the 2 salaries. Also heard they are playing money games with a couple of the foreign players. Taking advantage of the language barrier.

My call for 2007

Elmira Out
Kzoo moves to Indianapolis
Rockford Sells to the City
Flint Out

2yrs Uhaul is out of Business

[patmc16]

new home for Motor City

The new owners of the Motor City franchise seem pretty serious about having the team play next season (see the thread "Motor City Mechanics"). I received my second call from the team today. With the holidays, I haven't been able to get back with them but plan on doing so soon. From what I have heard, they have set up a temporary office in a trailer outside the State Fairgrounds arena and are setting up appointments to meet with former and potentially new season ticket holders. The number that I received the call from came up as "Cameron Hockey" on my caller id. Ron Cameron is the new owner.

[heavesrock]

Apparently an ECHL team might be put on Long Island to go with a new arena that would also be home to the Strong Island sound basketball team.

[sportsguy12]

Well we have a couple of rumors floating around here.

the only one I can get any trusted info on is Indianapolis. looks like something pretty solid going on there. Maybe K-wings move, new home for Motor City or Rockford. I do know that the city, the league and Kzoo management have been talking and passing proformas, business plans and budgets around.

Heard the Afrs are doing the same old stuff in Elmira. Why has Robbie Nichols taken over coach? bet its money and Dr. Afr doesnt want to pay the 2 salaries. Also heard they are playing money games with a couple of the foreign players. Taking advantage of the language barrier.

My call for 2007

Elmira Out
Kzoo moves to Indianapolis
Rockford Sells to the City
Flint Out

2yrs Uhaul is out of Business

of the Jackals is now the assistant coach. So he is still there. Sounds like he didn't have an assistant and might have been overloaded.

[sportsguy12]

Apparently an ECHL team might be put on Long Island to go with a new arena that would also be home to the Strong Island sound basketball team.

... I heard it's going to open right away they finish the ones in Burlington and Reno that they've been working on forever and a day. They're supposed to go ECHL too.

[HockeyFan70]

the only one I can get any trusted info on is Indianapolis. looks like something pretty solid going on there. Maybe K-wings move, new home for Motor City or Rockford. I do know that the city, the league and Kzoo management have been talking and passing proformas, business plans and budgets around.

My call for 2007

Elmira Out
Kzoo moves to Indianapolis
Rockford Sells to the City
Flint Out

2yrs Uhaul is out of Business[/QUOTE]

Do you think the UHL has any chance of strengthening itself if Indy joins the league and Motor City comes back? You would have the core of the league within three states. I remember the Komet-Ice games of the IHL and they were always good. If the UHL folds do the stronger teams join the ECHL?

[Dilbert]

Indianapolis? Would they pull a Cincinnati and have 2 teams. I dont think the Ice would leave the USHL. From what Ive heard is that the Ice owner is happy with JR league hockey in INDY and does not want to go back to Minor pro hockey

[BreakersFan]

Well we have a couple of rumors floating around here.

the only one I can get any trusted info on is Indianapolis. looks like something pretty solid going on there. Maybe K-wings move, new home for Motor City or Rockford. I do know that the city, the league and Kzoo management have been talking and passing proformas, business plans and budgets around.

Heard the Afrs are doing the same old stuff in Elmira. Why has Robbie Nichols taken over coach? bet its money and Dr. Afr doesnt want to pay the 2 salaries. Also heard they are playing money games with a couple of the foreign players. Taking advantage of the language barrier.

My call for 2007

Elmira Out
Kzoo moves to Indianapolis
Rockford Sells to the City
Flint Out

2yrs Uhaul is out of Business

No way Kzoo moves to Indy because the UHL is blocked out of Indy by the current USHL lease there.

Flint is prbably toast - it was a surprise they returned for this season and attendance has been ven worse.

Rumor has Elmira being sold and moved to Missouri after the season is over.

Motor City will return and play in the fairgrounds.

So at this point, I'd put money on qo teams in 07-08: Flint and Elmira out, Motor City and Missouri in. Rockford to the AHL is anyone's guess.

[freddypuck]

I don't know about the USHL and Indy. All I know is that a source that works in the league and close enough to the action to know, told me that Indianapolis is being looked at and budgets and pro-formas have been shared.

Motor City is going to fail at the fairgrounds, not really hockey country, level of neighborhood.

I can't see elmira losing hockey, my bet is ECHL

Flint is definitely done unless they get another deep pocket to fall into the franchise.

Port Huron won't make it long term.

The Hounds attendance is a joke. I've seen more people at a high school game.

The owners of Rockford made a big mistake not taking the offers made to them.

Freddy's deadpool

Flint - dead
Elmira to the ECHL
Chicago - dead
port huron - one more season at best

I also think other cities will look elsewhere when they see just how bad the league situation is. If they wanted to play in my city, I'd have to see some certified financials of the league and its member teams. Too many cities left holding the bag in the league's last 10 years. I'd wanna talk to Utica, Richmond, Roanoke, Glens Falls, Kansas City..... I think its something like 14 teams folded in the tenure of the current commissioner.

The league teams are worth 500K at most on a good day. The league itself isnt worth crap if you average out the teams. a franchisee hasn't paid more than 100K in years. most deals are set up with payment plans and since the teams fold within the first 2 seasons, they never pay the installments. UHL will be defunct when all of the bad business practices that exist catch up to them and the next couple of teams fold at the end of the season. The only poissible chance to save the league is to have a new Commissioner before next season.

[HockeyFan70]

Has anyone seen the statement made by Brosal concerning expansion? I'd like to know which Ohio-Valley cities he is talking about. If anyone knows please fill-me-in. Thanks for all the info and please keep it coming.:mrgreen:

[sportsguy12]

Has anyone seen the statement made by Brosal concerning expansion? I'd like to know which Ohio-Valley cities he is talking about. If anyone knows please fill-me-in. Thanks for all the info and please keep it coming.:mrgreen:

They were courting Allentown and even had a name (Lehigh Valley Xtreme) and they've granted a team to Williamsport, if they ever built an arena. However, Allentown may be thinking the bigger AHL now since they got a Triple-A baseball team.

Columbus was a flop in the UHL. If Cincinnati folds up shop, the UHL might move in. There's an arena in the Cleveland suburbs where the Barons played a few times when their arena wasn't available. It seats very few people.

[killer kaminski]

This is from Andy Strickland, his word is gospel to hockey fans in St. Louis. It's from Monday so it may already be a done deal in time to announce at the all star game.
About halfway through the article.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=4713