Federal Hockey League

[Shootmaster_44]

Here's one for Big Chris. I was checking out the Federal Hockey League's website as I do once and a while and finally I found some changes on it. If you click on the camps link it says:

The Federal Hockey League will be holding two parity camps for contracted players, as well as others who may qualify, in the following cities, on the dates indicated:

Edmonton April 06, 2004 to April 08, 2004
Toronto April 13, 2004 to April 15, 2004

Players and Coaches should arrive the day before. All players and coaches are to arrive at the arena in the early morning on the first day. You will be divided into one of 3 teams identified by a FHL colored jersey. You will play 2 games per day, for two hours each.

Transportation and accommodation is the responsibility of the individual. Your ice time and a team jersey is included. Officiating will be handled by FHL referees and linesmen. Three coaches will be assigned to each team.

There will be 170 players attending both camps in total. There will be 18 coaches attending both camps in total.

Cost for attending camp is $195.00.

Didn't these same contracted players already pay close to $1000.00 to try-out for the league last fall? So by my accounts these players will have shelled out $1195.00 for a league that has yet to drop the puck.

Also when you click on the general info link on the website that page has also been updated.

We are set to begin play in April, 2004, with a target of six teams located across Canada. Teams will play a 24 game short season schedule with the league divided into two divisions: East and West.

So these guys shell out $1195.00 to play on 6 teams and participate in 24 games? Even Killbreath didn't try to run that sort of scam. I mean I hope the FHL works out I honestly do but, isn't this a huge price to pay for low-level minor hockey?[/quote]

[BigMike]

Federal Hockey League Spring Schedule

posted on SDN

[Shootmaster_44]

Former BCHL 13 year League President Ron Boileau to run the Federal Hockey League

FHL Plans short introductory spring schedule of 20 games for each of the six teams.

FHL Has following cities confirmed, Van., Edmt., Calgary, North Bay, Montreal, and Saint John N.B.

Canadian Pro Players from all over the US and Europe are signing to play in FHL Spring Season. 355 submissions to-date anywhere from 3 to 15 years Experience, including NHL.

Scott Wray and Sean Degange of the Central Hockey League Amarillo Gorillas, two North Bay Boys who also played Junior in North Bay with Bert Templeton sign with North Bay.

The team in North Bay is to be known as the North Bay Express.

Former European Player and National Coach Jiri Kazda confirms that he will own manage and coach the Express in North Bay.

FHL To run two more hockey camps for a few select juniors in April, one in Edmonton and one in Toronto. Approximately 25 spots remain open.

Arena owners and management of the Laval Chiefs in the QSPro League consider the purchase of the Montreal team and wish to establish full time Pro Hockey in The Laval Collise’

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT JOHN LARSEN @ 604 464 3579

Interesting......too bad my Saskatoon um Warriors was it?!? never came to fruition. Not to split hairs on this one but isn't this technically not a schedule? Something else I just realized if all the players that are signed come to camp each team will carry 63 players into camp. Something doesn't sound right here *shrugs*

[Big Chris]

Here's one for Big Chris. I was checking out the Federal Hockey League's website as I do once and a while and finally I found some changes on it. If you click on the camps link it says:

The Federal Hockey League will be holding two parity camps for contracted players, as well as others who may qualify, in the following cities, on the dates indicated:

Edmonton April 06, 2004 to April 08, 2004
Toronto April 13, 2004 to April 15, 2004

Players and Coaches should arrive the day before. All players and coaches are to arrive at the arena in the early morning on the first day. You will be divided into one of 3 teams identified by a FHL colored jersey. You will play 2 games per day, for two hours each.

Transportation and accommodation is the responsibility of the individual. Your ice time and a team jersey is included. Officiating will be handled by FHL referees and linesmen. Three coaches will be assigned to each team.

There will be 170 players attending both camps in total. There will be 18 coaches attending both camps in total.

Cost for attending camp is $195.00.

Didn't these same contracted players already pay close to $1000.00 to try-out for the league last fall? So by my accounts these players will have shelled out $1195.00 for a league that has yet to drop the puck.

Also when you click on the general info link on the website that page has also been updated.

We are set to begin play in April, 2004, with a target of six teams located across Canada. Teams will play a 24 game short season schedule with the league divided into two divisions: East and West.

So these guys shell out $1195.00 to play on 6 teams and participate in 24 games? Even Killbreath didn't try to run that sort of scam. I mean I hope the FHL works out I honestly do but, isn't this a huge price to pay for low-level minor hockey?[/quote]

That is pretty bad. No wonder SDN is covering it.

Frankly this league won't play a game so I wouldn't waste my time on it.

[scammedfreeagent]

I don't suppose anyone noticed that the anouncement of the signing was for 2 players that are still currently under conract and still currently involved in the on going playoffs in the CHL. I wonder if this is anythng like the signing of Brian Curran that never happened. The free agent camps were nothing as described, there wasn't even medical staff or coaches on hand. To the best of my knowledge, any of the people that were originally working out of Larsen's house have jumped ship. All the players on the site that are listed as full contract players, ask how many have seen a contract, the answer is none. There were no qualified scouts at these camps to evaluate the players. Only Jiri Kazda was there and he was running practices that a midget select team may find boring. Try calling the "office" sometime, it is an answering machine in Larsen's basement. It's really a shame, this could have been something good.

This endeavour has left a sour taste in alot of peoples mouths.

[Shootmaster_44]

Wow no wonder Saskatchewan Place wanted nothing to do with the FHL. So does anyone know if Larsen even has any legit leases in place for his 6 teams? Who even owns the team in Calgary? Where are the teams going to play? There is alot of unanswered questions. Frankly, I am not surprised. Has anyone even ever received a reply to an email sent to John Larsen? I've sent three or four messages to him and nothing. You'd think he'd get some sort of PR out about his league. My guess is Killbreath will announce an affiliation with the FHL for next season. Does anyone know if this falls under fraud laws? If nothing occurs with this league, then I want to see John Larsen arrested. I hate seeing people bilked out of money.

As for scammedfreeagent, are you going to pony up the $145 to go to one of the camps to be placed on a team? If so I would love to know at the very least what this camp appears to be like and whether the two former Gorillas actually show up or not.

[scammedfreeagent]

From what I have heard from the players I have been in contact with, the upcoming camps will only cost money for new people attempting to make their way into final roster spots and that people who have full year contracts will not be paying the fee. I am basing that on what I have heard from another player as I haven't had any contact with Larsen or his staff since September.
As far as my research shows it does fall under fraud laws. If this does not go forward, I know that I will be contacting as many players as I know that were involved in the fhl camp as possible in order to take the appropriate actions to make sure all moneys are returned to all players. The camp atendees were promised a lot of things. Players were told to consider their camp fee as an investment wich game with a garaunteed return. The minimum of wich being a 10 game replacement player contract worth $500 per game.
Again, noboby I have been in touch with has seen anything in writing in the way of a contract and most players have not heard a word from John Larsen since the September camp. The only way most players have any idea of what is going on is if they check the website to see the perpetually changing dates.

[BigMike]

That is pretty bad. No wonder SDN is covering it.

It's news a site they are not responsible for what happens

they report the news

It gives you all something to talk about doesn't it??

[scammedfreeagent]

According to the FHL web site a camp is scheduled to start today in Edmonton. Can anyone confrim if this is actually taking place or if it is just another missed date by the fhl?

[Shootmaster_44]

I suppose in a sense it is a missed date. I just checked the FHL's website and lo' and behold they have changed the Edmonton camp date to April 21 to April 23. Is there anyone who lurkes on these boards who anticipates going to the camp in Toronto on the 13th? If so I would love to hear how it goes.

[scammedfreeagent]

You can't get report from a camp that doesnt happen. I will go as far as to garauntee that somewhere between April 12 and April 14 the date of the Toronto camp will be changed on the website without any of the players being contacted. I would suspect it will be changed to the week following the Edmonton camp. Then when the Edmonton camp is set to get going, it will be pushed back until after the rescheduled Toronto camp. This will go back and forth until the FHL officially stands for Ficticious Hockey League. If a league folds in the forrest and nobody is there to hear it, does it make a sound?


Scammed

[scammedfreeagent]

It's early in the a.m. on Monday April 12, 2004. According to the website of the FHL players should be arriving in Toronto for the opening of camp on the 13th. However there is a slight problem, no players have been contacted by the league and no information has been given on where the camp will take place. I believe my previous prediction is coming to life. Perhaps in 3 days time with no information given, the date will mysteriously change in the middle of the night on the website. Sad. I wonder what happend to the 100k the free agents paid to attend the first 2 camps?


Scammed

[Shootmaster_44]

Yeah no kidding......however in Saturday's Edmonton Journal there was an article about the Federal League.
http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/news/archives/story.html?id=80866d94-0bfd-4d82-b801-249d26ea3b3c

Federal League eyes first faceoff April 29
No arenas booked, no players named, but semi-pro circuit promises spring season

Collin Gallant
The Edmonton Journal

April 10, 2004
Vicki Johnston, owner of the Edmonton Wolverines of the new Federal Hockey League, with her basset Roshi.
CREDIT: Chris Schwarz, The Journal

EDMONTON - The Federal Hockey League, which has had more game-ons and game-offs than your average street hockey contest, now hopes to drop the puck for a 20-game introductory spring season by the end of the month.

The semi-professional league has pushed back plans several times this winter, and pencilled-in openers have come and gone without players signed or arenas booked.

Now, the league still has a long way to go before April 29, when a proposed opening night would see an Edmonton-based club face Calgary on the road.

"It's as much a trial for the players as it is for the fans," said John Larsen, the league's founder and owner, who released a working schedule this week that is still subject to arena availability.

"If the short season proves to be purely average, and it doesn't look like the bang we expect, then we can all go back to our regular jobs next fall," said Larsen, a Vancouver businessman who created the league last spring.

"That's a last resort, though, but nobody's going to get buried (financially) in a short season," said Larsen, who hopes to attract fans in areas that lack professional hockey and retain players for next fall when the FHL hopes to stage a full season.

Players' names are still unavailable, but would likely arrive from other minor-pro leagues that recently completed their regular seasons, said Larsen.

Tryout camps are scheduled for next week in Toronto and another is possible for Edmonton in late April.

"I've had a lot of disappointments over the last few months, but I'm convinced that we're going to start by the end of this month," said Vicki J. Johnston, owner of the Edmonton franchise, to be called the Wolverines.

Johnston, a 56-year-old retired business and fitness consultant formerly of Drayton Valley, hopes to capitalize on the Oilers' absence from the NHL playoffs to draw fans.

Johnston has attempted to lure former NHLer Grant Fuhr to take the head coaching job and league officials are in preliminary discussions with Northlands Park to secure ice through June 30 for 10 home games and possible playoffs.

The Northlands deal is confidential on both sides, but Calgary's proposed FHL club would need to prepay between $10,000 and $13,000 for each of 10 home games to secure the 7,200-seat Stampede Corral.

"We have to have faith that we'll get people in the seats," said Johnston.

"It's early days in the business ... and if we can keep the momentum going to September, we could have a great start (to a full season) then."

At Christmas, Johnston became the league's first to own an advertised $250,000 franchise in the Larsen-owned league.

Several aspects of the deal still need to be finalized, including final cost, which Johnston says will be less than $100,000.

Larsen, whose family owns the Vancouver club, says he's found owners for franchises in Calgary, North Bay, Ont., and Montreal.

The league would control another team in Saint John, N.B.

After limited air travel, buses and rink rentals are paid for, half of any profit from the entire league would be divided by all players and coaches.

There will be no guaranteed salary in the new plan -- a minimum of $6,000 per month had been originally promised to players, who will now provide their own equipment.

Larsen, who plans to charge about $17 for a ticket, said players would earn $500 per week if average league attendance was 1,000 per night.

"I honestly feel that they'll make at least $1,000 a week," said Larsen.

The league plans to adopt most of the NHL rulebook. A single-referee system would be used, while major rule changes include no instigator fighting penalties or two-line offsides. Icing would only be called from the far blue-line and overtime play would consist of five minutes of 3-on-3 hockey, with no point awarded for an OT loss.

cgallant@thejournal.canwest.com
© The Edmonton Journal 2004

So apparently even Vicki has been kept in the dark about it. Also it appears that accredited media can talk to Larsen. Makes me wonder is Gallant somehow related to Larsen and Johnson?

[scammedfreeagent]

How does Larsen even sleep at night. Stealing peoples money and even worse crushing their dreams. It's just not right. I'd like to encourage anyone reading this who attended an FHL camp either in Vancouver or Toronto to PM me as I will be getting as many players together as I can in order to move forward in an attempt to recoup the money handed over to John Larsen under his false pretences.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Concerning the Edmonton Journal article above:

Is it just me, or do those numbers seem awfully flaky?

Fans are expected to pay $17 on average per ticket? The arena costs $10,000 to $13,000 per night (all in advance) to rent, but all you need is an average nightly attendance of 1,000 to ensure that all the players earn $500 per week?

:roll: Yeah right!

[Pounder]

Oh, Ken, ye of little faith.

Obviously, the Federal League is going to pioneer 1 v 1 hockey! :wink:

[Shootmaster_44]

Hey scammedfreeagent I have an idea.......since Collin Gallant at the Edmonton Journal is interested in the FHL, I would email him and suggest he interview you and other players bilked out of money by the FHL. If anything it would force both Vicki Johnston and John Larsen to make public statements in credible media not on here nor SDN but print media regarding your allegations. Also I would ask him since he was not willing to provide me with Vicki's contact info to act as a sort of liason between yourself and her and/or Larsen since they are willing to talk with Gallant but apparently not with anyone else. Gallant also says anyone who is wanting to contact him regarding the league can call him but since I'm gonna spare him just simply posting his number on the net. Anyone who wants it can PM me or email me at icouldbe@hotmail.com.

[scammedfreeagent]

Shootmaster -


I pm'd you

[Shootmaster_44]

Here's a semi-related article from the Edmonton Journal on April 9th I came across today.
Hardly a cash cow: Investing in pro sports too risky in Edmonton

Dan Barnes
The Edmonton Journal

April 9, 2004

There are prudent ways to spend the $21 million you will most assuredly win tonight in the Super 7 lottery draw.

Ponzi schemes. Nigerian bank swindles. Discounted Bre-X stock.

And there are risky ventures, like an ownership stake in a professional baseball, soccer (indoor or outdoor), football, lacrosse or hockey (minor pro or big league) franchise. Those are ridiculous investments and you know it. A pro sports team in Edmonton? You might as well take the fortune up to the High Level Bridge and scatter it to the wind. (Save a couple of bills for the littering fine.)

If we all know this to be true, and we do, what is it that compels people to flush their money into sports ownership? Just last week a Florida land developer named Dan Orlich forked over the $1 million US expansion fee necessary to buy a Northern League baseball franchise for Edmonton. Apparently there wasn't enough swampland available in the Everglades.

The general manager he hired, Mel Kowalchuk, said it will be "extremely difficult" to make money here. No kidding. The Northern League is a Double-A baseball loop coming to a city that has grown up on, though never really fallen in love with, its Triple-A superior. To make a modest go of it, Orlich and friends need to convince 4,700 people to spend their money at Telus Field over the course of 48 game nights in the summer of 2005. Good luck.

But that's hardly the worst of it. Somebody named Vicki J. Johnston has apparently spent over $100,000 Cdn to be the owner of the Edmonton entry in The Federal Hockey League. We say apparently because nothing about the FHL rings quite true. In fact, do not panic if you have never heard of the FHL, which ranks among the lowest of the low minor leagues. And do not be surprised if you never hear of them again. They were supposed to start up last fall and the puck has yet to drop.

But the ball gets rolling on outdoor soccer again this spring as the Edmonton Aviators men's and women's teams make a play for your pro sports entertainment dollar. The men, or Maviators as we like to call them, will play in the A-League, the Waviators in the W-League. A&W. Sounds like product placement potential.

The franchise fee paid by the team's ownership group to the United Soccer Leagues is modest, just $250,000 US and there are more than a dozen owners to share that burden. But even they aren't going to make money off the bat, because most A-League teams don't.

"Anybody who gets involved thinking it will be a money-making proposition from Day 1, it won't be early on," said Bob Lenarduzzi, the director of operations for the A-League's Vancouver Whitecaps. He's been in the pro soccer business on the left coast for 17 years, dating back to the CSL and NASL.

"We made money the first year. About $550. Every year after that we had to infuse capital. But it was never in the millions," Lenarduzzi said.

Edmonton hasn't supported pro soccer in its last few attempts but this might be different. The Aviators signed a deal with the Edmonton Minor Soccer Association that basically brought them 20,000 season ticket-holders on a silver platter. Those season passes cost just $15 a pop but the idea is to get the kids to the park where they can convince their parents to spend more money. Beyond those quasi-freebies, the team doesn't have much for real season subscribers but they haven't played a game yet. People here haven't caught Aviators fever yet.

We don't know much about them either but we do know they have signed an Italian kid named Enzo Ferrari. If director of operations Joe Petrone shows up at Aviators training camp on Tuesday in a hot, red sports car, you know why.

The reality is something less glamorous. Just ask Cal Nichols and the other 37 members of the Oilers ownership group. They're in deep. And if the NHL and its players can't reach an agreement on a new contract before Sept. 15, they won't see a game for perhaps an entire season. The owners had to come up with a letter of credit from their bank for $10 million US to tide them over if the work stoppage goes on ad nauseam. That won't be money well spent.

But they have anted up more than once to keep the team in Edmonton and altruism might just be the key to the whole ownership gig here. The Eskimos did the same to hold onto the Trappers four years ago, then sold them to a bunch of Texans last fall for the princely sum of $10.5 million US.

Just imagine how much Bre-X you could buy with that.

dbarnes@thejournal.canwest.com
© The Edmonton Journal 2004
http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=8528139c-a446-4618-b938-969ab69bcb16
See even the journalists at the same paper don't agree on whether this league will float or not.[/b]

[Pounder]

See even the journalists at the same paper don't agree on whether this league will float or not.[/b]

I disagree.

I believe Dan Barnes is a columnist, and that's an opinion piece posted here. The preachy nature of the writing is a tipoff, even if it's 92% truth.

The Collin Gallant article is basic 21st-century bare-bones journalism, written by someone asked to interview the owner and a couple others attached to the effort. Critics rarely send contact information to journalists.

Usually, when an article is written about a league starting up, it's written as "the XX league is scheduled to start up on March 45th," not "The Federal Hockey League... now hopes to drop the puck for a 20-game introductory spring season by the end of the month."

(Please excuse my March 45th crack. I posted about the Portland ABA entry on a Portland-based message board, talked about the ABA press release promising announcement of venue and details by the end of February, then I said something about it being February 75th, and I'm getting excited!)

When you're reporting on a league, and saying it "has pushed back plans several times this winter, and pencilled-in openers have come and gone without players signed or arenas booked," I'd say the author is offering a broad hint, while maintaining the semblance of impartiality that the article has to have for "journalistic" standards. Columnists writing opinion pieces aren't subject to these subtleties.

So go back and read that Gallant article. Remember that people are more likely to read the first few paragraphs than they are the last few. In that context, where do you think that article is focused?

That's your homework for today. There'll be a pop quiz on Monday. :lol:

[Shootmaster_44]

That may very well be true my point was that the Edmonton Journal has not signed on to the FHL part and parcel. I've noticed alot of newspapers will only have one opinion on certain new leagues. Especially here in Saskatoon, with the plethora of alphabet leagues that seem to arise daily in the papers. Wild Bill we hardly new ye.

On a side note, I figure this is probably a no but did anyone attend the FHL camp in Toronto that supposedly wrapped up yesterday?

[scammedfreeagent]

Shootmaster -


The camp, much like the league was a work of fiction. It did not take place and I can tell you that it will not be happening prior to the comemencement of the ficticious shortened schedule. If you'd like, you may pm me and i will go into a little more detail for you there.

[scammedfreeagent]

Apparently, there was also an article in the North Bay Nugget over the weekend about the FHL but I have been unable to obtain a copy of it to this point