CHL v. ECHL Series

[chlfan]

(Posted this on the thread re: Colo/OKC attendance by ACsurfan, but it's a little off
that topic, so starting anew.)

A CHL v. ECHL matchup would be interesting. Specifically, would
like to see a series of the the Ray Miron President's Cup champs v. the Kelly Cup champs. Thoughts on this competition? Would this be evenly matched each year,
or would there be domination by one league's champs? Are there enough fans who
would care enough to make it a successful, special, post-season series?
Or, just impractical or not desired by league mgmts (costs/too late/player availabilities/league regs/marketing considerations)? Just an idea discarded long ago?

CHL this year: Eagles, 'Bugs, 'Kings, and Bucks all fine and tough.
One of them would likely be our entrant. (Blazers good as usual, too, though.)

ECHL fans: What're your odds-on favorites for the Kelly and thus a 2007 imaginary dance partner for the President's Cup winner? (Maybe not enough ECHL folks here in CHL space to weigh in.)

(ACsurfan: AC Boardwalk Bullies- R.I.P.)

[ACsurfan]

Yeah...Atlantic City was a great franchise! The Boardwalk Bullies played their home games at historic Boardwalk Hall situated right on the famed AC beach. The Hall was also the home of the Miss America pagent, a Beatles concert as well as the Democratic Convention in '64. I believe the first indoor football game ever was played there as well...

The Bullies part of the nickname was in honor of the famous Broad Street Bullies, a nickname given to the great Phila Flyers teams of the 70s.

I believe it was 2004 when AC won the ECHL Title. Attendance in the 11,000 seat arena was sparse although enthusiastic ... especially when the Trenton Titans came to town. Although, I remember one game at Convention Hall when over 9,000 fans showed up. One advantage the Bullies had was opposing teams often got distracted by the AC nightlife and it showed on the ice the next day...

[ECHLfan]

But don't think it will ever happen. The CHL ends it season earlier than the ECHL. Plus not too many of the upper crusts (mgnt.) would go for the idea.

Hard to tell who will win the ECHL this season. Alaska has a good team as well as Las Vegas, Idaho, Bakersfield, and Fresno. On the other coast, you have Toledo, Dayton, Cincinnati, Florida, Charlotte, Gwinnett, Texas, and S. Carolina.

Would like to see Bakersfield or Fresno against Dayton or S. Carolina in the finals.

In the CHL - GO MUDBUGS!!!

[chlfan]

Yes, the end-of-season disparity hinders things. ECHL reg season goes to Apr 7,
when CHL will be into end of first round of playoffs. CHL done before ECHL
finals. Maybe players no longer under contract for '06-'07 seasonal play.
Also, maybe neither league wants to contribute to the promotion of the other.

'Bugs and Eagles down to the wire in the point totals to
be the Governor's Cup winner. 'Bugs have a tough one tonight in Memphis, but
they're on a roll. Eagles looking for some payback for the Sundogs since their
last meeting when the Eagles were short-benched. Go Eagles!

[n2pux]

you probably are aware of this ...but it was actually done six years ago.

the old west coast hockey league, which was absorbed by the echl (alaska, bakersfield, fresno, idaho, long beach, & now-defunct san diego were all wchl), & the chl (pre-wphl merger) played inter-league series during the 2000-2001 season. they played during the season & the games actually counted in the regular season standards. they did 2 games in each team's barn.

we were season ticket holders for the wchl phoenix mustangs that year (their last) & saw them play a series against the san antonio iguanas (replaced by the ahl rampage). even though the 'stangs were defending league champs, they were awful that year. probably the worst in the wchl. and the iggies were always a pretty solid chl club. but it seems like phx dominated s.a. nonetheless. i know they did win both games in phx & i think at least one in s.a., maybe both. i don't remember if one league dominated in the other series like that one. seems like the wchl had the upper hand though.

both leagues are much bigger now, after the mergers. i don't know the nuts & bolts of the salary caps & such. i know both leagues have nice cities & both have somewhat unsavory cities. i would guess they probably have moved closer together talent-wise in the last few years.

as far as what i've seen this season in person, i'd have to go with the "e" this year. saw two impressive teams from the echl, texas wildcatters & florida everblades, split a pair in texas over christmas. also saw texas just run the phoenix roadrunners out of the arena here in phx about a month ago. i've also gone to several of chl arizona sundogs games. they are a solid, scrappy team with a great crowd & nice new barn. but texas & florida may have been the most skilled teams i've ever seen at the "double-a" level. arizona would have a tough time with either. but they could probably handle phoenix. a chl sundogs vs. echl roadrunners could be a fun match-up to see ...& very do-able geographically.

but since both leagues are so much bigger & so much more spread out geographically than they were six years ago, fans get a lot more variety than they used to. and other than a couple of exceptions, there wouldn't be many natural rivalries. so although i'm all for it, i would be surprised to see it happen again.

it is great being within a quick drive of both leagues though. i'm looking forward to yuma & bullhead city joining the chl. seems like tucson could be good fit for the ahl too. but now i'm getting greedy!

[radiodavel]

I live in Rockford Illinois home of the IceHogs and I also do some player recruiting work with ECHL, CHL, UHL and SPHL...so I keep an eye on a lot of players that cross-over from one league to another...here at Rockford we get a lot of former ECHL players who do well and than some that have moved on to the CHL and ECHL, those players do well when they leave the U...G -Ron Vogel played for us last year and helped Corpus Christi make the CHL playffs this season...Steve Martinson who is our present Coast did very well in the both the ECHL and the old WCHL at San Diego, here at Rockford he has averaged 45 regular season wins (Hogs had never done that before), won the West Div last season but no U title yet...those type's of comparisons give you some idea of how teams might do against each other...plus a coach like Martinson able to put together great teams..by the way, here is a rumor for you Martinson to coach Chicago Hounds next season..plus the rumors of some U teams ending up in the ECHL, might know more after the Board meets on April 12th

[Nikola_Tesla]

I live in Rockford Illinois home of the IceHogs and I also do some player recruiting work with ECHL, CHL, UHL and SPHL...so I keep an eye on a lot of players that cross-over from one league to another...here at Rockford we get a lot of former ECHL players who do well and than some that have moved on to the CHL and ECHL, those players do well when they leave the U...G -Ron Vogel played for us last year and helped Corpus Christi make the CHL playffs this season...Steve Martinson who is our present Coast did very well in the both the ECHL and the old WCHL at San Diego, here at Rockford he has averaged 45 regular season wins (Hogs had never done that before), won the West Div last season but no U title yet...those type's of comparisons give you some idea of how teams might do against each other...plus a coach like Martinson able to put together great teams..by the way, here is a rumor for you Martinson to coach Chicago Hounds next season..plus the rumors of some U teams ending up in the ECHL, might know more after the Board meets on April 12th


Rockford homer! You're still the Komet's lil red headed step brother. Your playoff road will end in Fort Wayne. :D :D