Monday 2 July 2012
Swift Current to Penticton
Swift Current to Penticton
The Broncos play in the smallest markets in the CHL. You blink and you miss the city or town of Speedy Creek. They are hockey mad but is that enough to keep the team? Financially they are struggling. Look at a place like Penticton. Brand new large arena. Population base to support the team. The only deciding factor would be the Kelowna Rockets and territorial rights. But a team in Penticton would do better than most of the cities that already have teams. I am sure the city of Swift Current could get a SJHL team. But the Broncos do have a great history. Won the Memorial Cup. The legendary Burnaby Joe played there. But then there are some bad blemishes too. And unless you do not know what junior hockey is you should know this. I won't go there.
Go to a V's game. The atmosphere is amazing. Basically for this post you could substitute Penticton with Vernon also.
Kootenay Ice to Wenatchee
Kootenay Ice to Wenatchee
The Wenatchee Wild of the NAHL get almost 3,000 fans a game. And that is for hockey that is elite Junior B to be nice to that league. (people will say its junior A but it really doesn't look like it). Wenatchee tried to get into the BCHL this season. Wenatchee would fit in great in the American division with it being central to Spokane, Seattle, Everett, and Tri Cities. From what I hear too the fans are insane there for the wild. WHL would flourish in Wenatchee. (pictured below)
But then what would Cranbrook get for hockey? With KIJHL teams a dime a dozen and too big of an arena for just Junior B. The city of Cranbrook should get a BCHL expansion or an AJHL expansion team. Or even in a scenerio which the NAHL probably isn't too keen on with their shitty history of Canadian teams the old Wild franchise. But with all the travel of going to California, Alaska, ect. The team wouldn't last long ask the citizens of Dawson Creek. So wake the fuck up Cranbrook and start supporting your team.
Prince George To Nanaimo
Prince George to Nanaimo
The Prince George Cougars. Probably one of the worst franchises to play in at a players stand point of view in the whole CHL. Your closest team is Kamloops a 5 hour bus trip away. Edmonton is close but not in their division. How the Cougars survive there is beyond me. I spent some time in PG and the BCHL's Spruce Kings got almost as many fans as the Cougars. The Cougars could leave PG and I highly doubt many of the citizens would care. Sure the BCHL is a step below the Cougars as of level of play. But the Spruce Kings still seem to be loved in PG. I am sure every other team in the BCHL would love to see the Spruce Kings fold or move also especially with Quesnel having moved to Chilliwack. But if one hockey team were to go it would be the Cougars over the Spruce Kings.
But where would the Cougars move to. There are many choices but for a scenerio of this story lets say they move to Nanaimo. This would return the Cougars back to the island (their original home being Victoria) Give the Royals a team close, which would be a great rivalry. Move the Clippers to Quesnel.
The Clippers have one of the better attendence in the BCHL and have the population base to host a WHL team easily. The Clippers going to Quesnel is one suggestion as Williams Lake had issues with the BCJHL in the past and Dawson Creek is just way too far.
The Cougars have been on the rumor mill for a long time about moving. It is almost to the point where it isn't if its when.
The WHL Expansions and Relocations
The WHL Expansions and Relocations
If the WHL were to relign its divisions, move franchises, or expand here are a few lists and ideas I have came up with. Note* These are just suggestions and ideas alot of shit thrown up in the air. Some of the ideas are fucking outrageous and would never work. But I thought I would just dick around with scenerios and get some input on to what others think, the negative and the positive.
As the articles go on I will post the links to the posts that I write them about as there could be endless opportunities. Please comment on the articles as you see fit.
2012 NHL Draft WHL
2012 NHL Draft WHL
In the 2012 NHL draft 32 players from the WHL were selected. 6 In the first round. A few major surprises in this whole ordeal for me watching it and I will go through them here. The top 4 picks were pretty much as I along with the others that I was watching the draft with suspected. I personally thought Reinhardt was ranked too high but when Bob McKenzie says someone is going 4th overall I usually have to go with what BMac says. Before the draft Yakupov was pretty much a lock to go first. I figured Murray would go second. Galenchuyk at 3rd due to the Montreal factor made sense. It is tough for me as the only viewing or opinions that I have of prospects outside of the WHL come from Youtube, TV, and hearing shit on the internet and we all know if it is on the internet it must be true.
In the 2012 NHL draft 32 players from the WHL were selected. 6 In the first round. A few major surprises in this whole ordeal for me watching it and I will go through them here. The top 4 picks were pretty much as I along with the others that I was watching the draft with suspected. I personally thought Reinhardt was ranked too high but when Bob McKenzie says someone is going 4th overall I usually have to go with what BMac says. Before the draft Yakupov was pretty much a lock to go first. I figured Murray would go second. Galenchuyk at 3rd due to the Montreal factor made sense. It is tough for me as the only viewing or opinions that I have of prospects outside of the WHL come from Youtube, TV, and hearing shit on the internet and we all know if it is on the internet it must be true.
Ryan Murray going second overall was great for Columbus as many feel he will step in right away. With the fourth pick by the Islanders we knew it was happening. But I still think that there was much better talent out there than Reinhart with that pick. I watched Reinhart numerous times over the last 2 years and I watched Dumba numerous times. I would of taken Dumba. Reinhart is good but Dumba has more of an upside to him. Dumba I think will also mature into a better player. He reminds me a lot of Phaneuf at that same age.
Morgan Reilly was hurt most of last year so I never seen him when he came into town. I believe Pouliot was taken too high. I still think Pittsburgh should of went and took Girigenko with that pick. Henrik Samuellson could prove to be a steal having daddy help you along the way doesn't hurt either.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)