Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes… The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together…mass hysteria! – Ghostbusters (1984)
BLOOMINGTON, Ill – Yes, cats and dogs living together. The foundations of the minor league hockey world are being shaken, again. These foundations have not seen a quake such as this since 2001, when the old IHL collapsed and the CHL and WPHL merged. The sentiments of Dr. Peter Venkman and friends could easily describe the feelings of many of the fans of both the CHL and IHL as the two leagues come together for the 2010-11 hockey season.
Image Credit: IHL
The “I”
Just in case you are unfamiliar with them, the IHL arose out of the ashes of the UHL three seasons ago. Its name invokes the old, original IHL that collapsed in 2001 after 56years of operation and whose remaining teams were folded into the AHL. This version of the IHL resembles the former in name only.
Currently, the IHL is five teams orbiting the bright star known as the Ft. Wayne Komets. The Komets are one of the strongest franchises in all of minor league sports. Dayton, Port Huron, Flint, Bloomington, and Quad Cities have all struggled mightily, even before the economic collapse of Aught-Nine. The fact is, though, Quad Cities in the CHL will mean their 4th league in five seasons and Bloomington has never been given the chance to respond to a winner. Dayton needs a chance to see if the new owners can draw crowds back to venerable Hara Arena. For what it’s worth, in three seasons of play, the Ft. Wayne Komets are the only champion this league has known.
The IHL brand of hockey was a bit slower paced, with physical play valued a bit more than speed; something the fans in these mid-sized cities seemed to appreciate.
The “C”
I won’t feign in-depth knowledge of the CHL, but they’ve been a steady presence since 1992. The league was originally formed under the concept of central ownership, with six teams playing in its inaugural season. By 2001, the league had been sold and teams were independently owned and operated. That year, the CHL merged with the Western Professional Hockey League, expanding from 11 to 16 teams. Last season, the league saw 15 teams take the ice with the second year Rapid City Rush winning the President’s Cup championship.
On a personal note, the best game I saw on my trip around the minor leagues a few years ago was in Memphissippi when the Riverkings played the Mudbugs. It was a fast paced and fun hockey game and good solid family entertainment.
What you all are really asking is: What does this mean for my team?
For the IHL fan, it means this: you get to continue having a hockey team. The IHL has played on the precipice of collapse since the UHL was killed off. This move brings some stability, knowing that if one or two teams cannot survive, the entire league won’t collapse.
It also means you will get to see some fresh faces from time-to-time. Supporting a 76-game schedule against only five opponents got a bit boring. While economic necessity will mean these teams will still play, predominantly, each other, even the possibility of seeing a RiverKing or Mudbugs jersey on occasion is downright exciting.
It means you get closer to the stream for NHL player development. Some CHL teams already have agreements with AHL and NHL teams. That can mean more talent for affiliated teams. That talent comes at a lower price, too, as parent clubs pick up some, if not all, of a players salary.
Finally, it means you get a new champion. Let’s be honest, no one could complete with the Komets. This should open up the competition in the playoffs a little bit.
For the CHL , you get one of the premier franchises in all of minor league sports. Make no mistake – Ft. Wayne is rabid about their Komets. If you see the “K” on the ice in your building, you will also see it in the stands.
You also get one of the former premier franchises in minor league hockey in the Mallards. Mallard fans were once extremely loud and obnoxious with their duck calls at buildings throughout the Colonial/United league. They were passionate about their hockey. The CHL will give the Quackers a chance to be heard, once again.
You get a beautiful arena and a potentially solid hockey market in Bloomington. The Prairie Thunder are improved each year, with only a collapse of epic proportions keeping them out of the playoffs in 2010. This town cries out for a competitive team and will turn out for a winner in a town that cries out for affordable entertainment options in the winter.
You get to take a flier on Dayton and maybe another market or two. (And, if you all remember “Zamboni Rodeo”, it would seem the WPHL and CHL were built along the concept of “taking a flier” on a long-shot.)
This is funny to talk about, what with the CHL already ranging from Louisiana to Arizona to South Dakota, but the geography works for the CHL as a developmental league. The CHL now stretches into close proximity with AHL-rich Illinois (four teams if you include Milwaukee, WI) as well as within easy reach of Cleveland and Grand Rapids.
Let’s not forget, road trips for a team like Memphissippi and Missouri to Bloomington and Quad Cities will seem downright local and trips to Ft. Wayne won’t be any longer than some of their trips out west.
Now, we know while the details and schedules are being hammered out, there will be speculation and arm-waving and rumor-mongering. Let’s be honest, there are no guarantees. However, this merger/association gives all the teams involved in the transaction the best chance of being around for the future.
Robert Keith contributed to this article.
Contact the author: Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.