The hockey landscape in North America is changing at an interesting rate. Already, we are seeing new-look minor leagues with new markets joining the American Hockey League and ECHL.
Some teams are excited about the future state of professional hockey in America, while others are concerned that they may not be around for much longer because of these changes. Some of these franchises are worried that with change, they may not be able to properly accommodate the players and staff, which could lead to their potential demise.
Some of these markets can levy their concerns with a change in scenery, from the minor pro to the junior hockey circuits. Looking at the possibility of drastically shifting gears may seem whimsical, but already there are current junior hockey franchises that are having better success at the junior level than they have had at the pro ranks.
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| Courtesy of JuniorHockey.com |
Embracing the Junior Hockey Scene: Present Success of Junior Hockey in Past Minor Hockey Markets
In recent years, the Johnstown Tomahawks have revitalized hockey in central Pennsylvania.
The city was losing interest in hockey at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena leading up to the 2010 season, and that lack of interest led to the loss of a professional hockey franchise. In 2012, the Tomahawks organization came to Johnstown all the way from Alaska to reignite a spark that is now a proud city tradition. Some fans will probably never trade this team for the world.
These Tomahawks are not affiliated with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, or any other NHL franchise. These players aren't even eligible to play hockey at the professional level... yet. They are a proud member of the USA junior hockey's North American Hockey League.
The Tomahawks took over for the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL a few years ago. For over 20 years, the Chiefs graced the War Memorial Arena with competitive hockey and guys like former NHL goaltender Arturs Irbe donning the Chiefs crest. Now playing in Greenville, South Carolina and the NAHL in town, the locals do not miss the Chiefs as much as they appreciate Tomahawks hockey. Since coming to the NAHL, the Tomahawks have been top-5 in attendance and have an indirect influence for NAHL expansion and relocation into current minor league hockey markets in the Midwest.
Another city that is now embracing a junior hockey presence is Lewiston, Maine, the city once occupied by the former Lewiston MAINEiacs of the Quebec Mjaor Junior Hockey League.
Back in 2011, the Androscoggin Bank Colisée denied a request from the Single-A Federal Hockey League to place a franchise in the Lewiston-Auburn area, in hopes that the Tier-1 United States Hockey League would expand eastward and establish operations in the area. Now, the city is eagerly awaiting to see the North American 3 East Hockey League's Lewiston-Auburn Fighting Spirit to play in the Colisée.
There are other teams that have entered the junior hockey game with stronger success than their appearance in the minor leagues, including the El Paso Rhinos of the Tier-3 Western States Hockey League and the Texas-based clubs in the NAHL.
Some cities that are looking to attract a junior hockey team are Dickinson, North Dakota; and Dayton, Ohio.
In my opinion, junior hockey in most parts of the country should be the premier option over Double-A and Single-A leagues like the ECHL, Southern Professional Hockey League, and FHL. Fans can watch young athletes shine on their journey to the professional and collegiate ranks, whereas leagues like the ECHL, SPHL, and FHL promise fans players that may have had little experience at the high-level ranks and are mostly playing for a pay check.
Across North America, there are a plethora of minor league markets that should get younger and give junior hockey a chance to shine.
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| Courtesy of NewsTimes.com |
Junior Hockey Thriving in Current Federal Hockey League Markets
From the looks of an apparent lawsuit over an injured eye, it looks like the FHL may soon come to an end. Allegations of poor management and player safety, consistent use of travel teams to replace defunct franchises mid-season, and shadiness call for an end to this league and Commissioner Don Kirnan to be punished under several federal laws. The teams, however, should not fade away into hockey oblivion, as they are within the right location of several junior hockey markets.
The Danbury Whalers and Berkshire Battalion are in a prime location for many Atlantic junior hockey possibilities. There are rumors circulating about both the USHL and NAHL expanding to the east coast, and these two markets can support either league. If true, given their arena size and attendance figures, both would probably work well under the NAHL umbrella. Realistically, the Whalers and Battalion will be better off joining the NA3EHL. This move will allow both clubs to alleviate extensive travel and generate rivalries with former FHL-considered and FHL-once-was markets like the New York Aviators, Fighting Spirit, and Cape Cod Islanders.
The Watertown Wolves can fit into three leagues given its geographical location and level of fan support: Ontario Junior Hockey League, NAHL, and NA3HL. The OJHL will expand Western New York's presence in the Canadian Junior Hockey League and generate a quick rivalry with the nearby Buffalo Jr. Sabres. In addition, this could intrigue the OJHL to add clubs near the United States-Ontario border. The NAHL will strengthen the league's easternmost footprint and provide closer divisional rivals for the Tomahawks and Keystone Ice Miners (if they stick around). The NA3HL will do the same as the NAHL, except for the Southern Tier Xpress and Pittsburgh Vengeance.
The Steel City Warriors (Belle Vernon, PA) and new Port Huron franchise could succeed in the NAHL. Port Huron was once home to the Fighting Falcons of the same league, and as we continue to see the NAHL's demise in the Wolverine State, the Port Huron area might not fully welcome a return of Tier-2 hockey at the McMorran Place. With Belle Vernon having to recover with what is so far another failed FHL experiment, these two teams might need to lay low for a while until considering joining a junior (or any level of organized) hockey league.
The Danville Dashers and Dayton Demonz are ideal targets for USHL and NAHL expansion. Danville used to be home to the Danville Wings of the USHL and NAHL and posted better attendance figures than the current city's hockey tenant, 900-plus per game to be exact. Dayton is looking at both leagues to occupy the Hara Arena and there is a Facebook group advocating for the presence of a better hockey fate for the city, as well as the demise of the FHL. For Danville, the NAHL makes the most sense, and for Dayton, the USHL is optimal.
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| Courtesy of TVASports.ca |
Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey and Junior Hockey in the Quebec Province
The LNAH is the other Minor pro league in North America that most hockey fans fail to acknowledge. The league, like the FHL, has been identified as a goon league comprised of players from Quebec and former QMJHL players. For some hockey fans in Quebec, this league is a little relief from a province saturated with QMJHL and LJHQ AAA clubs. But with an overabundance of gooniness in the league, it's time for a change.
Also, interesting footnote, a couple of the teams in the LNAH are named after a business or corporate sponsor. One is named after a radio station (Saint-Georges Cool 103.5 FM) and another after a door, hardware, and furnishing company (Thetford Mines Isothermic). The junior hockey scene too has clubs named after corporations, including Team Comcast and Victory Honda in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League.
Given their location in the Quebec province, for all but two, the QMJHL is the most ideal destination for the member clubs in this league. The two clubs that should see a different fate are the Laval Predators and Cornwall River Kings.
The Laval Predators are in a city awaiting a new 10,000-seat arena, which will most likely be home to the AHL Canadiens. If anything, the team could be a member of the LHJQ AAA as a way of competing with the AHL financially, since the LHJQ AAA is a pay-to-play league.
The Cornwall River Kings should be graced with an Ontario Hockey League presence. Historically, the Eastern Ontario city mostly associates with its Québécois neighbors, sporting a QMJHL franchise in the past. The other junior team in the city might have a problem with it, the Cornwall Colts of the Central Canada Hockey League, but fair competition could dictate who stays and who goes elsewhere.
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| Courtesy of WheelingNailers.com |
Wheeling Nailers, The Center of Opportunity for USA Tier I and II Junior Hockey
In one forum post on JuniorHockey.com, a junior hockey fan suggested that a Wheeling, West Virginia (home to the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers) news team should send a camera crew out to Johnstown to do a piece on why junior hockey is a better option than Double-A hockey. Seeing the success of Johnstown in the NAHL, this fan probably wishes the Nailers the same success for Nailers hockey, an organization that has seen a steady decline in attendance in recent years.
There was one moment in recent history where the franchise was expected to move to Savannah, Georgia or drop down to a Single-A hockey league. In addition, a writer for Mile High Hockey (SB Nation Blog for the NHL's Colorado Avalanche) called for the removal of the Nailers from a proposed AHL-ECHL realignment because of concerns of minor league interests. That doesn't mean that junior hockey will not work here.
The Nailers have two choices for junior hockey: the USHL and the NAHL. Both make perfect sense for Wheeling. The USHL will provide the club automatically with two regional opponents: the Youngstown Phantoms and USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. The same goes for the NAHL, except with the Tomahawks and Keystone Ice Miners.
There are other teams that could benefit from a "change of pace," including the AHL's Toronto Marlies and ECHL's Brampton Beast and Elmira Jackals. Toronto and Brampton could join the city of Hamilton, Ontario in the addition of larger markets to the OHL and Elmira could be an integral piece in eastward expansion for both the USHL and NAHL.
Looking Ahead at the Potential Opportunities of Minor Pro Markets in the Junior Scene
The presence of these franchises in the junior ranks could have a profound impact on the future look of junior hockey in the United States and Canada. Some possibilities that can occur include:
- A promotion of the Tomahawks to the USHL if Wheeling and Dayton join the USHL or demotion of Youngstown to the NAHL if Wheeling and Dayton join the NAHL.
- A possible split of the QMJHL after the addition of the LNAH franchises, where the Eastern Quebec and Maritimes teams could form their own major junior league under the Canadian Hockey League umbrella.
- A promotion of the NA3HL's Suthern Tier Express (Jamestown, NY) to NAHL if Watertown joins the NAHL.
- A merger of the Eastern Hockey League and NA3EHL under the NA3EHL name to compete with the USPHL for Tier-3 supremacy in the country, especially after the USPHL expanded its footprint to the Midwest during the 2014/15 regular season.
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