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Topic: Here We Grow Again!
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NewFan
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Member # 6070
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posted 01 April 2009 12:05
    
Whoopee! Just what the sport needs! Another Jr. A III team!It is my opinion that there are more teams now than there are skilled players to fill the slots. And every A III league has their bottom teams that can't compete - many of which are permanent bottom dwellers and some of which get a couple of really talented kids to elevate them in the ranks during that tenure and immediately drop back to bottom dwellers. Then sometimes teams cheat their way into the upper ranks, only to wilt again when they are outed. Let's dilute the pool of talent once again by spreading it over some more teams. Capital Thunder; Bombers; Hawks; Lakers (St Paul and Coeur d'Alene); Wildcats; Roughriders; RV Wranglers -- even the 'elite' leagues have ther Jr. Senators; Shamrocks; Leafs; Capital District. It's not the kids fault - no matter teir talent and skill, the vast majority of them try their hardest, at least until they get the minset that they are going to get drubbed game after game. And it's certainly not their long-paying parents fault - they keep writing the checks. It is sometimes the coaches fault, but most of them do their best and try their hardest. But maybe there are too many coaching jobs, too, and just not enough truly qualified guys in the coaching ranks. I could write for hours about the c**p I have seen in Jr. and youth Hockey, and I haven't been watching for that long. Some of the really oldtimers must have really strong stomachs. And some teams just can't survive, economically and fold. Then, of course, there are the short term interlopers such as the World Hockey Association. I watched the video. I found it interesting to note that the owner of this new franchise said (to paraphrase) We will be doing our marketing, and oh yah, put a product on the ice. Intresting order of things. Both need done and many teams do not do both well, and sometimes not at all. K just wish that more of these teams would recognize that the kids who PAY TO PLAY should be considered as the first level clients and be treated accordingly. But then coaches and owners are just like other business owners and managers - they just aren't skilled in prioritizing. So, again, YIPPEE! Another Jr. A III team.
Rant out -  -------------------- Them boys shore do chase them little rubber blobs around, don't they?
Posts: 499 | From: Western Washington | Registered: Mar 2007 | IP: Logged
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NotGretz
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Member # 5401
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posted 02 April 2009 12:45
That is one big arena! If the marketing campaign can draw the former pro team Fresno Falcons fans, ala the El Paso Rhinos, Wenatchee Wild, etc., it would be a good move towards selling lots of tix. Recruiting will be VERY Important and even 2,00 fans in a barn that size may feel empty.Will they get an "expansion draft" to cherry pick some of the top returners to the WSHL? It might help to create more balance (and competition) for perenial finalists Phoenix and El Paso. -------------------- Enjoy every day, whether or not the ponds are frozen!
Posts: 216 | From: Middle America | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged
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RckyMtnFan
Rookie
Member # 6373
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posted 02 April 2009 19:15
Hey Dang19,I find your comment about Coach Ballard curious. My player was never on one of his teams but I know other players and parents in Colorado who worship Ballard and his coaching style. I also know of only two clubs he coached while there, the Colorado Outlaws and the Rocky Mountain Wranglers, both Midget Major AAA programs.. -------------------- Never enter a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent!
Posts: 42 | From: Where else? | Registered: Sep 2008 | IP: Logged
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Ballgame
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Member # 4482
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posted 06 April 2009 12:12
quote:
Originally posted by RckyMtnFan:
Hey Dang19,I find your comment about Coach Ballard curious. My player was never on one of his teams but I know other players and parents in Colorado who worship Ballard and his coaching style. I also know of only two clubs he coached while there, the Colorado Outlaws and the Rocky Mountain Wranglers, both Midget Major AAA programs..
what is his coaching style? -------------------- Thats my omelet!
Posts: 508 | From: | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged
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Soundguy
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Member # 6169
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posted 10 April 2009 12:35
This could work really well in Albuquerque this time.The owner did lots of research, and came to El Paso to meet with and pick Coach Herman's brain which I'm sure was real helpful for a new franchise. I talked to coach Herman about it, he's excited. He knows the owner (Torsten Gretz) and coach Ambroziak pretty well and it sounds like they've got a really great relationship. I bet they'll be a strong team before too long. It also opens another avenue in the ELP-ABQ rivalry that exists in pretty much every possible sport.
Which will help out both teams because each teams fans will travel. The old ELP - ABQ hockey games were always a war. I'm looking forward to it, it's gonna be fun.
Posts: 52 | From: | Registered: Jan 2008 | IP: Logged
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SweetP
Ref
Member # 4517
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posted 10 April 2009 14:03
quote:
Originally posted by BusterB:
SweetP This is the Dallas Texans moved to New Mexico. They will play in the MidWest. 
Thx Buster, need to pull out my Atlas a little more often.
Nice to see the WSHL entering new states. To be sure, NM has been in need of another team since the NAHL RoadRunners moved to Topeka?
Nice to see you post again, BB. -------------------- Hockey: If only it came in a bottle!
Posts: 2165 | From: Hockeyland, USA | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged
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SweetP
Ref
Member # 4517
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posted 20 April 2009 14:38
quote:
Originally posted by TopShelf2:
Found a little bit about the Boise team: http://www.idahojuniorsteelheads.com/#
This is great! I always liked going to Boise for games. A very nice facility!
Game On! -------------------- Hockey: If only it came in a bottle!
Posts: 2165 | From: Hockeyland, USA | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged
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SweetP
Ref
Member # 4517
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posted 21 April 2009 10:11
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Originally posted by TopShelf2:
SweetP,You seem to be very knowledgeable in terms of junior hockey and the WSHL in particular; so how does a team in Boise go about playing in a division primarily in southern California and Arizona? Travel expenses just dont seem very practical to play in that league, but obviously they seem to know how to make it work. Please share some knowledge; i'm very curious. Thanks. 
Cost of living expenses are a heck of a lot less in Boise than SoCal & AZ. So I can imagine a great part of their tuition fees go towards travel.
Funny, last time I was there, the couple who owned the coffee cart inside the rink were transplants who used to live 5 miles away from me in SoCal. He bought the cart from a woman who had a son playing in SoCal as well. The Chevron station down the street from the Boise rink had a woman working there that used to live 2 blocks away from me!
Lots of SoCal transplants in the Boise area.
-------------------- Hockey: If only it came in a bottle!
Posts: 2165 | From: Hockeyland, USA | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged
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SweetP
Ref
Member # 4517
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posted 24 April 2009 14:54
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Originally posted by TopShelf2:
I hate to add more hearsay to this topic, but i've even heard rumors of another team in Colorado; most likely in Denver. This I assume would be to fill the void left by the Dallas team.So let me try to keep this all straight... The WSHL is adding Boise, Fresno, and possibly a Denver team. In addition to the re-location of the Texas Renegades to Rio-Rancho, NM and the Capital Thunder to Bakersfield. Its looking like a very busy off season for the WSHL. Moving in the right direction if you ask me. 
Haven't heard about another CO team, but the res of what you wrote is about the same as most of have heard so far.
Guess we'll find out at the 1st puck drop, eh? -------------------- Hockey: If only it came in a bottle!
Posts: 2165 | From: Hockeyland, USA | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged
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John Meissner
Vet
Member # 1208
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posted 10 June 2009 09:09
quote:
Originally posted by SweetP:
Portland is about a 4/5 hour drive.
Portland is a six hour drive from Coeur d Alene and about 9 hours from Boise. One comment I found interesting in the Fresno Bee's article, was the statement about how the level of hockey in the WSHL isn't far off from the ECHL. Wow. If it's the team saying that, they're opening themselves up for some big problems once the fans see the product. If it's just the writer of the article saying that, then he really has no clue what he's talking about. And, CEO Stuart Borne? There's a not so affectionately known name from out of the past. I wonder if it was just getting too cold in Vail during the winter? -------------------- Meet our son, Jimmy at http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn243/jimmymize/?albumview=grid
Posts: 2936 | From: Florida once again | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged
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SweetP
Ref
Member # 4517
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posted 10 June 2009 11:41
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Originally posted by John Meissner:
Portland is a six hour drive from Coeur d Alene and about 9 hours from Boise. One comment I found interesting in the Fresno Bee's article, was the statement about how the level of hockey in the WSHL isn't far off from the ECHL. Wow. If it's the team saying that, they're opening themselves up for some big problems once the fans see the product. If it's just the writer of the article saying that, then he really has no clue what he's talking about. And, CEO Stuart Borne? There's a not so affectionately known name from out of the past. I wonder if it was just getting too cold in Vail during the winter?
Thanks for the mileage correction.
The comment about WSHL being near ECHL levels? Out here, the ECHL teams are not that great. Look at how many teams out West have folded. I miss the WCHL Gulls, their games were fun to attend. Once they joined the ECHL, the bench was filled with players who's names we couldn't pronounce. We no longer saw local talent play. -------------------- Hockey: If only it came in a bottle!
Posts: 2165 | From: Hockeyland, USA | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged
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