Ugh, more from Peoria, but it's not all bad
Check out this column from the Peoria Journal Star. I never, ever, thought I'd agree with something Dave Eminian wrote, but I do on some of this. I believe they should have left the International Hockey League name alone, let it rest in peace. As you know, I think it's a cosmetic change, one that screams of trying to dredge up the good old days and will be highly confusing for fans familiar with the old and new 'I'. But I hadn't really thought of the point Eminian brings up: Maybe this is insulting to some players from the old IHL.
That being said, Eminian needs to get over his vendetta against the IHL/UHL. He doesn't have a clue what the caliber of play is like, and I wonder if he's ever seen a game. I did a huge project a few years back talking to scouts, players, coaches, general managers, etc., from all levels of play, and very few could see a difference in the play between the then-UHL and Eminian's darling ECHL. And I did my own research, seeing games at the ECHL and Central Hockey League levels. It's quite possible he has different findings, but I'd like to hear from someone outside of the Blues organization he's covered.
The IHL is on very shaky ground and really needs to prove it can survive and make positive changes in the future. But I'm sick of hearing from outsiders that the caliber of play has been so bad. The officiating has, but the play? It's been fine. Well, except for Port Huron.
-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette
the play in the uhl has improved and it is a lot better than it was 10years ago, it will never be triple a caliber{at least for now} but i remember in our first few years in the league, the play was horendous. guys couldnt pass to the other guys stick and guys couldnt even take a decent slap shot. all we had to do this year was watch guy and mario on the power play to see how things have changed! AND BACK THEN , there were guys who couldnt skate a lick and now thats changed. as teams fold and salary caps are reached, the caliber of player does go up. i just wish theyd get rid of the vet rule and let us all establish a good core of players along with the 4 or 5 rookies. i think the naming of the leagu the ihl is a tribute to the old league and players. id love to see the names ulloyt and turner and gatchene{sp} live on instead of sitting on a shelf at the hof where not too many of us get a chance to even visit. lets keep those names alive. seperate records can be kept and should be. long live the ihl 2.
Posted by: chuckitt | June 22, 2007 at 07:48 PM
Look, Eminian is an idiot. There's another guy who writes for the CHL who's just as bad.
Isn't there enough going on in the leagues they cover to keep fans interested?
Eminian spends an entire article insulting the IHL then says he wishes it well and hopes it succeeds.
The only thing that keeps Peoria alive in the AHL is the fact that it's physically close to St. Louis, their parent club. Without that, Peoria would be fielding a AA team just like they used to.
Posted by: Skate | June 22, 2007 at 07:55 PM
I'm glad that I don't have to read this clown's nonsense on a regular basis.
Even though someone needs to tell this guy that he's totally clueless.....my biggest question is why is he so concerned about the UHL/IHL changes? His team is in another league and has not played Fort Wayne in years!
He must not have anything else to write about this week.....:)
Posted by: Bob | June 22, 2007 at 08:43 PM
"Although Fort Wayne remains immune at the box office, with attendance so strong the market screams for AHL membership." This is the only thing from the article this guy got right.
Posted by: HSIRI | June 22, 2007 at 10:27 PM
Who's the CHL writer, so I can link to his or her garbage, I mean, informed opinions, too.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | June 22, 2007 at 10:51 PM
Is that guy a retard? He looks and sounds like one. The UHL has been at least in line with the ECHL in talent and maybe better from what I have seen. The CHL has been a step below us for years. Look at superstar DAN PRICE from the CHL that did nothing in a K's uniform. Lance Galbraith is a superstar in the CHL and was an average player at best in this league. Rob Guinn was an ALL-STAR this past season in the CHL....need I say more...MAN!
I think the IHL is on the right track and has a plan to put good hard hitting hockey on the ice which is better than what the NHL, AHL, and ECHL is doing of current. Their product is stale. No one or not very many people any longer care about the NHL. The AHL and ECHL is a joke in the number of teams and the amount of travel. Financially those leagues are going to start having hard times...worse than they are now.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | June 23, 2007 at 12:43 AM
http://www.prohockeynews.com/leagues/article.cfm?Article_ID=789
a good article.
Posted by: Jkmess11 | June 23, 2007 at 06:42 PM
Justin:
http://blogs.caller.com/rajan
should do it.
Posted by: Skate | June 23, 2007 at 07:13 PM
The UHL/IHL is all but dead, barely lining up 6 teams to even have a league. Owner credibility at an all time high (sarcasm) with no one indicted this year. Coaching credibility up there too with no coaches suspended for putting "hits" on opposing players. Call Jack Kevorkian and just get it over with.
Posted by: Ice Envy | June 23, 2007 at 09:41 PM
A few things that stand out to me: Ft. Wayne screams for an AHL team. This new IHL is seen as a joke by former IHL'rs and others. Paul Pickard has a strong hockey back ground, the Franke's do not. Have they starting planning the Franke family statue?
Posted by: Charlie in Rochester Hills, MI | June 23, 2007 at 10:09 PM
I'll start reading this guy and let you know.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | June 23, 2007 at 10:49 PM
From what I have read, all but one team in the NHL has a team in the AHL. Why is Fort Wayne not that last affiliate? The Frankes are always concerned about the increase in spending when they discuss moving to a bigger league. From my understanding, the big club would be responsible for most of the salaries. Sure ticket prices will go up but when people see the quality and see their favorite players in an NHL sweater after spending time in Fort Wayne, nobody will mind. I want stability. I want to see a large number of players return year after year.
The ownership in the rest of the league may be considered stable but look at their attendance. I for one am tired of seeing the Komets as the only all-around high class organization in the league.
Posted by: Shawn Barva | June 23, 2007 at 10:49 PM
Shawn,
I understand what you are saying, but you have look at by the Komets were brought 50+ years ago. Most of the teams through the IHL up to the 90's were bus teams. That is what the UHL/IHL is trying to do. A number of teams in the CHL, ECHL, and the AHL, are struggling finacially. Why would we want to throw FT. in that mix. We need to give the new IHL a few years. I bet you will start to get teams like Dayon, Toledo, Indy, and Cincinatti.
If we went to the AHL, we would only have one or two teams that fans could travel to. I think Ft. Wayne is a city where we like rivals and traveling to the away games.
We need to see what happens next year at this time.
Posted by: Jkmess11 | June 24, 2007 at 10:29 AM
Good thoughts Justin, I agree with you on the writers constant bashing of the the U/I. It's like he something against it and it shouts out that he has never witnessed a game.
I do disagree with you on the name change. Maybe they should of went away from the I name, but they did the right thing in dumping the UHL name.
The Peoria writer has nothing to back up his thoughts/facts.
Posted by: Junior | June 24, 2007 at 11:38 AM
im glad they brought back the ihl name. its a good honor to the former teams and guys. until now, what was there to honor them? nothing. keep the records seperated and do things thruout the year to honor the past. as to the writer who said all the former players are against it, i saw a quote from one guy, and the peoria guy based his whole opinion snd article on that?? reaal objective reporting there!! give the league a chance. plus whats wrong with being tyhe big fish in a little pond?? better than being the little fish in a big one!! the ihl goal is to make all teams profitable and to give good enjoyment to the crowds.. how fun it will be to go to a road game in indy or cincinnati or toledo instead of listening to a game on the radio with a team from elmira or charlotte or san diego, teams that you never see in person or have in your barn once. give me an all out rivalry with kazoo that i can see them here 7 times a year and have the opportunity to travel to their place for fun//
Posted by: chuckitt | June 24, 2007 at 12:09 PM
Chuckitt,
I respectfully disagree on the name change being an "honor". Personally, I feel they are trying to "borrow credibility" based on the history of a name, NOT the history of the league. Personally, that's a disgrace.
Posted by: Brad Lyons | June 24, 2007 at 12:58 PM
If I typed it right:
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Bh4eYxLpJs
Posted by: Skate | June 24, 2007 at 01:28 PM
Wait:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh4e6YxLpJs
Posted by: Skate | June 24, 2007 at 01:30 PM
this is ft wayne who was the flagship of the ihl untill everybodys eyes got bigger than their wallets. we dont need to borrow credability we already have it. its an honor to rerecognize all the guys who plowed thru the bus and car league and now live in ft wayne.
Posted by: chuckitt | June 24, 2007 at 05:28 PM
"This is what Ft Wayne is know for."
Do you think others will be saying that again soon?
Posted by: Hoss | June 24, 2007 at 08:32 PM
Sorry, should be "known for."
Posted by: Hoss | June 24, 2007 at 08:33 PM
One can only hope this is what Fort Wayne will be known for.
Posted by: Skate | June 24, 2007 at 08:51 PM
you cant listen to homer announcers and believe what they say. fort wayne waas always known for its physical play, afterall, thats why we became known as the jungle. but in the old ihl, what team or city wasnt known for its rough stuff? heck those announcers were so well versed in hockey they couldnt even pronunce gagnons name correctly!!!
Posted by: chuckitt | June 24, 2007 at 08:58 PM
Those were the days.....those were when there were some serious rivals....the chants of "Jock Strap" to Jock Callander of the Lumberjacks and then always "Prokapec you punching bag!!"...Those were the days when everyone wanted to go watch a hockey game....the games were so intense and physical
Posted by: Kometfan | June 24, 2007 at 09:34 PM
one frightful night when the "Evil Empire" returns to Indy.
Posted by: Charlie I | June 24, 2007 at 11:55 PM
Jkmess
All minor leagues were bus leagues 50 years ago. Those WERE great days. The teams that are struggling in the AHL are not in hockey towns. We have to ask, is Fort Wayne a hockey town or not? I tend to think it is. If not, then let's stay in the stick leagues and hope that the other teams don't go belly up and take the Komets with them. I don't like hearing things like the Franke's looking into buying the Port Huron franchise (this was before they found another buyer of course) just to keep the league afloat. Same thing for the Bloomington franchise staying put. That is not a sign of stability.
There are many AHL teams close enough to Fort Wayne for people to travel to and for rivalries to be made. What is even better is seeing those rivalries move up to the NHL.
Posted by: Shawn Barva | June 25, 2007 at 07:42 AM
I've hereby decided to name my cat "Seabiscuit" in the hopes that he will win the Triple Crown and I will be rich beyond the dreams of avarice. (Props to the Frankes for the great idea!)
Posted by: Turner | June 25, 2007 at 09:45 AM
..."I did a huge project a few years back talking to scouts, players, coaches, general managers, etc., from all levels of play, and very few could see a difference in the play between the then-UHL and Eminian's darling ECHL."...
Justin, as you stated that was a few years ago. Alot's changed since then. The level of play has definitely gone down since your study. More players are going to Europe and other leagues than ever before.
Posted by: Tom | June 25, 2007 at 09:45 AM
One thing I find interesting is that Brendan Savage hasn't anything about his outragous statement that Toledo would be in the league this coming season and league officials saying nothng to the fact. I wonder if his "reliable source" was his huge ego?
Posted by: Greg | June 25, 2007 at 11:43 AM
To the guy that remarked about how bad the UHL was ten years ago...we wouldn't know. The Komets weren't in it.
The first year the Komets were in the UHL, the play was terrible. NOt fall down terrible though we had a few guys who were so bad they didn't belong on the ice. (But they were rookies...gotta fill that silly quota!) The play just wasn't fun, like the IHL was the year before.
I thought the level of play and intensity picked up in the 00-01 season and even in the 01-02. But during the championship year and certainly the years after that, the games have just been horrible...not so much in talent but in intensity. They look like scrimmages, and you might get 4 good games a year out of thirty some home games. The quality of play needs an injection intensity.
I also noticed these last couple of years that the play seems very slow on the ice. That may also play into intensity, as the games seemed to pick up in speed some during the playoffs.
The new IHL...I wish they had gone with another name...but whatever had better deliver...and immediately. If this game is like the very first Komet UHL game which was HORRIBLY BORING...then it's time for the Komets to get into another league.
We all want physical hockey, but we also need some fast hard hitting hockey as well. The UHL could deliver neither, but hopefully this new league will though I am not holding my breath.
Posted by: Disgruntled Fan | June 25, 2007 at 02:16 PM
Greg, great point. I think you should email him and ask.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | June 25, 2007 at 03:31 PM
I did put a comment on his blog. I'll have to see if there is a response.
Posted by: Greg | June 25, 2007 at 03:56 PM
Greg, it's hard for him to ignore your responses on his blogs since no one seems to post ANYTHING!! I wonder why.
I still feel bad that I listened to his Toledo thing, but Blake said he would not be suprised also, so plans must of fell through.
Savage has been taking every advantage he can to slip in any bash against Ft.W and the Frankes. He reads way too much on ITB.
Posted by: Junior | June 25, 2007 at 06:17 PM
That whole thing just didn't seem to make any sense. The Mud Hens (who now own the Toledo Storm) have always said they want to look at staying in the ECHL so I knew it wasn't. And since Toledo media had nothing on a seperate new arena, I knew that whole thing was bogus.
My point with Savage is not that fact that he said what he said. It's that fact that when it didn't happen, Savage didn't come out and explain himself. He should man up and admit he screwed up or played an elaborate joke on the IHL fan base.
Posted by: Greg | June 26, 2007 at 09:05 AM
http://my.funtrivia.com/tournament/Charlies-Trivia-52451.html
Come Play Its Fun
Posted by: Charlie I | June 26, 2007 at 07:04 PM
Why don't you just wait until next summer and have the discussion on how you're better than the CHL and as good as the ECHL, when your league is a memory? The only reason you have any talent in this joke of a league is because your league administrators had the foresight to make your salary caps much bigger than the C or the E when your teams couldn't afford to pay them.
Don't be bitter little people and take all your frustrations out on newspaper writers, spend your time enjoying this last year of hockey and focus on the positives! :)
Posted by: Sammy | July 11, 2007 at 08:40 AM
The ihl is a glorified Quebec senior pro fighting league that caters to meat balls. Of course the fans enjoy it there mutants from shithole towns that go watch the fights and go to the local bar to drink and fight. The league is a joke that won't last two years any sensible young player that has any aspiration of playing at the next level will steer clear. I wonder if the Kalamazoo players will still have to buy their own sticks and skates! Thats a top team what a disgrace of a league!!!!!!!!
Posted by: allstar | July 11, 2007 at 06:04 PM