I don't see the point in assembling such a roster for the PHL unless they plan to play at a higher level now or next season.
I guess. This does seem a bit premature given that they said they want to build a new arena and join the KHL. They're building the team before the arena...
Anything that makes the PHL a legit league is good though.
I guess. This does seem a bit premature given that they said they want to build a new arena and join the KHL. They're building the team before the arena...
Anything that makes the PHL a legit league is good though.
Well, Yoda once said, that one team does not a league make. Currently they are shaping up a team to steamroll the league. Unless Sokil finds a pot of gold, the outcome of league has been decided. I fear that Sokil might go bust altogether, not a whisper from their camp since the season ended...
My guess is they don't care about the Sokil name, Berkut seems to be building it's own 'brand'.
When is the deadline to apply to the VHL? I think it must be Berkut's goal for this season?
This is what I'm thinking. Why get the best defenseman from the Slovak league and so many former KHL players like Klimentyev and Mikhnov if they aren't looking to play at a higher level? Why would players who could easily play at the VHL level want to play in the Ukrainian league? My guess is they're going to apply for VHL membership for this season and KHL the next if they get into the VHL.
Well, Yoda once said, that one team does not a league make. Currently they are shaping up a team to steamroll the league. Unless Sokil finds a pot of gold, the outcome of league has been decided. I fear that Sokil might go bust altogether, not a whisper from their camp since the season ended...
they did the same thing last summer. guess they stop paying the webmaster after the season is over.
Quote:
Originally Posted by smitty10
This is what I'm thinking. Why get the best defenseman from the Slovak league and so many former KHL players like Klimentyev and Mikhnov if they aren't looking to play at a higher level? Why would players who could easily play at the VHL level want to play in the Ukrainian league? My guess is they're going to apply for VHL membership for this season and KHL the next if they get into the VHL.
Klymentiev and Mikhnov were both in the PHL last year
You said why sign former KHL guys if they are going to stay in the PHL - but the reality of that move is they signed current PHL guys because they are still in the PHL
Donbass-2, Lviv, and Berkut want to turn the league into a major-junior league?
i can understand D2 wanting this (they're doing it anyway), and I guess Lviv has nothing to lose, but why would Berkut say this now after stacking up on vets?
I don't like the idea, maybe have a minimum number of kids on every team to help development but turning the entire league into a U-25? That would just force every Ukrainian player 26+ (of which are most) to play in Belarus or the VHL or wherever....I don't get it. Not only that, but it would screw up the idea of the Ukrainian Championship itself.
Ukraine doesn't have enough decent U25 players to ice an 8 team league either
Donbass-2, Lviv, and Berkut want to turn the league into a major-junior league?
i can understand D2 wanting this (they're doing it anyway), and I guess Lviv has nothing to lose, but why would Berkut say this now after stacking up on vets?
I don't like the idea, maybe have a minimum number of kids on every team to help development but turning the entire league into a U-25? That would just force every Ukrainian player 26+ (of which are most) to play in Belarus or the VHL or wherever....I don't get it. Not only that, but it would screw up the idea of the Ukrainian Championship itself.
Ukraine doesn't have enough decent U25 players to ice an 8 team league either
belorus' has something similar going on (not that strict though), but imho this idea is stupid, unless each and every one of these 8 teams moves onto VHL/OBL and uses PHL as the farm-league
belorus' has something similar going on (not that strict though), but imho this idea is stupid, unless each and every one of these 8 teams moves onto VHL/OBL and uses PHL as the farm-league
yeah
honestly, the idea of them creating a junior-only league when they first proposed it was sketchy enough as it was....there just isn't enough talent to go around to justify it at the moment
to then take the so-far-failed idea of a junior league, and then scrap the PHL altogether to make it....just seems ridiculously stupid. Not to mention, most of the players would end up being imports (D2's roster is over 50% imports, mostly Russian)
my only thinking is
donbass-2 = they're already doing it
berkut = they are gearing up to promote their team / khl / vhl, and will be doing it next year
lviv = it would be cheaper
I hate this lack of direction generally, but really where would those overage players (about 85 percent of serious Ukrainian hockey players) go in such case? Who would take them? It's Romanian league again for them.
At this time such league looks like a stupid idea, unless you force upon teams no foreigner rule. Then I could behind it somehow.
Of course this works for Donbass-2 as they're being used as the development team for Donbass Donetsk and Berkut is looking to do the same. This would give their prospects a place to play before they're ready for the KHL. However, turning it into a junior league (say 23 and under) wouldn't do much for the owners of the other teams or Ukrainian hockey in general.
If they want a junior league, they should have a couple Ukrainian teams join the MHL, a couple join MHL-B and then create junior A and B leagues for local competition between clubs. This would create a good stepping stone development system for the leagues and would help them to develop KHL-calibur players from the ground up and would create a competitive development system that would retain Ukrainian-born players.
- "PHL-B"- would be a Junior B hockey league for graduates of local AA/AAA* teams.
- "PHL-A"- would be a Junior A league for high-end graduates of local AAA* teams.
- MHL-B- have a Ukrainian team or two join this league for elite younger Ukrainians or guys who can't quite cut it in the MHL, but want to pursue major junior/professional hockey.
- MHL- have a team for each of the Ukrainian KHL teams for Ukraine's most elite prospects to play for.
The Ukrainian KHL teams could then use the PHL as a feeder/farm system for the top graduates of the MHL/MHL-B programs who are either too old for those leagues or are ready for the next level to prepare them for the KHL. This would help to develop talent locally and provide an increasingly competitive league for Ukrainian development and for the national team to fill out their depth from.
So the development system would basically be (in this order): PHL-B, PHL-A, MHL-B, MHL, PHL, KHL with players skipping steps if they are capable.
* Not sure how Ukraine's youth/minor hockey system is ranked, but in North America AA is the second highest level of minor hockey and AAA is the highest.
If they want a junior league, they should have a couple Ukrainian teams join the MHL, a couple join MHL-B and then create junior A and B leagues for local competition between clubs. This would create a good stepping stone development system for the leagues and would help them to develop KHL-calibur players from the ground up and would create a competitive development system that would retain Ukrainian-born players.
This.
I mean, like I said, look at HC Donbass-2's roster. It's half Russian. If they want to do junior teams, why not play in the MHL? It's better for their development anyway.
Quote:
Originally Posted by smitty10
- "PHL-B"- would be a Junior B hockey league for graduates of local AA/AAA* teams.
- "PHL-A"- would be a Junior A league for high-end graduates of local AAA* teams.
- MHL-B- have a Ukrainian team or two join this league for elite younger Ukrainians or guys who can't quite cut it in the MHL, but want to pursue major junior/professional hockey.
- MHL- have a team for each of the Ukrainian KHL teams for Ukraine's most elite prospects to play for.
No need to junior a/b the PHL junior circuit, not enough players left over from the ones in the MHL farm in this instance. If they're not good enough to PHL-Jr, and not going pro, they can play night hockey league / WUAHL / beer league, their career's over anyway.
for MHL, have 2 (donbass, berkut) and call it a day. Who would ice a team in MHL-B?
Currently they are shaping up a team to steamroll the league. Unless Sokil finds a pot of gold, the outcome of league has been decided. I fear that Sokil might go bust altogether, not a whisper from their camp since the season ended...
