either or let Denise and Shore chat about that to each other the next 3 years,I cant see the Icecaps coming out any worse tonight big key is a push back and withstAND the first 10 min of Pens
To all you IceCaps fans, congratulations on the week-edn sweep. I am not throwing in the towel just yet, but I would like to acknowledge some very good hockey on both sides. These are the types of games where somebody had to lose. It was some very good hockey.
I try to just be a lurking on this board, I have been for quite a few years now, however I can't help but have to jump in here for a moment.
Earlier in this thread, Frank mentions how the CHL is more skilled due to the fact the elite players bypass the AHL and hit the NHL following their junior careers. This is not entirely true Frank.
I was a CHL fan, I had an amazing opportunity to meet many of the young men that entertained us on the ice, and I was also a Billet Family. However there is no denying the AHL is a superior league.
When guys such as Radulov and Giroux are putting up 120 point seasons, they're doing it at the peak of their junior careers against kids that are 16 years old. With the operation of junior structure, elite players end up playing bottom dwellers numerous times over the years. A bottom dwelling team full of 15, 16 and 17 year old players is much easier to pray on for elite teams, then what it is in the professional ranks.
That being said, the AHL is indeed a more talented league;
AHL graduates include the likes of, Patrick Roy, Larry Robinson, Doug Harvey, Billy Smith, Johnny Bower, Terry Sawchuck, Corey Perry, Martin St. Louis, John Carlson, Logan Couture, Pekka Rinne, Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Tim Thomas, Thomas Vanek, Jason Spezza, Claude Giroux, Jimmy Howard, Jaroslav Halak, Miikka Kiprusoff, Luke Adam, Kyle Palmieri, Robin Lehner, Brad Boyes, Dan Boyle, Daniel Briere, Brian Campbell, Chris Kunitz, Ryan Miller, Zach Parise, Bobby Ryan, Eric Staal, Thomas Vokoun, Shea Weber, Jared Cowan, Colin Greening, Ryan Kesler, Tomas Plekanec, Niklas Kronwall, Teddy Purcell, Lars Eller, Patrick Sharp, Mikhail Grabovski, Jamie Benn, Jay Bouwmeester, Alex Burrows, Devan Dubnyk, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Getzlaf, Andrew Ladd, Cam Ward, Milan Michalek, Loui Eriksson, Viktor Stalberg, Mark Striet, Alex Goligoski, Kyle Okposo, Max Pacioretty,
The list goes on.
Of the 562 players who have taken part in the AHL All-star game since 1995, 93% have competed in the NHL.
You may respond with saying that just as many players have graduated from the CHL ranks. Which could possibly be true. However, the CHL is spread of 3 leagues. And unless you frequent to the West, Ontairo and Maritimes almost weekley, how many of those players would had the opportunity to see play.
They enter the AHL at the peak of their Junior/NCAA careers, which means the we as AHL fans are getting to see them at their current best before they take their talents to the National Hockey League.
I try to just be a lurking on this board, I have been for quite a few years now, however I can't help but have to jump in here for a moment.
Earlier in this thread, Frank mentions how the CHL is more skilled due to the fact the elite players bypass the AHL and hit the NHL following their junior careers. This is not entirely true Frank.
i never said the chl was more skilled. it isn't.
the rest of your post, i'm sure everyone would agree with.
Got to say Frankie that I do like Murray. He's the real leader of the IceCaps.
Speaking on the topic of sellouts and attendance for home teams versus non-home teams Frankie remember the time the Fog Devils and the OHL's Ottawa 67s played a game in Corner Brook? Wasn't that a sellout out there?
Got to say Frankie that I do like Murray. He's the real leader of the IceCaps.
Speaking on the topic of sellouts and attendance for home teams versus non-home teams Frankie remember the time the Fog Devils and the OHL's Ottawa 67s played a game in Corner Brook? Wasn't that a sellout out there?
Game 1 was probably 90% capacity, game 2 was a lot less. Probably 60% full. Corner Brook is atrocious for supporting things, people are cheap and aren't interested in anything but a first place team. The Royals almost moved to Stephenville last year after burying themselves in debt and averaging less than 1000 per game. Most concerts that are scheduled out there end up cancelling due to poor ticket sales. Then there was the Herder catastrophe this winter... terrible. But they're not entirely to blame either. The city has a really high unemployment rate and the economic outlook is grim with the mill on the verge of shutdown for the last couple of years.
Great win tonight for the Caps. Norfolk's going to be a tough opponent in the East final but fingers are crossed the team can win.
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Exhibit A as to how hockey doesn't matter on ESPN:
Last night an ESPN program was discussing how the Detroit Pistons needed a hero citing the heroes on the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and no mention of the Detroit Red Wings. All this despite the Red Wings probably being the most succesful team in Detroit right now.
I just posted it on the WBS/St. John's thread, but I wanted to post it here as well. Congratulations to the IceCaps on winning the series. I am disappointed that the Penguins did not win, but I am really sorry to see this great series come to an end. It was great for both teams. A shame that somebody had to lose. Good luck against Norfolk. I will be pulling for you.
Had the opportunity to speak with an IceCaps hockey operations member several days back, they mentioned that next year they have approx. 5,500 confirmed season ticket holders for next season, and a large chunk of those are in contracts for the following year also. Apparently people can still purchase season tickets as well. Looks incredible on paper for the organization, but it sure is horrible for those folks that can only afford a game here and there. Won't be easy for those individuals to get tickets if this team is either bit competative again next season.
Had the opportunity to speak with an IceCaps hockey operations member several days back, they mentioned that next year they have approx. 5,500 confirmed season ticket holders for next season, and a large chunk of those are in contracts for the following year also. Apparently people can still purchase season tickets as well. Looks incredible on paper for the organization, but it sure is horrible for those folks that can only afford a game here and there. Won't be easy for those individuals to get tickets if this team is either bit competative again next season.
Quite an impressive number.
Better effort last night too--much better than Thursday.
