NAHL Meetings Review

Okay... in order, here's my take on the NAHL public decisions from this weekend: 1) The Board approved the relocation of Helena Bighorns to Taylor, Michigan, for the 2006-07 season. The Helena-to-Taylor (not Troy, as was misreported by some media over the weekend) move was not breaking news by most standards, as this was expected as part of the Great Montana Defection to the AWHL. However, by all accounts the sale and relocation are not complete. 2) The Board granted inactive membership status to the Cleveland Barons for the 2006-07 season. No surprise here, since the Barons have been unable to find an owner willing to keep the team in Cleveland. 3) The Board accepted the voluntary termination of the Billings Bulls effective immediately. I'm not sure why Billings decided to roll over on this one. Perhaps, with all the efforts to ensure a rink to play in and the move to the AWHL, Strong and Bonanno didn't feel like trying to find a buyer and market to which peddle their NAHL franchise rights. The events of last summer, with Santa Fe being sold at $50k below expansion fee cost and the Soo Indians voluntarily forfeiting their rights, suggests that there were too many franchises chasing too few viable and/or willing markets then, and that the glut remains a problem in the NAHL today. 4) The Board approved the transfer of ownership of the Santa Fe Roadrunners to Mary Magdalene Lorang. The sale took place several months ago and was made public locally, but the news didn't travel far. For those who insist this is a precursor to the Roadrunners relocating again, bear in mind that Mary Magdalene Lorang is a Santa Fe local, and it's quite rare for a local to buy a team then immediately move it. 5) The Board approved the transfer of ownership of the Wasilla Spirit to a group lead by Mark Lee. No surprise here, as the sale was previously advertised and, like the 'Runners sale, just needed a final sign off by the league. 6) Due to these movements, the divisional alignment for the 2006-07 season has yet to be determined. We're not going to know who is left standing where until the teams are all sanctioned next month by the Junior Council. However, I expect Bozeman to vacate the league as part of the AWHL strategy. Word is some form of announcement about the Icedogs will be made Monday. Martel probably has the most to lose with his fans by defecting, so he needed the shoes to drop in Billings and Helena before he could justify the jump. I'm not faulting this, if it is indeed his strategy, but just laying it out there. To continue... This places the Alaska teams at geographic risk once again, and at this point logic suggests moving them back to the South Division. Springfield will switch to the North (would someone please rename it the EAST Division?!???). The Central (should be NORTH) will remain relatively unchanged, although I suggest that Marquette be split from the North to 1) balance the three divisions at six teams each; and 2) be allowed extra interdivisional games against Alpena and Traverse City. This would make Marquette a swing team much the same way Springfield was this season between the North and South. I've already discussed the travel distances for Marquette, but for those who forgot, it's closer to Fargo, Alexandria, Owatonna, and Mason City than it is to Youngstown. So what I expect to see is the following: EAST Alpena Mahoning Valley Springfield Downriver (Taylor) Traverse City USNTDP SOUTH Fairbanks Santa Fe Texarkana Texas Wasilla Wichita Falls NORTH Bismarck Fargo-Moorhead Marquette Minnesota North Iowa Southern Minnesota I'm probably forgetting some little tidbit here or there... but most of you have plenty to digest here, so I'll call it a night.