Playoff wallflowers outlawed in USHL...

Not sure what to make of the USHL's new playoff format, where everyone is guaranteed a dance in the playoffs. With the first round a best-of-seven, wouldn't it just be easier to add two extra home games to everyone's regular season schedule? I understand there's a need to generate additional revenue, but are a pair of blowouts in a 1-vs.-6 playoff bracket worth more financially than a couple of games against your best rival? The only thing keeping this from being the most absurd bracket system in hockey is that they left out the do-overs, unlike the Central Hockey League's new brackets... The WSHL announced late Friday that the expansion Salt Lake Renegades are deferring their admission into the league until next season. News about the team since their joining had been extremely difficult to come by, leading me to believe the franchise never really got their *cough* stuff together. This begs the question: why then were they admitted in the first place? For those wondering about a local replacement for the departed Fort Worth Texans - I've heard nothing for weeks. A replacement team based out of Grapevine, co-owned by the Peoria Coyotes owners and some DFW locals, had been in development, but I suspect Jeremy Law's signing with Tucson killed any momentum the effort might have had. The loss of Salt Lake for the season raises a question about divisional alignments. It had been said in league circles that if a replacement for the Texans was not found, Tucson would be shifted to the Midwest to help balance the divisions. With Salt Lake also out, I'm not sure that is still the plan. Is it just me, or are most players who come back to juniors from the NCAA goaltenders? Stephen Ritter (Providence College/Marquette Rangers) appears to be the latest... Maine Moose close to finalizing roster... Hockey Canada hires Jim Hammett as head scout for national junior teams... Coyotes' Czech draft choice lands in Red Deer this season... Here's some recruiting news out of BadgerLand... Three former BCHL Langley Hornets heading to college this season...