NORPAC/AWHL Update

Talk about false advertising... sorry about the title. Based on my understanding of last night's call, things are still in a state of flux. The league's annual meetings are tomorrow in Seattle, which begs the question why a conference call was needed at all last night - couldn't the business wait? Anyway, it's a mess that I'm sure will sort itself out soon enough.

Friday News

Nothing yet on last night's NORPAC conference call. Perhaps we'll know more later this morning... Rapid City's civic center board meet to discuss merits of USHL vs. CHL (be sure to add your two cents in the article's comments section)... Traverse City shifts to local ownership. Scott Gardiner steps down as head coach... More of the sale terms of the Lewiston Colisee... Burnaby Express promote Lanz’s assistant Dave McLellan to head coach... Yarmouth Mariners name Steve Kasper head coach... BCHL hooks up with Next Testing.... Molson urges hockey fans to get their cup on... TELUS to webcast all QMJHL games next season...

Breaking NORPAC/AWHL News

When I spoke of Eugene a couple days ago I mentioned a few different items. First off was their release about their expectations of the team/league going T3A. At least the release said the the move to T3A was in the application stage (eventually). However, when one examines their tryout camp brochure, one finds the following: Starting in the 2007-08 season, the Eugene Generals and the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NOR PAC) will compete as a Tier III Junior A league. Are you sure you don't want to hedge that just a little bit, guys, or is a little deception okay so long as you hope and pray you get approved? Anyway, that's not the big story, because I bet if I looked I could find another half dozen examples of teams jumping the gun on their status for next season. It's also not the big news of the night, because what's really important is the NORPAC conference call underway this evening. As most people know, the Rocky Mountain Division has planned to split off from the NORPAC, add a couple new markets, and reform the AWHL. That plan seems to be in danger as the remaining NORPAC teams are trying to hold on to as many eastern teams as possible. The first indication of this we saw was that Eugene release, which mentioned Missoula and Great Falls as going NORPAC, not AWHL. As it turns out, Great Falls isn't ready to return to the hockey ranks yet (cue the Annie soundtrack folks, as it seems they're always a year away), but it appears that not only has Missoula been convinced to go NORPAC, but Butte and perhaps even Coeur d'Alene have been secured to stay in the old league. The loss of these three markets puts a serious dent in the chances the AWHL can get off the ground this season. Tonight's conference call should shed some light on who is in and who is out, and I hope to have some news on the proceedings tomorrow morning (but probably not in my normal 6 AM posting).

Tuesday News

The Eugene Generals make it sound as if Tier III-A approval is a forgone conclusion. I just hope the Junior Council comes to their senses and actually attempts to verify all these teams/leagues meet the requirements before granting approval (before the laughing from Canada becomes thunderous). Besides, if everyone moves up from T3B to T3A, then what was the point of the exercise? "The move to Junior A will definitely increase the level play in the (NorPac) in the upcoming season." Talk about puffery... Who are we kidding, here? NorPac will still pulling from the same player pool along with the rest of the country. I'd like to meet this "T3A Fairy" that is going around the country sprinkling magic dust on everyone to make them think they're going to be better, and knock it in the teeth... When my kids were not quite totally potty-trained, and still in pull-ups, they'd come up to me and say "change me!" I'd wave my arms like a magician and declare: "SHAZAM!!! Yooouuuu are now a WOMBAT!!!" However, like the NorPac and WSHL, despite the declaration of a new identity they still had a load in their shorts... One note of mention in the above link, at the end of the piece they mention, Medford, Missoula, and Great Falls entering the league. I'm not entirely sure why the last two would go NorPac, unless maybe the AWHL defection has been put on hold. I guess I have some calls to make. Lakehead Thunderwolves officials waiting to interview Sioux City's Siciliano...

Topeka and the Return of the AWHL

UPDATED to include Capital-Journal article Topeka press conference articles Capital-Journal: Roadrunners show commitment to Topeka KTKA-49 (includes link to video) KSNT-27 (includes link to video) WIBW-13 video of nearly all the press conference (opens Windows Media Player) Billings Bulls label first/last season in NorPac a success. Last season in NorPac, you say? Yes, the AWHL is on the way back...