How strong is SPHL?

[Ratitude]

All the SPHL and FPHL haters out in full force. Again most who are not even from these respective markets, and most couldn't land a spot on a club from the SP or Fed despite how good they claim to be on their beer league team .

Back to relevant conversation that Broughman (spelling?) kid who started in the SPHL with Roanoke this year seems to be doing decent. Earned a recent call up to Adirondack of the ECHL and so far I think is 8 or 9 games into it. He was a D3 leaguer with a solid collegiate career at SUNY Oswego.

So despite the long shot the path is still there. Keith Aucoin, same thing, get an education at D3 and sign somewhere. If you work hard and playing exceptional you can move up. The opportunities are there.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

All the SPHL and FPHL haters out in full force. Again most who are not even from these respective markets, and most couldn't land a spot on a club from the SP or Fed despite how good they claim to be on their beer league team .

Back to relevant conversation that Broughman (spelling?) kid who started in the SPHL with Roanoke this year seems to be doing decent. Earned a recent call up to Adirondack of the ECHL and so far I think is 8 or 9 games into it. He was a D3 leaguer with a solid collegiate career at SUNY Oswego.

So despite the long shot the path is still there. Keith Aucoin, same thing, get an education at D3 and sign somewhere. If you work hard and playing exceptional you can move up. The opportunities are there.

The FPHL is garbage hockey. Period. No player from that league is going to advance to play in the NHL. The SPHL is a better run and organized league off the ice and a better product on it, but still not close to where the UHL and CHL were.

When Keith Aucoin finished at Norwich, he played in Binghamton in the UHL and did well. He's a guy that was missed in college recruiting and found himself a good place to play, worked his ass off to service his talent, got noticed and made something of himself.

But he's one guy in the last 20 years. Don't confuse everyone (or really, anyone) playing in the SPHL for Fed with Keith Aucoin, who was an extreme outlier.

 

[Candyman]

has anyone made it from SPHL to the show??

Stanley Cup Champion Scott Darling. He's the only one I know of.

 

[AintLifeGrand]

Fans never want to hear that the players aren't "prospects" in the truest sense of the word, but in the SPHL and the FPHL, they're not. The dream was over for most of these guys long before lacing them up in the SPHL. But they get to have fun and enjoy their mid-20s in a different environment for a year or three. They're hanging on to the game as long as they can.

Would a top Division III team be competitive night-in, night-out in the SPHL? No question they would. Far more top players in Division III retire to work in finance or go to grad school than go on to ride the bus in the SPHL or play overseas. There's a bigger talent gap top-to-bottom on an SPHL roster than any team in the NESCAC or MIAC.

Isn't ACHA D1 on the same level as NCAA DIII? So SPHL is basically like watching Liberty vs University of Illinois play??

 

[JMCx4]

Stanley Cup Champion Scott Darling. He's the only one I know of.

Darling is the only SPHL alum mentioned on the SPHL History webpage with an NHL appearance.

 

[Barclay Donaldson]

Isn't ACHA D1 on the same level as NCAA DIII? So SPHL is basically like watching Liberty vs University of Illinois play??

The top 10 or so ACHA DI teams are somewhere around the bottom quarter or third of NCAA DIII teams. The other 50 are nowhere near NCAA hockey.

 

[PCSPounder]

Put him in the ECHL, and he's immediately playing against guys bigger and older than him. That advantage goes away, and maybe he's mopes because he's not producing and stops developing.

This is the universal answer to “could a college team win a pro league,” and when it comes to the SPHL, this also means D-1. I’m serious.

Mind you, I come somewhat from the soccer mindset. England has 17 levels in their pyramid, and while I can understand why people would call a 4th-level league a “beer league,” I do believe we ought to aim for a broader professional spectrum. And, no, I don’t see myself paying for it.

(This is one way of saying that American soccer fans have the best arguments. And the worst.)

 

[tarheelhockey]

Mind you, I come somewhat from the soccer mindset. England has 17 levels in their pyramid, and while I can understand why people would call a 4th-level league a “beer league,” I do believe we ought to aim for a broader professional spectrum.

I'm probably just stating the obvious here, but the economics of hockey just don't permit for this. It's been about 125 years of pro hockey, and the system has never gone meaningfully below the 4th tier. Once you get to a certain level of depth, the expense of production makes it a money sink. There are boom-bust cycles that wipe out whole tiers because of the lack of profitability. This has been a limiting factor on the scale of pro hockey for several generations.

 

[Ratitude]

Anyone who craps on the SP is an idiot. A solid overlooked player who started in the SPHL this year is having a decent season so far here in Adirondack. A D3 player out of SUNY Oswego is proof is proof that these leagues provide an opportunity for guys under the radar, late bloomers, and the overlooked. Heck even former NHLer Ian White started the season in the Fed with Motor City and now already in Norfolk with the Admirals. So happy for him and seeing him do well with Norfolk

Travis Broughman Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Travis Broughman, a hockey player from Richmond, VA born Mar 29 1997 who was active from 2016 to 2023.

www.hockeydb.com

 

[CrazyEddie20]

Anyone who craps on the SP is an idiot. A solid overlooked player who started in the SPHL this year is having a decent season so far here in Adirondack. A D3 player out of SUNY Oswego is proof is proof that these leagues provide an opportunity for guys under the radar, late bloomers, and the overlooked. Heck even former NHLer Ian White started the season in the Fed with Motor City and now already in Norfolk with the Admirals. So happy for him and seeing him do well with Norfolk

Travis Broughman Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Statistics of Travis Broughman, a hockey player from Richmond, VA born Mar 29 1997 who was active from 2016 to 2023.

www.hockeydb.com

Again, that's one player out of how many? Just like Keith Aucoin, you're point to one guy out of hundreds, rather than the hundreds that show the real level of play in the SPHL.

Do guys get overlooked? Sure. But again, one guy playing a level higher doesn't mean the entire league can. It means that occasionally, a guy will get called up and stick.

As for Ian White, he's had a lot of problems with drugs that stemmed from hockey related injuries, and it's pretty obvious that he's still playing because doesn't know what to do with himself aside from hockey. It's a pretty sad story - not something to be celebrated.

 

[NEPA Ice]

Speaking as someone who just likes hockey...when I was working and traveling, I'd look up whatever hockey was around and go see a game, rather than sitting in a hotel room for the night. Same thing with baseball. Granted my expectations weren't very high, but it was entertainment. For the cities that have an SPHL team, I'm sure there are plenty of people who just love the fact that they have a team to root for and a chance for some entertainment.
Now in keeping with the theme of this thread, I agree that the SPHL quality of play isn't all that great but if I watch them, it's just for the fun of doing so. I have one ECHL and three (maybe four) AHL teams that I can go to see and enjoy doing so. I also have two FPHL teams nearby and I haven't spent a penny to watch them because the quality is even worse than the SPHL. But if I was on the road, say in Watertown, NY, and sitting bored in a hotel room, I'd probably go and watch and drink a beer or two.

 

[JMCx4]

From the two SPHL games (very small sample) that me 'n' Mrs. JMC attended in Huntsville this holiday weekend, we'd say the on-ice officiating does not deserve a "strong" rating. The League needs to take a serious look at using two referees during regular season games, considering the physicality at the Single A level. Heck, even the FPHL had two refs work the pair of games we attended late last week in Biloxi ... and they had their work cut out for them.

 

[SemireliableSource]

From the two SPHL games (very small sample) that me 'n' Mrs. JMC attended in Huntsville this holiday weekend, we'd say the on-ice officiating does not deserve a "strong" rating. The League needs to take a serious look at using two referees during regular season games, considering the physicality at the Single A level. Heck, even the FPHL had two refs work the pair of games we attended late last week in Biloxi ... and they had their work cut out for them.

The SP uses USA Hockey officials and those are three-man crews already. The SPHL's only ability to go to two refs would be if they hired their own officials. Given the long-documented shortage. Going out and hiring your own officials who aren't already employed or are underemployed, you're going to see a decrease in quality most likely.

 

[Ratitude]

Again, that's one player out of how many? Just like Keith Aucoin, you're point to one guy out of hundreds, rather than the hundreds that show the real level of play in the SPHL.

Do guys get overlooked? Sure. But again, one guy playing a level higher doesn't mean the entire league can. It means that occasionally, a guy will get called up and stick.

As for Ian White, he's had a lot of problems with drugs that stemmed from hockey related injuries, and it's pretty obvious that he's still playing because doesn't know what to do with himself aside from hockey. It's a pretty sad story - not something to be celebrated.

Aucoin has nothing to do with my piece, you have a very one dimensional thought process. There will be others, you can count on it. If you can start off in the SP or the Fed and work your way to a nice gig in the ECHL or even AHL then you did good. Lastly, Ian's story while sad is very much a celebration of life and recovery. All things considered he is in a much better place. It's pretty low suggesting Ian is playing hockey because he doesn't know what to do with himself, ignorance actually. Ian is playing hockey because that is exactly what he knows how to do, he knows the game well but most importantly he loves the game and that's exactly what those in recovery should be doing. He is alive, playing the game he loves and has done well at that game regardless of the level he is now at, that changes nothing other then what he earns. Bottom line is it's not about the money, it's all about his lifelong challenge of recovery and living life. After what he has been through he has much to celebrate.

 

[Ratitude]

So another little idea of how decent the SPHL is and that it can certainly provide a "development" opportunity for players is the pipeline of some very solid D3 players coming from college, to the SPHL, and then to the ECHL. Adirondack seems to be a landing spot. I already mentioned the one former SPHL player from Oswego, now there is another D3 to the SPHL then to Adirondack in Brady Fleurent out of University of New England. A recent game against the Maine Mariners who also had a former New England University player on their roster as well. When I think of solid D3 Oswego, Plattsburgh, and Utica are always the first teams that come to mind but it definitely looks as though University of New England is churning out some very good players and they always seem to lead their conference. They seem well coached, well supported, and if they are good players and go the SPHL route to get their foot in the door they certainly aren't going unnoticed down south in the southern circuit, somebody is watching and guys are getting opportunities. If the FPHL could just up its game a little and operate more like the SPHL that definitely would be a cool thing IMO. I would have no problem dropping some coin to watch solid players from the D3 ranks and overlooked junior players from the tier 1 ranks trying to get their start in the minor pro ranks. Again, when all is said and done it's just entertainment, that's the nature of the business.

 

[GindyDraws]

Stanley Cup Champion Scott Darling. He's the only one I know of.

My blood boils when I see this name.

 

[JMCx4]

So another little idea of how decent the SPHL is and that it can certainly provide a "development" opportunity for players is the pipeline of some very solid D3 players coming from college, to the SPHL, and then to the ECHL. Adirondack seems to be a landing spot. ...

I presume "decent" constitutes high praise in this discussion?

 

[Ratitude]

I presume "decent" constitutes high praise in this discussion?

I think you are way overthinking things here lol, we have a critical thinker . That's okay though, you can dissect my language. Everyone is different, opinion or expectations do vary greatly. Some view minor league hockey as just weekend entertainment, others will view through lenses of grandeur on the road to NHL stardom. Some see the SPHL/FPHL as good old minor league hockey in America like WWF or NASCAR on ice. Others view the SPHL/FPHL from an elitist lens as an annoyance, a side show circus that has no place. Whatever the case may be in each our own opinions both leagues have survived well. Good, bad, and ugly they have earned their place in minor league hockey history.

 

[Ratitude]

Congrats to U.N.E and SPHL grad Brady Fleurent. What a weekend he had helping to propel the Adirondack Thunder into the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Got to chat with Brady's proud parents last night and they are such nice folks I am thrilled for them. Again this is proof there are opportunities in the SPHL with hard work and believing you can.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

Congrats to U.N.E and SPHL grad Brady Fleurent. What a weekend he had helping to propel the Adirondack Thunder into the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Got to chat with Brady's proud parents last night and they are such nice folks I am thrilled for them. Again this is proof there are opportunities in the SPHL with hard work and believing you can.

Yup, there are occasional opportunities to get called up to the ECHL and make $500 a week instead of $350 a week.

 

[Ratitude]

Yup, there are occasional opportunities to get called up to the ECHL and make $500 a week instead of $350 a week.

Absolutely, a raise in pay is a just that, a raise in pay. Add in player housing, medical, per diems, and that $500 per week value goes up. The intangible, players get more exposure and an opportunity to get noticed.

 

[swoopster]

After a less than glorious college hockey stint, I gave the NEHL a try in 1978... sorry to say at that level, it was about guys not wanting to face reality, party, booze and avoid the most certain future... been there, did it. Some great slap shot like stories, but in the end we all grow up. I got a team logo bag out of it. Still used it until I hung em up last year at 68. Need two new hips, the spine is a f'd up and I live in pain. If wish in retrospect I had taken up the piano.

 

[JMCx4]

After a less than glorious college hockey stint, I gave the NEHL a try in 1978... sorry to say at that level, it was about guys not wanting to face reality, party, booze and avoid the most certain future... been there, did it. Some great slap shot like stories, but in the end we all grow up. I got a team logo bag out of it. Still used it until I hung em up last year at 68. Need two new hips, the spine is a f'd up and I live in pain. If wish in retrospect I had taken up the piano.

Billy Joel would suck at hockey (5'6" on his tippy-toes, 165 lbs. after a good cleanse). Maybe you could've been The Piano Man, and earned tips from your teammates.

 

[swoopster]

Maybe you could sing along... my point being the Southern Professional Hockey League is a road to nowhere.