News Article: Western Expansion Driving Proposed OVerhaul to AHL, ECHL and CHL in 2015/16

[deeshamrock]

There are proposed changes coming to the AHL next year...

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-p...-ahl--echl--and-chl-in-2015-16-091626868.html

Proposal to reorganize the AHL teams to hvae them geographically closer.


For example, the article points out the case of the Abbottsford Heat, the Calgary Flames AHL team which plays in the Western Conf. but the closest teams to them are Iowa and Oklahoma over 1800 miles away.

This was a nightmare for Flames prospects, where a flight to visit a divisional rival was an all-day affair, and the youngsters were away from home 80 days out of the year -- far more than any other AHL franchise. When you're trying to turn a raw prospect into an NHLer, all that lost practice time adds up. As does the fatigue. And it's difficult to help a kid establish an organized, professional life when he's living out of a suitcase all year.

From the sounds of it, we should expect almost the entirety of the ECHL's Western Conference to join the AHL in 2015-16. Mixed with the proper Western markets already in the AHL and a dash of creativity, there might be enough to build a formal, 15 or 16-team conference.

Click to read more...

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I certainly hope this happens as it would give so many Kings fans more of a reason to drive to Ontario to watch what may be future stars with the team. I'd much prefer that than watching ECHL hockey.

 

[rajuabju]

I certainly hope this happens as it would give so many Kings fans more of a reason to drive to Ontario to watch what may be future stars with the team. I'd much prefer that than watching ECHL hockey.

Couldnt agree more.

I love the Kings, but I'm not willing to drive to Ontario to watch ECHL hockey. Yes, I know, some Kings prospects play there... but they are generally 2nd/3rd tier guys.

If there was an AHL affiliate of the Kings? I'd make the trip for some games.

Also, arent the Reign one of the top ECHL teams in terms of attendance? That shows the Ontario area can support an AHL club to me. Their location is perfect in term of distance to LA/Anaheim where they have a good base aroudn them, and I'm sure as an AHL team they could draw in more people from areas such as Hesperia and Corona.

 

[cyclones22]

I live less than 10 minutes from Citizens Bank Arena. I would love it if the AHL affiliate moved there and would certainly attend more games.

 

[JBernierFan]

Despite living in San Diego, I'd make the trek for a weekend game, or when I'm visiting my family in LA, if it was for an AHL game. It's too far to drive now for ECHL hockey. Honestly, I wish the Gulls never disbanded in San Diego. I loved going to those.

 

[Tadite]

Despite living in San Diego, I'd make the trek for a weekend game, or when I'm visiting my family in LA, if it was for an AHL game. It's too far to drive now for ECHL hockey. Honestly, I wish the Gulls never disbanded in San Diego. I loved going to those.

Maybe we can see a resurrection. Loved going to those games!

 

[HYORI 1963]

I don't attend many hockey games, but I would definitely checkout an AHL game in ontario.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

I have never been to Citizens Bank but I would see a AHL game there

 

[cyclones22]

I have never been to Citizens Bank but I would see a AHL game there

It's a nice little arena. Easily accessible via 10 or 60 FWY too. Make it happen, Kings.

 

[kingsfan28]

Lombardi, as well as other west coast GM's have wanted this to happen for years. It takes well over a day to get a prospect to LA when someone goes down with an injury, yet when the same injury happen to an east coast team, it may be only a cab ride away.

 

[go4hockey]

I live 15 min from the Ontario arena but only go to 1-3 games a season but will take in many many more if it was the AHL well around the King home games of coarse. And I'm guessing the Reign would move to Long Beach or maybe San Diego.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I've attended NHL games at the Great Western Forum, The Pond, Staples, HP Pavilion, Air Canada Centre (oh yeah Frozen Fury too), NCAA games at Michigan and Bowling Green, took in an OHL game at Mississauga, and have attended an ECHL game in Toledo and one in Long Beach, and I must say, the quality of hockey in the ECHL is probably the least exciting hockey I've witnessed live. Having a local AHL team would be awesome.

 

[onlyalad]

So the Kings would have 2 AHL teams? And some teams still sharing teams?
I like the idea of the Monarchs. I like having two tiers of players in training.

 

[HYORI 1963]

I've attended NHL games at the Great Western Forum, The Pond, Staples, HP Pavilion, Air Canada Centre (oh yeah Frozen Fury too), NCAA games at Michigan and Bowling Green, took in an OHL game at Mississauga, and have attended an ECHL game in Toledo and one in Long Beach, and I must say, the quality of hockey in the ECHL is probably the least exciting hockey I've witnessed live. Having a local AHL team would be awesome.

Never really gave it much thought until now, but yeah, it would be AWESOME!

 

[regulate]

So the Kings would have 2 AHL teams?

Nah, the Monarchs essentially will be moving their operation to Ontario. I would assume Manchester would pick up another franchise. I live about 10 minutes door to door to Citizen's Bank Arena, a really good hockey venue, and would become a season ticket holder in a heartbeat. It just does not interest me to see guys at the ECHL level play, since 98% of the players have very little chance of making then NHL.

 

[Fishhead]

I caught a game there a couple years ago during the lockout and really liked the arena. Nice and spacious, good concessions, and a great layout. They have these cool little areas with couches set up by the ice, I would imagine they are like rinkside suites.

 

[Brodeur]

Despite living in San Diego, I'd make the trek for a weekend game, or when I'm visiting my family in LA, if it was for an AHL game. It's too far to drive now for ECHL hockey. Honestly, I wish the Gulls never disbanded in San Diego. I loved going to those.

I'm still hoping that SD can land one of the AHL squads. The Gulls were briefly the ECHL affiliate for the Ducks. Back when Brian Burke was Anaheim's GM, he was pitching a Western Division for the AHL and mentioned SD as one of the potential cities.

 

[reset]

yeap, if manch is brought over to ontario... i will definitely drive to see the games

 

[Statto]

I've attended NHL games at the Great Western Forum, The Pond, Staples, HP Pavilion, Air Canada Centre (oh yeah Frozen Fury too), NCAA games at Michigan and Bowling Green, took in an OHL game at Mississauga, and have attended an ECHL game in Toledo and one in Long Beach, and I must say, the quality of hockey in the ECHL is probably the least exciting hockey I've witnessed live. Having a local AHL team would be awesome.

I'd give an arm for a local echl level team in the uk to watch, you don't know how spoiled you are. Lol. Our now defunct Superleague was slightly better than the echl and I really miss that. I hardly attend games now as my local team plays in what is a probably lower than junior B league. It hurts.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Count me in as an interested STH.

 

[goosh]

Count me in as well. Would be more than willing to drive over from West LA to catch some Monarchs games in Ontario. Love watching the prospects.

 

[King RAZZ]

Who's going to get control of the Las Vegas Wranglers when they're reactivated from this relocation mess???