File :-(, x, )
Minor League Hockey Anonymous
Hey /sp/,

Any minor league hockey fans here? I'm talking about AHL, ECHL, CHL, etc...

I'm from Fort Lauderdale. While I do enjoy spending $60 a head watching the Panthers choke at a home game, sometimes I make the occasional trek across the I-75 to Estero, to watch the ECHL's most popular franchise hit the ice: the Florida Everblades.

When you go to a Blades game, every seat is filled, everyone is shitting bricks, and the Blades actually play a very exciting game. The Blades have a huge following in the Southwest Florida.

For those faggots that believe that hockey can't survive in Florida, I say eat a fucking dick. Whether pro (Bolts, Panthers) or semi-pro (Blades), or even fucking roller hockey (NARCH, which holds its semiannual tournament in Estero), fans always show up to show their support.

Discuss.
>> Anonymous
what
>> Anonymous
providence bruins, fuck ya.
>> Anonymous
The southeast doesn't deserve hockey.

Fuck you, OP.
>> Anonymous
>>69866

OP here. Fuck you.

I love hockey. So do many others down here. Why should we be made to suffer without a hockey franchise just because our market is "non-traditional"? So fucking what, it doesn't snow here. Florida's warm weather and no State income tax are something that attract the NHL to the Sunshine State.

Currently, Tampa has one of the highest attendance rates in the NHL. During Florida's tenure in the downtown Miami Arena, they sold out every home game (Sunrise is a bit in the middle of nowhere, so yeah, I expected attendance to slump after the move). As far as success goes, Tampa WON A FUCKING STANLEY CUP and Florida MADE IT TO THE STANLEY CUP FINALS. The Blades of the ECHL HAS HAD A WINNING SEASON EVERY YEAR OF THEIR EXISTENCE and HAVE THE BEST ATTENDANCE IN THE ECHL.

Rot in hell, you fucking faggot. I could care less about Tennessee, Carolina, Georgia, or Arizona...HOCKEY IS NOT LEAVING FLORIDA, EVER!!!!
>> Anonymous
>>69858
mah wildcats :(
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
I used to care. :(
>> Anonymous
I think its good that minor league hockey is going through somewhat of a revival, seeing as some NHL players played for minor league teams during the lockout. Although the NHL players went back to their respective teams after the lockout, the attendance never fell back to what it used to be, and certain minor league teams enjoy packed arenas (which are usually of the lower bowl/8,000 seat capacity).
>> Anonymous
South East Division SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE
>> Heynonnynonnymous
Hrm...we got the Norfolk Admirals to worry about in my neck of the woods. I did try to follow up on the Pensacola Ice Pilots when I was in UWF, but I stopped caring a little after my degree.
>> Anonymous
Albany River Rats here.

Up 2-1 on the Philly Phantoms, fuck yeah
>> Anonymous
I live in Indianapolis we have a team called the indiana ice, is ushl, and was the first pro-team gretzky played for when they were called the racers or the checkers. i cant really remember. hockey is the most fun to watch tanked. the Ice used to be really good but i havent followed them much since they started having kids play on the team
>> Anonymous
>>69899
seconded, love the rats
>> Anonymous
>>69903

USHL is a junior league, it doesn't count as "minor league."

Although Canadian juniors are considered "pro" (because players get financially compensated for playing, although its small), American juniors are considered "amateur."
>> Anonymous
This is how professional hockey works in North America...

Major: NHL
Minor, High: AHL
Minor, Mid: ECHL, CHL
Minor, Low: IHL, LNAH, SPHL, MAHL