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Post by outwest95 on Sept 7, 2022 10:41:10 GMT -5
Looks like the Chinook League is becoming more official. ACHW has retweeted from the Chinook league's Twitter account that the season is going ahead with 18 games. Just the three teams currently. I would imagine that the ACHW would become inactive and switch to the Chinook league once they are listed with HA.
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Post by wade on Sept 7, 2022 17:15:54 GMT -5
The mystery “third team” in the Chinook League is not nearly as solid as some might have us believe.
They were never even close to securing ice time in Carstairs. They’re now scrambling to borrow ice in Innisfail and whose playing for them?!
As of right now…at best…Stony & Innisfail will be going AAA.
Three years now past The Army signing off and zero indication of the forecasted “renewed interest in AAA, with the Generals gone”.
What we’re actually seeing is more poorly organized, haphazard, hope and prayers and not much else.
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Post by IceMan_M on Sept 7, 2022 18:17:39 GMT -5
There is an Invermere (3ish hours from Calgary) senior team page on Facebook and has already begun recruiting players and sponsors. So I wouldn’t count them out. Carstairs has done the same online with player announcements, etc. Will be exciting to see CHL back. Invermere looks like a no go as someone involved with the team posted that the CHL was a go but without them about two months ago (July 10th) citing travel distance. Can confirm, the Invermere team was not accepted into the Ranchland league, citing travel distances for the AA league and they have opted not to join the AAA circuit.
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Post by southoftheborder on Sept 8, 2022 6:25:47 GMT -5
The mystery “third team” in the Chinook League is not nearly as solid as some might have us believe. They were never even close to securing ice time in Carstairs. They’re now scrambling to borrow ice in Innisfail and whose playing for them?! As of right now…at best…Stony & Innisfail will be going AAA. Three years now past The Army signing off and zero indication of the forecasted “renewed interest in AAA, with the Generals gone”. What we’re actually seeing is more poorly organized, haphazard, hope and prayers and not much else. From what I saw the team was being offered ice time that would have games starting at 11pm or later.
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Post by wade on Sept 8, 2022 10:09:33 GMT -5
The mystery “third team” in the Chinook League is not nearly as solid as some might have us believe. They were never even close to securing ice time in Carstairs. They’re now scrambling to borrow ice in Innisfail and whose playing for them?! As of right now…at best…Stony & Innisfail will be going AAA. Three years now past The Army signing off and zero indication of the forecasted “renewed interest in AAA, with the Generals gone”. What we’re actually seeing is more poorly organized, haphazard, hope and prayers and not much else. From what I saw the team was being offered ice time that would have games starting at 11pm or later.
Literally attempting to install a fly-by-night operation. Wowwww…. Who predicted this?! (I did)
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Post by outwest95 on Sept 8, 2022 12:44:57 GMT -5
It’s not being classified as a “AAA” only league. It’s resembling the old Chinook league where you can be “AA” or “AAA” status.
You can’t blame them for not promoting it as soon as likes since they didn’t receive approval until this past month. It takes more then a month to plan properly and get other interest. This is especially true with established leagues already in place.
You have to look at it more in the big picture. Obviously a 5-6 team league would look amazing, however it isn’t the case at this present time. Realistically I think you can expect a solid year with a great leadership group behind it pushing the boards vision forward.
Interest will be generated in time. No one is expecting senior hockey to be what it once was. Nobody is trying to become the next generals. Teams recognize that there still is very high caliber hockey in the country , and players who want to play, might as well continue to offer that level until it is no more.
You can’t sit there and say team A or team B want to be the next big thing, the ultimate goal is winning a national championship until that can’t become no more. Sure in alberta there are only 2 teams currently, however the two teams have the support to make this a reality and most importantly the drive and will.
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Post by wade on Sept 8, 2022 18:51:30 GMT -5
It’s not being classified as a “AAA” only league. It’s resembling the old Chinook league where you can be “AA” or “AAA” status. You can’t blame them for not promoting it as soon as likes since they didn’t receive approval until this past month. It takes more then a month to plan properly and get other interest. This is especially true with established leagues already in place. You have to look at it more in the big picture. Obviously a 5-6 team league would look amazing, however it isn’t the case at this present time. Realistically I think you can expect a solid year with a great leadership group behind it pushing the boards vision forward. Interest will be generated in time. No one is expecting senior hockey to be what it once was. Nobody is trying to become the next generals. Teams recognize that there still is very high caliber hockey in the country , and players who want to play, might as well continue to offer that level until it is no more. You can’t sit there and say team A or team B want to be the next big thing, the ultimate goal is winning a national championship until that can’t become no more. Sure in alberta there are only 2 teams currently, however the two teams have the support to make this a reality and most importantly the drive and will. I respect your positive viewpoint. I don’t personally consider two teams playing against each other to constitute “a league”. And I don’t think anyone else does either. Fort Sask continues to operate at the AA level. They’ve got zero intention of returning AAA. And neither do the current Lacombe Generals. Or anyone else in the NCHL. There are NO prospects for AAA expansion in Alberta. None. And maybe some year that will change but MY point is: The failure of the ACHW was NOT the fault of The Army being “too dominant”. There are 2-3 AA teams in Alberta …right now…as good or better than Stony or Inny. They’re not interested in competing for Allan Cup for the same reason(s) The Army left: It’s no longer a legitimate national championship & it’s poorly organized/supported by Hockey Canada AND it’s too expensive
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Post by libdude8 on Sept 9, 2022 9:09:46 GMT -5
Hello All
I rarely reply but have been a long time senior hockey fan, follower of this forum and follower in Ont. Help with a team outside of HC and OHA but would love to be involved in the Allan Cup if done right. What's happening in the country to the oldest championship trophy is disturbing. We can rehash that to death I am sure. In Ontario not a peep has come from the ACH league about this upcoming season and its almost mid sept. I've heard 5 teams now we are hearing 3 with two owned by one owner. In todays day and age its so easy to communicate to fans. To not keep fans, sponsors and supporters informed is very peculiar. Ontario has 35 teams at the senior level operating outside of HC, OHF and OHA. So its not about the lack of popularity at this level.
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Post by outwest95 on Sept 9, 2022 9:36:00 GMT -5
To wades point, I agree that the tournament is too expensive and poorly organized. It definitely needs an overhaul and solid leadership if it is to continue moving forward. Realistically I don't think you can look at teams like fort sask or other teams similar to them as legitimate challengers to the two birds. You have to look at teams like Nanton, Camrose, Lacombe, and Lethbridge in my opinion. These 2-3 teams that wade suggests should be chomping at the bit to get a piece of the two birds and see if they can compete at their level, and if they go "AAA' they at least now have a league that will respect that status and respect if they have to drop to "AA".
The thing that can really make this new league great is the fact its open to "AA" or "AAA" teams. If you want to play the best and maintain your status then why not take on a new challenge? I think it is designed in this way so teams like stony and inny who legitimately feel they still have an opening at the AC can play. I mean it's unfortunate that the closest league in Alberta for those two teams won't let them play because they are "AAA" and likely "AAA" until AC is no more.
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Post by outwest95 on Sept 9, 2022 9:38:43 GMT -5
Hello All I rarely reply but have been a long time senior hockey fan, follower of this forum and follower in Ont. Help with a team outside of HC and OHA but would love to be involved in the Allan Cup if done right. What's happening in the country to the oldest championship trophy is disturbing. We can rehash that to death I am sure. In Ontario not a peep has come from the ACH league about this upcoming season and its almost mid sept. I've heard 5 teams now we are hearing 3 with two owned by one owner. In todays day and age its so easy to communicate to fans. To not keep fans, sponsors and supporters informed is very peculiar. Ontario has 35 teams at the senior level operating outside of HC, OHF and OHA. So its not about the lack of popularity at this level. I agree, popularity at this level will always be there. Its just a matter of team interest to going to the "AAA" status. All sorts of reasons can limit that from happening. From my experience I usually haven't seen anything come out from Ontario until October-November. Maybe I am just looking too late for the information, however likely because the league hasn't had its fall meeting yet.
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Post by dontcallitsenior on Sept 9, 2022 11:04:32 GMT -5
Reading some tea leaves I believe this is in Hockey Canada's hands to some degree. There are enough interested teams that want to compete for the Allan Cup. But need their cooperation. And with all the sh*t they are going through I am sure an Allan Cup isn't on their priority list.
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Post by IceMan_M on Sept 10, 2022 9:58:13 GMT -5
To me, there’s not enough players interested in investing the time it takes to have a solid AAA team. Not so much from the teams side of things.
But you’ve got practices, multiple games on the weekends, long drives for the centres that do have AAA teams (think Rosetown a few years back).
It just becomes too much for the players to do who have to work the next day. Factor in them being at a different stage of life from when hockey was their only focus, they’ve got kids, spouses, full time jobs that needs to keep the household lights on.
It’s tough, but I think because of the lull we’ve seen the past 5-10 years in the AAA world, it’s kind of missed a whole generation in the sense of them being excited to play that level.
That being said, I don’t think it’s dead, and if it can get marketed right and scale down the weekend nights required, possibly by lengthening the season by a few weeks to accommodate for one game a weekend, more players would be open to it.
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Post by outwest95 on Sept 12, 2022 18:14:25 GMT -5
Has anyone heard anything from more central regions? Sask and Manitoba?
All I have heard so far is the CSHL in Manitoba has expanded for this year and it includes the St Anne Aces among others.
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Post by southoftheborder on Sept 13, 2022 6:01:43 GMT -5
Has anyone heard anything from more central regions? Sask and Manitoba? All I have heard so far is the CSHL in Manitoba has expanded for this year and it includes the St Anne Aces among others. Information for most senior leagues start rolling out during the month of September as teams get an idea of how many players they have committed for the season after a number of practice sessions.
It's actually looks like the CSHL might be done as they are down to 2 teams (Grunthal and Steinbach). The SEMHL added Ile-des-Chenes, Red River, and Ste. Anne from the CSHL. Nothing firm from the Tiger Hills or North Central League.
If Steinbach doesn't have a league to play in could the South East Prairie Thunder be back?
Alberta has the Chinook and North Central with posted information for the season. North Peace, Sask/Alta and East Central have not updated yet. North Peace stated it looked like the season would be a go during the summer as they lost last season as well due to restrictions.
BC has the Central Interior league with 8 teams playing this year.
I thought I saw that there might be one or two teams interested in Senior AAA for the year in BC (can't remember the teams but one of them was supposed to be playing Innisfail a few times during the season as a measuring stick to decide whether or not to try).
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Post by IceMan_M on Sept 13, 2022 9:16:02 GMT -5
I want to say it was Powell River making a run again at BC AAA.
Not positive but that rings a bell.
Still no team from the Kelowna area either, I’m quite surprised that them and the Van area have never shown interest with their population for players and money in the area.
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