ranul
Junior Member
Posts: 92
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Post by ranul on Feb 5, 2024 11:56:07 GMT -5
IN THE UNION HOCKEY LEAGUER, WHICH IS A SENIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE IN THE STATES, ONE OF THE RULES IS Each member club must follow the league-prescribed minimum/maximum budget and will present the league with a statement of earnings of at least $20,000 from Season Tickets/Sponsorships/Fundraisers by December 31st, 2023 to participate in the season
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ou812
Junior Member
Posts: 35
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Post by ou812 on Feb 6, 2024 8:44:10 GMT -5
That's interesting information. Thank you.
I don't know the specific details around ownership in Ontario ACH, but OHA seems to only care that their fees are paid and players are registered and insured and refs are certified and get paid. So long as ACH are under that OHA umbrella, I don't see anything changing to similar of what you posted. Because if it does, then mens sr AAA turns and pay to play like junior hockey. That won't fly with guys at the end and beyond of their pro/competitive years, with families, jobs, etc.
I could be wrong on that assumption, but if ACH and OHA take back a team like Brampton this season, who owed money to the league and arena, just to ice a "team" to make 4 in the loop, shows what is important to them. Do they really care what is on the ice? Last few games, Brampton listed their coach as a player. Did he actually play or did they use ineligible player under his name? Last game Wentworth didn't even bother to send any coaches or staff to the game! Really? No one?? A Player didn't dress and "coached" the bench. Aren't there rules/certifications required as to who can be on a bench under OHA rules? The answer is yes!
I am willing to bet pay to play is the model they want to push. If they truly are considering adding Woodstock, their owner is legendary for high fees charged while in the GMHL selling the "dream". I have heard in the $10K range!! Pay to play is what broke (in part) tier 2 Jr A over the years. Caledon Crusaders bailed out a few years ago because the owner could not apply the pay to play model he uses with his Jr C, B and A teams. No one was willing to pay.
Long ramble and not sure where I am going with this (no coffee yet LOL).
I agree some benchmarkers are needed like you mentioned for US sr hockey, but more change is needed under governing body. As I said before, OHA rules are in place for minor hockey, and should not be blanket covered for mens sr aaa too. It's a different beast and requires a different plan and approach.
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Post by IceMan_M on Feb 6, 2024 11:06:46 GMT -5
If you look at how the US Sr hockey is being run - there is a TON of them blowing up Instagram, they run it like a "for profit" organization, lots of community support for sponsorships and mascots. They get great attendance, part in parcel to their locations (Vail, Breckenridge, and Jackson Hole come to mind) and have the communities involved. They also fly in teams from across the country to play - whether it be the NYPD, Boston Police, Chicago Misfits, etc.
They make it entertaining, they have the 2 fight rule so they get a few entertaining tilts a game (as much as some people don't like it, it draws crowd energy and engagement), and their Insta accounts get picked up by Spittin' Chiclets, Bardown, etc.
I'm using the teams in the west as they seem to get the most traction and attention, but from what I see, there is more and more of that happening.
I think there needs to be some rule changes made to make the Senior game more engaging, getting them out of the big markets like the GTA who you need to compete with 100 other options to spend your money for a night out with.
I don't know how you translate that to the Canadian market, but if it's being pulled off south of the boarder, why not up here?
Powell River played in Breckenridge the other weekend and they have Youtube streams going on of the games and announcers who either do it as a hobby or are just stepping into their broadcasting careers.
I don't see ANY of the Canadian games being streamed, other than the odd EOSHL game.
Out here in Alberta, I don't know where I'd be able to find ANY of the senior games online, other than maybe the one-off Facebook livestream.
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ou812
Junior Member
Posts: 35
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Post by ou812 on Feb 6, 2024 12:08:56 GMT -5
Thanks for your insight.
Yes, the GTA market has to fight for entertainment dollars... and that is a big reason the Ontario ACH is an "old boys club". So long as the owners make a little money or use the loses against their other business/tax planning, have "some" community involvement but at the end of the day.... the league does not grow because of it.
Dundas and Wentworth are owned by businessmen who use the team as a hobby. Go listen to interviews with Don or even the Niagara region interview with Gatt of Gryphins. It's a hobby for the owners. Wentworth is full of friends, family and buddies who work for his company or associated to them personally. It's a very cliquey team. Dundas have a long history of ex pros and draw such because of past (Rick Vaive, Chris Campolli, Don Edwards (MoTTs) and I think even Doug Gilmore have played there for a few games...to name a few) and the owner likes to associate himself with old time hockey players. The Stoney Creek owners are trying to change that a bit (IMHO) but ultimately they follow the same model. Brampton is well Brampton. Enough said.
I am not saying I know what the definitive answer is, but it is not what they are doing now
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Post by outwest95 on Feb 8, 2024 1:41:40 GMT -5
Comes down to infrastructure. It’s really that simple. Lots of the arenas don’t have the necessary internet as an example to run a YouTube stream or a decent FB live for long periods. It makes sense that if your hosting an out of province team you would have some type of feed up so fans of each team can tune in. I don’t think that’s necessary for league standards though. It a team by team thing.
I do think that in terms of league, live scoring is a good feature to have. Most teams have a social media guru now who can manage that with a simple log in to the league site or even a league rep who gets texts or dm’s from said rep to update the league.
I’d even add in that in terms of league standards that’s what bylaws are for and if the members, governors, or whatever they call team reps agree that a team is doing harm to the league then yeah all the power to them to call a meeting and fix said issue.
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ranul
Junior Member
Posts: 92
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Post by ranul on Feb 8, 2024 13:37:26 GMT -5
Comes down to infrastructure. It’s really that simple. Lots of the arenas don’t have the necessary internet as an example to run a YouTube stream or a decent FB live for long periods. It makes sense that if your hosting an out of province team you would have some type of feed up so fans of each team can tune in. I don’t think that’s necessary for league standards though. It a team by team thing. I do think that in terms of league, live scoring is a good feature to have. Most teams have a social media guru now who can manage that with a simple log in to the league site or even a league rep who gets texts or dm’s from said rep to update the league. I’d even add in that in terms of league standards that’s what bylaws are for and if the members, governors, or whatever they call team reps agree that a team is doing harm to the league then yeah all the power to them to call a meeting and fix said issue. I wouldn't mind if they recorded the game. and the post it on YouTube later
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