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Post by mlh01 on May 6, 2024 16:23:26 GMT -5
Starting a new thread to try and ascertain # of teams declaring AAA
I remember the creator of this site, Doug Matheson, starting this thread yearly. If memory serves correctly, one year the # of AAA teams in Canada topped 25 teams.
So - Ontario so far looks like this:
Dundas Wentworth Stoney Creek Richmond Hill
Please add any info over the summer. I am thinking a good # would be 10 for next year. (Baby steps 🙂)
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Post by southoftheborder on May 7, 2024 3:42:57 GMT -5
In Alberta the Innisfail Eagles and Stony Plain Eagles are a pretty much well a given.
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Post by mlh01 on May 7, 2024 19:29:43 GMT -5
Heard some rumours today. Both from executives on Ontario based teams.
1) Good possibility that Alberta has 4 teams declare AAA next year - No towns were talked about but if I was to guess - Lacombe & Red Deer? Hoping someone in the pulse of Alberta hockey can comment
2) Newfoundland may follow their old tradition of teams declaring AAA while still playing against predominantly AA teams. Or, possibly following the Ontario model and have a AAA division and a AA division. Same as above, hoping anyone in Newfoundland can add any info they hear out there.
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Post by southoftheborder on May 8, 2024 4:19:06 GMT -5
Heard some rumours today. Both from executives on Ontario based teams. 1) Good possibility that Alberta has 4 teams declare AAA next year - No towns were talked about but if I was to guess - Lacombe & Red Deer? Hoping someone in the pulse of Alberta hockey can comment 2) Newfoundland may follow their old tradition of teams declaring AAA while still playing against predominantly AA teams. Or, possibly following the Ontario model and have a AAA division and a AA division. Same as above, hoping anyone in Newfoundland can add any info they hear out there. Newfoundland had been using the previous year's Herder champion as the provincial representatives in Allan Cup qualifying before the pandemic and multiple reorganizations of senior hockey in the province. Probably to give them a year to fundraise for trip(s) for qualifying and the Allan Cup itself. Travel ain't cheap (or easy) getting off the rock. Ferry for any Atlantic qualifier and multiple plane rides to get to Alberta.
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ou812
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Post by ou812 on May 8, 2024 13:47:37 GMT -5
ACH in Ontario promoted on Twitter they want to be 8 teams next season and Cosmos Sports is behind the consulting.
I have been told 1-2 (maybe 3) teams are looking to jump from AA status to AAA. Woodstock being one. One team is looking to relocate and then jump to AAA. Wasaga Beach is/was a done deal last year but then Brampton got saved by the league and the schedule got set. A couple of ex Brampton owners are part of the Richmond Hill team. Also heard Niagara and maybe Oakville. I personally would like to see Milton or Georgetown, if Oakville is truly being considered
Hockey in a the GTA is a tough sell. Need it to be more smaller markets with less competition for spectator dollars.
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ou812
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Post by ou812 on May 8, 2024 15:03:02 GMT -5
More news... not sure how I feel about the 5 extra roster players. www.ohahockey.ca/big-changes-in-store-for-2025-allan-cup/I was never a fan of the OHA and now they are doing what they can to make "outlaw" leagues less desirable. IMHO, that AA league is far better than OEHL. Just my opinion.
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Post by outwest95 on May 8, 2024 20:45:20 GMT -5
This is fantastic news. It’s a great start on a remodeling of an old outdated system.
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Post by mlh01 on May 8, 2024 21:02:39 GMT -5
The 5 extra roster players should not be an issue at all. Newfoundland has always had the same allowance.
We also have to remember, the OEHL Senior AA has some very hard regulations. Each player is designated Level 1 to 4. A level 1 player is anyone who played pro, Europe, AHL, NHL etc....and each team is only allowed TWO of these players. Only TWO ex pros. Dundas' roster is comprised of 80% ex-pros
Level 2 - Major Jr A (OHL, WHL or the Q) and NCAA Div 1 - each team can only have FOUR of these players.
Level 3/4 - the rest of each teams roster must be made up of NCAA Div 3 and Tier 2 Jr A, Jr B and Jr C
Honestly - it would take one special group of players that are coming from the lower levels to beat a team in AAA that is comprised of players with pro experience.
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Post by mlh01 on May 8, 2024 21:02:50 GMT -5
The 5 extra roster players should not be an issue at all. Newfoundland has always had the same allowance.
We also have to remember, the OEHL Senior AA has some very hard regulations. Each player is designated Level 1 to 4. A level 1 player is anyone who played pro, Europe, AHL, NHL etc....and each team is only allowed TWO of these players. Only TWO ex pros. Dundas' roster is comprised of 80% ex-pros
Level 2 - Major Jr A (OHL, WHL or the Q) and NCAA Div 1 - each team can only have FOUR of these players.
Level 3/4 - the rest of each teams roster must be made up of NCAA Div 3 and Tier 2 Jr A, Jr B and Jr C
Honestly - it would take one special group of players that are coming from the lower levels to beat a team in AAA that is comprised of players with pro experience.
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ou812
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Post by ou812 on May 8, 2024 23:45:29 GMT -5
No , I get and understand all that.
My concern is if the AA team is good enough to defeat ONT ACH champion team, they are good enough to go to Nationals as is. No need to stack the team further with other 5 top players from the loop. I understand the reasons why, but I don't have to agree with it. Win as a team, lose as a team.
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Post by mlh01 on May 9, 2024 8:52:14 GMT -5
No , I get and understand all that. My concern is if the AA team is good enough to defeat ONT ACH champion team, they are good enough to go to Nationals as is. No need to stack the team further with other 5 top players from the loop. I understand the reasons why, but I don't have to agree with it. Win as a team, lose as a team. Yes that is a very good point. Should a AA team defeat a AAA team, then yes they are quite capable of icing their regular roster. This certainly applies for Ontario. Newfoundland is, and always will be, a different animal. There are only 500,000 people on the whole island. It's smaller than Hamilton. The southern Ontario teams have. 10mil + population to draw from. So I do see the need for pickups out East. Great discussion though. Its honestly terrific to be talking about new teams, and player's eligibility, Allan Cup, etc. Rather than the demise of Senior hockey that our old regular poster "Wade" would predict yearly
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Post by mlh01 on May 9, 2024 8:53:52 GMT -5
On that note, if Lacombe or Red Deer are potentially coming back to Allan Cup competition....
Wade - I hope you are doing well. If you check this board, I would love to hear your opinion on the health, or hopefully renewed health of Senior in Alberta?
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Post by outwest95 on May 9, 2024 9:26:12 GMT -5
All I would say is that it’ll be quite hush hush all summer until meetings and AGMs are done. You’ll probably hear and see lots of speculation on things and won’t know anything until things get posted. I haven’t heard a whole lot of anything worth sharing myself. It’s been quite quiet
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Post by IceMan_M on May 9, 2024 14:19:25 GMT -5
I haven't heard much out here in Alberta. I believe the Coyotes team is attempting to form a comeback, but other than that, no other rumblings of new teams.
Would love to see Lacombe and another team or two join in. The North Central Senior League (AA) is a strong league that has the potential to have a team or two jump up in the ranks. They are also in smaller communities and seem to get good support from locals and businesses.
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Post by hockeyguy85 on May 21, 2024 13:05:45 GMT -5
I saw online this morning about potential locations for ACH teams to join. Also noted was the $100,000 buy in for new teams. Why so steep to start a team?
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