Steve 'Fresh Money' Ryan navigates through hockey's big risorgimento

(sorta OT....apologies. Just Steve Ryan did have a major role in indoor soccer over the 90's and 00's)Sometime over the last year a plan has been cemented by the NHL and AHL, other minor leagues have bought into the plan and are now contributing. The short version is Minor Hockey is going to be revamped, reshuffled and remixed. One of the main guys leading the whole reorganization is none other than Steve 'Fresh Money' Ryan, head of the Central Hockey League.

A California based AHL division, a lot of trading of franchise rights and charters, teams switching leagues and an entirely new cost model is being employed. One of the main worries has been anti trust laws although that has now been figured out.

Fresh Money is on his way to Wichita in the next few weeks and has to figure out some things there. My friend who deals with him a lot says he has nothing but good things to say about the indoor game and has kept himself abreast of the MASL.

 

No the Chill were not owned by Andrew Haines. The Chill were the Laredo Bucks CHL franchise who moved to the Family arena, concurrently starting a Junior team in Laredo. They had some connections with Bart Hull (former CFL player and Brett Hull's brother) who ran the team, Jamie Rivers ex NHL and Jeff Brown ex NHL.

Haines had nothing to do with the Chill. I've worked with Andrew a few times and he was always a straight shooter with me. Andrew started up the Mid Atlantic Hockey League which he sold before it collapsed. Sadly, because of the Mid Atlantic league, Haines is incorrectly lumped in with Jim "Cashless" Cashman who has an interesting career in setting up low level hockey leagues. My opinion of Cashless will remain off this board.

While the CHL is operating at 9 teams, they are absolutely a part of the minor league hockey reboot. The NHL, AHL and ECHL are also on board. Right now they are having lively discussions with what to do about the states of Washington and Oregon. Some want the Western Hockey League teams to stay put and some want the new league to encompass the Pacific Northwest and BC. Fresh Money is very well versed on what is going on.

 

Normally I would agree with you. The Lake Erie Monsters have good attendance so it'll be looked at as a Tier 1 market, however to your point, there is a general feeling in hockey that Cleveland is a great market on paper but is a disaster in real life. The Cleveland Barons proved that point well.

The way I understand it, this reorganization will have a lot to do with where the owner wants his team to be placed, rather than the demographics. Travel, costs and rivalries will also be strongly considered.

 

Arizona Sundogs and Denver Cutthroats of the CHL both suspended operations for a year. The Avalanche (same city) and Coyotes (75 miles) being close without the 'risorgimento' happening until 2015 and the expected Christmas cash call to get up to a ECHL standard spooked both teams owners. This may be a rare example of a team actually taking a year off then coming back. Its far too late to combine the leagues now and once everything is laid into place with NHL blessing they may (or may not) return.

 

CHL and ECHL will announce some interlocking preseason games shortly.

 

Some would say Fresh Money thinks he has more leverage than he does. Others would say the ECHL was trying to dictate everything.

Whatever happened, the CHL has resurrected a lawsuit against the ECHL from last year. The short version is the ECHL tried to poach the Allen Americans and Rapid City Rush.

http://www.search.txcourts.gov/Sear...&MediaID=87a37c0d-4f55-4014-97b4-8ae5c617da24


Discussions on this happening yesterday and today at the DFW Hyatt. The DFW Hyatt confused me as there are two Hyatt hotels in two different terminals. The little train that takes you from Terminal to Terminal is behind security and I finally gave up and walked across.

 

Denver Cutthroats are coming back. Nobody knows which league yet or which building. Appears the Avalanche are going to be using them as a minor league club.

 

I've heard those same things. The surviving teams will merge into the ECHL with five or six teams and two into the AHL. Nobody knows about Brampton right now.

 

That certainly was a big body blow to the league. It was a lose-lose as well. The owners spent a lot of money on an AHL team instead of the CHL team and provided a better product. The CHL team would get 7000+ a night but the AHL team is averaging 3000ish.

I think everyone agrees that the OKC hockey fan wants to see a heated rivalry with Wichita, Tulsa and Texan teams rather than an AHL product (and prices).

I think we can all see potential parallels for some PASL teams in whether it is worth spending more to join a "better" league. Will this attract more fans.

 

Yes Cutthroats to AHL for the Avalanche. Prescott Valley to the AHL for the Coyotes.

Possibly Boise to Ahl for Vancouver and Ontario to AHL for Anaheim

OKC and Utica to ECHL. Brampton and Elmira may give up the ghost

Fresh Money may negotiate the CHL into oblivion but will land in his feet in NHL (again)