SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP

at 4:48 PM

The Hounds are going to lead this story as I finally have some news that might be good about this team of losers. First of all, I’m not the UHL homer with his authentic jersey reversed and the sign, who stands above the players tunnel with the sign “fire or trade Puhalski.” I think Puhalski, like just about anyone associated with the Hounds this season, has had a raw deal.

The deal was this: the Hounds are owned by a guy named Dr. Eric Margenau. Margenau had the fortune to be able to hire some good people, particularly middle management from the Chicago Wolves. I don’t know what they told him. He is a self-proclaimed successful minor league owner after all. What can you tell a guy like that? But do you suppose they told him to cut back on marketing? To avoid marketing in places hockey fans go, such as their fan clubs, hockey rinks or sports radio? Just asking. Because that seems to encapsulate the inaugural season marketing efforts, or lack of, for the team.

Anyway, last night I was at the game between the Hounds and the Fort Wayne Komets. The Hounds got killed in a boring shutout. What was the score? Ummn… I didn’t pay attention. I was falling asleep. I don’t know what the game sheet attendance was: I counted heads. There were about 400 people in the stands. I noted a lot of moms and kids under 10. I also saw a lot of puck bunny wannabees. What is it with 13 year old girls? Good god any photo of them would invite charges of child endangerment.

I also saw Craig Drektrah. This is the first time in the Hounds history in this city I’ve felt things might get better in the future. Drektrah is a minority owner in the Rockford IceHogs. The IceHogs have signed an understanding to sell the team to the Rockford MetroCentre. More on that in a moment. Drektrah is reportedly unhappy about the deal. A story in the Rock River Times notes he and co-owner Dr. Kris Tumilowicz are parting ways over the sale.

Drektrah now, according to a report on the Komets radio broadcast, is slated to purchase Margenau’s interest in the Chicago Hounds. He’s selling the Hogs for about $1.5 million, according to press reports. The Hounds are almost worthless. Margenau’s less than brilliant management saw to that.

Still, Margenau sold the IceHogs years ago, and they are now worth a major municipal blow-up and $1.5 million or so. So maybe Drektrah has two things going for him, one he can spot a deal and two, he can turn a bad situation around.

There’s still hope for the Hounds. Good luck Craig.

at 4:25 PM

It is so Billy. If you read the comments below, or follow this guy in Finland, you’ll know by now that Billy let his Professional Tryout (PTO) with HPK expire, got on a train to Helsinki, and signed with HIFK. Now the word coming out of Finland is that the people in Hämeenlinna had accepted Tibbetts, especially given his exceptional play on the ice. However, some observers there note that Hämeenlinna is a much smaller town than Helsinki. Given Tibbetts past, and the fact that his entry into the market was marked by a rehash of his past, perhaps he just felt more comfortable there. Living anonymously in the bigger city.

In any case, apparently HIFK doubled his salary, and he promptly rewarded them with the game winner in a shoot-out. Still, I can offer no excuse for what the fans in Hämeenlinna sense is a betrayal. Good god, I love the way he burns his bridges.

HPK plays HIFK in a few weeks. Despite the Finnish reputation for a softer style of play one poster warned me, “Man what a fucking class act. In a few weeks these two teams will face each other and that's gonna be something. Stay tuned...”

at 4:09 PM

The Chicago Wolves defeated the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 5-0. The shutout could be the most important victory for the Wolves this month as Omaha was just two points behind the Wolves in the standings. A loss would have tied the teams and moved the momentum decisively into Omaha’s favor.

The shutout, in Omaha, featured goals by Darren Haydar, two goals by Brett Sterling and two goals by Jordan LaVallee. Sterling scored his second goal on the power play, LaVallee scored his first on the power play.

The first period was marked by a bruising fight between Wolves defenseman Guillaume Desbiens and Knights Brandon Pruist. Fourteen additional minutes of penalties interrupted the first frame as the Wolves traded knocks with the Knights. Nathan Oystrick and Derek Couture were given double minors during the period for roughing. The Wolves had three incomplete power play opportunities in the period and Haydar’s goal.

Leading 1-0, the Wolves received two penalties early in the second period. After Omaha was unable to capitalize on their opportunities, Sterling scored, putting the Wolves up 2-0. The Knights took two minor penalties to close the second half of the period, stopping the Wolves from taking further advantage of the situation. Only six Knights shots on goal were recorded in the second frame, versus nine for the Wolves.

Entering the final frame up 2-0, the Wolves received two additional minor penalties in the first half of the third period, but held Omaha off. In the final ten minutes, the Wolves scored three times. The first power play goal by Sterling was due to a 5 on 3 power play. The second power play, just 32 seconds later was also on the same power play. The final goal occurred in the final minute of the game.

Fred Brathwaite stopped 24 shots on goal for the win for his first shutout of the season. Curtis McElhinney stopped 29 shots on goal for the loss. The win snapped a red-hot Omaha team, on a seven game winning streak. The Wolves have improved their power play to 21.2 percent, the third best in the American Hockey League. Their penalty killing is ranked 16th at 81.8 percent. Sterling continues to lead the league among all rookies in scoring, while Haydar leads the league in points. Cory Larose is now climbing the list of league skaters at number eleven. With his victory, Brathwaite is ranked 16th in the league among goalies.

The Wolves are tied for third place in the league with 63 points. They lead the Western Division and are tied for first in the North Conference. Omaha is four points behind the Wolves at 59 points, followed by Milwaukee at 52 points, Iowa at 51 points and Peoria at 49 points.

at 10:24 PM

The Iowa Stars downed the Chicago Wolves in a shootout, Tuesday, in the Des Moines Wells Fargo Arena. Michael Garnett defended the Wolves goal for 27 saves in three frames, giving up a power play goal to Junior Lessard, just down from the Dallas Stars, in the first period; and a goal by Francis Wathier in the second period.

Chicago had two for seven successful powerplays, with Darren Haydar and Mark Popovic both scoring in the first period. The evenly matched contest saw Iowa goalie Dan Ellis stop 28 shots on goal and all three shootout attempts by the Wolves.

Momentum switched back and forth as the Wolves held a 2-1 lead at the end of the first frame, with eleven shots on goal, against six for the Stars. The second period, the Stars regained the momentum with 13 shots on goal compared to the Wolves five. The third frame, the Wolves regained the momentum but were unable to finish the deal, with 11 shots on goal compared to Iowa’s seven.

In the overtime period Wolves center Cory Larose was handed a minor penalty that Iowa was unable to use to score and the Wolves had two shots on goal versus Iowa’s three. All three of Iowa’s shootout players scored on Michael Garnett, while none of the Chicago players were able to score on the Iowa goalie.

It was the first shootout of the season for Garnett. Chicago is 1-4 in the shootout. It gains a point in the standings, leaving it four points ahead of the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. Chicago returns to Iowa on Saturday evening. It plays Omaha in a Western Division showdown on Friday in Omaha.

at 9:53 PM

The Toronto Marlies held the Chicago Wolves to a 3-3 tie in regulation and overtime, leading to a shoot out loss for the Wolves. The shoot out loss for the Wolves is the third of four such losses this season. Overall all the shoot outs have occurred with Fred Brathwaite in net.

The Chicago play was marked by two short handed goals in the first period, the first by Derek MacKenzie and the second by Colin Stuart. MacKenzie shares a lead in the AHL for short handed goals with four so far this season.

Toronto came back in the third frame to make it 3-2, when Marlie Robbie Earl put one in on a rebound off of Wolves goalie Fred Brathwaite. Overall, Brathwaite had 46 saves, a season high. In the overtime, Chicago was given an almost two minute advantage due to a penalty on Jeff Corey, but was unable to convert the advantage to a goal.

Marlie goalie Jean-Francois Racine had 41 saves in the contest. The on-ice crew from the Saturday game were in residence again Sunday afternoon and yet another questionable call occurred, the game-ending goal in shoot out by Robbie Earl. Wolves goalie signaled to the referee that the signal that Earl could start his run was not given and was heard to say he wasn’t ready.

Nevertheless, the goal stood and the Marlies were awarded the win.

Wrist Shot

I'd earlier written about Steve Silverthorn, who had three shut outs in two leagues. On Friday the 12th Steve lost a game for Iowa against the Houston Aeros, 3-1, stopping 41 Houston shots. Last night, with Iowa behind 4-1 in the second frame, he was pulled for Tobias Stephen. Silverthorn stopped only nine shots in this contest, in those two frames.

at 3:25 PM

The largest season crowd in the AHL so far, 14,927, saw the Chicago Wolves defeat the San Antonio Rampage 7-2 Saturday night at the Allstate Arena. Leading by one goal, at the end of the first frame, the game looked to be another nail biter for the Wolves. Two goals by the Rampage in the first five minutes of the second period even made it look like the Wolves might drop a game to the perennial cellar dwellers of the league.

But a missed goal by referee Conrad Hache seemed to light the Wolves fire. They responded with 27 shots in the final two frames of the game, producing six goals. It was the second win in a row by Wolves goalie Michael Garnett, who stopped 33 of 35 shots. San Antonio goalie Josh Tordjman stopped 28 shots in his loss.

Blue liner Mark Popovic scored the first goal, while Brent Sterling potted two. Brian Fahey, Cory Larose, Jordan LaVallee and Darren Haydar each scored one goal. For the Rampage, goals were scored by Bill Thomas and Yanick Lehoux. Only fourteen minutes of penalties were assessed in the fast-moving game. Just two of them to Chicago. The win leaves the Wolves in the lead in the West Division by two points over the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights.

Wrist shots

1) Ever heard of the Florida Seals? A member of the Southern Professional Hockey League, the team had a walkout by the players and was locked out of the Silver Spurs Arena earlier this month when team checks began bouncing. ProhockeyNews has been following the story closely. Without housing, visas and possibly health insurance, the players may be in need of additional help. Stay tuned…

2) At least "two to three" NHL teams are interested in an affiliation agreement with the Norfolk Admirals, according to a story in the Virginian Pilot. The paper quotes owner Ken Young as saying the team is pursuing options and plans to meet with several teams during the AHL All-Star meeting later this month in Toronto.

"I think during all-star weekend, and the beginning of that week, we should have a feel for what we'll be doing," Young told the Pilot.

The Winnebago County Board meets January 25 to reconsider the approval of the $20 million Metro Centre bond package. A difference between the city of Rockford and the county approvals left the acquisition of the Rockford IceHogs up in the air. IceHogs ownership then lobbied the board to adapt the city measure. However, the county could not reconsider the measure until the 25th.

3) Here is more hy-jinks by the zebras with orange: Frederick L'Ecuyer was given a player list for the Rochester Americans versus Syracuse Crunch game January 13th. It didn’t include Mark Mancari. When Mancari was involved in a fight with Crunch Andy Canzanello late in the game, Mancari’s penalty wasn’t read aloud by the PA announcer. So, Mancari continued to play. Only it was totally illegal. He should have been ordered off the ice.

The league intends to discipline the on-ice officials.

4) The Crossbar broke the story of Mathieu Brunelle. Brunelle left the Bloomington Prairie Thunder December 15, reporting to the St. Jean's Chiefs of the LNAH. He is still carried on the Prairie Thunder roster injured reserve. He must be seeking that excellent socialized medicine.

5) John Awe, who played for a few games in Chicago Wolves colors last week, won the ECHL skills competition for the fastest slapshot. A burning 102.2 MPH, it broke the previous record of 99.3 MPH, a record that stood for eight years. Awe returned to the Gwinnett Gladiators.

6) Speaking of the Gladiators, the few games I’ve seen I’ve been entranced by the lovely Megan Guthrie, the Gladiators trainer. Half in jest, I’d asked for her autograph in Dayton last month. Megan gets her day in the sun in an article here: LINK

7) Over in IceHog land, a fan favorite, Robin Big Snake, has been in trouble off and on all season. His most recent problem on January 5th he passed up an empty-net opportunity near the end of the game in favor of passing to Paul Brown. Brown needed one more goal to obtain the team’s first hat trick performance of the season.

8) Michael Franke is one of the most successful minor league hockey owners anywhere. He is warning the United Hockey League that it needs to reconsider moves that make it more like the NHL and the AHL. Specifically, in a Fort Wayne News-Sentinel story, Franke says the fans want to see heavier hitting hockey in the minors. “Now you have no hitting. Players are afraid to hit because they will get penalties. We are telling our players to not hit one another. There’s no fighting any more. If you are an instigator, you’re going to get thrown out. We’re taking all the things the fans want to see away from them.”

9) The Atlanta Thrashers met the New York Rangers for the first time since the Rangers lifted Jason Krog off the waiver wire, preventing the Thrashers from sending him back to the Chicago Wolves. The Rangers lost the game 3-1. Krog was used in a number of face-offs, winning more than losing them.

10) The Chicago Blackhawks dropped another game last night, against the Nashville Predators, 6-3. The Blackhawks are now 1-7-2, meaning they have only won one game in regulation or overtime in ten outings. Any more talk of a post season on Madison Avenue is just hot air.

at 11:57 AM

Two teams that the Wolves are likely to face in the playoffs squared-off against each other Friday night. The Milwaukee Admirals hosted the North Division leaders the Rochester, New York Americans. The Admirals need to “solve” the puzzle of how to defeat the Amerks due to a quirk in the playoff rules this year: If the fifth place team in the West Division has more points than the fourth place team in the North Division, it enters the North Division playoffs. At the moment that appears to be a good bet for the Admirals to enter the post-season.

The Admirals game marked the return of Finnish goalie Pekka Rinne. He last played in the Calder Cup finals in June of last year. A summer-time mugging at a Helsinki nightclub has kept him out of the game for the first part of the season. It was expected the Amerks would light him up like a Christmas tree. And for the first period they did, scoring four unanswered goals.

Rinne’s five-hole just couldn’t close fast enough to stop the pucks from sliding in whenever the Amerks approached the net. After just one period, there were ten shots and four goals for the Amerks.

Rinne needs to get back up to speed and the Mads are in for a tough few weeks as they get him back in condition. Playing seven games in the next nine days, the Admirals will have plenty of opportunities to warm Rinne up. (The next time the Wolves face the Admirals is March 10).

The Admirals play in the last few years has been anchored by a scoring line that is similar to the scoring line that currently anchors the Wolves: Darren Haydar with Simon Gamache, versus the Wolves Darren Haydar and Brent Sterling. With both Haydar and Gamache gone, the Admirals team play is noticeably more physical and is scoring less.

Blueliners Sheldon Brookbank, Kevin Klein, Alex Henry and Nolan Yonkman are carrying through on checks in the defensive zone. What I’ve always noted about the Admirals check style, however, is it tends to come late, and seems pointless. Last night, with nothing personal at stake in the game, that style was evident again.

Checking serves several purposes. A heavy check on an opposing player can hearten a team, lifting its hopes and warning the opposition that there is a physical price to be paid for playing. Milwaukee does an effective job of using the check for this purpose. And although the checks are hard, they are clean, that is, they don’t generally deserve penalties.

A second purpose of checking is to force a turnover of the puck. The checks I’m seeing are not accomplishing this: they are occurring after the puck has left the player. They seem to come a bit late and a bit behind the man, when the player isn’t looking. I think they are on the envelope of being too hard and too much for the circumstances. However, Milwaukee generally doesn’t get called for its checks.

Further, they don’t accomplish the next goal: They don’t take the man out of the play. The man is already out of the play. It seems that a fast moving player, instead of checking, can begin to play the next man or the puck, instead of a check on someone who is generally not moving.

It is a style of play that seems pointless. It seems that one of its unanticipated consequences is to increase the opposition’s anger, which can be good, possibly leading to fights and penalties. But the league shows the Mads as having only 824 penalty minutes so far this season, placing the team behind the Wolves and the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in the division, and 15th overall. So, the tactic is not leading to a lot of penalties against the Admirals.

In the power play, the Admirals are a lackluster 16.2 percent, among the bottom half of the league. So why do it?

The Amerks, like the Wolves in the Western Division, are cleaning up in the North Division. Their style of play is markedly more defensive than that of the Wolves. Only 121 goals have been scored against the Americans this season, a mark that is beaten only by the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, the Omaha Knights, the Hartford Wolfpack and the Portland Pirates.

The team effectively closes down any passing lanes, defends against shots on goal and is able to disrupt the offense with poke checks and turnovers. Once on the offense, the team is not scoring a lot of goals, just enough, it seems, to end the chances of the opposition. The Amerks offense is marked by excellent passing into the center of the offensive zone. There don’t seem to be any defenders there! They all seem hung up on the boards. What is the defense doing? This isn’t just a critique of the Admirals but of the Wolves too.

Then they play trap. They don’t leave the defensive zone, they gang up on the puck. The shooting lanes are shut down. It is boring. It is terribly, terribly boring to watch. In the game on Friday, the Amerks put three shots on goal in the second period and seven shots on goal in the third period. Ten shots, total in 40 minutes of hockey. And, it wasn’t as if they ever lost control of the game. They played with the Admirals and the Admirals couldn’t break out of the rut.

Why would a team play like this? Why not take the Admirals, a likely play-off opponent, and shake them till their brains rattled. The Amerks could have done it.

Rinne. Why give him any real practice? The Amerks decided not to play against Rinne. He is still as cold as he was at 6.59 PM Friday, and probably more discouraged. This is one deadly team. And, they seem to have the number of every Western Division team this season, only dropping one game to any Western team: Milwaukee on November 22.

Across the Illinois State Line, the Wolves, once again, shattered the Peoria Rivermen, winning 6-1 in Peoria. Marek Schwarz defended the Rivermen nets, stopping 29 of 35 Wolves shots. Michael Garnett played a good game, stopping 42 of 43 Rivermen shots. Wolves goals were scored by Haydar, two goals including a short-handed goal by Kevin Doell, two goals by Cory Larose and a goal by Brian Sipotz. The win keeps the Wolves ahead of the Omaha Knights, two points up in the standings.

The Wolves have only dropped one game to the Rivermen this season, a 2-1 loss January 9. The Wolves take on the San Antonio Rampage at the Allstate Arena on Saturday, and the Toronto Marlies at the Allstate on Sunday. Sunday’s game is being rescheduled to 6 PM due to a conflict with a minor sporting event across town. The Wolves then start their “Ice Capades” road trip, with only one game scheduled at home till February 24.

Wrist shots:

The Gwinnett Daily Post published an article quoting Gladiator coach Jeff Pyle as saying the heart of a champion did not beat in the Glad's locker room. Pyle was reacting to the slow slide of the Glads from the top of their division and then back to first place again. Meanwhile in Chicago, reports that their was a players only meeting prior to the loss earlier in the week against the Marlies.

at 12:51 PM

Wash your sweaters, get the grill out. The Wolves slide has started a new season. The 5-4 loss to the North Division fifth place Toronto Marlies on Wednesday brought the Wolves opponents within striking distance of taking the lead from the Wolves. Just two points ahead of the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, the Wolves have blown a substantial lead, gaining just 13 points since December 18.

Darren Haydar, the league’s top scorer has continued to score, although the streak of goals and assists which at one point threatened to topple a twenty-three year old record held by Wayne Gretzky ended. Still the 39 games in a row in which Darren Haydar scored either a goal or an assist rank among the top five professional runs.

And, the Wolves have a rookie, Brent Sterling, who has twice won rookie of the month. Sterling is ranked third for points in the American Hockey League and tops the league with 35 goals.

What has prevented the Wolves from winning recently? December saw injuries and call-ups that disrupted the lines. Most recently, Boris Valabik, injured during a December 29th game in Peoria is expected back at any time. Since he’s been gone the blue line has called up several promising rookies and prospects from the Gwinnett Gladiators. But the defense is still suffering. Jason Krog, part of the high scoring line with Darren Haydar and Brent Sterling, was called up to the Atlanta Thrashers on December 12th. Further turmoil in the Wolves lines in December included a call-up of former captain Derek MacKenzie on December 21st. Krog was sent to waivers last week by the Thrashers. The New York Rangers picked him up and he is now playing there. If the Rangers release him, which isn’t likely right now, he would probably end up back in Chicago. MacKenzie was sent back to Chicago without incident.

The other problems are in the nets. First let’s set the top of the league. Jaroslav Halak of the Hamilton Bulldogs is stopping 93.5 percent of shots and has a goals against average of 1.92. Karl Goehring, who was supposed to back Pekka Rinne in Milwaukee, is ranked 17th with a 2.66 GAA and stopping 90.9 percent of shots.

For the Chicago Wolves, Fred Brathwaite ranks 20th on this list, with a 2.75 GAA and stopping 89.7 percent of shots. And, Brathwaite, the Wolves leading goalie, is credited with 12 wins, seven losses and 2 shoot-out losses. Michael Garnett is ranked 39th on the list with a 3.42 GAA and stopping 88.8 percent of shots, has a win loss of 13 – 8. The AHL is only ranking 46 goalies, meaning Brathwaite, a veteran, is ranked just better than average, while Garnett is near the bottom.

Clearly at least one of the problems the Wolves have is they can’t stop an effective offense. The problem is not limited to the Wolves. Further into the Thrashers organization, at the top there is Kari Lehtonen. Lehtonen, who suffered a groin injury early in the previous season, is ranked 21st among NHL goalies, with a GAA of 2.78, stopping 91.2 percent of shots. Backing Lehtonen is Johan Hedberg. Have you heard of him? If his cold hand has to play, he has a GAA of 3.17 and is stopping 88.1 percent.

In the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL are Atlanta prospects Dan Turple and Dave Caruso. Caruso and Turple have about split the season at the Gladiators, Caruso playing 18 games and Turple 21.

Turple, ranked 35th among 40 ranked goalies in the league, has a 3.58 GAA and an 87.7 save percentage, winning 11 and losing 7 games with a shutout loss. Caruso is ranked 30th in the league, has a 3.41 GAA, and an 89.3 percent save. Top scorers and a strong group of prospect blue liners have allowed the Gladiators to be ranked 3rd in the ECHL, tied in points with ECHL champion Alaska Aces and the Florida Everblades.

The Thrashers have built a fragile group of goalies. Lehtonen, who played in 40 games this season, has been a wall, bringing the Thrashers to the top of the Southeast Division and fifth overall in the NHL in points. But if he falls, who will the Thrashers put in the net? Who will get the call from Chicago?

It is a bad situation. Everything is riding on the back of one person, Lehtonen. If he falls, things will only get worse in Atlanta, Chicago and Gwinnett.

Wrist Shots:
1) Glen Falls, NY, which lost the UHL Adirondack Frostbite last season in a league contraction, is looking again at minor league hockey. This is the first season since 1980 that the town has not been home to a minor league hockey club.
2) The ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones are off to a terrible start with an average attendance of less than 2,000. There could be a reason the AHL left town.
3) Allentown, PA has received a study giving a thumbs up to trying to obtain a minor league team. The study compares the region favorably to Wilkes-Barre, one of the hottest minor league hockey markets in the country.
4) Bentonville, AK, home to Wal-Mart, is getting an eye from the ECHL, local leaders say. A team would help fill a new arena being built there.
5) The list of cities hoping Pittsburgh and the Penguins fail to reach an agreement: Houston, Kansas City and Winnipeg. The list of cities that should be added but won’t: Oklahoma City, Portland, OR. The next meeting is set for Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

A couple of news items that I saw that haven't been widely reported but may deserve some more attention:

The Flint Generals have accused their former coach of entering their locker room during a January 6th game, perhaps taking note of game strategy. The story is from MLive. The UHL is investigating and warning it will discipline Elmira head coach Robbie Nichols if he entered the Generals locker room.

A New Year's Eve game between the Muskegon Fury and the Quad City Mallards saw the Fury coach, Bruce Ramsay, ejected after he objected to an on-ice officials call, thoriwing sticks on the ice in protest. The Muskegon Chronicle reported in MLive.com that there were 28 penalites in the game. Nineteen of the penalties were against the Fury, including 11 in the third period.

Well, maybe that's all the attention they really deserve after all!

at 5:21 PM

Funny business, hockey. The Los Angeles Kings have had problems all season with goalies. The revolving door that is the pipes in LA doesn’t include one name, however: Manchester Monarch Jason LaBarbera. LaBarbera is better than the other netminders it has called up, Dan Cloutier, Barry Brust and Yutaka Fukufuji. However, LaBarbera is subject to waiver if he is called up. And, LA expects he’d be grabbed by another team.

The same waiver rules designed to protect athletes from being warehoused in the minors between stints in the majors have found a way to punish LaBarbera this season.

More funny business, Nashville is on the market, or maybe in the market… to move. The Predators, who affiliate with the Milwaukee Admirals, have had one the best seasons ever, yet corporate ticket sales have floundered, leading the Wisconsin-based owner, Craig Leipold, to announce he plans to sell 40 percent of the team to a local investor. Provided he can find one.

Leipold’s move was due to the team attracting common Joe, not corporate sponsors and corporate ticket buyers. It averages 14,700 in attendance, with about 1,500 tickets given away each game, according to a story in the Tennessean.

That places it 23rd in the NHL in attendance and the lowest in ticket price, according to the Predators. The team’s revenue sharing agreement is effected by attendance and revenue, to low and the team takes a smaller cut of league television sales and advertising revenues

Corporate ticket sales have fallen from 8,600 in the inaugural season, eight years ago, to about 2,600 this season. Local businesses cite their unfamiliarity with the sport and support for local Vanderbilt University. Similar in market composition to the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, the ‘Canes organization noted that individual and family tickets were becoming increasingly important to it.

The news excited hockey fans in Kansas City. They immediately added Nashville to the teams they are wooing to come to the new Sprint Center. Add to that list, the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. Why not? Although owners of the team, it is a partnership between the Calgary Flames and a local charity, the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben, deny the team is moving in the next year, the team continues to have among the lowest attendance in the league.

So far, this year, attendance has averaged 3,151 fans, compared to 3,271 in 2005-6, their inaugural season. That ranks 26 of the 27 AHL teams.

Landing an AHL team and showing success with it may prove KC is ready for a NHL team. The market has already failed with the International Hockey League’s Blades and the NHL’s Scouts.

at 4:29 PM

You, the hockey fan, may not know it, but the guys in the stripped shirts are often related. Two games by two different members of the Koharski family were criticized this week. In the NHL Don Koharski, coming off a decision that cost the Edmonton Oilers the game against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, January 8, decided to sacrifice the San Jose Sharks on the altar of his demons, holding them to six penalties in row starting after a fight in the first period.

While the San Jose announcers were trying to describe this in polite terms, the anger could be heard that their team was being dealt with as the lamb taken to slaughter, the meat for Koharski’s atonement. The Oilers, despite the sixth man help, ended the game 3-2.

On the other side of the continent Jamie Koharski, is being criticized for his calls in an American Hockey League game between the Norfolk Admirals and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Michael Fornabaio's blog on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3-2 loss starts with questions about two calls made by this Koharski.

Over on Madison Avenue, yet more questions are being raised. The Blackhawks loss due to a video goal review (which doesn’t involve the on-ice officials) is being challenged. According to announcers, the league has superior video capabilities, even beyond that of the networks, allowing it to review each goal, in Toronto, and approve it or not.

In the Shoot-out loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday the 14th, Wild goalie Manny Fernandez can be seen almost, but not quite stopping the shot by Blackhawk Denis Arkhipov. As it inches across the goal line he glances down and kicks it away with his skate. No goal say the boys in Toronto. The Blackhawks are so upset, according to reports, that they plan to bring the matter before the board of the NHL at its next regularly scheduled meeting. There is an excellent video of the questioned goal at the Blackhawks website.

Buffeted by more injuries, the Blackhawks have dropped eight out of nine, with one of the losses being the above shoot-out., since December 29. Fragile hockey is back on Madison Avenue.

at 1:47 PM

Two shutouts, sent down and settles another shutout. That’s the story of Idaho Steelheads goalie Steve Silverthorn. Silverthorn, called up to the Iowa Stars due to injuries in Dallas, replaced Iowa netminder Tobias Stephen. Silverthorn, who played two games for Iowa last weekend, shutdown Hamilton and Toronto, stopping 56 shots in the process.

Iowa sent him back to Idaho due to schedule opportunities that let him play there without missing a game in Iowa and he does it again, shutting down the ECHL Phoenix Roadrunners, stopping another 20 shots on goal. Recalled against the Houston Aeros, he finally gave up a goal, losing the game 3-1.

His rookie year in Idaho saw Silverthorn play 40 games and post a 2.9 GAA, compared to a 2.88 ECHL GAA this year in 29 games.

Billy Tibbetts is back on the ice, as previously reported, in Finland. HPK is playing this weekend in St. Petersburg, Russia in the European Champions Cup. Tibbetts who was out of condition on first reporting to the Finnish team, scored on a penalty shot in a 7-0 victory over Slovakia’s MsHK on Thursday. HPK went on to defeat Sparta (Prague) 3-2 earlier today. They take on AK Bars Kazan in the New Ice Palace for the Gold tomorrow.

If tradition has any meaning, Bars Kazan traditionally wins this contest and HPK will walk away with a silver medal. I’ll report back if Tibbetts was able to change things.

EDIT: 1/16/2007 Bars Kazan, a Russian team from Tartarstan, blew out the Finnish team HPK 6-0. Winning the European Champions Cup. WOW!

Finally, Jason Krog, the wonderkid of the Wolves, called up to Atlanta December 12, was sent down, to be picked up off of waivers by the New York Rangers. Krog, although not having played in a month, remains among the American Hockey League’s top five scorers this season. In Atlanta, he played in 14 games, only recording one goal and four assists. Replacing him in Atlanta is Scott Mellanby, off of the injury list. Mellanby had seven goals and 12 assists in 33 games this season. Discussing the magic of the Krog-Haydar-Sterling line in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Milwaukee Admirals Coach Claude Noel said Haydar was small, not the greatest skater, but was blessed with great intelligence.

It is unlikely Chicago will see Krog again. If Atlanta has more offensive call-ups from the Chicago Wolves Derek MacKenzie, Darren Haydar and Brent Sterling are the most likely to go, in that order.

at 10:03 AM

The Wolves slump continued last night as the WBS Penguins blanked them in one of the best hockey games I've seen all year. I believe part of the offensive problem is turnovers. I kept track in the first period, the Wolves used dump and chase almost as much as they brought the puck into the offensive zone. However, the Pens and other teams have lately appeared to be very prepared for this style of Wolves play. Either a blue liner is waiting, often on the opposite board, or the goalie (who had an excellent game) will just go behind the net to play the puck. Either way, the Wolves end up turning over the puck. There is almost a one-for-one relationship between dump and chase and turnovers.

This isn't to say that you should never dump and chase, nor that every dump and chase causes a turnover, but the use of it is excessive on the Wolves. It happened, at least seven times in the first period.

Watching Atlanta play on TV I also counted the dump and chase against the Canadiens. I believe they used it six times in the whole game. Why are we using a technique that is taught to mites so they can penetrate the blue line? Are the offensive players so ill-equipped to be challenged that this is the best they've got? It has clearly become a dominant style for the Wolves as opponents are now anticipating its use.

SHOTS ON GOAL
The almost useless Braydon Colburn, number one draft pick and current Atlanta Thrasher said "let's go" to New Jersey Devil Mike Rupp. He sustained cuts to his face and did not return. In a related matter, Wolves blue liner Mark Popovic was seen taking a limo to O'Hare after the game. So long Braydon?

The MetroCentre and the ownership of the Rockford IceHogs are close to a deal, according to the Rock River Times. The deal would allow current ownership to continue with a 25 percent stake in the team, the other part owner would be the MetroCentre. Team owner Dr. Kris Tumilowicz asked Winnebago County Board members Thursday night to reverse an earlier decision to block the MetroCentre from owning an AHL team saying a deal would be announced before the next board meeting January 27.

The thought occurrs to me, as this deal is now approaching reality, what will happen next season as the fanatical Rockford UHL fans invade the Bradley Center and the Allstate. I'm of the opinion that the Bradley Center will be a tough place as there will be almost as many Rockford fans as Mads fans. And, there will be bad blood due to the broken relationship between the two teams. On the other hand, coming to Chicago, the IceHogs fans may pickup some Blackhawk fans. The Wolves larger fan base will be able to absorb the influx of IceHog fans, but there is no love lost between Blackhawk fans and Wolves fans. As a season ticket holder for all three teams, yes I'm nuts, welcome hogs fans. I need to get myself an IceHogs sweater before it is too late.

By now most Wolves fans are aware that Jason Krog, the Wolves scorer who led a line until December with Darren Haydar and Brent Sterling, has been claimed off of waivers. Krog, who did not play against the Canadiens earlier this week, will play for the New York Rangers. Go Krog! If Atlanta turns to the Wolves for more offensive power, the Wolves would probably lose Darek MacKenzie, Darren Haydar and Brent Sterling, in that order.

The Wilkes-Barre Scranton fan club and the Wolfpack had a joint function after the game last night. Great fans. Whatever happens in Pittsburgh, these fans have earned a team in the AHL with almost 100 percent sell-outs and consistent post-season play. The fans tell me they are guaranteed a team in WBS until at least 2010.

at 11:18 PM

Darren Haydar’s point streak ended tonight and the Chicago Wolves season long dominance of the Peoria Rivermen both came to an end at the Allstate Arena tonight.

Peoria goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu, who won the ECHL championship while playing for the Alaska Aces last season, stopped 22 of 23 shots on goal. The loss marks the fifth loss in seven games for the Wolves, a downturn that started December 27th. The streak can be traced even further back to December 23rd when the Wolves won, but in overtime. So that in nine games, the Wolves have had only two regulation victories.

For the Wolves, the loss also marked its first loss to Peoria this season.

Haydar visibly showed disappointment at the end of the game. Standing between the hash marks, he drooped. Players came up and congratulated him on his run. Haydar, an Atlanta prospect, has not, surprisingly, had a significant shot at the NHL despite his run. A one day bench warming during a tilt between the Thrashers and the Ottawa Senators occurred January 1st.

Several Wolves have been called up to the Thrashers this season, including line-mate Jason Krog, Derek MacKenzie and Braydon Colburn. Colburn and Krog remain in Atlanta.

Haydar’s streak, which broke an American Hockey League record, ended at 39 consecutive games played with a point scored in each. Among professional hockey players, the streak places Haydar fifth among skaters:

1) Wayne Gretzky, NHL in Edmonton 1983-4. 51 Games
2) Mario Lemeiux, NHL in Pittsburgh 1989-90. 46 Games
3) Chick Chalmers, IHL in Omaha 1961-2. 40 Games
4) Paul Jackson, CHL in Wichita 1993-4. 40 Games
5) Wayne Gretzky, NHL in Edmonton 1985-6. 39 Games
6) Darren Haydar, AHL in Chicago 2006-7. 39 Games

(A tip of the hat to Dave Eminian for creating the first version of this table here)

at 5:09 AM

The hockey dead pools are beginning to surface. It is the time of the year. The robins return in the spring. The snow drops in February and the hockey dead pools at the turn of the year.

I’m all for hockey dead pools. They aren’t like regular dead pools, but rather speculation on the viability of teams and their operations. But I haven’t really seen one that calls the entire United Hockey League into viability yet. Putting an entire league of ten teams on a dead pool list would be a gutsy move. A move made by a rookie. So, what the heck, I’ll do it.

The UHL has been in trouble, off and on for a while of course. And, when you read this, you need to understand that some parts of the UHL will survive. There are financially strong teams in the league, teams that are well managed, drawing good crowds and that will live to see another season, perhaps as members of the ECHL or another league.

Then there are the dogs, or should we say the Hounds. The Chicago Hounds were screwed from day one. I should say the first home game. The Sears Centre, as previously discussed, has been unable to understand and provide the level of service required for this hockey team. Do I need to repeat what has happened? Glass not installed at game time, seats not yet in place, closed concession stands and what else? What do you need to play ice hockey? Ice. The ice was in terrible shape and the surface was unplayable. The Hounds have not recovered. I’ve personally been to one game that had a crowd that was easily under two hundred people. A recent attendance was officially at less than 1,000. Current attendance is averaging a stated 2,028 or 20.91 percent.

Another team that may be on the watch list of some groups is the Bloomington Thunder of Bloomington, Illinois. Like the Hounds, this is a new team to the area, an expansion, rather than a move, the Thunder have been drawing 3,632 (51.86 percent), according to figures from “intotheboards”. Local media says that is a disappointing number. Of greater concern to me is watching the team’s turnover. Sixteen members, including people associated with the ECHL Rivermen. One of the strengths of the team was its association with the former Peoria Rivermen (ECHL) team. A hoped for agreement with the AHL Rivermen to be an unofficial affiliate does not look like it is working either. The AHL Rivermen are sending their AA players to the Alaska Aces ECHL team.

The Quad City Mallards had one of the most successful teams in the UHL a few years ago. After falling on hard times, under new management and ownership the team promised better to its season ticket holders this year. Instead it is struggling to make .500 this year and the average crowds are 3,174 (34.59 percent). That’s down significantly from the 8,646 attendance the team posted in 1997-8 when it won the Colonial Cup, but also down almost 500 from the season average a week prior and the about 3,542 last season.

The Rockford IceHogs have been examined a lot here. The story update is that the County approved funds to refurbish the Metro Centre but inserted language preventing the Metro Centre or the City of Rockford from owning a professional sports team. So, although there is consensus on renewing the Metro Centre, there is not on the key question of public ownership of the team. The team’s owners have said they plan to play hockey in Rockford next season. And, there is some general agreement that the Metro Centre is low balling the team’s owners on the value of the franchise. It is a mess. What happens if there is no UHL to play in? It might get worse. Current attendance is averaging 3,966 or 56.66 percent.

Looking through the figures posted on intotheboards the Port Huron Flags are near the bottom of the list. Port Huron, Michigan has been on a hockey death pool list several seasons. Last season the Flags went looking for money, according to prohockeynews. This week, when the rest of the hockey community saw attendance up, average attendance fell more than 600, according to intotheboards. Average attendance 1,731 or 53.23 percent of capacity, down from the previous season of 2,387.

The Flint (Michigan) Generals are put on the death pool list by prohockeynews. Pulling just 2,191 (54.49 percent), attendance is down significantly from the peak of 3,737 in 1996-7 and 2,422 last season.

The Elmira Jackals are putting butts in seats, almost 3,600 on average this season. In an arena that holds 4,000, or 90 percent of capacity. However the closest opponent of the team is 392 miles away. Road trips are expensive and without UHL expansion in New York State, this isn’t going to improve. Attendance is up from last season’s 2,692.

That is six of the ten teams in the UHL league. On the plus side, Fort Wayne continues to pull very well, again challenging many more established leagues for a draw. Intotheboards said their average through January 1 was 7,839, 74.62 percent, which is more than the 7,777 average for the 2003-4 season, the previous high or last season’s 7,421.

Also, to put the UHL into perspective, remember that this league contracted from a number of markets at the end of the previous two seasons.

Contractions in 2005-6
Roanoke, Virginia
Fraser, Michigan
Danbury, Connecticut
Glen Falls, New York
St. Charles, Missouri

Relocations in 2005-6
Richmond, Virginia

Contractions in 2004-5
Kansas City, Missouri

WRIST SHOTS

The Blackhawks ended the 2005-6 season near the bottom of the NHL with an average attendance of 13,318, or 65 percent of capacity, according to ESPN. This year attendance, so far, is 13,283 or 69.5 percent. Their attendance is up. Beneath them? New Jersey, Washington, New York Islanders and St. Louis. Hawks rule.

Wolves attendance is down this year. 6,803 average (40.76 percent) this year, 8,079 (48.4 percent) in the previous season.

at 7:31 AM

At the end of the year it is inevitable that journalists and writers will look back. Look, I’m doing it now. I’ve been looking back all year, of course. And, of particular concern to me was how the Major Media Outlets looked at hockey.

Well, the news was not good. They didn’t see much, if the summary of the two stories I could find in the Tribune, where hockey isn’t mentioned, and the Daily Southtown, where it is an afterthought, is any indication. In any case, here are the notes I made in November on this story idea. It is time to share, and I ignore the other sports.

Top 2006 local hockey stories, in no particular order:

- Trent Yawney fired by the Chicago Blackhawks, replaced by Denis Savard as head coach. This occurred November 27. The game that proceeded was a 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. However, the Blackhawks were headed straight into the golf season under Yawney. With a 7-14 season, including two overtime losses and an eight game losing streak proceeding it, the nice guy who had only reached post-season in charge of Norfolk’s bench was sent away. Since that time, Savard has shown he learned from the worst, in the best possible meaning of the word: Nine wins, three overtime losses, which are worth a point and three regulation losses. I had doubts that anyone could make a go of the Blackhawks under current ownership and mismanagement, but I could be wrong. Even with that terrific December behind them, the Blackhawks are only a handful of points above the worst in the league. The melt-down in October and November may have already ended any chance the Blackhawks have of a post-season. And, of long-term concern to Blackhawk fans must be that they play in a conference against two of the worst teams in the NHL: the Columbus Blue Jackets and the St. Louis Blues. For exciting hockey to return to the United Center on a consistent basis, there needs to be both a change at the top and something exciting has to happen to all these other bottom dwellers. The current NHL schedule includes too many games against these opponents.

- Pat Foley leaves the Chicago Blackhawks, accepts job at the Chicago Wolves. This happened September 12. What proceeded were two things. First, the Chicago Blackhawks had to let Foley go. That happened at the end of the regular season, when the Blackhawks wouldn’t offer Foley another contract, announcing in May that they were ending their simulcast of radio and television. Foley had been the “voice” of the Blackhawks since the early 1980’s, gaining an Emmy and entry into the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame. The second event occurred in August when Judd Sirrot, the voice of the Chicago Wolves, was offered a job with the HD NHL network. There were few turnovers during the off-season in professional hockey, and the Wolves had already talked to Foley about covering Sirott when he took time off for personal business. When Sirott got the call, Foley slided into his chair. It was another in a number of fan-friendly decisions by the Chicago Wolves, and fan- unfriendly decisions by the Chicago Blackhawks. Foley recently said that he has a home and family in Chicago and that those will be important factors in any decision on moving from the Wolves.

- Chicago Hounds franchise opens in Sears Centre. Opening game canceled due to poor ice conditions. Franchise is in jeopardy. This occurred November 3. The events of the day before are important in apportioning blame. On that day, the Sears Centre had rented the facility to Olay’s figure skating exhibition. That group had requested the Hounds logo, at center ice, be removed and replaced with the Olay logo. No problem so far, except on Friday the 3rd, the doors to the Sears Centre were left open, warming the ice surface, or in the case of center ice, the water surface. At game time the center of the ice, as well as spots around the surface, were visibly watery. The Sears Centre also failed to complete the installation of seats, glass, open enough concession stands and was not in complete control of the parking… The Hounds have not rebounded from this fiasco. And, note that it wasn’t their fault. The fact is, however, that the Hounds did not enter the hockey community to identify potential season ticket holders, did not attempt a real campaign to get hockey season ticket holders to come to their games, and is still failing to do so. The incompetence of Hounds management in the marketing of their team is astounding. There is no presence to speak of at junior level hockey events in the area, there was a refusal to work with the Wolves fan club, the Wolfpack, for their summer picnic, they do not apparently advertise where hockey fans get news. A bigger story is also brewing here. After the Quad City Mallards decide to stay in the UHL last season. The United Hockey League shrank down to ten teams in 2006-7. It lost teams in Virginia, New England, New York and Missouri. Several of the remaining teams are in financial trouble. The Hounds may leave the league before the end of the season. The end of the season may take teams in Bloomington, Rockford and Michigan. What will remain?

- A related story, because they play in the UHL, is the decision of the owners of the Rockford MetroCentre to purchase the Rockford IceHogs and affiliate with the Chicago Blackhawks. The plan is part of a $23 million rejuvenation of the MetroCentre that has already been agreed to by the city of Rockford and now is headed, this week, to the Winnebago County Board for approval. The plan would pull one of the strongest financial clubs out of the UHL, possibly causing it to collapse. From a hockey standpoint, the affiliation would put another team into the American Midwest AHL and help the Blackhawks development efforts. It is the strongest step taken by Madison Avenue in the face of the AHL Chicago Wolves.

- Chicago Wolves fail to make playoffs for first time in franchise history. The true loyalty of a fan is the willingness to put up with a team when it is down. Chicago Wolves fans had that opportunity for the first time last year when their team did not make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The story seemed assured to occur in early March, however, on March 18th Michael Garnett won against the Manitoba Moose, starting a nine game winning streak and leading the Wolves to win 12 of their last 15 games. Losses to Iowa and Milwaukee in the final week of the campaign put an end to the Wolves amazing late push. Garnett went down in the franchise record books with his streak of wins. This year, Garnett has been lackluster in the pipes. Although he has played in only 20 of the 36 games so far this season, he accounts for 63 of the 120 goals against, averaging 3.25 against average. In addition, the Wolves and the Atlanta Thrashers put some money into the organization this year. As a result, the Wolves have the top scoring line in the AHL and have the best start in franchise history with a record of 25-8-3 for 53 points this New Years Day.

Here are a few other stories that were overlooked by the MMO in 2006:

- Steve Poapst took over head coaching duties for the Chicago Steel, replacing former head coach Chris Imes. This has been rumored, but just occurred, December 22. The Steel are the junior level United States Hockey League team that skates out of Bensenville’s Edge.

- Milwaukee Admirals fail to close the deal on 2nd Calder Cup. The Admirals fell to the Hershey Bears, at home. During the summer, the Admirals lost Darren Haydar to Atlanta and Simon Gamache to a Swiss League team, decimating the "Hobbit” line. Although the Admirals started slow this year, they are threatening to enter post-season again. Obviously good teams have more than good players.

- St. Louis Blues decide to dump 2005-6 season. They have to race the Blackhawks, who are actually trying to win, to the bottom of the charts. It is one thing to be a season ticket holder of a team that cares. How would you like to spend $1000 or more and have the season actively sabotaged by ownership? This was a crime against the season ticket holders. Blues ownership has since changed, but they still suck.

- Gwinnett Gladiators reach Kelly Cup finals. The Gladiators are the ECHL affiliate of the Chicago Wolves. Many of their prospects end up in Chicago. The Glads are having another terrific year, with a current record of 17-10-4 and 38 points, fifth place overall in the ECHL.

at 10:34 PM

Nearly half-way through the season, with 36 games in the book, the Chicago Wolves looked poised to enter the 2007 post-season with the most highly skilled team in franchise history. Eleven games lost, eight in regulation play and 53 points place the Wolves in second place, currently, in the league.

Yet there are problems, particularly with the netminders, Michael Garnett and Fred Braithewaite. Combined they have given up a combined 120 points through the year-end, which is more goals against a team for all but four of the AHL teams. And, the Wolves have spent a great deal of time in the sinbin, exceeded by only three teams.

Carrying the Wolves in the first half were the line of Darren Haydar, Jason Krog and the rookie Brent Sterling. Together, the three have notched 180 points, although Krog was called up to Atlanta on December 14th. Earlier, I’d asked if a second line could develop, perhaps centered on Derek MacKenzie. However, MacKenzie was himself called up to Atlanta on December 21st. In the nine games played since Krog was called up, the Haydar and Sterling combination has continued to dominate the offense of the Wolves, being on the ice for 27 of the 43 goals scored in that stretch, including all the goals against the Peoria Rivermen on December 29th.

In the same period, it appears the Wolves have hit their toughest stretch of the season, winning six, but dropping one in regulation and two more in shoot outs. Haydar, during this period set an AHL record for most consecutive games with a point, registering a goal and an assist for 34-straight games with a point Only eight professional players have exceeded that total, led by Wayne Gretzky with 51 games during the 1983-4 season (a tip of the hat to the Peoria Journal Star’s Dave Eminian for that stat).

So, why is Darren Haydar still in the AHL? Why not play in the NHL for Atlanta? This afternoon, a rumor started on the Chicago Wolves discussion board that Haydar is going up. Fans have furiously called the thread starter a liar. But, it will happen, if not this weekend, sometime soon. Darren Haydar will leave Chicago to play for the Atlanta Thrashers in their march, perhaps, to the Stanley Cup.

There were brief mentions of Haydar’s feat in the Chicago MMO. But, sadly, hockey is not on the horizon for the writers at the major papers or the city’s electronic news outlets. Haydar will be the joy of Atlanta fans and many in this hockey community will not have realized he was ever here.

If Haydar has to clear waivers, waivers being a way, if he is returned to Chicago, for another NHL team to pick him up instead, it is very unlikely Chicago will see him play here for many months, if ever again. The decision on whether he must clear waivers will be determined based on why Atlanta sends for him. For example, playing in Atlanta in place of an injured player would provide protection to Haydar from waivers.

So, Haydar is probably headed to Atlanta, perhaps this weekend, but soon. One of the next call ups will probably be Brent Sterling, sending the entire line to Atlanta. Good for them. Bad for the Wolves.

To do the math, alluded to above, without this line, Chicago would only have scored 16 points in the last nine games, there would have been 29 goals against. Even though others are stepping up, the production will drop dramatically, backed by a weak set in the pipes.

at 10:29 AM

Finally, the Chicago Tribune has run a story on the Chicago Hounds opener debacle. The Tribune only keeps stories up for a few days so you may find the link, here, it won't work in a week.

It ran on December 14 and I have a few bones to pick. First, being there, I can tell you that more than 30 people complained. That is the writer shilling for the Sears Centre. More questions need to be asked about that. Also, there were far fewer than 8,000 in the stands. Probably 4,500 is better. The 8,000 number probably comes from the number of tickets sold. In hockey, there is a fictional attendance and a real attendance.

Finally, is the best the Chicago Tribune can do is run a story five weeks late? WHAT THE FUCK! The sports desk was called that night, by me. And they didn't care. Why have a "special" printed weeks later? The news occurred that night. It could have hit the Chicago Tribune's Saturday morning Bulldog (early Sunday) edition or the Sunday edition.

Dan McGrath should call his staff together and discuss why newspapers are losing subscriptions and ad revenue: It is shit like this. They ignored the story when it was fresh and ran it five weeks late when the controversy was dead. HINT: The next question on the Hounds is very simple: Will they survive till the end of the season?

at 1:56 AM

I found this piece on the Internet today:

Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Mannheim 1, Berlin 2

Defending DEL champions Eisbären Berlin won their first match after the TUI Nations Cup break by beating Adler Mannheim 2-1 on the road. The slow and mediocre game was overshadowed by a serious neck injury of Mannheim's Lonny Bohonos.

Lonny Bohonos was a player on the Chicago Wolves in the 2004-5 season before settling into Euro hockey with the German Elite league Mannheim Adlers’. I’m indebted to Ted’s Hockey blog for following Lonny. Almost exactly two years ago, in a game against the Milwaukee Admirals, the blog reminded me, Bohonos had four assists in a 6-2 Wolves victory.

Bohonos is in Thunder Bay recuperating from his hockey injury, out a season, but interested in playing again for the Thunder Bay Bombers. Nice post by Ted…

Hockey injuries can ruin lives. They end careers. They can even kill. So why do some fans cheer when an opposing player goes down? Two injuries in the defeat of the Chicago Wolves tonight. First period Milwaukee Admiral. Third period a Chicago Wolf. I remember cheering the Admiral as he returned to the bench. Was it a clean hit? Did he have his head down? In almost the same spot in the third a Wolves player down holding his eye.

The guy behind me, an Admirals fan who had been well behaved, starts cheering. Several of us ask him to stop out of respect and an argument breaks out. Neither here nor there normally. As I said, the group he was leading was loud but great fans of the Admirals.

During the argument, about an injury, he claims to be the coach of the Kenosha Krashers, which appeared to be a junior high school aged team. Not good. Disappointing. Homer.

at 1:51 AM

A bit of hockey news from Finland, former Wolf Billy Tibbetts has signed with the Finnish team HPK, the reigning champions of the Finnish SM-liiga league. I was told tonight that I tend to cut and paste. Maybe. In any case here is the original Finnish of Tibbetts joining the Knights:

HPK ja Billy Tibbetts sopimukseen
HPK ja hyökkääjä Billy Tibbetts ovat solmineet loppukauden kattavan pelaajasopimuksen. Tibbetts siirtyy Hämeenlinnaan AHL:n Chigago Wolvesista. Tibbetts on uransa aikana pelannut NHL:ssa 82 ottelua.
Tulivoimainen ja isokokoinen Tibbetts tuo HPK:n hyökkäykseen fyysisyyttä. Viime kaudella AHL:n Chigago Wolvesissa 32-vuotias Tibbetts pelasi 46 ottelua tehden niissä 20 maalia ja 22 maaliin johtanutta syöttöä.
Tibbetts saapuu Suomeen tapaninpäivänä ja pelaa ensimmäisen ottelunsa ritaripaidassa HPK:n kohdatessa Kärpät 28.12.06. Kuten Moravec, myös Tibbetts osallistuu tammikuussa pelattavaan ECC-turnaukseen HPK:n joukkueen mukana.

Those Fins have a way with words that no English speaker can match. Tibbetts entry to the Chicago Wolves was met with a lot of controversy. A hot-headed player, Tibbetts has managed to both endear himself and burn bridges in every city he has played in. The Wolves picked him from the Rockford IceHogs about a year ago and his presence on the ice was an immediate plus.

Still, his past pursued him. I remember coming home from work to hear my loving spouse in a hot-headed conversation with our ticket rep about Tibbetts and his past. I think she worked through those initial reactions as she learned more about Tibbetts. There was a very helpful website that seems to have gone dark. Too bad. Writing about Tibbetts always draws readers and people who hate Tibbetts are among the most loyal of readers.

But I feel there is another side to his story.

I’ll summarize here what I know, though Finnish readers may find better information elsewhere. Tibbetts was convicted of non-consensual sex with an under-aged woman when he was about 17. The story I’ve gathered from newspapers is that he was at a party and the woman, then 15, had sex with Billy, but later claimed it was rape. Courts tend to look at cases like this and give the young man a pass. Thus it was for Tibbetts, who received a suspended sentence.

Sometime later, while still on parole, Tibbetts shot a man. He used a pellet gun, if memory serves. A pellet gun, for our Finnish friends, does not fire explosives rounds. Instead the projectile is propelled by air.

It turns out the man Tibbetts fired on was an undercover police officer. Tibbetts spent three years in jail as a result. Because of the earlier conviction, Tibbetts had the earlier case reinstated and he is now considered a registered sex-offender. This raises the question of how Tibbetts was able to gain a work permit for Finland.

I think everyone can agree on these facts, in any case.

Now my opinion, I’ve seen Tibbetts play. There are lots of bits about him in my blog. He played with heart and I never saw him purposely start a fight, though he did stand up for his fellow team mates. His end with the Wolves occurred during a game in Milwaukee on April 14. I’ve never learned what happened, however, he did not join the bus ride home and it was clear that his time in Chicago, like in many other hockey teams, was finished.

Tibbetts ended the season with a fairly serious injury. He scored a goal late in the season, but managed to collide with the goal iron, causing a concussion. It was mentioned earlier this season as one of the memories of the 2005-6 season I’ll always carry with me: a great play by Tibbetts.

Earlier in this season he was in the reality series, “Be a Bruin” on the NESN (Northeastern Sports Net). When he was interviewed about his past, he said he was stopping the liquor, that he had found Jesus.

A mutual acquaintance said that the liquor had found Billy again.

Billy Tibbetts is a million dollar player with a ten-cent fuse in his brain. He is clearly a very good player who battles demons and often loses. He always has an excuse for what happened. It is never his fault. I like Billy Tibbetts. I’ve met him off the ice. But he has not faced the great demon inside and he’ll always have problems till he does.

at 10:08 PM

The Rockford IceHogs MetroCentre deal continues to dominate hockey discussion in Rockford. One of the local newspapers, the Rockford Register Star, has editorialized in favor of the $23 million plan and has backed its editorial with heavy coverage.

Outside of Rockford my attention has been on Norfolk. The owners of the Norfolk Admirals, one of the two possible franchises that are most likely to move to Rockford, have said the team will stay in Norfolk next year, whether or not there is an affiliation with the Chicago Blackhawks. That would leave just one American Hockey League franchise available in the most likely scenario: the former Edmonton Road Runner franchise, owned by the Edmonton Oilers.

The coach of the Rockford hockey team warned the MetroCentre that they had underestimated the cost of acquiring the AHL franchise. If the number of possible teams declines, the price should go up. It sounds like the coach knows more about business and hockey than the managers of the MetroCentre.

The Norfolk Admirals, meantime, are in third place in the East Division, within three points of the Calder Cup champions Hershey Bears, the division leader. The Admirals were swept by the Bears in the 2006 Eastern Division semifinals. It is early in the season to make predictions, especially about a division that rarely play this far west. Yet, this seems to be the strongest Norfolk team this decade.

A cynic might ask why the Blackhawks are considering moving a successful program. The answer is that the only part of the current IceHogs organization that will stay is the front office. There is virtually no chance the current roster would be present next season.

And, making national sports news, Enver Lisin, a troubled rookie in the Phoenix Coyotes organization, was suspended for not reporting to San Antonio. Lisin, who has a +/- of –18, instead flew home to Russia where he is expected to play for Ak Bars Kazan in the Russian League.

This is not the first time NHL players have taken a hit rather than play in the AHL. And, the loss of Lisin is probably not troubling for the Phoenix organization, given his terrible record. However, the word on the street is that the San Antonio club is mean.

That sounds like an opponent talking, but that comes from the inside, team mates talking about team mates. Mean. That’s a description that sounds appropriate describing a third-grader, not professional hockey athletes. Something really smells in the Phoenix organization’s Texas crew. Lots of money in the off-season has had virtually no effect. The NHL side of the organization is just as disappointing.

Finally, the Chicago Wolves play the 500th home game in franchise history against Omaha this week. Starting in the International Hockey League, the Wolves and the IHL were part of a strategy to challenge the NHL. Today the IHL is a memory. But the Chicago Wolves have one of the highest attendance figures in the AHL year after year, while downtown the Blackhawks have one of the lowest attendance figures in the NHL. The Wolves broadcast every game on cable, the Blackhawks only broadcast selected home games, sell outs and away games.

The Wolves have played in post-season every year but one since their founding. The Blackhawks regularly play golf starting in mid-April.

Finally, this week, Forbes magazine estimated that Bill Wirtz’s Blackhawks was among only three NHL teams that lost value since the lockout season. In Rosemont, Wolves owner Don Levin is rumored to be among the possible bidders for the Chicago Cubs. Clearly, the Wolves have been successful in challenging the Blackhawks. Sadly, the two teams will never meet on the ice. With three of the top scorers in the AHL, I have no doubt who would win such a match.

Go Wolves!

at 5:22 PM

Trent Yawney is gone. You can read all about it in the mainstream media. Yawney had lost 12 of the last 15 games, basically the Blackhawks hired a good, not great, minor league coach. He did what he could. And now, he’s gone.

The problems on Madison Avenue start at the very top. Let’s face it, Bill Wirtz, who is affectionately known among hockey fans as Dollar Bill, or simply $Bill$, needs to go.

That could happen through an errant bus or clogged arteries. It doesn’t matter to hockey fans. Anywhere.

Wirtz, afterall, was one of the holdout owners who prolonged the NHL lockout. After getting the other NHL owners to agree not to accept any proposal unless by unanimous consent, Wirtz, and others, held out when the players came looking to end the lockout.

And it was Wirtz who drove Pat Foley and Wayne Mezmer into the arms of Don Levin.

Which gets me to my point. Levin has been slapping Wirtz around like he’s Teddy Roosevelt and Wirtz is one of the meat packagers. Time to stop. Just say stop.

Because as much as I dislike the way Wirtz runs his empire, from the seedy reception area at 680 N Lake Shore Dr. to the driving away of any hockey talent, he has an opportunity.

He’ll never listen, of course. But he should.

Wirtz has been hurt, betrayed you might even say, by former employees who, when they were abandoned by Wirtz, didn’t have the good graces to slink off. No, Mezmer, who you may remember, was fresh out of the hospital from a shooting, became a vice-president of the Wolves.

And then there was Foley. Who would have guessed that after getting shown the door, the SOB would have the good luck to answer the phone when Judd Sirott was called up to the HD-NHL gig?

The nerve of the fans too. There are sometimes more of them at a Wolves game than a Blackhawks game held on the same day. Not to mention that Levin cut a deal with Comcast to broadcast all the Wolves games, home and away. It’s a deal that many NHL teams would give their right nut to have.

The enemy of the team on Madison Avenue isn’t the Detroit Red Wings or the St. Louis Blues, or for that matter any of the players reps. It is located on Mannheim Road in Rosemont, Illinois: the Chicago Wolves.

It is time for Don Levin to get a big punch in the eye, I think. Speaking metaphorically of course. And I know just how Wirtz can do it. Forget about Denis Savard. Promoting Savard is just a way to continue to lose.

Sorry Denis, you know it’s true.

Savard, or practically anyone else, is going to be faced with the fact that this team has been poorly run from the very top. Give Savard the GM position, satisfy the local hockey fans that way. Besides, we all know the next to exit is Dale Tallon.

Now, let’s really piss the Wolves and their fans off.

Noel. Yep, Noel as in Claude Noel. Oh boy, this would really get the Wolves fans pissed. Noel has gone to the big game twice and won a Calder Cup. And, he did it while the front office of the Milwaukee Admirals was spinning out of control. The trustee there had about used up all their capital, the team was a second-rate team. But, Noel brought a bunch of young head-strong individuals together and made them a winning team. A winning team that brought Milwaukee its first Calder Cup.

He largely held that team together, moreover, for two more seasons, making another serious run on the Calder Cup last season.

This guy is a winner. And Wolves fans hate him. Because he wins against the Wolves.

Not only that, hockey fans will see a winning coach come to town, something the pleasantly ineffective Yawney could never claim. Because going to post-season isn’t winning. Winning is bringing home rings and cups. And Noel can do that, even for a crappy team like the Blackhawks.

at 1:27 AM

Jason Krog was called up to the Thrashers prior to the Griffins game. Without Krog the team wasn't horrible, just very different and struggling. The defence was outskated throughout the first and second period with Grand Rapids putting terrible pressure on Garnett. The Wolves appeared to be almost standing there as the Griffins went around them and through them to get goals.

Now either the defence had to much turkey at the Drake, or the defence sucks. Take your pick.

Despite being pounded for two and half periods, the Wolves almost caught the Griffs in the final minutes. But, there is a lack of discipline on the Wolves: players should know by the third period what the ref is going to call and stop doing that.

SHOTS ON GOALCoach Nelson and Kevin Cheveldayoff were at the Muskeegon Fury game on Thanksgiving instead of the Drake. Scouting for an affiliation?

at 10:54 AM

The owners of the Rockford IceHogs responded to the maneuvers of the MetroCentre in a press release last weekend:

Tri-Vision Sports and its predecessor have spent eight years building a professional hockey franchise in downtown Rockford. The viability of professional hockey in downtown Rockford was initially doubted politically and publicly. The franchise has been sustained through the significant and repeated capital investment by its owners and the team is now, finally, both winning games and not losing money.

The future of the Rockford IceHogs is a business matter between the hockey club, as a MetroCentre tenant, and Centre Events as its lessor. We ask that all other parties respect that business relationship and allow these two groups to negotiate an agreement without interference. The MetroCentre has given Tri-Vision a written proposal, and our attorneys have responded. Until that dialogue has completely concluded, we feel that further discussions, resolutions, and votes at the City or County level with respect to an AHL/MetroCentre agreement should be tabled.

By the same token, the IceHogs fully and strongly support the proposed MetroCentre improvements, and urge everyone to proceed with that plan. Regardless of whether the IceHogs remain a UHL team or become an AHL team, the proposed renovation is both necessary and overdue.

Tri-Vision's first hope would be to reach an agreement with the MetroCentre to extend the current lease on a long-term basis, and continue operating the club that has taken eight years to build. It has been a long road to make this team successful, and we are concerned about the idea of a fundamental restructuring of the organization and how it might affect Rockford hockey.

Alternatively, if a long-term lease extension is not possible, then Tri-Vision would be willing to sell the entire team to the MetroCentre for its fair market value. In an effort to facilitate and expedite the AHL discussions, Tri-Vision would also be willing to sell its assets and logo (but not the UHL franchise) for two-thirds of the team's fair market value, and permit them to be used with a new AHL team. Tri-Vision has been negotiating in good faith to achieve these goals with the MetroCentre; unfortunately, due to the technicalities and contingencies in the proposals we've exchanged thus far, we don't feel that we are quite there yet.

Aside from this statement of our general position and plans, we would like to take this opportunity to correct specific misstatements that were made publicly:

1. In the Rockford Register Star on November 18, 2006, "Officials from Centre Events" were quoted to "say that they had a written deal in place for three months to purchase the IceHogs for $500,000, but that deal fell apart last weekend after the MetroCentre plan became public." That is absolutely false. There is not a written agreement in place to purchase the Rockford IceHogs for any amount, nor has there ever been. Two days ago, we were presented with a written purchase agreement for the first time, and we responded in writing the next morning. Prior to that, we have merely exchanged outlines, terms sheets, and similar notes to facilitate our discussion. We consider the specific terms and conditions of the proposed agreement, including the purchase price, to be a private business matter until it has been finalized and signed by all parties.

2. In that same article, Corey Pearson was also quoted to say that "at some point the Blackhawks began negotiating directly with Tumilowicz…though he did not know why talks ceased." That is also false. Mr. Pearson was closely involved in those discussions and he was also closely involved in their cessation. The reason those talks ceased is that our ownership and management group determined that it would be financially impossible for us to launch and maintain an AHL team in downtown Rockford.

3. Also in the article, it was suggested that we are holding the MetroCentre "hostage". We categorically reject that characterization. In fact, if such a situation is taking place, we are the hostage. We are struggling with the difficult choice of either having our current lease terminated or selling our team for a fraction of its value. We have been faced with this heavy-handed negotiation tactic for months, and we have recently involved legal counsel to scrutinize the proposed agreement terms, and help us better understand our options. At no point in this process was the IceHogs team ever listed for sale, and we do not want to sell it now. Despite that, we have been willing to cooperate and try finding a way to sell the team for a fair value, if that is what's best for downtown Rockford and the hockey fans. Keep in mind, we all began the Fall of 2005 in good faith negotiations for a new lease at the MetroCentre. It was Centre Events who raised the notion of a Blackhawks affiliation, and who urged that we put off the lease discussions to focus on the possibility of bringing an AHL franchise to Rockford - first with us as the owners, and later with them as the owners but using our logo and management team.

4. Finally, the article quotes a Centre Events Board member to say "the bottom line is we don't need the IceHogs." If that is an accurate quote, we are deeply disappointed to hear it. As stated above, we've spent a great deal of time and money to build a successful professional hockey club in downtown Rockford. Furthermore, we have been a reliable and profitable tenant for the MetroCentre over the years. Now that we've established a solid fan base for the team, we quite frankly think it is despicable to be treated this way in both private business discussions and publicly disparaging remarks.

Ultimately, our position on all these matters can be summarized in three simple points: (1) We love professional hockey, and we are committed to doing whatever is best for the hockey fans of Rockford; (2) We fully support the MetroCentre renovation proposals and urge everyone to support them and all other efforts to make downtown Rockford a showcase community; and (3) we will do what is necessary to protect and preserve the Rockford IceHogs club and everything that our entire organization has done over the years to make this team successful.

at 10:52 AM

We just clocked these guys. Here's what I wrote that time:

Iowa won the previous game in OT 5-4. But we want the Wolves to get more than a point. They owned the Wolves last year, with very few Wolves points from these guys. Junior Lessard has a team leading 17 points, 11th overall. Joel Lundquist has 15 points, tied for 19th place.

Tobias Stephen, a Swiss goalie, has a third place 1.82 GAA and is turning away 92.4 percent of shots.

The Iowa update is they have 24 points, running third in the West. Lessard is up to 21 points, Lundqvist 18, Marty Sertich 16. Three others are in double digits, Vojtech Polak, Mark Ardelan and Mike Green, all at 11 points. Rookie goal keeper Stephan is now ranked 4th in the league with 2.02 GAA and 92.5 percent save.

Our last two games against Iowa:
10/28 Iowa 5 Chi 4 OT
11/14 Chi 8 Iowa 2

at 10:45 AM

The Wolves killed the Omaha Knights 6-3 last night in Omaha. Rookie Brett Sterling notched a hat trick, the other goals were by Darren Haydar and Jason Krog. The Wolves play the Grand Rapids Griffins tomorrow in the first fan club road trip. The Griffins, who will consider this a home and home, lost to the Wolves last Friday 5-3 at the Allstate.

Following that is a game with the Houston Aeros, the first this season for the Wolves. With 27 points, the Wolves have their best start of the franchise history and three of the top AHL scorers in Krog, Haydar and the rookie Sterling.

Fred Braithwaite and Michael Garnett have both been pretty solid in nets this season with just four regulation and one OT loss in the season between them. As a team, the Wolves have given up 57 goals. That is actually the worst record in the West Division, and the sixth worst in the league.

In addition, the team's 479 penalty minutes are the second worst in the league.

The Aeros are not the same team they were last season. Gone are top rookie Patrick O'Sullivan and key players Kirby Law and Erik Westrum. Back is Roman Voloshenko. They were just beaten by the San Antonio Rampage on Tuesday. That may be due to a hot goal tender being brought up to the Rampage, more than anything else, however. Only two Aero skaters are breaking into the double digits in scoring, Matt Foy with 15 and Danny Irmen with 11. Fourteen other skaters have scored at least a goal.

Josh Harding returns to the pipes and is ranked 9th in the league. Power play is running about 12 percent (25th), penalty kill 89.6 (second).

at 7:02 AM

The post below, about the Rockford MetroCentre included this sentence: "The Edmonton Oilers, which owns the Roadrunner franchise is currently affiliated with the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights."

That is wrong. The Edmonton Oilers, which owns the Roadrunner franchise, are affiliated with four AHL teams, the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Milwaukee Admirals, Hamilton Bulldogs and the Iowa Stars. This sentence replaced the error on the date posted below.

at 12:52 PM

My last piece of the day: a sidebar on the United Hockey League.

It is fortunate that I am not a professional journalist, because I wouldn’t be able to write another part of the UHL story. The federal indictment of former Danbury, Conn. Trashers-owner Jim Galante is turning up a treasure trove of information about the UHL. When Richard Brosal talks about the “smell test” in the article below, he should know. The league president is reported on a federal wiretap to be discussing coercing a league official, Jim Harper, an on-ice official, into dropping charges against Galante for battery that occurred after a game.

Brosal has told the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette that it is a misunderstanding. He was making a joke: there was never an intention of coercing Harper into dropping the charges. But the smell test says different.

On the recording is a meeting between Brosal and an “associate” of a Galante. The associate, Ciro Viento was recorded calling on Brosal to ask Brosal’s aid in soliciting a letter from Harper that would exonerate Galante. The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette the Danbury News Times are following the story. Stay tuned.

at 11:58 AM

Earlier in the week the Rockford MetroCentre management presented its plan to renovate the orange downtown box that houses the Rockford IceHogs to the Winnebago County Board Economic Development Committee. The $23 million plan would, in part, depend on the sale of the hockey team to the MetroCentre, the affiliation of the IceHogs with the Chicago Blackhawks and an American Hockey League franchise.

On Tuesday, the committee approved the plan 2-1, sending it to a lame-duck Winnebago County Board. The plan is expected to pass the Winnebago board at its meeting on November 21. Passage is also expected at the Rockford City Council later.

Opposing the plan was the President of the United Hockey League, Richard Brosal. Brosal, wrote a six-page letter to the county board and the city, noting the efforts of the IceHogs owners in building a franchise and questioning the good faith of the MetroCentre in negotiations, "over the past two years, the ownership group has been asking for renovations and an extension to their lease."

Brosal noted that the IceHogs owners had first right of refusal should the MetroCentre negotiate with others during the lease. But that the MetroCentre had entered negotiations with the Chicago Blackhawks and the AHL in the hope of displacing the IceHogs.

In addition, Brosal said, "instead of doing the renovations that have been discussed… (the renovations are) now contingent on an AHL team being in the building… this just doesn’t pass the ‘smell test.’"

IceHogs owners Dr. Kris Tumilowicz and Craig Drektrah had called the MetroCentre’s $500,000 offer to purchase the IceHogs too low, but said they were hoping to conclude negotiations on the sale this week. They supported the plan to renovate the MetroCentre but noted it should occur whether the IceHogs are sold and affiliate with the Blackhawks or stay in the UHL.

Centre Events General Manager Corey Pearson told the Rockford Register Star that negotiations with the team weren’t seen as urgent during the first six months of the year as the IceHogs were examining affiliation with the AHL at the time. He said the MetroCentre was still interested in AHL membership after the IceHogs ended discussions with the AHL.

Incoming County Board member Doug Aurand questioned the haste of the plan, telling the Rock River Times that "there are seven brand-new faces on that Board, and it always bothers me when things are done in what I call a ‘lame duck’ session." Pearson replied that the approval is required now so renovations can be completed for the 2007-8 season.

While MetroCentre officials say three AHL franchises are available, there is discussion on AHL news and websites of only one franchise being open: the former Edmonton Road Runners franchise. Because the Norfolk (Virginia) Admirals AHL franchise is losing affiliation with the Chicago Blackhawks, that franchise too could be available. The AHL, which has 27 teams, has limited its size to 30 teams, one to be affiliated with each NHL team. Two inactive franchises have indicated they plan to become active in the next season: Windsor, Ontario and Cleveland.

The Edmonton Oilers, which owns the Roadrunner franchise, are affiliated with four AHL teams, the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Milwaukee Admirals, Hamilton Bulldogs and the Iowa Stars. The Roadrunner franchise was suspended following the NHL lockout in 2004-5, despite drawing an average of 8,854 fans per game, the third highest among AHL teams.

The Norfolk Admirals are 24th in league attendance this year, averaging 3,714 per game. The Admirals have made it to post-season play several times, most recently in the previous season. However, they have never been past conference semi-final level.

Brosal, Pearson and IceHogs coach Steve Martinson have been arguing publicly about the annual cost of AHL membership. Both Brosal and Martinson have questioned Pearson’s projections of the cost of running an AHL franchise, renovating the MetroCentre and obtaining an AHL franchise.

Two other hockey teams in Illinois looked at AHL affiliation within the past two years. The UHL-affiliated Quad City Mallards decided against affiliation at the end of last season. While in Peoria, the ECHL-affiliated Rivermen did affiliate with the AHL.

An attempt by the Cincinnati AHL franchise to resuscitate itself into the RailRaiders failed when the ownership group missed its goal of 2,000 season tickets by 340, despite extending the marketing campaign. When the campaign ended, a dormant ECHL affiliate, the Cyclones, immediately resuscitated their franchise in Cincinnati at a different venue.

Bruce Saurs of the Peoria Rivermen told the Quad City Times in a March interview that the team was not yet breaking even. Last season, the Rivermen had an average attendance of 4,780. This season, so far, the attendance is 4,820, still about the same as during their ECHL days. Ticket prices in Peoria rose about $0.50 cents from ECHL affiliation and the Carver Civic Center, which is also undergoing a substantial rehabilitation, installed new glass and other amenities this season for the Rivermen.

Although the AHL is considered stable, with teams wanting to affiliate, the UHL has suffered. This is all being prettied up by the UHL as a retrenching of the league into the Midwest. The Richmond River Dogs moved to Hoffman Estates to become the Chicago Hounds; the Fraser City, Mich. Motor City Mechanics closed for a year, the (Glen Falls, NY) Adirondack Frostbite folded. And, the second-place Danbury, Conn. Trashers closed after the team owner, a reputed mobster, was indicted by the Federal government.

The St. Charles, Missouri River Otters pulled out of the 2006-7 season. The Moline, Ill. Quad City Mallards underwent a bruising front office battle that is discussed HERE. Plus, the website ArenaDigest.com noted that the Rockford IceHogs are unprofitable. The only bright spots are the new Bloomington, Ill. Prairie Thunder, the outstanding attendance at Fort Wayne, Ind. Komets games and the new Sears Centre built for the Chicago Hounds.

SHOTS ON GOAL: The CBA-affiliated Gary Steelheads may become the first CBA team to resusitate their franchise. The CBA has also shrunk as minor league basketball teams have affiliated with the NBA-D, that is D as in development.

However, on Friday the Gary Post-Tribune said the team plans to announce a 2006-7 schedule, joining the US Basketball League. A new ownership group, headed by Jewell Harris Jr., said the team will play an April to June schedule.

The Steelheads play at Genesis Convention Center.

at 10:04 AM

The Grand Rapids Griffins visit the Allstate Arena tonight, for their first visit to the Chicago Wolves this season. The Griffins come into the game on a losing streak of 0-5-1-0. That includes dropping four home games in a row, one in overtime.

Bob McNamara returned to the Griffins as General Manager for the tenth season. Newly promoted behind the bench is head coach Greg Ireland. Ireland was the former assistant coach. Taking his place as assistant is NHLer Jim Paek.

Former Wolf Kip Miller anchors the offense with 17 points, followed by two former Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins, Krys Kolanos and Matt Hussey. Of the top ten scorers on the team only Matt Ellis, Kyle Quincey and Ryan Keller return from last year. Darryl Bootland, the team’s goon, has been recalled to Detroit. In fact 25 rooster changes have been noted this season, compared to just three on the Wolves.

Jimmy Howard is returning to the nets. He is stopping 90 percent of shots and has a 2.79 goal against average. Also in the nets is Stefan Liv, with a 3.2 GAA and stopping 89.4 percent of shots.

Penalty Kill is 81.6 percent, just below the Wolves, while the power play is running an anemic 14.6 percent. The team plays the Wolves again on November 24. For the Griffins this will be a home and home, while the Wolves have other games first.

at 8:43 AM

The Chicago Wolves return to the Allstate Arena tonight after a three week road trip that brought them an 8-1-0-0 streak. Offense is the plan the Wolves have chosen this season. One measure of the dominance of the team’s scoring is that it has the most goals of any team in the league, with 70, compared to 64 goals by the next best scoring team.

The top three scorers on the team, Jason Krog, Darren Haydar and rookie Brett Sterling, are ranked number one, two and five on the leagues list of top scorers. A skeptical fan might note that the next three Wolves are falling at number 76, Steve Martins, number 113, Derek MacKenzie and Joey Crabb, 154. But, Martins is producing more than a point a game and is in double digits with 11 points. Three other Wolves are producing at least a point a game, Cory Larose, Kyle Wanvig and Colin Stuart. And, a total of 21 Wolves have at least one goal this season.

The team is 21.6 percent on the power play, 25 percent on the road. They are 14 for 37 in the last four games, nearly 40 percent. The team is an offensive power house.

In the nets, the team has been anchored by Michael Garnett and Fred Brathwaite. Garnett has a 2.8 goals against average and is stopping 90.7 percent of shots, while Brathwaite has 3.04 goals against average and is stopping 88 percent of shots. Another measure of the defense is the team has allowed 49 goals in 15 games, or 3.27 goals per game, the eighth highest goals against in the league.

In summary, a tough offense and a so-so defense, with the highest number of penalty minutes in the league, averaging more than 20 minutes per game.

Against this background, two of the Wolves defensemen were called up to the Atlanta Thrashers this week, Braydon Coburn and Mark Popovic. Coburn was assigned to Chicago in October and in that time notched seven points. I am not a fan of Coburn, notably yelling at him to get back on the point during a game in Milwaukee last year, loud enough that he looked at me. The man wanders. Plus, he uses a lot of clutch and grab to stop opponents getting by his position. His penalty minute, 27 in nine games, ranks fourth in the Wolves.

This number one draft pick isn’t able to play his position well. I don’t yet know if he is a bust or simply needs more seasoning. But, frankly, I’m glad he’s gone for the moment from Chicago. Coburn replaces Steve McCarthy on the Atlanta rooster.

Another Atlanta player, Garnet Exelby, has been placed on the injured reserve list. Exelby played with the Wolves some years back. Mark Popovic is taking his place in Atlanta.

The moves place the weak defense in a position of having just six blue liners available. Tim Wedderburn was assigned to the Rockford IceHogs earlier in the season and could be recalled. However, as of Saturday morning, there is no sign of Wedderburn making the short trip down the Northwest Tollway.

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