Another one bites the dust...

[wolves89]

great another league that goes under... was the XIHL worth destroying MLRH for?? i played XIHL, sure it was fun but 2 seasons ago MLRH was the best it has ever been (non-professionally) even the bottom-feeder teams made you work to get a win... so what happened???? MLRH was awful this season, the XIHL was not that great. so what are we left with??

i'm not slow, i'm patient

[Rebecca]

Actually, I am more concerned about the departing of good people like Benny. Leagues will come and go, but when I see people like Benny getting out (and others) it really kills me.

Rebecca

http://www.collegerollerhockey.net/bb/files/avatar_stallion.gif

[MIGHTYJOHN20]

I kinda misunderstood the original post...are You saying there is no MLRH this up & comming year...?

[GROWL]

This is a true disaster. It's not my goal to see any of the leagues go under, but to see one step up above the others and bring us what weve all been looking for. The real disaster, as Billy mentioned is that the XIHL was formed as an alternative to MLRH and now that is gone. Hopefully Charlie and Bill Ruae will work together and not against each other.

I meant no disrespect to you Benny and your announcement now answers why I have not heard back from you. Best of luck to you.

[NuHusky]

alright, we need to get some people together and get working on a league for next year.

[wolves89]

depends on how you define up and coming... this past season was a disaster... every game was a blowout... 2 seasons ago was the best MLRH ever was... now i am sure that with the departure of the XIHL that teams like: marple, conn, wolves, ottakringer will all jump back on the MLRH bandwagon... but as for this past season of MLRH, it was a disappointment... just to clear up confusion this isn't opinion here are some of the facts...

one team would blow out one team by 10+ goals one day and the very next day it was flip flopped... this isn't because of parity in the league, it is because 90% of the teams had commitment issues...

with the exception of carolina, no team traveled on the road with more then 6-8 guys... 2 seasons ago, 90% of the games had the max of 12 at every game...

some games were played with one official... a "pro" level game cannot be played like that

last but not least, the schedule... there was never a definite schedule posted, so how could you blame players for not showing up when games are only scheduled a week in advance...

hopefully this is the last season of MLRH we see run like that... hopefully with the shutting down of the XIHL the teams can all get together and form one true league as it was 2 seasons ago, and start building towards a real PRO league.

i'm not slow, i'm patient

[DblJ44]

We played our first Semi-final game in MLRH with one ref! We had a ref at my home rink who missed 2 goals. I didn't play XIHL, didn't see any games but from what I understand they were far better then the MLRH games. I know that i never knew what our schedule was and never found out about games until 4 or 5 days before... and even then it would change. Things have got to change for it to work.

Im fat, bald, and slow.

[Brooklynite10]

And not let's forget the fact that these league websites are horrible. If I were a new fan looking to get more into the sport, After viewing the websites, I would instantly think the league(s) were a joke and not even bother waisting my time. Let's just hope someone comes along that realize the big upside to our sport and is willing to invest the time and effort that is needed to take it to the next level. As much as I thought the XIHL had a good future, this just might be the best thing to happen.

[Maskman]

If there is MLRH next season it needs to be in the fall. This way there is no conflict with PIHA and the top players can play in both. Last season many players were in both MLRH and PIHA and when there were conflicts usually elected to go to the PIHA games instead.

[Brooklynite10]

I think players chose to go the game that was the least amount of travel. Now that the XIHL is no longer, I'm sure that the MLRH and PIHA have plans to take place during different seasons. Actually, one of these two leagues could and should start up the end of this fall.

[born2runPROgm]

the more things change, the more they stay the same. Can't one of us just win the power-ball and fix everything.

11

[cougarsrh]

I'm not real happy about having the Cougar teenagers playing in the MLRH. We had to rescue that farce, and I still don't think its a great idea. Mixing a wise-a$$ trash-talking teenager on a rink with a guy who may have had a bad day at work who is doing everything he can to hold back not to splatter the kid is still a recipe for a problem.
We are having this as a topic for our next board meeting. If the PIHA is a bit more organized,,, we'll see.....
A couple of official Anthony Flynn autographed pictures could sway us... :)

Rich "Big Cheese" Nardiello
Cougars Roller Hockey Club

[NLane]

Aren't the Cougars the team that pulled out of the XIHL at the last minute?

[wolves89]

everyone at 17 is invincible, i remember talking crap at that age thinking i could pummel an older working guy... definitely not the case... playing against the cougars was fun, most of them are very respectful as far as the age gap is concerned... not too much trash talk from them... towards myself anyways

i'm not slow, i'm patient

[born2runPROgm]

Just to mention a funny story on the subject...my friends and I back home always called it "old man strength" growing up. We discovered it at pick-up and playing in various mens leagues as 18 year olds against 30&up players. The older players, although obviously lacking severely in skill and endurance, could physically dominate games drawing energy from this unknown force (OMS).
We then concluded that from the years of constant financial and domestic dissapointment, from the emotional beating of the wife, the kids, the mortgage, the taxes, the working man had developed an inner rage inside. They would bring out this rage on the ice an occasionally use to destroy the cocky little you know whats.
Just thought it was funny when you mentioned what you did about the older players on NJ mixing with the youngsters. Made me remember that story.
thats my 2cents. hope you found it amusing. (I wonder when my 'OMS' will kick in...)

11

[NoMoreNiceGuy]

MLRH won't play in the fall.

[Brooklynite10]

Because ?

[DblJ44]

Billy, I'd like to think that for the most part (every team has an exception) we were pretty much there to play hockey. Win or lose, young or old and bald, whatever the case may be. And most of our guys were scared of your brother and wouldn't talk to anyone for the most part. I however had no problem telling you to slow down.

Im fat, bald, and slow.

[cougarsrh]

Mike Stoever, our rink owner, put that "team" in, without really having any of the adult players committed. When we found out that this was the case, we weren't really psyched about putting the kids in this league. MLRH came along, and slowly some of the kids helped out JJ fill in spots. We decided to have them playing in the highest Men's league at Skaters Choice instead , but I think its crazy to put them in an "adult" league (XIHL)who's one of few purposes is to beat the crap out of each other for the 16 fans that showed up.. Our kids get confused becasue they CAN drop gloves with most of adults, and they seemed to prove that in their ice hockey and MLRH games, but 90% of them can play in 16U travel tournaments. They play in 18U becuase of a goalie that is 9 days too old to play 16u, but it is proabbly beter playing ther, since most of them are used to playing in that spot and not sand-bagging in Bantam. It takes them awhile in tournaments to adjust stlyes of play back down to the "kid" level. I guess thats why they are still kids.

Yeah, OMS, isn't that true. I remember a hundred years ago being 18 and playing 30 year old "old Men" in hoops. We would get an early lead, then all of a sudden we found ourselves wiping the floor with our faces. It was then nice to continue that tradition when I turned 30.

[DblJ44]

I don't think the real story has been told here yet. I run the hockey programs at Skater's Choice, The powers that be from XIHL had told the owner that there was not going to be an Ottakringer team, so the owner talked to a handful of the guys from that team who agreed to play for the Cougars if there was no Ottakringer. The guys from XIHL were aware of this, there is no way to draw 2 teams with the ability to play at that level at 2 rinks 20 minutes apart, the talent pool is only so big. I was in the office when some of these conversations were held and I know what my boss told whoever it was he had talked to. So after we were told there would be no Ottakringer team the owner started to round up a few more players. Shortly after this we were informed that the Ottakringer had made an agreement with the Skate Zone which was one of the problems they were having and only had to come up with the money to enter the team. Which we were again told that they wouldn't do and there wouldn't be an Ottakringer by the XIHL. So the fact that the XIHL had carried on about the Cougars was some kind of joke especially since they knew that the Cougars were relying players who were on the Ottakringer roster. Anyone who had played our MLRH team that played XIHL would agree that we would not have held our own in that league. Oh and sorry to anyone from the Ottakringer if Im spelling it wrong.

Im fat, bald, and slow.

[hockeyburlington]

Someone Over a summer should just find teams, owners, and players committed and ready to play roller hockey and with enough money start up a final "PRO" Roller hockey league. Now seriously how many of you would go see this league? Ive been waiting so long for another "pro" league (like the defunct RHI). Hopefully someone could bring it back.

Ryan Harrison
[email protected]
(905)320-3230<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by hockeyburlington on 07/01/05 12:05 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

[NLane]

A lot of the same players played in both (some of them all 3 leagues). A hit is a hit is a hit. I am familiar with some of what/how the Cougar XIHL thing happened but have heard it a bit differently from several other sources. What's done is done-just full of "sayings" today aren't I? Have a safe holiday everyone!

[cougarsrh]

Agreed to what JJ said. Luckliy, I don't know, or care to know, all the behind the scene's crap.
A "Pro" league , no matter what the name, can't rely on 16 year olds to fill a roster, or else it justifies the opinion that these pro leagues are a joke in a sport that is an unorganized joke.
Mike Stoever and JJ are real supportive of our club, but I don't intend to have our kids be cannon fodder. When they are all 18, that will be fine, but for now, it i\was a dumb move. Live and learn. have anice 4th.


PS - JJ, make my kid work extra hard today at the rink. He needs to get in shape for Nats!

Rich "Big Cheese" Nardiello
Cougars roller Hockey Club

[NoMoreNiceGuy]

MLRH started as a spring league, the first seasons did not end till June.

The third year, after Charlie started his "summer" league, MLRH pushed back the end of the season (as well as the beginning) but to accommodate the players who wanted to be done before Memorial Day. Fan attendance was never high for the pre-Christmas games or for early January (pro football). Charlie, however, keeps starting his league earlier and earlier.

Please understand that Charlie was very involved in MLRH early on, but he wanted less hitting and fighting while Bill wanted more of each. There are a number of PIHA players that never play in MLRH because of the fighting, and that is there choice. I would rather watch an MLRH game, but if I was a player (which I never was), I don't think I would like to be part of the fighting.

The only conflict between the leagues is in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area. MLRH is not going to move it's schedule when the southern teams draw well in February, March and April.

Since there are only 2 MLRH teams left in this area, there should not be a real conflict with the schedule, but players are going to have to commit to one league or the other.

As to Ottakringer and the Gladiators, they have bailed on the MLRH twice in the last 5 years and would not be allowed to re-enter the league, as much as not to dilute the two remaining teams as any other reason).

The other teams in the IXHL might get back in the MLRH, if they ask (but not the Sting for the above reason), but I think their egos are too big for that to happen.

If Bill and Charlie could get together on one league, that would be great, but I don't see it happening. Bill has too much invested in the name (did you know Models had sold pucks with the MLRH logo).

So, in this area, two leagues will coexist till one of them finds the financing to move ahead. My money is on MLRH.

[born2runPROgm]

such things have been said over and over on this board for years.... were all waiting.

11

[GROWL]

haha, ill have to have my PR agent send ya out something. It may take a while to arrive because of the heavy volumn in requests. Would love to see the cougars and skaters choice involved with PIHA next year.

[GROWL]

ofcourse it is.

[GROWL]

well guess what... it isnt going to happen. Thus why we are struggling to make out elite leagues work. Shame the egos dont get put aside. I'm hopeful things will improve in PIHA atleast, its our best shot at a well structured league.

[wolves89]

i'm sure they can drop the gloves... but what adult is going to fight a 17 year old kid?? i wouldn't, because after i pummeled them, you know the parents would get involved and say that i beat up a minor... its a tough situation when playing younger kids...

i'm not slow, i'm patient

[wolves89]

the only way MLRH will move ahead of PIHA is if they get the players... this past season was awful... and if the other teams are not let back in the best players in the area will not be in the league... like this season, they will be in PIHA

i'm not slow, i'm patient

[wolves89]

flynn you mean MLRH isn't well structured?

i'm not slow, i'm patient

[hockeyburlington]

What about the IHA If it improves as it is that could be our new "pro" style league right there....all they need is more intrest and possibly money

Ryan Harrison
[email protected]
(905)320-3230

[cougarsrh]

I have much respect for any over-21 that is able to restrain themselves when playing with the 16/17 year olds. You are exactly right, once the parents get involved, it gets ugly real fast. Its happened to us running CougarManias's where we find ourselves suddenly on top of a pile of bench-clearing kids - and thats the 10U's!
Once the parents have had a few beverages next door at the resturant, its gets even more entertaining.

JJ, we should sell videos.

[DblJ44]

We actually only had 3 fights last season. 2 included one of the kids who beat the snot out of one guy in VA. The kid (pulled his helmet and dropped the gloves in one motion) landed one good punch early square on the nose after that the guy tried to bury his face in the kids chest so the kid just continued to throw upper cuts, the refs had to help the guy up... then he almost fell on his way to the box. Then the same kid handled himself pretty well against a guy from D.C. who grabbed him from behind and pulled him down (after the guy from D.C. got his tooth knocked out and a big gash on his face he complained that the kid had a cage on... but only after).

Im fat, bald, and slow.

[dcdonkey]

I have had little to do with the league for a long time, but I still don't understand why they allow people with cages to be able to play at all. Wearing a cage is definitely a benefit. What's to stop someone like Deviney from Marple from putting on a cage and beating up everyone? You don't see the kids in junior leagues (WHL, OHL, and so on) wearing cages and getting into scraps.

[dcdonkey]

The problem lies in the fact that there aren't enough people with the same enthusiasm like you have. In other words, there just really isn't a profitable market. The fact that it is a somewhat untapped resource may make risky investments pay off immensily as well. So, it depends on the risk level investors are willing to accept.

[DblJ44]

The Kid who was wearing the cage was 17. He also didn't start either of his fights. I wear a cage, when 90% of the people playing know how to check, I'll consider taking it off. I understand a stick will come up from time to time but I took more hands and sticks to the cage in my one season of MLRH then in my previous 10 years of play.

Im fat, bald, and slow.

[dcdonkey]

Kids as young as 15 that play junior hockey (OHL, WHL, and so on) aren't allowed to wear cages unless they have a facial injury.

[DblJ44]

That's true but until these guys are getting paid or are on their way to getting paid I wouldn't suggest that they take their cages off, and I'm not taking mine off either. In higher level ice hockey there is also a level of respect that most players will not intentionally injure another player, and there is also training on the propper way to play contact hockey and the way to make a clean check.

Im fat, bald, and slow.

[NLane]

I guess McSorley missed that class hahaha. I have seen players earn and receive that respect in these inline leagues. It seems that the younger players are the ones that keep their sticks high. If you play with a cage on then you don't have to care where your stick or anyone else's goes. I wish refs could call a high stick just from the sound of a stick to a helmet. They don't always "see" it but they hear it.

[FrankFrank]

Correction... The DC player's bench complained about the cage being worn afterwards. The refs weren't goin to make that call against the player in question unless it had been brought up by the bench. The refs made the appropriate call by ejecting this tin-man from the game. IMO... If you drop the gloves while you're wearing face protection, you should be booted from the game, and possibly suspended for a number of games for being a "tuff guy". This "tuff guy" crap is uncalled for in hockey. I wore a cage for a number of years and was a trouble maker (those who know, Know)... you live, you learn. During the last year I wore the cage, I kept the under-buckle undone so i could slide my head out of the cage if I got into a fight (obviously not the safest idea, but there was no question when a fight occured.) The cage is gone and I can fully respect a non-cage wearing players arguement about this. If you don't wanna get hurt in a fight, Don't Start A Fight. If you start a fight with this unfair advantage, you deserve All the consequences that follow. Age should not be a discreminent either. 17 or 57... you don't wanna get hurt, don't do it.

Frank~Frank Szilagyi
DC Mad Dogs #7

[NLane]

Oh yeah..I remember. But we can't forget JH from the Destroyers just wailing away with bare knuckles on a guy still wearing his cage. And he wondered why his hands were all cut up. Guys like that shouldn't fight at all!! I guess because I'm not on the floor I just don't get the "so mad that you have to fight" thing. Someone mentioned blowing a kiss at a player...we had a guy growing up that always was losing his temper so we told him to just pucker up at the player instead of yelling or punching. It got him a penalty at Nationals. I think it was "taunting"...and yes it was hockey Nationals not figures.

[wolves89]

90% of the inline only players in MLRH have no idea how to give or receive a check... sticks and elbows are in every hit... and since the officials do not know how to call a checking game they let it go... also some of the fights in MLRH... are not fights... they are people jumping from behind and throwing punches before one player even knows whats going on... yet instigator penalties are seldom called...

for example... i played some games with the philly rage this season.. it was a fun time playing with the wolves guys on that team... we went down to the middle of no where VA to play a game... we were winning by a lot, and then the cheap shots started coming, as we expected... however, the officials would not call anything because in their words "the game is over, who cares, you dont need another powerplay" that is true professionalism...

in conclusion i think that a full contact league is the way to go HOWEVER, there needs to be rules followed for this... too many people get injuries from players not knowing how to execute a proper hit or fight... what is it going to take to get everyone on board?? a life altering injury?

i'm not slow, i'm patient

[NLane]

As players you need to address those types of things with the powers that be. I saw a hit from behind by a VA player on a Cougar player and I was upset because I have always stated that hits are shoulder to shoulder. I don't like cheap shots. But even ice hockey players that are "taught" from age 12 how to hit still don't follow the rules either. I was impressed for the most part of the refs in XIHL this last season. The only goof up I was aware of was not knowing that 2 fights gets a player out of the current game and suspended for the next one. The calls were pretty consistent.

[NLane]

I like the checking just because it makes a team work harder. Can't rely on 1 or 2 players to score all the goals. It also comes with the offsides part that I also like. There is checking in college ice hockey but not college inline. There are almost always ice hockey players on these inline teams. Maybe they should step up with instructions. We brought in an ECHL player to demonstrate checking the first team with which I was associated and they heard the words but still lead with their elbows til it got called a few times on them. It wouldn't hurt to have a ref there that knows a check game too. They can help tell players what they see as a legal hit.

[NLane]

MLRH started in the off ice season when they first started and ended up with a fist fight after the final game in the shake hands line. They wanted the ice players to bring fans to the game. I think more fans show up for hometown players than out of town ice players but that's just here, maybe not where you are.

[wolves89]

this is the reason that checking should either be taught at a younger age in roller hockey or it should not be allowed at all ... there are players that only play roller hockey and therefore do not know how to hit, i love a checking game, but i have played ice hockey and know how to give and receive them ... i think the XIHL was a lot cleaner then MLRH this past season, but still a lot of cheap shots... hopefully whatever league we (wolves) play in, will be a lot cleaner!

i'm not slow, i'm patient

[SpeedDemon]

Inline should be a non-check game and should be promoted as a game of speed and skill. Nothing wrong with the high scoring and the no off sides. Again, Inline needs to have its own identitiy and stop trying to copy Ice Hockey rules.

I agree. If I want to see the highest caliber of checking hockey, I'll just go to a professional ice hockey game. Inline won't compare, really, because it's a slower game.

[MIGHTYJOHN20]

I disagree... I believe We should still have both...if You want to see professional non-check roller hockey that's what PIHA is for & if You want hitting that is what MLRH is for & its best to have these options as far as the collegiate level it most likely should be a check league...that would put more people in the stands for college roller hockey which would only cause professional roller hockey to grow as well

[Ranzo]

Yeah thats true. That is why the NHL has a competition commitee now. For inline to grow into a professional sport, you got to please the fans. If I was a casual fan, besides a lot of points on the board, I want to see big hits as well. Makes it more exciting and entertaining. More things to cheer about.

[Brooklynite10]

I feel that tourneys should remain non checking, but leagues should be checking. Having two different style games is what makes our sport dynamic. As a player or fan, you have the option of choosing which game you prefer to play in or watch. From the past XIHL season, I remember fans getting into games more and cheering the loudest when a few good checks were thrown. A full contact game makes a game more intense, not only for players, but for fans alike. Fans are drawn to hockey because it's a battle and not just a game where two teams just go back and forth scoring. This element is needed in order for a strong roller hockey league to exist and grow to it's potential. With that said, tourneys have to stay non checking due to the fact that 4-6 games are played in a 2-3 day span. I don't know how someone can say that we need to stop copying th NHL rules; seems to me that it's going to be the other way around.

[DblJ44]

Oh I agree completely about the right call being made but the guy was yelling from the box at the kid to take his cage off, when he can he will and isn't afraid to fight and had before that. In the first fight he had he removed his helmet like you said you would. I'm sure if he were given a chance he would've done the same again.

Im fat, bald, and slow.

[NLane]

And that's why ice overtime is 4 on 4.

[GROWL]

I couldn't agree with you more Naz. Inline hockey needs an identity of it's own. It's not the NHL on wheels and unfortunitely I think that is what a lot of people want. Our game should be played the same way from atoms to adults. However that is just my opinion and everyone is free to feel as they wish.

As for the comment about "that is what PIHA and MLRH are for". As much as the leagues will probably co-exist for a few more years, it is ridiculous that we are wasting our efforts on different versions of the same goal. Sort of reminds me of the current state of the NHL. Why can't these people set aside their differences and play hockey. We should some how find a way to put pressure on the major players to get together and finally work together. I tried last year and it only further splittered the inline hockey world.

[NLane]

Maybe that West coast league will come/expand East. Hardball hockey definately had a look and action all it's own but who talks about it now? Is there checking in FIRS or any other International Inline Event? I have never seen those games but from what has been said about this year's play it has been rough.

[NLane]

Here! Here! We would even call him KING RICHARD!

[NLane]

Did I mention that I hate cherry picking too? I like the lines.

[SpeedDemon]

But you will never grow the sport as a checking game, pure and simple. I just don't see it happening. Professional ice hockey is THE premiere checking hockey sport. Inline needs to be THE &lt;something else&gt; sport.

[MIGHTYJOHN20]

I agree...I was just commenting on what We have currently

[GROWL]

keep dreamin! It would be great and im all for giving richard his due, but honestly that is never gonna happen. so for now we need some sort of effort that brings all the people who are at least willing to try together. So its not the best possible league, with the most money, like rhi, or pro beach, but atleast we would be able to say its all on the same page in a concerted effort and it would get maybe a lil more respect.

[GROWL]

I like the concept of having to man up and use your skill to play defense

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

Someone start a new thread on the same topic, please! This one's getting a little too long to look at easily... Thanks! /wtimages/icons/cool.gif

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central