PIHA Northeast Division

[SWAMPDONKEYS29]

Now that it's been officially announced, I just want to let everyone know how excited we all are to be joining the league next season.

Ruppy Hailey
Boston Roller Rats / Holbrook Swamp Donkeys

[vapor10]

Good to have you with us. Next years going to be awesome with all of the new teams.

[minutemen27]

its going to be alot of fun traveling up to boston next year

[SWAMPDONKEYS29]

Yeah.....we're looking forward to the trips to NJ as well!

[wolves89]

how many new teams are being added? where are they all going to be from?

i'm not slow, i'm patient

[SWAMPDONKEYS29]

So far, the pro teams will be the Boston Roller Rats, the Massachusetts Bombers, The Connecticut Blaze and the Hartford FireAnts.

The minor league teams will be the Holbrook Swamp Donkeys, the Tewksbury MAD, the Manchester Flames and the Glastonbury Warriors.

The Roller Rats and Swamp Donkeys will be affiliated and play their home games at the Holbrook Inline Sports Center in Holbrook, MA. The Bombers and team MAD will be affiliated and play their home games at Sports World Center in Tewksbury, MA. The Blaze and the Flames will be affiliated and the FireAnts and the Warriors will be affiliated. Those four teams are slated to play their home games at Z-Rink in Glastonbury, CT.

There will be more additions to both the pros and minors in the near future, but as of right now, those are the committed teams.

[vapor10]

Wow this is gonna be wild . .I'm pretty sure we'll be the Southern most team in that region, unless Wallington puts a team in. Any news on a New York team or a Long Island team?

[GROWL]

I believe that Wallington and the Rockers have expressed interest, but nothing more then that to report.

[wolves89]

As a league i think that we have to watch though... If ISCA and Rockers both put in a team, with morristown already having a team, that will make 3 teams within a 30 mile radius... where is all of this talent going to come from to field competative teams? And the last thing we want as a league is for teams to start dropping out of leagues. THis is why we all came to this league to being with.

Do not get me wrong, i think expansion is a great idea!! but just think of how good the team would be from Northern NJ if you took the best line from what each of those teams would get next season. It's Kind of like the Philly area and the Growl... Instead of having breakaway, downington and the growl, there is just one highly competative team.

This is all just food for thought, but the last thing i would want to see is teams stop showing up because they are getting beat time and time again because the talent is spread too thin... anyone agree / disagree?

i'm not slow, i'm patient

[vapor10]

Definetley agree with that Bill . . . but I also think talent flows to a properly run organization and the appeal of that organization to the player at hand. Notice why you and your brother play for Philadelphia and not Morristown. So as I do agree with having the talent spread too thin, I also think it comes down to what players will get out of the organization. It'll be interesting to see what happens and especially to see what organization fall and which will succeed, I still feel that it all comes down to the management of a team . .thats what keeps your best players happy.

[GROWL]

That i totally agree with. You make a fair case in saying that we are strong because breakaway doesnt exist, but dont throw downingtown into that mix. If anything that made the Typhoon stronger not us. While we did re-inherit Fischer and Catalano, they were ours to start with.

As for my original comment, I was only making a comment about who has expressed interest. I doubt highly that all of these teams will exist. However i beleive there is pleanty of talent up there to fill those teams. it's never a question of talent. i could field an entire second pro team, its a matter of people who are willing to put the work in as an owner and also the top players in that area supporting the whole process. If Harrisburg can field two of the best teams in the league then Philly and Jersey can field 4 each. They have always had the support of Mazer, Yoder, and the Ying's out there. In order for the same to happen in your area up there, the best players need to get completely on board.

[DblJ44]

So Flynn, does that mean you are going to tell the North Jersey and NY guys on your team to play with a more local team? I understand you run a great organization but your team does draw a good number of players from New Jersey, a few of which I'm sure travel farther to play for your team. Maybe there needs to be a rule about playing for the a team with in so many of your home or some other rule of some kind. Dunno.

Im fat, bald, and slow.

[33]

can't do that. these players come to play for organizations not so close to them because of the organizations and the support of their rink. anthony and mark and mike do a great job of running things and that's why they have guys that travel quite a distance to play there. kean does an outstanding job with the typhoon and that's why we have guys coming up from virginia and reading and downingtown to play with us. if there was a "locality" rule we probably wouldn't be able to field a team or at best would have to merge with the lunatics to form a competitive team.

[DblJ44]

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, Im not that guy....well most of the time. But I don't really think its a good idea to put 3 teams in North Jersey, and not have some kind of rule that keeps local players from playing with local teams. I doubt that those teams will be able to compete, or will be able to have enough players to commit to travel and that kind of thing. I know there is a large pool in North Jersey but 3 teams spreads things kinds thin, and if 3 teams from that area were to come into your league, I think they should be afforded some protection.

And for the record I have no personal interest in PIHA, Im not involved in any team, I'm just a player who's been involved with a "pro" team and understands the problems that arise.

Im fat, bald, and slow.

[GROWL]

No that isnt what that means. What it means is that teams need to make it worth it to players to play for their team. I'm sure if the north jersey players felt that the teams in their region were run the same as ours that they wouldnt think twice before playing for them. Jimmy V and Jonh Pinheiro (my two long distance players) will tell you that its not my roster that attractted them to my team, it was our organization and attention to detail.

[GROWL]

There will not be 3 teams in jersey next year. If there were I would be highly surprised. There is certainly enough talent up there, but i dont think its all talent that is committed to the success of the league yet. I suspect that there might be one more north jersey team added to the league, but who knows. Hopefully the cougars will come on board in south jersey next season.

[vapor10]

You can't have a locality rule. It defeats the idea of a "pro" league. And as it was stated earlier, the guys will come out and be a part of an organization that has an appeal to them.

[CoachClipboard]

I agree entirely Chris. The whole purpose of tryouts and a pro league is to draw the best players possible so you can build a competitive team, of course. Just as it would be at any sport at any level. But to limit it by region, you are severely limiting your teams ability to be competitive. While the Growl does not have a tryout, it does get quality players to be as strong as they are. Flynn is right too, they dont go to the Growl because of who they may be skating with, not entirely,.. No, they go there because the organization itself is strong, well managed, and established in the league. A great player wants to play with a team that will work as a team should, both financially solvent, and organized in terms of details. No one WANTS to join a team that may fold mid-season or is in total disarray in terms of how it conducts its practices, games, and its needs in regards to transportation, itinerary for games both home and away.

Sure having fellow superstars on the team is a great plus, but ask those players if that is the main reason they go to a team, and Im sure you will find differently.
I know that in the Harrisburg Area it would be hard pressed to get enough players to both Typhoon and the Lunatics to make things competitive for either, as Ying stated. Most certainly a merger would have to occur and then you would lose one of two teams that has been involved strongly since its inception.

If players are willing to make the sacrifice to drive to a team to play, why put those limitations on the players? Why punish teams that only are trying to get the tools needed to maintain themselves in a very competitive league.

Expansion is great, and I havent spoken up much here on this forum, until now, but re-structering what is obviously working well is not an answer. I welcome all the new teams to this league, and I think it will build into something wonderful. Everyone needs to remember two things, 1. PIHA has good leadership in its system, A President in Charlie Yoder that has helped hold the glue together, and make sure things happen, and they have. He has some help with others as well. people who care, and make virtually no money in doing so. and 2. That the teams in PIHA are the Glue. The teams (players and management) basically make PIHA strong through good management. They are self sufficient and they do everything they can so that their players and fans have a great season. They arent looking for a paycheck, they arent looking for a contract, everyone in this sport knows thats rediculous. They are looking to play.

When you lose say little. When you win say less.

[cougarsrh]

Ya just don't know what may happen <smile>

[vapor10]

Well put Todd. Everything is going great for PIHA and I think the expansion can only help . . .good things will come and I hope all of the teams that are coming in know that it does take A LOT to keep a team in check on every end of the spectrum and it is A LOT of work, both with the management, the rinks, and the players.
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by vapor10 on 04/13/06 10:34 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

[yokes]

Really well put coach!!! Good luck this weekend and call me let me know how we did!
As far as the regional thing Jay, i absolutely understand what you are trying to get at with your post. Three teams would put a great strain on quality teams in a small area. i.e. MLRH a couple years ago with Glads, Riot, Sting and Firebirds. Where as the first 2 had the major talent the others were obviously weaker. But also if there were a rule some people wouldnt have anywhere to play, me for example. Im an 1hr and 45 from any rink so it would put me S.O.L.

"Only God saves more than Yokes"

[wolves89]

i agree flynn, i could easily play for morristown, but management and roster both keep me and ray coming to the games... the home atmosphere is the best in the league in my opinion, otherwise we wouldn't be making the 2 hour trip tomorrow!!

i'm not slow, i'm patient

[wolves89]

well i think that they will be competative in the middle of the pack for sure... i mean the rockers have a good draw of talent for the MLRH, morristown has a team thats fighting for a playoff spot, and ISCA would have all of the grizzlies travel guys, i was just saying long term for a chance at a title they should reconsider that...

i'm not slow, i'm patient

[89jettawolfs]

I would definetly disagree with a distance restriction for players. I only live like 25 minutes from Harrisburg so i wouldn't be affected, but i think that would hurt the league. I think as the league gets bigger more and more solid players will start coming out of the woodwork. a lot of ice hockey guys will switch over and what not. But if teams start cropping up in close proximity to each other the first few seasons might be rough. But once they get the bugs worked out and organizations start working smoothly players will show up. I say the more the merrier. As long as a team has a rink and an owner who is willing to work hard and understand that he's not going to become a millionaire through the sport then it can work. talent will follow that

[GROWL]

extremely well put keith