PIHA Top 25 week 1

[outcold]

1. Colorado Springs Thunder
2. Southside Snipers
3. St. Louis Cobras
4. Pittsburgh Bandits
5. L.I. 495ers
6. Harrisburgh Lunatics
7. Mass. Bombers
8. Philadelphia Growl
9. Feasterville Fury
10. Connecticut Blaze
11. Raleigh Assault
12. Boston Swamp Rats
13. Midwest Tornadoes
14. NJ Grizzlies
15. Chicago Untouchables
16. Marple Gladiators
17. Winchester Generals
18. Richmond Robbins
19. Maryland Knights
20. Potomac Mavericks
21. River City Whalers
22. East Bay Jaws
23. Sacramento Saxons
24. Phoenix Dragons
25. South Carolina Pirates

[Falcons77]

OUTCOLD,

I have been laughing most of the time about your picks, but really, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT THE LEAGUE??? You have teams that got "rocked" by others ranked ahead of them............

I am sorry, but I guess I just couldnt take this anymore.. (maybe it was all that beer after practice tonight?)

[outcold]

Which teams were blown out? If your talking about Pre-Season, I didnt take Pre-Season into account. This ranking is based off of my Pre-Season rankings and the results from last weekend.

[growl89]

teams that havent played, shouldn't really be ranked then above teams that have already won, right?

[MotherPucker21]

not only that, but you have a team ranked in the top 10 that only played a preseason game thus far and beat a team that isnt even represented on your top 25.

So you're using a preseason win over a shoddy expansion team to justify putting a team in the top 10? (i'm talking about Fury over Revolution 3-1 in preseason).

I happen to like the fury very much, so dont think Im dogging them. I was just wondering how you came to some of your ranking conclusions.

[Superstar9]

Hey Flynner,

didn't you say you were gonna do power rankings that had a formula behind it like last season?

[Falcons77]

We all have opinions, we all have our "rankings", I guess that is why we go on these boards. The only thing I would add to this is that just about EVERY team had some major players added, removed, and some are brand new to the league and are "unknown".

Sorry if I was a bit harsh, but now we're all talkin'.

[alex]

There's going to be complaints any way...I mean if teams that haven't played yet should not be ranked above teams that have won already, then you'll end up with teams like East Bay Jawz and Maryland Knights (that have won a game) ranked above Colorado Springs Thunder (haven't played yet).

Considering all the hype the Thunder have been getting, does anyone think Maryland or East Bay are better?

[PIHAGOALIE]

We will play on the 14th against the Fire in Littleton against Fetz, Rodgers, Mikel and the rest of the boys. Therefore we will not be playing again this upcoming weekend either.

Risenhoover #49 Colorado Springs THUNDER

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Can we rank the teams by which GM or Owner looks cutest in a TUTU. Seriously guys lets all do our talking on the floor. Congrats to all the teams who won games opening weekends. Better luck next time to all teams who lost. To all teams who haven't played yet good luck this season. To all the fans enjoy these games. To all the players enjoy it while you can. To everybody else and those who want to join in lets go have a drink!

[fdiceman10]

I'm new here, but I agree that this is too early for rankings, I mean there are some teams who don't even have rosters posted yet.... wait until everyone has played a few games before people start the ranking debate.

[NJStampede17]

Jeff, by no means would your team be ranked very high if it were judged upon looking good in a tutu.. haha

[SWAMPDONKEYS29]

Can we rank the teams by which GM or Owner looks cutest in a TUTU.

I think Flynner takes this one hands down! :p

[outcold]

I said that I didnt base my rankings off of Pre-Season games. I based them off of my Pre-Season rankings that I made back in November and the results from this past weekend. The argument that you cant rank teams that havent played yet ahead of teams that already played is a weak argument. If I ranked Maryland or Potomac ahead of Colorado Springs, St.Louis, Southside, Philadelpia, Pittsburgh or Long Island everybody would complain about that. The majority of the teams in the league play within the next 2 weeks. The rankings will be clearer every week, They are just like the College Football and Basketball rankings.

[growl89]

well we all, including myself, need and like something to complain about :)

you are right though, after next weekend a top 25 will start to look a little better

[joisyan]

i'm sorry, but this isnt college football. there's no BCS standings here. that's why we're a real sport with playoffs. so why dont we let the actions speak louder than words? heh

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Jeff, by no means would your team be ranked very high if it were judged upon looking good in a tutu.. haha

Thats fine with me Chris....I would throw the low blow out there and say lets see your sister in it, but I think it would look more interesting on you especially with a pair of them Sande gloves.

Speaking of gloves.....Where are mine!

[William Bourque]

Can we rank the teams by which GM or Owner looks cutest in a TUTU.

You should ban yourself for at least a week for coming up with this idea. You should probably go sit in a corner for at least an hour.

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

You should ban yourself for at least a week for coming up with this idea. You should probably go sit in a corner for at least an hour.

I am in the corner....at least of my office

Don't you have stats to enter! Gotcha Bill!

[CoachClipboard]

You're all messed up in the head!!! Only in the hockey community!

Polls are useless in PIHA. To begin with teams are so spread out across the country which is wonderful, but how can any of us effectively judge upon a team we #1. dont know the players from, #2 never seen the teams play (especially this year) #3. Base an opinion of a team we saw last year in playoffs or regular season when teams revamp rosters at a tryout the following season.

So with that in mind I compiled a post of top 25 things I would like to see this year:

25. A league championship series in Myrtle Beach SC. (So I can justify to my wife a family trip to the finals to either watch or coach)

24. Everyone putting their stats up inside 24 hours to the league site.

23. Although its getting pretty good, (but its still early) teams posting more articles league wide about games, the teams, and some stories about individual players.

22. No more posts on here about tutu's or any clothing that is unflattering to a hockey player or the game!

21. On that note above: A ban on pink in hockey gear league wide. No pink laces, gloves, sticks, jerseys, or hemets, unless its to benefit breast cancer or something. It's like putting a sign on your own back that says kick me.

20. New teams taking interest in untouched regions such as Florida, Texas, Michigan, Buffalo, Tennessee, Vegas!!!!, Southern Cal, Northwest US.

19. Absolutely NO more teams in the Philadelphia area!

18. Getting all legal, contractual, and documented issues out of the way by the end of Summer! This includes, distribution of, ironing out, deadlines. Get this crap out of the way early so we can concentrate on tryouts, our own organization of our own teams, practices, practices, practices, and pre-season games.

17. No talk whatsoever or even the dream or imagination of rule #61.

16. Jimmy V, and Jeff Finch to both come out of retirement.

15. The creation of JR. PIHA league wide so we can get a solid substantial league wide youth system to enhance, grow, and support the young hopefulls of the future of our sport! Give back to the kids!

14. On that note above: Players from all teams taking an interest in those same youth players who are waiting night in and night out at the rinks door with their hand out for a high five from their heros. Helping them with clinics, doing fun hockey related youth events where kids can interact with the pros and minors.

13. People in the league everywhere to actually return emails and phone calls!

12. No more putting up teasing features on the league website that say coming this season or next season and then never happening. Do it when it happens! PIHA hall of fame? Fantasy league for PIHA? (makes me want to giggle, and I dont want to giggle, its girlish)

11. Some good natured and fun smack talk in these forums between teams and players without the use of profanity and personal attacks (not that this is an issue, because I dont see it). Let's get some rivalry stuff going on here! (no bounties, this isnt slapshot)

10. All teams in the league actually having a decent website of their own. None of this all divisional website crap, or some half assed yahoo geocities garbage. Legit websites with content! One for each team too. 35 plus people in these clubs and no one has a web geek that wouldnt be all over this? come onnnnnnnnnn.

9. CJ Gamble and Chris Havelock sent out across the country to get PIHA rolling in the regions mentioned in #20. These two guys are great ambassadors to the league who in the midst of their own lives and careers, found the means and the time to create whole divisions in a region and in my opinion have not been recognized for an incredible job. Wow! That is some serious PR work they did! I want them representing PIHA with new teams!

8. On that note above, we cant forget Dave Garland in the Gateway. Awesome. But that kind of PR as great as it is, needs to be balanced league wide. I know the Mason/Dixon will be working on it.

7. the Growl, The Lunatics, Fury, Gateway, Boston, make game day look like Ringling Bros.!!! It's incredible and its needed league wide too! Many teams are already following suit, and with a little bit of thought, a wee bit of time, and a few phone calls and emails, there is no reason any team can't do it. Lets work it.

6. No one makes a team feel more welcome when they come to visit than Anthony Flynn of the Growl, and Jeff Haze of the Fury. When you come, they make sure your team is comfortable prior to the game, that scoresheets are completed, rosters are filled out days ahead. Benches are ready for the team, and they always ask if there is anything you need. That my friends is how a professional team treats another. We need that respect between each other in teams. What happens on the rink is different. Off it, PIHA is a family. And these two do it with a huge smile.

5. That dude that wrote the post on getting team buses for his league that lasted a day on this forum? Someone track him down and find him. Every team needs a bus, and we should ask him how to make it happen. Wasnt the price like dirt cheap? I cant remember.

4. Pitbull locking devices for the wheels of Sean Sullivan, Dustn Roux, John Pinhero, Brian Yingling and a few others when deemed necessary.

3. Cheerleaders Dancer requirement for all teams to begin 2009 season like the Winchester Generals have in place.

2. Every team to represent themselves with good sportsmanship, responsibility to your fans and the young players, class. If you look bad as a team at your game in Timbuktu, and you represent PIHA, you make everyone else in the league look bad in the public eye across the league, across the country. Think before explosions.

1. Have fun. It's hockey folks, no matter how you slice it and serve it. If you arent having fun with it, why bother?

[NJStampede17]

Excellent post Todd.. haha, I think you covered just about everything...and theres always room for jokes about that kid with the buses . .no matter how subtle. I appreciate the kind words!!

[Alex Kozik]

Wow, that was the best top 25 I have read in years.

[FrankFrank]

Amen Todd!!!

F~F

[GR8SK8r06]

Good 25! especially about the point on Jr PIHA. Its the thing our sport has needed desperately