Caught in the middle

[HockeyFan1989]

So it now seems, that a bunch of these teams, that are listed on the AIHL website, are returning to play in the PIHA, or are atleast undecided according to their ownership. Does anyone know, what is really going on?

[alex]

No, doesn't seem like anyone knows.

PIHA has an announcement up saying Connecticut Blaze have agreed to return to the league. Obviously, minds are being changed for many teams. Blaze were put up on the AIHL website as playing in that league at some point.

[NJRH10]

It looks to me as if the AIHL jumped the gun on posting teams. How could a team truly commit to a league that hadn't released a complete rule book or a finished player contract? I think at the end of the day teams that joined purely because it looked like there wouldn't be competition in their area (northeast division) will find find themselves double guessing if they really had to jump ship.

[SWAMPDONKEYS29]

I don't think the AIHL jumped the gun on anything. They had verbal commitments from a certain number of teams and posted them on the website accordingly. Unfortunately, there appears to be some team owners who have been riding the fence all along, communicating to both leagues that they would be playing when in fact they probably knew the whole time which league they would chose to be a part of. The people who are guilty of causing confusion in this case are the owners who gave their word to both leagues and not the AIHL or the PIHA.

As far as the rulebook and the player contracts, the whole foundation of the new league has been for the teams to dictate policy in the AIHL. Therefore, I am told, a complete rulebook and other league documentation will be voted on by the involved teams now that they have submitted their deposits and team contracts.

Ruppy Hailey

[kicksave60]

well thinking that people are throwing out their opinions on this, i have too! I believe the AIHL people threw these teams under the bus by making the decision for them. Attempting to coax other teams to join them. Smoke and mirrors, smoke and mirrors. Apparently, the grass isn't any greener over there.

[growl89]

it's really an interesting situation... Conn Blaze are going to have an awful lot of travel in the PIHA this season. I believe they are the only northeast team left?

any word on what ISCA is doing with the grizzlies?

also ... is there going to be rules from either league stating that players cant play in other leagues?

[Berry_Bramble]

it's really an interesting situation... Conn Blaze are going to have an awful lot of travel in the PIHA this season.* I believe they are the only* northeast team left? any word on what ISCA is doing with the grizzlies?also ... is there going to be rules from either league stating that players cant play in other leagues?ISCA is doing PIHA along with a new team from Long Island joining PIHA. Should be supplying info on the team sunday night.* I do not think PIHA cares if you play both just AIHL...but I could be wrong.

[minutemen]

I do not think the AIHL jumped either. It seems that some teams may have committed verbally but then decided to stay in PIHA and some just made decisions. Nothing wrong with that, it is there choice. But Billy is right, the Blaze are going to have to travel a lot this season. All the team from their division are playing AIHL and the teams from NJ and PA, most of them are playing AIHL as well. Also, for some other teams like SC Pitates, Lunatics and Mavericks they will have to do a lot of travel as well. Most of the teams in there divisions moved to AIHL.

Here are the list of teams on the East by Division:

Connecticut Blaze (PIHA)
Long Island 495ers (AIHL)
Boston Swamp Rats (AIHL)
Masschusetts Bombers (NOT Playing this year)
Massachusetts Mulissha (NEW TEAM)(AIHL)
Hartford Fire Ants (AIHL)
Marple Gladiators (TEAMING UP WITH DEMOLITION, MOST LIKELY AIHL)

Philadelphia Growl (AIHL)
New Jersey Grizzlies (No verbally commitment but probably PIHA)
Aston Demolition (Teaming up with Marple)
Feasterville Fury (AIHL)
NE Philly Revolution (AIHL)
New Jersey Surge (AIHL)
Savage Wolves (NEW TEAM) (AIHL)
Assault (PIHA)

Harrisburg Lunatics (PIHA)
Pittsburgh Bandits (AIHL)
Scottdale Inferno (AIHL)
Potomac Mavericks (PIHA)
Maryland Knights (AIHL)
Winchester Generals (AIHL)

South Carolina Pirates (PIHA)
Virgina Militia (NEW TEAM) (AIHL)
Richmond Robins (AIHL)
York Typhoon (?)
Georgis Syndicate (NEW TEAM) (AIHL)

From what I hear they may be some new teams in some of these areas that have not been released yet.

[NJRH10]

When I said "jumped the gun" I was referring to the fact that they seemed to go on a lot of "verbal commitments" from guys who didn't even see what the finished product was. Without rules and contracts and all the things that owners have to deal with on the table in black and white, how can one blame them for pulling out if they see it's not what they thought it would be. Now to be clear I am not condoning the actions of said owners. I don't think they should have committed to anything until it was all right up in front of them but without anything in writing the league doesn't really have much of an argument.
And as for voting on a rule book and contracts, etc. I just feel that AIHL tried to rush this a bit. And because of that owners are worried about wither being a part of something they don't want to be or being left out of it all together.

I hope this all gets worked out and both leagues have great upcoming seasons.

[seanth123]

Marc,

I don't thonk you are understanding the concept some people are trying to explain here. It is the OWNERS who will be sitting down and making the rules, league format, etc. I understand that many of the AIHL teams have already made a deposit, and are going to make an announcement soon. As always on this site, don't sit on the fence and bad mouth AIHL or PIHA, let the people who run, finance, and keep the leagues going make the announcements when ready.

[CoachClipboard]

Well said Marc. Perfectly said, I agree entirely


“Propaganda is a soft weapon; hold it in your hands too long, and it will move about like a snake, and strike the other way.”
Jean Anouilh (French playwright)

“Propaganda, to be effective, must be believed. To be believed, it must be credible. To be credible, it must be true.”
Hubert H. Humphrey (38th US Vice President under Lyndon B Johnson)

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. “ Abraham Lincoln (16th President of the United States of America)

[Inferno Hockey]

With all do respect to you Justin, but the Inferno has not committed to either of the leagues. We are waiting to see what happens in the next week or so to decide. Instead of people speculating on what teams are doing for the upcoming season, and posting untrue statements, we all need to just wait to see how everything plays out.

We will be having tryouts info posted shortly.

We would like to wish all the teams the best of luck for the upcoming season!

[minutemen]

I apologize for putting the Inferno on the list for AIHL. I thought at the meeting that your team have committed already. What I think should happen is that both the AIHL and PIHA take the teams off the sites, unless the teams have fully committed. It causes a lot of confusion.

[Inferno Hockey]

I agree Justin! This has been a very tough decision and we are trying to make the best decision for our players and organization.

[minutemen]

Yes I am sure it is. I had it easy this year, I just sold my rink a month ago and I just joined the Hartford Fire Ants for next season, since I live in CT. They make all the decisions and now all I have to do is play. I have to say, like many others the Fire Ants run a great organization and I am happy to be apart of them. Best of luck with your decision and for the season.

[nyrhatric]

I think that both website's should only list the teams that have paid in full their deposits or league fee's. Then people will really know who has committed. Now money doesn't always prove committment, but this early on, I would hope it does.



Robert Henry

[Hystyk28]

Well said Marc. Perfectly said, I agree entirely


“Propaganda is a soft weapon; hold it in your hands too long, and it will move about like a snake, and strike the other way.”
Jean Anouilh (French playwright)

“Propaganda, to be effective, must be believed. To be believed, it must be credible. To be credible, it must be true.”
Hubert H. Humphrey (38th US Vice President under Lyndon B Johnson)

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. “ Abraham Lincoln (16th President of the United States of America)

FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU! FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME!

Can't wait to see who works for free now that most of the do'ers have left.

Suing people for breach of contract is a joke. I'd be careful with suing anybody, as any lawyer worth a damn will counter sue for any and all contract breaches that "PIHA" may have committed during its operations. It really takes balls to sue people that largely made this league exist as long as it has. Maybe a certain former webmaster(not me for the record) should sue for wages never paid by said league. Contracts work 2 ways. Anyway, if the PIHA "product" is better than the AIHLXERTAQ, than the free market will show show that, right? Either way, without a fresh core of dopes working for free, while cutting big time checks to the "PIHA", the "professional league" will fail.

Anyhow, anyone wanting the legal decision before it comes out: First, the judge will say, "Roller hockey? Isn't that played in front of my house?" Followed by, "Everyone ,please go their separate ways."