Thank You to NJ Nightmare

[CoachClipboard]

On behalf of the Harrisburg Lunatics (PIHA), I would like to personally thank GM Eddie Reyes and the New Jersey Nightmare (AIHL), for being a wonderful hosts and great competitors in Pro and Minor preseason scrimmages between the two clubs from different leagues, held yesterday at the Flyers Skate Zone in Vorhees NJ. Each club had two minors who faced each other, and each team had a tie, and the nightmare minors each had one two goal win, but in some close games. The Pro Lunatics won 6-5 and 9-7 but both clubs looked to be in mid-season form already! The games were spirited and extremely competitive. The Nightmare players, staff, and owner did a marverlous job of making the Lunatics feel comfortable and welcome, and a great time was had by all.

[wildpuck]

Todd,

Thanks to you and your team for making the trip down here! It was definitely a lot of fun. Maybe we can make a trip up there next preseason.

Some photos from the first set of minor games and the first pro game are up here (http://wildpuck.smugmug.com/gallery/6372650_Z7Ssz).

[FrankFrank]

So was this an AAU or USA Inline sanctioned event?
Just curious.

F~F

[silverman56]

it seemed to be some good hockey so who cares about the sanctioning.

[CoachClipboard]

I Believe, .......................It was a Harrisburg Lunatics, New Jersey Nightmare sanctioned event. Whatever happened to two teams just getting together and playing some puck? :rolleyes:

[wildpuck]

Good hockey is what it was...although ending in a tie was rather disappointing...we should have at least had a shootout. Would have been nice for the fans (not nice for the goalies).

[Doug Jones]

Good to see this and the teams playing some hockey!!!

[Lindro17]

I will echo Todd, the Nightmare hosted us in September, this was the first game for them in their new building and they did a fantastic job. Great competition, great presentation, and their ownership and management are a great group. Also, great to see that we can get back to playing hockey. Good luck to all this season.

[justin malone]

was that a fight i seen in those pics lol must have been fadako lol

[wildpuck]

Jim - thanks again for your comments...nice to hear that about our organization!

There was a near altercation that involved Fadako, but the two scraps involved Kevin MacHenry and Ryan Caton. Caton decided to tangle with Harrisburg's goalie.

It was a very physical game.

[minutemen]

It is great to see that both AIHL and PIHA teams are still having exhibitions with one another. The Blaze played at our tournament this weekend. I think it looks great for the sport. In my opinion who cares if it was AUU or USA Line sanctioned, it seemed like it was good hockey and that is all that matters.

[Doug Jones]

Good to see this and the teams playing some hockey!!!

I meant what I said, it was great to see Harrisburg and New Jersey play.

[FrankFrank]

"So was this an AAU or USA Inline sanctioned event?
Just curious."

Now that I have 2 minutes to actually respond on here, this comment I made was not meant to stir the pot, to criticize either of the teams involved, or in any way meant to be derogatory. I was honestly just curious if this was flying under the radar. Wasn't sure if either league/NGB was gonna have a problem with it happening. I'm honestly very hopeful for this sport now that it took place.

It seems very clear that the Players know what they want. It'll just be some time before the rest of the political heirarchy settles.

Cheers to teams playing for the sake of playing.

F~F

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

"So was this an AAU or USA Inline sanctioned event?
Just curious."

Now that I have 2 minutes to actually respond on here, this comment I made was not meant to stir the pot, to criticize either of the teams involved, or in any way meant to be derogatory. I was honestly just curious if this was flying under the radar. Wasn't sure if either league/NGB was gonna have a problem with it happening. I'm honestly very hopeful for this sport now that it took place.

It seems very clear that the Players know what they want. It'll just be some time before the rest of the political heirarchy settles.

Cheers to teams playing for the sake of playing.

F~F

Frank on the note of sanctioning it who cares....They played hockey

If they called the teams the skatezone all stars and susquehanna sports centr all stars would anybody have cared.

They played hockey and had fun. Isn't it this what it is all about.

[Drexel63]

I'm posting from the same point of view as my esteemed twice named colleague...

While it may seem like a small concern in the grand scheme of things, I would just be worried about who would be held responsible god forbid someone get hurt in a matchup like this. I've had problems with an insurance claim for an incident happening on a rink in the past, freak accident that it was, and could see this conflict spewing over into that realm... I would hate to see that, because I know how expensive medical costs can be...

[FrankFrank]

Jeff... I'm with ya! I'm just glad they played. And you're right, if they would have flown under different colors, it wouldn't have mattered at all. It would have been a rink rental for 2 adult teams playing some real good puck. The point of the question was 2 fold...
1. Was anyone going to see any reprecussions because they played out of league/NGB with their team name/orginization? I certainly hope not, because we've now seen that this is Exactly what needed to happen with the current situation with the leagues/NGBs.
2. And like Bill said, Who was covering the insurance incase someone had gotten injured?
That's all. Like I said, not bashing at all or stirring pots... just making sure everyone thought this one through.

Sherwood... When the heck did I become esteemed?! haha.


F~F

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Well from what I know about AAU insurance. If the nightmare had the insurance with the AB clause on all their players then the nightmare guys would be covered.

I cant really speak on who had and didnt have insurance on the floor and what they had.

I pose this question for you!

When players rent a rink out on a saturday and just play do they have insurance since its buddies getting together?

If somebody got hurt who is responsible?

[Phelan96]

Well I paid for my AAU insurance to play for the Nightmare, therefore I'm covered if I get hurt.

And we'll just say Nick Pappas of the Lunatics paid for his USA Hockey insurance so he would be covered if he were hurt.

It shouldn't matter who were playing against...

Does that make sense?

[CoachClipboard]

Its done anyways. We did it, we enjoyed it. Wish you were there! (chuckles at the silliness, as I have been for some time)

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Its done anyways. We did it, we enjoyed it. Wish you were there! (chuckles at the silliness, as I have been for some time)

All I can do is enjoy my time off. Although now that I am I may never return!

[FrankFrank]

I pose this question for you!

When players rent a rink out on a saturday and just play do they have insurance since its buddies getting together?

If somebody got hurt who is responsible?

Good question... You're the rink owner/person here, you tell me. = ) Honestly though, that is a good point. I know that typically if you're a part of the men's league, you have to buy into whatever insurance they require. But since this wasn't not technically playing in a "league" enviorment at the rink, I guess it would come down to whatever waivers the rink makes you sign so that they aren't liable for anything that happens. Jeff... touche... good question indeed.

Todd... Giggle it up buddy. haha.

My questions/input on this thread is done. Lets play some puck boys.

F~F

[SPORTSPLEXJEFF]

Good question... You're the rink owner/person here, you tell me. = ) Honestly though, that is a good point. I know that typically if you're a part of the men's league, you have to buy into whatever insurance they require. But since this wasn't not technically playing in a "league" enviorment at the rink, I guess it would come down to whatever waivers the rink makes you sign so that they aren't liable for anything that happens. Jeff... touche... good question indeed.

Todd... Giggle it up buddy. haha.

My questions/input on this thread is done. Lets play some puck boys.

F~F

I am on rink management staff not ownership!

I can't speak on behalf of my rink because I do not handle rentals.

[Drexel63]

I don't see how this is silly...

I'm still suffering from credit woes from when my insurance claim was not covered in 2002 when I broke my arm playing MLRH.

If I were in the shoes of a team owner/management, I would find it hard to put my players in a situation where they could get screwed over, when they have commited to my responsibility their well-being... I thought some of you would understand that much...

People playing hockey for the sake of playing hockey goes as far as a bunch of guys getting together to play pickup... Tell me, did you charge admission for this exhibition match? Did anyone profit from it? Were BUSINESSES involved? Seems a little more serious than just a pickup game to me, god knows what an insurance adjuster would assess the situation as, especially when an NGB's name is involved.

Don't get me wrong, these matches are important, and I feel they are great for the sport. I'd just rather not see some of my friends get screwed in the long term because they weren't protected by their owners/managers...

Am I completely off-base here?

[-venom-]

I'm still suffering from credit woes from when my insurance claim was not covered in 2002 when I broke my arm playing MLRH.


Same here. Nothing huge, but I've had some issues with coverage when I dislocated my elbow in 2003 (MLRH - Sting v. Firebirds)

[wildpuck]

Bill...you are definitely not off base here. For future inter-league exhibitions, we'll need to get more clarity on this. It was our understanding that our players would be covered under the AAU coverage as this was an event ran under AIHL rules, with AIHL officials in a rink covered under the umbrella of the AAU, despite the Skate Zone actually being a USA Inline rink.

We were all excited to be playing hockey that we failed to see a potential issue. So this definitely raises questions for future events, which we will need to get a answer for going forward. When I do get one, I'll be sure to share it.

[Drexel63]

Steve,

I'm under the same impression regarding AAU insurance, but I know little enough about it to know I should be concerned, hence my questioning the situation... Which is to say without a policy sitting in front of me, I'd be speculative, that's all... Thanks for the response...

Edit: I've learned more about the insurance situation, and I'm satisfied... Not that I have to be satisfied, but it's nice either way to know everyone is being taken care of, on both sides...

Just a disclaimer, my words are my own, and do not reflect any organization I am or have ever been associated with. I'm just a guy who has been involved with these leagues for a decade, and has gained a lot of friends and experience in the process. Those friends know how much I like to look out for others, and know how I'd hate to see my more unfortunate experiences falling on their shoulders. All I want is for the game to prosper, and everyone to be safe and happy while it does.. I hope no one read any mal-intent or backhandedness in anything I've written here, because I harbor none.

[CoachClipboard]

I would agree on all accounts that in future preseason events there should be some clarity on the well being of all the players involved on both sides. Bill has raised some valid questions that should be addressed before any teams take to the rink. Something we obviously and perhaps foolishly overlooked.

I also agree with Steve, and we planned this event in the hopes to bring some good preseason hockey to our teams to prepare for the upcoming season. It was some great hockey. I made a remark here about silliness that was not directed at this issue but something entirely different that I wont elaborate on here, or feel I need to.

I do however, hope that we can all see beyond the walls built in this sport and find some sort of common ground that players, teams can all find a cohessive bond and enjoy this game for what it ultimately is....Hockey. I feel that the Lunatics and the Nightmare have taken that first step.

[Drexel63]

I do however, hope that we can all see beyond the walls built in this sport and find some sort of common ground that players, teams can all find a cohessive bond and enjoy this game for what it ultimately is....Hockey. I feel that the Lunatics and the Nightmare have taken that first step.

Here Here!

[FrankFrank]

Amen to that!