AIHL playoffs

[alex]

How have divisional playoffs gone across the league?

I know that in the southwest, Tucson Desperados swept Phoenix Dragons and in the pac south Pama Cyclones beat Huntington Beach Blades.

[Ronnie Williams]

Southeastern division organizations meet in Raleigh to decide Champion!

Are you looking for some great inline hockey this weekend of June 6 & 7? If so travel to Raleigh, NC to Dream Sports Center for the 2009 AIHL Southeastern Division Championships. Four organizations will meet to determine who brings home the trophy for both the Elite and Minor divisions and punches their ticket to Feasterville, PA for the Eastern Conference Championships. Non stop AIHL action will begin with a best of three series Elite action between the 1st seed Maryland Crusaders and the 4th seed Raleigh Dragons. Also, the 2nd seed Richmond Robins will take on the 3rd seed Georgia Syndicate. Winner of both with move on to a best of three series and be crowned the champions.

In Minor action, 1st Seed Georgia Syndicate will take on 4th seed Maryland Crusaders while the 2nd seed Midlothian Robins plays 3rd seed Raleigh Dragons. Again, winner of the first series will move on to a best of three games and be named the division champions.

Ronnie Williams :cool:
GM/Head Coach Georgia Syndicate
www.thegeorgiasyndicate.com

[SWAMPDONKEYS29]

The Long Island 495ers swept the Suffolk Sharks for the New England Elite Division Championship.

The Holbrook Swamp Donkeys swept the Suffolk Sharks for the New England Minor Division Championship.

[Mlrhnorthfan]

Congrats to all and good luck moving forward with the rest of the rounds.

[DCbullets14]

any predictions?

[Ronnie Williams]

DCbullets14 - are you going to be in Raleigh this weekend with your team?


Ronnie Williams:cool:
GM/Head Coach Georgia Syndicate
www.thegeorgiasyndicate.com

[DCbullets14]

yeah thanks to some serious rescheduling most of our players will be able to make it and I personally would not miss the playoffs for anything. The Knights will certainly be in Raleigh ready to play.

I heard some people within the league felt that the thread I had created previously was "bad mouthing" the league.... I hope that those people who know me realize that I was not attempting to do that.

Good Luck Ronnie... Both your team and the Richmond team have been very competitive all season and I think your series will be very intresting to watch.

[Ronnie Williams]

Great to hear your team will be at full strength......drive safe to Raleigh and good luck this weekend [at least (if) until we play you]

Ronnie Williams :cool:
GM/Head Coach Georgia Syndicate
www.thegeorgiasyndicate.com

[TurdFerguson]

Predictions I like, and are much fun. Ill take Pama Vs. Long Island in the inaugural AIHL finals. I'm sure most people will take Pama in the finals but ill go with Long Island. Either way this year has been great and a lot of fun both to watch and participate. Any other thoughts.

[alex]

Predictions I like, and are much fun. Ill take Pama Vs. Long Island in the inaugural AIHL finals. I'm sure most people will take Pama in the finals but ill go with Long Island. Either way this year has been great and a lot of fun both to watch and participate. Any other thoughts.

I'm on the Tucson Desperados and we've been told that the western conference final will now just be us against the San Jose Pirates. There will be no Pama/any team from Pacific South division. I've heard reasons why but don't know with 100% certainty so I won't say/speculate.

[growl89]

I hope that is not the case... And if it is the case then some action should be taken. That will be a huge black eye for the league. That division while stacked with talent should have to play by the same rules as everyone else. No minor teams and no where close to 32 games and now possibly a no show for Playoffs? What gives?

If that is the case then my money is on long island to win it all.

[jawz&chum]

no where close to 32 games

your answer.

[socalhockey]

No So. Cal team will be competing any further this season due to not enough games played.

Too bad because the Pacific South was by far the toughest division in the league with the most talent.

[WoundedPuck]

This being said, who will take the west?
Do the Desperados or the Pirates have anyone who can hold their own at a national level? How does the big east feel about this ruling?

[growl89]

No So. Cal team will be competing any further this season due to not enough games played.

Too bad because the Pacific South was by far the toughest division in the league with the most talent.

this is a shame... Any reason why they don't play by the same rules? And is this going to continue?

[seanth123]

I think the southeast has division finals this weekend in Richmond, then conference finals in Philly the following week?

I am not sure how the AIHL west played this season, but the east was alot of fun to spectate. I was witness to Maryland, Pittsburgh, Richmond and Scottdale this season in the east. As I reside in Baltimore, I caught the games at Maryland's home rink. It almost inspired me to pickup my skates and try to play yet again (after 4 years of retirement)! My 8 year old son has now fallen prey to the sport of hockey like his old man. He is now back in Michigan with his mom for the summer, and I understand that all he talks about is watching the AIHL.

Thanks to everyone for great events, free of charge, and the kindness and inspiration from the Maryland team, it's coaches, visiting teams and fans had. The time everyone took to just say hello and shake my son's hand has had an incrediable impact. The professionalism both teams had during gameplay and after the event was incrediable. I was impressed.

Thank you AIHL for keeping it alive, see you next season!

- Sean Hamilton

[DCbullets14]

Sean thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed watching the games. if you ever do pick the skates back up your more than welcome to skate with us on fridays at pick up.

Division finals are going to be held in Raleigh but hopefully we can get some game updates on here.

Hope your ready for next season because the Knights will be making some huge pick ups which will make the team even more exciting to watch. Thanks again!!

[JLambertUMSL]

This is a ramble, sorry in advance.

I have no bias, PIHA/AIHL/whatever. I helped my brother draft and coach a PIHA team because that is what was available to us here in STL.

Regarding the SoCal AIHL thing.....the whole national pro/elite league concept will only succeed if those who are accustomed (sp?) to being mercenary roller hockey players figure out that in real sports leagues (meaning those that play a regular season, and where you're bound to one team for that entire year, etc etc etc) there are rules that everyone has to follow and you can't just come show up and play in the big tournament at the end after someone changes the rules for you. You have to be there, consistently, and bring it all season. That's what it's all about.

I'll use the Thunder as the prime example of this. CJ Yoder and his mates had to play 46 games over a six-month period (including a best-of-five series against an extremely good team (http://www.thepiha.com/team.php?team_id=52794&game_type_id=o&area=stats) and a best-of-seven series against another extremely good team (http://www.thepiha.com/team.php?game_type_id=o&team_id=52771&area=stats)) to win their cup. You think they're not treasuring that victory? I guarantee they are. I don't know or care what the prize money is for PIHA...screw money...competing all year long, playing 46 games, promoting and representing your team and having pride in the uniform you're wearing....and ultimately walking away with a W in your last game, if you've earned it......that's what sports are all about.

My point? Kudos to AIHL for not bending its rules.

[calihockey]

First of all, in so cal there are some reasons as to why it has been difficult to get a pro league going in the area. Jeff Buma put a lot of hard work into the old IHA at the convention center and the same issues came up along with some others. It is really easy to blame the players, but it really is not that simple. I have skated with, against and played pick up with a lot of the guys who play in the pacific south division. There are a lot of them that will play hockey just tell them when to be there. So Cal is the big catch 22 for pro roller. You need the talent and the potential big markets, but its entirely different beast then the rest of the country in some ways.

My one issue away from the running of PIHA is the full check (Don't get me started with MLRH)that has been allowed in the games regardless of rules. It's a complaint I have heard from guys from different parts of the league including guys who have been on teams who are successful. To be fair, it is not an issue you can place solely with the league, but it is what it is. The players are not paid. Is a player supposed to go home to his wife and say "hey i got hurt last night and won't be able to work for the month. It's going to be a mac n' cheese month for us, but its for the good of roller hockey" ? I understand the excitement factor of hitting, but there are too many guys out there who just don't know how to hit properly and think that Bill Clement is doing the play-by-play of their game.

I don't know if I agree with not allowing the So Cal division being involved. If they paid the same amount as the rest of the team, who is getting the unfair treatment? the teams who got 32 games or the ones who got 26? Does not having a minor team make their defense that much more stellar or their power play that much more dangerous? Honestly whoever wins this year will not be the true champs in my eyes and I mean not in a way of questioning their talent or if they will have earned it, but by the system put in place that would allow them to do so without full league representation. We talk about good of the sport then we hear complaints when teams play a few less games and agree with their exclusion for the playoffs? In my 17 years in roller hockey, I have seen this "me" mentality do a lot of damage to roller hockey (ie NGB etc).

I think that we should be looking to be as inclusive as possible. Though it might not be feasable to pay these players for a while, trying to point fundraising efforts towards providing some short-term/long-term disability insurances at the league level is something that would need to be done. At the very least, a collect effort by the league to create a group for insurance policies could at least provide the players with an option to get this insurance.The players need to be protected and in absence of pay, providing them some piece of mind just in case a serious injury comes about while playing pro roller. Hopefully it will never be put in use.

[growl89]

First of all, in so cal there are some reasons as to why it has been difficult to get a pro league going in the area. Jeff Buma put a lot of hard work into the old IHA at the convention center and the same issues came up along with some others. It is really easy to blame the players, but it really is not that simple. I have skated with, against and played pick up with a lot of the guys who play in the pacific south division. There are a lot of them that will play hockey just tell them when to be there. So Cal is the big catch 22 for pro roller. You need the talent and the potential big markets, but its entirely different beast then the rest of the country in some ways.

My one issue away from the running of PIHA is the full check (Don't get me started with MLRH)that has been allowed in the games regardless of rules. It's a complaint I have heard from guys from different parts of the league including guys who have been on teams who are successful. To be fair, it is not an issue you can place solely with the league, but it is what it is. The players are not paid. Is a player supposed to go home to his wife and say "hey i got hurt last night and won't be able to work for the month. It's going to be a mac n' cheese month for us, but its for the good of roller hockey" ? I understand the excitement factor of hitting, but there are too many guys out there who just don't know how to hit properly and think that Bill Clement is doing the play-by-play of their game.

I don't know if I agree with not allowing the So Cal division being involved. If they paid the same amount as the rest of the team, who is getting the unfair treatment? the teams who got 32 games or the ones who got 26? Does not having a minor team make their defense that much more stellar or their power play that much more dangerous? Honestly whoever wins this year will not be the true champs in my eyes and I mean not in a way of questioning their talent or if they will have earned it, but by the system put in place that would allow them to do so without full league representation. We talk about good of the sport then we hear complaints when teams play a few less games and agree with their exclusion for the playoffs? In my 17 years in roller hockey, I have seen this "me" mentality do a lot of damage to roller hockey (ie NGB etc).

I think that we should be looking to be as inclusive as possible. Though it might not be feasable to pay these players for a while, trying to point fundraising efforts towards providing some short-term/long-term disability insurances at the league level is something that would need to be done. At the very least, a collect effort by the league to create a group for insurance policies could at least provide the players with an option to get this insurance.The players need to be protected and in absence of pay, providing them some piece of mind just in case a serious injury comes about while playing pro roller. Hopefully it will never be put in use.


you make some good points ... I agree with you about not being true champs as I think that the most talent is in that division. But let me address a couple of points.

The league is trying to develop model organizations. By allowing teams to play that do not abide by the rules, what does that show the league?

As far as the minor teams go. The idea of the league to my understanding is to build towards the Elite level. It's a way to make more people involved. And it's a lot of work. It's then just show up to the rink at your game time to play. That's what rec leagues are for.

[DCbullets14]

Im confsed by your comment about insurance. Dont the players in socal have aau insurance? I know one of our guys had five teeth knocked out in a recent game and he said the aau insurance picked up the $5000 that it cost to get everything fixed. I thought this was really impressive and was amazed the league/insurance was willing to do this.

Is the socal division full check? All the games I have seen on the east coast have been physical but certainly not full check.

As far as minors goes the main focus behind it is to build strong organizations which have the ability to bring people up towards the elite level. There are pros and cons to having to deal with the minor guys but in the end it improves the strength of the organization and league.

Brad Pryor
Maryland Knights #14

[TurdFerguson]

I think that standing by the rules of the league is great.. However if I were playing I would want to go up against the best competition I possibly could. What could be done to be able to make these teams more included in league? Especially at national level.

[alex]

I would have liked to play winner of the pacific south division but this was the right decision. How does this decision have anything to do with a "'me' mentality"? They didn't play by the rules like everyone else so they don't get included. What kind of precedent does that set if they're allowed to just slide by? If socal is so special they can skip 1/4 of their season schedule then why don't we just dog it and no-show to a weekend or 2 of games? No repurcussions, **** it we're still in playoffs, who cares!

I'm not saying that's the reason why socal games were skipped but if a whole division is allowed to slide by what incentive do other teams have to fall in line and do things by the book? It's unfortunate but absolutely the right call. And you know there wouldn't be much/any talk if this was the southwest division getting the boot. People are, understandably, disappointed that the most talented division in the league won't be part of playoffs. Well, it doesn't matter if it were a garbage division, you have to do things the way every other team in the league is doing it.

[calihockey]

Im confsed by your comment about insurance. Dont the players in socal have aau insurance? I know one of our guys had five teeth knocked out in a recent game and he said the aau insurance picked up the $5000 that it cost to get everything fixed. I thought this was really impressive and was amazed the league/insurance was willing to do this.

Is the socal division full check? All the games I have seen on the east coast have been physical but certainly not full check.

As far as minors goes the main focus behind it is to build strong organizations which have the ability to bring people up towards the elite level. There are pros and cons to having to deal with the minor guys but in the end it improves the strength of the organization and league.

Brad Pryor
Maryland Knights #14

Full check was a comment towards PIHA and MLRH(have trouble mentioning MLRH in the same sentence with either PIHA or AIHL despite my open support of AIHL)

Never questioned the importance of the minor teams (I agree especially in so cal where rinks have been closing over the past few years. development is key), but think that if that was the sole reason to keep so cal out of the playoffs it would be foolish rationale to say the least.

AAU and USA Hockey Insurance are for bodily injury. Disability insurance think Afflec. Say if you were injuried to the point that you miss 4 months of work (knock on wood, hope I don't curse you), the state disability depending on the state and other factors can be half of your normal salary. Should you have to worry about your mortgage because you got hurt playing "pro" roller? I just think that it would be a good faith effort to do so by the league.


I would have liked to play winner of the pacific south division but this was the right decision. How does this decision have anything to do with a "'me' mentality"? They didn't play by the rules like everyone else so they don't get included. What kind of precedent does that set if they're allowed to just slide by? If socal is so special they can skip 1/4 of their season schedule then why don't we just dog it and no-show to a weekend or 2 of games? No repurcussions, **** it we're still in playoffs, who cares!

I'm not saying that's the reason why socal games were skipped but if a whole division is allowed to slide by what incentive do other teams have to fall in line and do things by the book? It's unfortunate but absolutely the right call. And you know there wouldn't be much/any talk if this was the southwest division getting the boot. People are, understandably, disappointed that the most talented division in the league won't be part of playoffs. Well, it doesn't matter if it were a garbage division, you have to do things the way every other team in the league is doing it.

Alex, first of all how accurate is the website? It says you guys only played 30 games. If that is correct, you can miss 2 games and play in the playoffs, but not 6? What is the rule of thumb for the litmus test to determine this? My point being that this should have been decided before the start of the season. I know a lot of teams had their schedules pieced together before the league knew so cal was in for sure. The league saw the need for them to play, so let them play completely through. Honestly the league should have told all for so cal teams SH** or get of the pot if you know what I mean. I just think it sucks to spring this out now.

The me mentality comment is apt. It's not meant to specific people, but as a general consensus of the attitude towards the approval of the expulsion of the so cal teams. If you want the growth of the sport, you need the top talent. No disrespect to Long Island or the rest of the AIHL teams, but go take a peak at the names on the So Cal rosters. It is not the players' fault with the schedule. The three parties involved in the league: League, team management, players are all owed certain efforts and respects from eachother. The players do so by paying their dues, attending practices/games, adhering to the rules and hopefully helping promote their team. The league provides officiating, a venue (the league itself) in which to compete and a tacit promise to look out for the best interests of the players whom are also customers since they do pay to play. If the so cal teams weren't going to have a chance at the playoffs, shouldn't they have been told that before they paid there fees? I mean seems fair to say hey you can play, but you are not allowed to win the championship. Even the NCAA in all of its corruption notifies its member institutions.

It is growing pains I know and I make my comments with the hope that AIHL will be successful.


you make some good points ... I agree with you about not being true champs as I think that the most talent is in that division. But let me address a couple of points.

The league is trying to develop model organizations. By allowing teams to play that do not abide by the rules, what does that show the league?

As far as the minor teams go. The idea of the league to my understanding is to build towards the Elite level. It's a way to make more people involved. And it's a lot of work. It's then just show up to the rink at your game time to play. That's what rec leagues are for.

The league messed with the playoff schedule for other teams or for AAU tryouts from what I have heard (Alex can speak more on that than I). So either enforce the schedule across the board or don't make exceptions for certain teams and not others.

Believe me I agree with the minors comments. Some of the minors teams they could put together could beat some of the pro teams I've seen. Plus, more players involved means a better chance at selling more tickets. I was one of the ones (Give big credit to Dave as well) who was pushing for a so cal division with PIHA last season and was very supportive of minors.

[WoundedPuck]

From the above posts I'll assume the first AIHL championship will be won by the east cost. 495? Time to start placing bets. When is the final?

[GROWL]

I'm taking bets

Steel City: 3-1
LI 495ers: 4-1
SJ Pirates: 5-1
Tuscon Deperados: 8-1

Maryland: 10-1
Richmond: 12-1
Georgia: 12-1
Raleigh: 20-1

[alex]

Alex, first of all how accurate is the website? It says you guys only played 30 games. If that is correct, you can miss 2 games and play in the playoffs, but not 6? What is the rule of thumb for the litmus test to determine this?


We played them, just haven't been inputted into the system for some reason. Litmus test? Personally, I think you've got to play the whole 32 games, exceptions being made for if one team has to forfeit a game or something like that, but the mass cancellation of games/part of the schedule shouldn't be acceptable.