Premier League

[nala]

ONE GIANT STEP BACKWARDS

[Rebecca]

Nala,

(just a thought) Please post your thoughts on Premier on the CRHL Message Board, on the CRHL website. CRHL (Premier) can only be improved when you elevate these things to the Board.

Thanks

Rebecca

[RedWingsRule]

I would prefer to say many little steps backwards. But I would like if you could elaborate on the subject because I am in total agreement. I am assuming you are talking about the national championships that are going to be held in Michigan. I was wondering myself why they are going to be held here at US Blades(not a rink fit for hosting a national championship when the goal for the year was to promote and build the sport of roller hockey)? It seems like that was a move more of convenience rather than one that would promote the "premier division." I heard through the grapevine that Lindenwood University put together a proposal to host the national championship that was rather impressive. I talked with a few players from Lindenwood and saw some of their games here in Michigan, it seems to me that they put on the best show head and shoulders ahead of any other school. From what I hear they have a rink that will comfortably seat 500 and accomodate 1000, they have an accomplished PA announcer who does all their games, they would of broadcasted and had TV coverage of all games on their university network, they could have had a banquet dinner for all teams involved to help congratulate all the teams on a good season, commitments from all St. Louis newspapers, radio stations, and tv stations to run spots for the tournament. I was down at the national tournament last year and what a show for the CRHL. I stayed the night after the championship game and I was watching their NBC affiliate and during their nightly sportscast they had a story on Lindenwood and their national championship. Not being from St. Louis, I immediately noticed the impact that Lindenwood University had on St. Louis roller hockey and through this year I have seen their commitment for growing the sport of college roller hockey. In my humble opinion, it is a shame that the "premier division" of the CRHL has once again settled for mediocrity when they could have taken steps to help promote college roller hockey.

[troymann]

Having played for lindenwood last year i can say that the most fun i had all season was at nationals. After a whole season of playing the same old teams in was good to play against teams from the other regions and to have fans from all over watch the games. That is what the premier league is missing. They are going to play the same teams that they played all year with little fanfare. The attendence at the premier league games that i have attended at us blades has been mediocre at best and most times it was just bad. The league is going to have "nationals" with only 6 teams. That is not a nationals, with teams from only the midwest. What should have been done was to make this premier league a different region. Then they could play at a nationals against teams from all over. But they have to play the same 6 teams and we have to see games with scores like 20-1 and 17-3 at nationals. Last year when we won it actually feel like we acomplished something. We went and beat the best to become the best. This year the team that wins premier nationals will be able to say that they beat 5 teams from the midwest and the are the "national" champs. This league started out with high expecations and pretty much became a joke.

[mackertm]

nala, at least you're offering opinions and such to back up your thought, right? Anyway, whatever.

Moving teams that are ready to Premier is the RIGHT decision for CRHL. Yes, the NCT is going to be a little funky this year with so few teams, but that is an issue that should resolve itself next year with more teams joining Premier - this season was a transition year.

And Rebecca is right, go talk about this on the CRHL board, there's already a discussion of it going on there.

Mike Mackert
Michigan State University