Changes

[Vision]

Are there teams not returning to the MLRH this season? Hard to tell from the MLRH website.

[-venom-]

yup, a bunch of them.....

[Vision]

Well that explains alot.

[SpeedDemon]

I believe teams (or team names) not returning this season include the NJ Riot, Capital Crunch, Virginia Storm, NJ Scorpions and Massachusetts Jokers. Some teams have renamed or realigned themselves according to city name or area name instead of state. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

[NLane]

The Warriors are not playing this year.

[CoachChrisG]

I'm guessing there isn't even going to be much of a league this year. No suprise to be honest considering how it's been run. This league was never about getting to the next level anyway so it's not much of a loss if it is indeed dead.

[MDE3]

Well it wouldn't seem like IHC without having to dodge the splash of fresh urine every now and then Chris.......:)

Actually I think this shrinkage of MLRH will prove a very healthy thing.........the economy not withstanding......... where companies in many sports are looking hard at their sponsorship agreements.

I think the natural result will be a concentration of higher caliber players(not intending to offend anyone who does not make a team or who because of geographic limitations could not try out)on fewer teams which will raise the game quality, and create more fan excitement. I believe as a result there will also be more parity among the teams as perhaps indicated by the Firebirds defeat of Marple Gladiators in preseason play.

Rivalries between specific teams will be enhanced and fan familiarity with the players will grow. Having seen tryouts with the two of the remaining clubs, I can vouch for the elevation of skills on those two teams. It should prove a very exciting season I would think.

With a more geographically concentrated travel schedule, expenses should prove more managable for the remaining clubs as well, but still allow teams to draw fans from a wider area for each team without loyalties being divided as was the case in NJ.

Having 9 solid teams(assuming that is this years final #) makes much mores sense than having 14 "so so" clubs(East). The added competiton for making a team will also increase the stature of the players who are successfull in their bid to play for one of the remaining clubs, giving a more "elite" ring to the whole league.

I guess as of today the clubs are Pittsburgh(Steel City) Snipers, Marple Galdiators, Philadelphia Sting, Pottstown Firebirds, New Jersey Wolves, New Jersey Bullets, Ottakringer(NJ), Connecticutt Thunder, and Boston Storm

[NLane]

What did Ben used to say about trolls??

[yokes]

If you read all the facts you have two teams already preparing themselves for next season so it can be done correctly. Do you even know what went on this year in the offseason, because if you did you would know that the people paying the money are now in charge so do you think they will let there hard earned money go to waste? Speaking of things that we thought were dead...

Its just not fun unless you stand in front of it!

[NLane]

Yokes, remember he's not a part of us. The MLRH home page had that info but has replaced it so, if he didn't read it, he is ignorant of these changes.

[calihockey]

uninformed, ignorant is kind of an offensive term to use. remember guys that as members of MLRH, you are a representative for the league when you post on here, so what you say reflects on the league. MLRH and PIHA may not be much, but it is better than what we have here on the west coast.

[NLane]

Not meant to be offensive, just trying to be accurate. I've been a part of MLRH for 4 years, going on 5. Went to the PRO tryouts but was not involved until the AAA started. The "coach" has never been part of it but does like to comment negatively about it. I really do try not to feed the trolls.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by NLane on 10/01/03 11:31 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

[CoachChrisG]

It's a question of believing a damn thing is going to actually happen. In fact I think these "changes" hold as much water as the NHL's annual crackdown on obstruction. (Desperation will take precident over willingness to do something significant.) Last year was an unequaled disaster and I have no confidence in the league getting any better, in fact I predict it will get even worse.

C.C.

[NLane]

it's now an LLC. That's a huge change.