THE DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!!!

[XIHL]

THE DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!!!

American Inline Hockey Properties, LLC (AIHP) is proud to announce the creation of a new elite inline hockey league, the eXtreme Inline Hockey League (XIHL). After months of hard work and through the collaborative efforts of three of the top inline hockey league executives in the world today, this semi-pro, AAA-style league has what players, rink operators and fans have been asking for: A hard-hitting, action-packed inline hockey league where the best of the best can showcase their talents and fans of the game can watch one of the most exciting and extreme forms of sports entertainment being played today.

Founding members of the XIHL include:

Steve Seeger, Director of League Operations and former Commissioner of Major League Roller Hockey,

Charlie Yoder, Director of Team Operations and President of the Professional Inline Hockey Association and,

Benny Gulakiw, Director of Marketing and Public Relations and President of Inline Hockey America.

These three individuals, with well over 25 years of combined experience between them, have joined forces to create a professionally-run, fan-friendly league.

What makes the XIHL extreme and what makes it different than any other league out there? The XIHL is a full-contact inline hockey league played in the traditional roller hockey league format. By including the best players, fans can expect high-scoring, hard-hitting, end-to-end action from the first whistle to the final horn. The XIHL will be operated with a degree of professionalism, attention to detail and high standards never before seen.

The XIHL is set to begin play this Fall with a festival-style format running from September through December with the Championships being played in January 2005. The full XIHL season is scheduled to start September 2005. The XIHL is in the process of finalizing many other aspects of league operations. A temporary page has been set-up at the league?s web site (www.xihl.com) where people who are extremely interested in getting the latest information can sign-up for the XIHL Newsletter and receive exclusive updates e-mailed directly to them. In the meantime, anyone with any questions or comments can post them here on Inline Hockey Central or can e-mail them to the League?s Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Benny Gulakiw, at benny@xihl.com. Fans who do not wish to sign-up for the newsletter can look for league updates in the days and weeks to come here on this site.


Benny Gulakiw
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
eXtreme Inline Hockey League

[NLane]

Benny, what about the non-checking players and fans? Do they have a part in this league? It wasn't really addressed in your post and they usually are a pretty vocal lot. Could not hearing from them mean that there is a part that is non-check and those teams already know about it?
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by NLane on 08/05/04 07:08 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

[dcdawgs]

I am just curious to find out what is going to happen with MLRH and PIHA? Are they still going to be running their own leagues, until the acutual season kicks off next September?

[AFan99]

My opinion is that combining forces to form one league is the best thing that could happen to the sport right now. What I am not too keen on is the name. I think once you put Extreme, or any variation of it in a name for a league, people wont take it as serious. I think the non informed inline person will think this is some off the wall variation of inline hockey.

I am excited to see what the format and teams will be for the league and look forward to the season starting.

Let's hear what other people think of the name.

Just my .02.

Thanks

[NLane]

It took awhile for the X Games to catch on but it has and it's on tv now. With the right stuff, and in a few years, maybe XIHL will catch too.

[BkHdTpShlf]

Big difference between the X games and roller hockey. You don't see guys crossing center court doing a 720 grind off the jumbo tron. I think thats what AFan was trying to say. I do like the name myself but I think people who don't know about it will be expecting more and let down. Adding a name like Extreme to the league makes people think theres more than just hockey going on. I'm excitied to see some veteran guys finally joining forces to create a serious league.

Darrell Interbartolo

[GROWL]

There will be a fall and spring league. The Fall being a contact and the Spring a no contact league.

[NLane]

I also am pleased that the 3 people leading are together in this league. It will make for a really strong governing body. I don't think the name is a real big thing as long as it gets known for a certain type of product. As for the other-were there actually 720's in the beginning?

[XIHL]

Good question,

And one that has come up frequently in the many e-mails I've already received. Here's what I can say right now. Remember, things are still evolving and as you all know, they will be announced when we feel absolutely confortable in its validity.

The XIHL has absolutely no affiliation with MLRH.

The only official affiliation that XIHL currently has is with the three individual founding members.

XIHL, a full-contact, AAA inline hockey league is not the only property that AIHP is developing. We have a number of short-term and long-term plans. We believe that there is definitely a market for both a full-contact and a non-check elite roller hockey league.

The most important thing that I can't stress enough is that the reason Charlie, Steve and myself have decided to work together is that we share the same vision about the future of the sport. We also share the same level of committment in maintaining very high standards in whatever we do.

This announcement is only the first of many more to come. If you want to be the first on your block to get the latest news, sign-up for the XIHL Newsletter or keep your dial tuned to this station.

Benny Gulakiw
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
eXtreme Inline Hockey League

[Maskman]

Any idea where teams will be located?

[XIHL]

The announcement of the teams participating in the upcoming festival-style season will be made probably next week. Any team that has already agreed to play in the XIHL and has met their requirements can state their status as league members in order to promote any tryouts. Because of the shortened timeline for the upcoming season, many teams are annoucing tryouts and we don't want to hinder them in doing that. However, as I said, an official anouncement regarding the teams will be made shortly. Once again, XIHL Newsletter. (Do you sense a pattern forming here.)

What I can say is that initially, many teams will be located on the East coast because that is the present geographic based of the three founders. However, in the short-term and long-term, we are looking at all parts of the U.S. and Canada. In fact, anyone interested in finding out more about operating a team in either the upcoming festival season or next fall's full season can e-mail at benny@xihl.com. We are also trying to set-up one or more festivals this fall is expansion markets with the hopes of generating interest in those areas.

Benny Gulakiw
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
eXtreme Inline Hockey League

[ChiMagic19]

Is there any interest in this in the southeast region (FL, GA, etc.)?

[XIHL]

Yes. Even up into the Carolinas.

Benny Gulakiw
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
eXtreme Inline Hockey League

[NCCcardinal]

What about the Great Lakes area. Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana? Any interest from those areas?

[born2runPROgm]

Team Born 2 Run Pro will be participating in the new XIHL. We are excited about hosted a XIHL festival and are looking forward to the fall season. For more information please contact team GM Charles Gamble at (724) 355 0081

Charles Gamble
General Manager
Team Born 2 run Pro
Grove City, PA
born2runsports.com
(724) 355 0081



The Gambler

[XIHL]

Yes.

Benny Gulakiw
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
eXtreme Inline Hockey League

[jamie20]

The Gladiators didn't post their try out dates for nothing!

[ChiMagic19]

Is there any way you can give me some information on what teams down here, particularly in FL are supposed to participate in this league. I have been dying for some higher level hockey down here.

[MDE3]

Can anyone enlighten us on what is going to be happening with MLRH given this news?

[wathockey00]

Wait will the Gladiators be participating in both XIHL and MLRH? After having back to back championship seasons in MLRH it would seem strange to switch leagues but whatever happens the XIHL sounds very promising.

Wayne Gretzky
You'll miss 100% of the shots you never take.

[Drexel63]

Same question regarding PIHA...

[ggriffaw]

There are some good people involved.

I'm afraid the name will remind people of the XFL.

[dcdonkey]

What about Florida? If you expect to get the best players, will you be paying?

[XIHL]

I don't mean to sound evasive, but just so everyone knows, I can only answer questions about XIHL. If anyone associated with those two leagues want to answer questions here in this forum, that's their perogative or you can contact them directly and share their answers here if they allow it.

As I stated before, AIHP has both short-term and long-term plans to create and operate other properties and we will announce those efforts when the time is appropriate. Those future annoucements may or may not answer your questions.

Benny Gulakiw
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
eXtreme Inline Hockey League

[XIHL]

We're not prepared to annouce the specific markets that will be operating teams in either the upcoming festival season or the 2005 full season. I can say that we have a number of teams already signed-up and we are currently negotiating with a number of groups. If you want to be the first to find then sign-up for the Newsletter.

I will add, though, that I have already received a number of direct e-mails from parties across North America who have expressed interest in operating a team in XIHL. I would catagorize these as serious and legitimate groups and it's very encouraging. If you or anyone you know may be interested in operating a team, feel free to e-mail me at benny@xihl.com. Keep in mind that any applicant must meet the requirements and standards that we have set.

To answer your question about paying players, no, they will not be paid. XIHL is a AAA, semipro league. We expect to get the best of the best because this league will be operated and promoted in a first class manner. All the players will be treated as professional in every way, with the exception of being compensated financially. We expect this league to be the precursor of greater things to come.

Baby steps, folks. You got to learn to crawl before you can walk. XIHL will be the best AAA, semipro full-check inline hockey league around. That's what it is and that's what we're promoted it as. Nothing else.

Benny Gulakiw
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
eXtreme Inline Hockey League

[bandits16]

this full check stuff is stupid

[SpiderRat]

Can't hang son.

[yokes]

Full contact makes better players, plain and simple!! Yeah there are plenty of great players in my house league but as soon as you put a little body to them they give up the puck like some ladies i know. It takes more skill to move through a team that is trying to put you on your butt then it is to go through a team relagated to poke checks and non contact.

Goalies do it better with their eyes closed!!

[CoachChrisG]

I'm torn on the contact issue. I have no problem with hits on the boards as that is a big reason why the boards exist. However, I don't see the need to point of open-floor or ice hitting. I have never endorsed blindsiding people. This is a practice in the NHL that has caused so many problems after fighting was cut down by the instigator rule. People could go headhunting without worrying about repercussions.

If full contact is put in place I think all headshots and hitting from behind should be outlawed and anyone who goes after someone's head or hits someone from behind should be ejected.

[cyclonewinger]

Who is going to be responsible if a player gets hurt in these leagues. The NHL teams have an army of doctors. Is the HIHL going to protect the player?

[NLane]

If you are playing in an adult ice hockey league that REQUIRES you to have a USA hockey card and you get hurt who pays? Who has protected MLRH players for the last 5 years of check hockey? This is a problem/question now? Newbiedubeedo

[MDE3]

The unfortunate fact is that at the top of the elite inline hockey feed chain, most players who excel at this level are also playing some form of mid elite/pro ice hockey as well...look at the most recent rosters of the USA Hockey version of Team USA...also at the rosters of their competitors.

This is to a great degree the fundamental problem with the development of inline hockey..it is still dependant on ice hockey for it's players to reach full potential..with a few notable exceptions that only serve "to prove the rule". I say take the opportunity to teach full contact hockey, so the players can learn the techniques necesary to apply a good hit or take one.

Full contact develops a much more "floor aware" style through heads up play, and a broader range of elite level skating skills, without which it is almost impossible to become a top elite player in inline hockey.

Those notable exceptions to the rule..have without a doubt, had the benefit of an ice trained instructor who made sure they "got the goods" . The big problem, is that there is no where near the number of qualified training instructors within the ranks of inline hockey, that there are available even at the lowest levels of ice hockey training.

By deciding to go to a "limited full contact" version of the game, and by this I mean limited only to elite league and elite tournament play, Inline Hockey has the chance to redefine how full contact shall be used.

Most objectors to the use of full contact hockey, do not object to properly applied body checks, but to the blindside hits, and the cheap stickwork and interference that they feel must come along with full contact. In fact there is usually less cheap stickwork in full contact than in "non contact" hockey. But more interference.

By deciding to go to a full contact league, and training players in it's "black arts" within the game of inline hockey, the sport can grow it's own version of full contact slowly from within...and not be so dependant on the "bad habits" inherited from ice hockey.

The sport can be adamant on the following:

1) no contact allowed outside of 180 degrees forward from the center of the chest....this means whether a player turns away or not. It becomes incumbant on the checker, to be enough in control of his body that he can arrest the motion of the check if a player turns away. This now makes the purpose of "full checking" more like it's original intention..which was to interupt or deflect the play of the player with the puck. No exceptions are to be allowed to this rule, and progressively severer penalties would be applied depending on the severity of the transgression. This will also help a great deal to prevent players "taking runs"..also still illegal..having a three step maximum allowance.

2) no contact allowed above the shoulders...exception being if a player falls or ducks while in the process of being hit and through his own motions causes this to happen.

3) No stick contact allowed above an opponents waist...sole exception being on the follow through of a shot/pass

4)Any use of the stick to impede a player's skating process..automatic penalty..cut out most of the cheap stickwork and interference.

5) enforcement of existing rules prohibiting holding at all times

Now we can have the best of all worlds...on the defensive side of the puck, skaters who have learned how to position themselves properly to take the body or take away the skating lanes effectively, and on the offensive side, freedom from hooking and other interference tactics, while having the head up to look for team mates, select an opportunistic skating path, as well as choosing where to go to limit the effects of full contact.

With all these elements in place along with the 4 on 4 play and less restrictive puck movement rules..inline hockey could easily become the most exciting version of the sport..on any surface...and gain the credibility of being considered a "real" form of the sport.

[cyclonewinger]

It's all fun and games until someone, someday may get seriously hurt.

I admit that I enjoy watching the full check hockey, but Inline needs it's own Identity oppose to trying to be something else like Ice Hockey.

You un-educated accountant

[SpiderRat]

HEY!!! I take offense to that! I'm also an Accountant. You can slander and bash people, teams, leagues, but leave us lonely Accountants out of this message board. Dammit!!! LOL!!

[cyclonewinger]

lol

;P

Bean Counter.

[NLane]

Well, gee. Thanks for the promotion! I'm a part time billing clerk. If you're afraid of getting hurt then don't play at this level. I have seen worse injuries at adult league level then at MLRH games. That goes for anybody not just you CW. Thanks, Spidey, for taking my back. I think every rink I've been in has signs that say skate at your own risk and you never truly sign away your right to sue. Email the XIHL powers and give them your advice.

[cyclonewinger]

I have emailed the "XIHL POWERS" and they sound like salesmen selling Snake Oil.

Do you play? Ever been checked before? What about having some fat guy on skates hitting you from behind, then having his fat butt land on you. Ouch. Then try getting up the next day to go to work. I guess you have a be a real man to take that, huh?

:)

[NLane]

Your memory isn't too good, CW, I don't play but many players that I care about do. Like I said, the league has handled injuries to this point why is this an issue now? Go to the MLRH site and pay the money to belong to the players association and maybe you'll get the answers about insurance for which you are looking.

[cyclonewinger]

Your memory is not that good as well. I pay, but you wAtch the games.

My understanding with the MLRH or what was the MLRH is that players had to have their own insurance to belong to the player association. The player association was only a sub insurance. If you did not have insurance then you were not able to have the sub insurance. This information is not given to players when trying out is it. I know who you are and that is why I asked if you been ever been hit, it's easier to say something, but unless you've been in that situation then you can only assume.

"The Gas has been passed"

[NLane]

Actually I have been hit..in the eye with a slap shot that went around the boards/glass as I spoke with one of our goalies. Anyone remember the shiner I had? Drained down to my jaw but it was my fault for being on the floor. Once again...don't play if you don't like the rules, or is it pay?

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by NLane on 08/10/04 09:16 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

[cyclonewinger]

lol

Guess your right on that one. "Don't pay" should be easier for you to count. $0+$0=$0

[cyclonewinger]

Anthony

What is going to happen to the PIHA?

[NLane]

Use the spell check. Sorry, we've had that go around before too haven't we? Oh my. A senior moment....

[cyclonewinger]

uSE wHAT aGANE?.

:p

[MDE3]

Please read my post above....

[NLane]

HAHAHAHA

[cyclonewinger]

Amen to that.

Thanks

[extremes55]

no more bickering about spelling errors...it happens all the time....and lets just be smart enough to add in that extra letter ourselves rather than make fun of people for something that happens to all of us.....but spell check is still good! lol

[cyclonewinger]

Spell check is brought up when there is nothing else to say. Similar to a little kid ending an argument with "your momma".

[yokes]

So you want a new identitiy all the time, well what is speedhockey? It doesnt use the same size rink or nets as ice hockey, there arent any faceoffs either. Is that enough of and identity change for you. Not saying that speedhockey is the way we should play just making a point that roller hockey has its own identity, as small as it is right now, adding contact isnt going to make ALL those people on the fence to say "hey there stealing our contact idea now!" If anything playing non contact may label us to ice hockey players as not able to handle the physicalness of contact.

Goalies do it better with their eyes closed!!

[cyclonewinger]

Speed hockey is way too off the wall, similar to Pro Beach Hockey. More like a circus than a sport. I have heard it from two players who played the speed hockey exhibitions, that it was a waste of time.

Hitting can be part of the game, but again I am only concerned about the safety of the players. This should be outlined and put in front of players before they tryout.

Many young players who want to play are not thinking of what may happen either at a game and or practice. I know that risk will always be there, but these young kids playing do not see that, all they want to do is play.

[yokes]

Being outlined as a full contact league is enough in my mind. I personnaly wouldnt sit there at the Gladiator tryout and make sure I tell every kid that walks through the door that you should really think about this because you could get hurt, if not now maybe later. Ive been playing in this league for 4 seasons now and havent seen more than 1 incident that i can think of where a big,slow guy has even been able to catch up to someone else to lay on a cheap shot. And that was at me after some Boston players thought Ronnie Tracy took a cheap shot at there goalie, and they even warned me that the next play was coming at me(refer this to threats post). Thats part of playing hockey and you take it or you get out, your telling me that you have never seen a cheap shot in your house league?? They are the most dangerous of all places.

Goalies do it better with their eyes closed!!

[cyclonewinger]

Cheap shots can't be avoided and happen all the time. However, with Ice Hockey, youth players are taught how to check at the Pee Wee Level. They are mandated to take Checking clinics before being allowed to play. The current inline hockey structure that we have, their is no checking at a youth level, so when moving up to play at your level, it can be a bit dangerous. What we have to do is think outside the box that we are in at the present moment. We only think about the East Cost Area, because their is current Elite Level players and league, but what about the rest of the country? Again, think outside the box.

"The Gas has been Passed"

[defencegirl22]

Every hockey player has been hit, NLane, so don't make such a big production out of it.

P.S. Wear a face shield.

[dcdonkey]

Who's to say what type of hockey is the best? Perhaps our entire outlook on how roller hockey should be played may be wrong. Perhaps it is not. The motivation for why youth do not play checking inline hockey may be due to insurance. It is also possible that some parents can?t meet the expense of the hospital bills of ice hockey; therefore, they put their kid(s) into roller hockey because it's somewhat safer.

Also, I believe a great majority of players who have played MLRH in the past two or three seasons have played some kind of checking ice hockey. Typically, it was obvious who had not when the game began. The inaugural season may not take this same recognition.

[cyclonewinger]

Amen

[defencegirl22]

Y'know, that NLane dude has been talking about getting hurt throughout this whole board. What a little baby.

[cyclonewinger]

Not a baby, just concerned.

Still I am confused about all the leagues now, IHA, XIHL, PIHA, Speed Hockey and the MLRH....

When the smoke clears I hope the end result is good hockey

[defencegirl22]

kAt FiTE! rawr!

[defencegirl22]

Well, he should still wear a face shield. Half shields should be mandatory.

[cyclonewinger]

lol

[defencegirl22]

Hissssssssssss!! *scratch*

[cyclonewinger]

I say full shield. I mean have you seen how some of these guys look. Ouch.

[defencegirl22]

Well, a mandatory half shield would give some leeway to players who don't want to wear the whole dang thing. Some of those guys think they are Mr. Macho: "Look at my shiner!! Don't you think it's cool, guy?" Only about 15% of NHLers wear a half shield, because they probably don't like it.

[yokes]

Just some info for you, NLane is a women, not a dude, and her son who is older than i am has played some minor league ice and currently plays MLRH for the last couple of years. Also she was affilited with a MLRH team for a few seasons so she might know a little.

Goalies do it better with their eyes closed!!

[cyclonewinger]

Know a little about what?

[yokes]

That she is not a current player and she is not a dude. But she has been around full contact hockey for an extensive amount of time. Read above post from defence girl

Goalies do it better with their eyes closed!!

[MDE3]

Actually the growing use of the half shield in the NHL is a recent phenomenon...after a slate of eye injuries about four years ago. Previously no NHL player was allowed to wear any facial protection unless mandated by an NHL approved physician for purposes of protecing an existing injury.

[cyclonewinger]

I actually respect Nancy for her efforts and what she has contributed to the sport. However, she makes remarks at times as though she played the game. Let's be real and make remarks on facts oppose bashing "poster's".

[yokes]

I agree

Goalies do it better with their eyes closed!!

[RichardGraham]

Hi cyclonewinger,

Let's not get too silly here, OK? This kind of stuff gets old really fast. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[Somerset_GM]

Now that is a great idea

[dcdonkey]

When you say minor league ice, you mean one game of MLRH-Pro, right?

[defencegirl22]

Well EXCUSE me.

[CoachChrisG]

Anything that takes elite level inline away from Bill Raue is a shot in the arm to the sport's credibility.

The question is do the people involved have the capital to take it to the next level? If not then it won't be any better than the current MLRH and NARCh will still be head and shoulders above it.

There is a long way to go but getting rid of Raue once and for all is a very good first step.

[rt12]

Good idea, terrible name.

[cyclonewinger]

Good Point.

From the little I know, is that the league will target Rink Owners and Operators instead of private ownership. Of course the people involved will not spend thier own money doing this, so again they will ask the Rink Owners for it.

The problem is that not every rink has the time or commitment to give to a Pro team or Semi Pro Team. They are more then happy to host them, but not organize one.

[NLane]

There are still owners. I don't know what you've heard.

[NLane]

I was a GM of a First in their division MLRH team, not a player. Keep up dg, cw and I already did this. And I'm not the one making the big production. It was the "somebody might get hurt" guy.

[NLane]

Ian NEVER played any paying hockey except 1 MLRH pro game. He played ice with a college club team just because someone asked him.

[NLane]

But didn't I get that you don't play either? So both of us post ideas, conversations, etc. that we have heard or have thought of ourselves to see if others feel the same or not. And every so often a player actually answers. Wouldn't it be a kick if no one on this board played? HAHAHA and ho for the other one.....

[Rebecca]

hehehehe, funny comment, made me sorta.........giggle, dude

/wtimages/icons/smile.gif

Rebecca

[cyclonewinger]

Ive been told that Owners will be a thing of the past. They rather work with rink operators.

[cyclonewinger]

yawn

[GROWL]

Rink operators have no interest in running pro teams, because they don't have the time to travel and frankly there isn't enough profit potentiel at this time.

[GROWL]

I'll let you know after our August 21st meeting.

[cyclonewinger]

I agree, but I was told directly from the someone of the XIHL that they want the rink operators to run the teams, becasue if affects the bottom line, which is money.

Rinks have so many other things to worry about that running a team will not be top priority.