Victoria Royals look to instill WHL tradition back in the B.C. Capital

y Daniel Marley

*This article was retrieved from my previous blog.  It was written back on August 25, 2011.  Enjoy.

         A proud Western Hockey League era came to an end in 2011 with the Chilliwack Bruins relocating to the British Columbia capital of Victoria.

The sudden move of the Bruins came earlier this year with the expiration of the lease to Chilliwack’s Prospera Centre and the fear of a National Hockey League relocation of a team to Winnipeg, which would have resulted in a relocation of the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose to Victoria.

According to reporter Allan Maki of Globe and Mail, the relocation of the Bruins was done to preserve the popularity of the WHL in the league’s British Columbia Division and prevent an AHL team from relocating there and “hogging up” all of the media outlets in the province.  

Fortunately for all leagues involved, the Moose relocated to the Newfoundland and Labrador capital of St. John’s and the WHL market in the Western Canada province was not disrupted.

For the second time in WHL history, semi-professional hockey will have operations in Victoria.  Fans will be graced with the physical style of play that the Bruins fans have adored since their inaugural season in 2006, leading the league in penalty minutes last year with 1,553.

Last season, Chilliwack finished third in the B.C. Division and sixth in the Western Conference with a 33-31-8 record for 74 points.  They made the playoffs, only to lose to the Spokane Chiefs in the first round.

This year, the Royals look to generate their new fan base by preserving their physical game while incorporating a stronger offensive core and restructuring their goaltending for a better push towards their Ed Cynoweth and Memorial Cup dreams.

With the loss of key players like forwards Roman Horak and Ryan Howse and defensemen Brandon Manning and Jeff Einhorn to league age restrictions and regulations, the Royals have done almost everything to fill in these missing roster spots.

The Royals’ restructuring began at the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft and the WHL Bantam Draft early in the offseason with the selections of Czech Republic center Lukas Kralik and defenseman Joe Hicketts respectively.

The Royals were relieved to see Kralik still up for grabs by the time they made their selection.  He is highly revered for his offensive production and physical presence.  According to Hockey Scout and Analyst Dan Sallows, he is a “strong skater who has a good shot, nice hands, and displays good puck protection, reminding hockey fans of a young Ilya Kovalchuk.” Expect him to make a push for a spot on the top line and for his talents to be utilized on the special teams units.

The selection of Kamloops native Hicketts is the perfect compliment for the loss of Manning for his effective two-way defensive game.  Scouts view him as a dominant force that stands up for his team and puts points on the board.  With the Kamloops Jardines Blazers Bantam AAA in 2010/11, he registered 18 goals, 41 assists, 54 penalty minutes, a plus/minus rating of 98, 300 hits, and 33 blocked shots in 51 games.  He also showed great leadership with his Triple-A club, and if he proves himself this year, he will earn a captaincy down the road.

Other 2011 Victoria draft picks include defenseman Zach Peterson of the Edmonton SSAC Bantam AAA club and center Brendon Benson of the Lethbridge Bantam AAA club.

After the draft, the Royals continued their tweaking by trading for defenseman Hayden Rintoul of the 2011 Ed Chynoweth Cup Champion Kootenay Ice and goaltender Keith Hamilton of the Western Conference Champion Portland Winterhawks. 

Rintoul’s strength on the blue line was a key component to Kootenay’s championship run.  The perfect replacement for Einhorn, Rintoul will catch the interest of Victoria fans with his defensive zone concentration and leadership.  In 51 games last season, he registered 24 points with 51 penalty minutes and a plus-16 rating.

The loss of Chilliwack goaltender Lucas Gore made the Royals trade for a goaltender like Hamilton.  After serving as Marc Carruth’s backup in Portland, Hamilton has shown that he deserves the starting role with the Royals.  For three Bantam draft picks, the Royals got a player who is known for his positioning and eye for the puck.  In 28 games played, Hamilton recorded a 17-6-2 record with a 2.91 goals against average, a 91.4 save percentage, and one shutout.

There are two players from last year’s roster that will make a huge impact this year in their new home.  They are forwards Kevin Sundher and Robin Soudek.

Former 2007 first rounder Sundher now has the role as primary goal scorer with the departures of House and Horak.   He is well known amongst the Chilliwack fan base for his offensive mindset and consistency.  He can generate plays in the offensive zone and make accurate passes to his teammates on the ice. 

Last season, Sundher registered 52 assists and 76 points in 70 regular season contests and seven points in five playoff games.  He had a career best in the month of February when he shined offensively with 19 points in 12 games.

Soudek has seen his offensive production and his physicality increase since he left the Edmonton Oil Kings after the 2009-10 season.  His point totals doubled, as well as his time in the penalty box.  In 61 games in 2010, Soudek scored 25 goals and assisted on 32 with 70 penalty minutes.

 Other key players include forward Brandon Magee (12-17-29) and defensemen Mitch Topping (5-11-16) and Tyler Stahl (1-9-10).

The Victoria Royals open up their inaugural season with a home-and-home series on September 23 at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver and September 24 at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria against the Vancouver Giants.

Proud playoff run and offseason happenings have Oshawa fans looking forward to 2012 season

By Daniel A. Marley

*This article was written back on August 25, 2011 and retrieved from my previous blog domain.  Enjoy.

            The Oshawa Generals have one goal for the 2012 season: translating a renewed team dynamic into Ontario Hockey League and Memorial Cup Championships.

In 2011, the Generals made the playoffs after missing the cut for the last two seasons, posting a 39-19-10 record for 88 points and reaching the second round of the playoffs.  

Last season also made history for one Christian Thomas, as he joined his father Steven “Stumpy” Thomas as the first father-son duo in OHL history to score 50-plus goals during their semi-pro tenures. 

            During the offseason, Thomas signed an entry-level deal with the New York Rangers, who drafted him in the second round of the 2010 National Hockey League Draft.  If Thomas does not make the cut with the Rangers during training camp, he will return to the Oshawa roster.  He also took part in the World Junior Championships camps with Team Canada, where his skills will continue to develop.

            The outcomes of the 2011 NHL Entry and OHL Priority Selection Drafts went in favor of the Generals, as they saw five current roster players drafted into the NHL and young talent replacing missing slots for the team’s future plans.

            On June 24, forwards Nicklas Jensen (No.29, Vancouver), Boone Jenner (No. 37, Columbus), Lucas Lessio (No. 56, Phoenix), Andy Andreoff (No. 80, Los Angeles), and defenseman Colin Suellentrop (No. 116, Philadelphia) were drafted into the NHL.  However, because of their rate of development and team needs, they will remain on the Generals roster for 2012.

            These skaters, along with Thomas, make up the new team dynamic that has brought the Generals out of the cellar.

             Second-year Danish forward Jensen has become well acclimated with North American hockey.  His improvements in speed, puck control, and shooting accuracy were shown in his 58-point performance last season.

            Jenner had a very productive year in 2011.  His playmaking mentality on the ice helped him earn career highs in goals (25) and assists (41).

            Lessio had a productive rookie year with the Generals, registering 27 goals and 27 assists with a plus/minus rating of eight. He ended the year on a poor note, receiving a two-game suspension for game misconduct against the Niagara IceDogs in the playoffs.  After his suspension, Lessio will spend the season working on his speed and perfecting his forecheck and power strides up and down the ice.

            Andreoff had a great 2011 campaign, registering 75 points and leading the team in penalty minutes with 109.  He will see more ice time, especially on the special teams units.

            Defenseman Suellentrop is a stay-at-home defenseman with great on-ice mobility.  His plus-21 rating and 70 penalty minutes show that opponents will find it difficult to score when he is on the ice.

            Open roster spots will lead to heavy competition amongst the prospects that were selected in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection Draft.  General Manager and Head Coach Chris DePiero’s intentions in this draft were to build a new core for the long term and enhance their defensive and goaltending depths.

            The 2011 Oshawa draft class included forwards Cole Cassels and Bradley Latour and goaltender Ken Appleby, who signed deals shortly after the draft.

            DePiero was relieved when he saw Cassels available by the time the Generals made their selection in the first round.  Son of former NHL forward Andrew Cassels, Cole is highly revered by DePiero for his “very skilled offensive game.”  In 48 games with the Ohio Blue Jackets Under-16 club, Cassels scored 22 goals and made 44 assists.  He also participated in the 2011 OHL Showcase Tournament, registering three points in four games.

            Latour’s too is revered by the Generals organization for his “hard work and dedication, as he pushes to improve his development.”  In 42 games with the Barrie Junior Colts, Latour registered 24 goals and 20 assists with 36 penalty minutes.  He too participated in the Showcase Tournament, recording four points in four games.

            Appleby will be competing with goaltender Peter DiSalvo for the starting role this upcoming season.  His size will be in his favor, however, has room for development and time in his favor to perfect his game.  With the North Bay Midget Trappers AAA, Appleby recorded a 2.19 goals against average in 21 games.

            The Oshawa Generals start their 2011/12 campaign against their division rival Kingston Frontenacs on September 23 and at home on the 25^th against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

After Brodeur: Who Should Start in Net After the Goalie "Great One" Retires?

By Dan Marley

            There is a good chance that after this season, New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur will be calling it a career.

            If it wasn’t for Brodeur, the Devils organization would have not enjoyed any of their successes in the Garden State, winning three Stanley Cup Championships, four Prince of Whales Trophies (Eastern Conference Champions), and multiple Atlantic Division titles.  They would have instead been struggling to make ends meet in Nashville, Tennessee (see footnote).

            When Brodeur retires, the concern lies on whom will be the new starting goaltender at The Rock.  Many Devils fans want to see the Devils make a move for an elite goaltender, with the future status of captain Zach Praise still questionable.

            As easy as it may be to trade expendable prospects for a goaltender or to sign one over the summer, the Devils do not stand for signing mercenaries.  What separates them from many other teams in the National Hockey League is that they grow their own talent.  Brodeur, Patrick Elias, Parise, Ken Daneyko, John MacLean, Brendan Shanahan, Scott Niedermayer, Sergei Brylin, and others were brought up in the Devils farm system and other team development functions.  They should continue to do what has made them successful for many years.

            Picking which goaltending prospect to have the distinct honor and privilege of starting in net for the organization may be a challenge, since they had one perfect candidate that they had treated poorly and another who they have kept forever in the farm system that by now will never make his NHL debut.  I am talking about Scott Clemmensen and Jeff Frazee.

            From 2005-2009, Clemmensen was the only goaltender on the Devils in the EA Sports NHL Series to not be named “Backup #35.”  Clemmensen did not see much playtime until the 2008/09 season, when Brodeur was sidelined for 16 weeks due to a torn distal biceps tendon in his arm.

With a team plagued with injuries, Clemmensen stepped up and kept the Devils on top of the Atlantic Division.  He and his goalie pads that were thinner than he posted a 25-13-1 record with a 2.39 goals against average and a 91.7 save percentage with two shutouts.  He played more successfully against his Atlantic Division rivals, registering an 8-3-0 record against them, including a 3-0-0 record with one shutout against the New York Rangers. 

When Brodeur returned from injury and led the Devils at home to a shutout victory over the Colorado Avalanche back on February 26, 2009, Clemmensen was sent back down to the minors instead of their "other" backup in Kevin Weeks.  This right here was a major sign of disrespect for a player that kept the Devils reigning supreme that year.

In the end, Clemmensen got the last laugh, as the Devils blew a one-goal lead with 80 seconds left in game seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Eric Staal and the Carolina Hurricanes.

            Frazee was the coveted prospect who was originally going to take over the position.  For a while, Frazee was the only goaltending prospect in the Devils farm system.

            After his tenure at the University of Minnesota, where he posted a 26-13-3 record, the Devils kept him locked up in the farm system.  For five seasons, he was stuck in the minors, playing in Albany and Lowell of the American Hockey League and the Trenton Devils of the ECHL.  In the beginning, he had a lot of promise.  Today, he can now label himself as a “Crash Davis.”

            His talent is being wasted away in the AHL, as his game is now becoming less consistent and losing important attributes daily.  The only goaltending quality that he truly has left is his flexibility; yet, it is not helping out his cause. 

            Luckily, the Devils have three other goaltending prospects that show high promise.  Their names are Keith Kinkaid, Scott Wedgewood, and Maxime Clermont.

            Kinkaid made his first appearance with the Devils this past preseason in a special contest up in Albany, New York back on September 21, 2011.  He made ten saves and allowed zero goals in 31 minutes and 13 seconds of play in a Devils 2-1 win over the Rangers.  From that day on, the former player from Union College was on everyone’s radar. 

            Kinkaid has good size for a net minder and unlike Frazee is more consistent in net.  He cuts down the angles well, has good reflexes, and controls his rebounds.  Currently, Kinkaid is 8-10-0 with two shutouts, and allowed 56 goals on 471 shots faced down in Albany, which is pretty good for an undrafted goalie playing professionally on a team that has been slumping all year.  He and Frazee are currently splitting time to determine who will be the primary starter for the second half of the year.

            Wedgewood, the 84^th overall pick by the Devils in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, is playing good goaltending in the Ontario Hockey League with the Plymouth Whalers. 

            What differentiates him from the other goaltenders in the Devils organization is his ability to handle pressure during every second of the game, a Brodeur-like quality which foreshadows the good future that he will have in this organization.  In net, Wedgewood plays the body and protects the crease well. 

            As of January 4, Wedgewood is 13-5-3 and has allowed 63 goals on 1,227 shots.  Because of age restrictions in the Canadian Hockey League, Wedgewood will not return to the OHL, and instead, be competing with the others for that coveted roster spot.

            Clermont, the other goaltender selected by the Devils in the 2010 Draft, is currently in the ECHL playing for the Kalamazoo Wings.  What attracted scouts to this prospect is his commitment to challenging shooters on the breakaway, aggressiveness in net, good use of the glove, and rebound control.

            During his tenure with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Clermont helped lead his club to two President’s Cups in 2008 and 2011, winning in 2008 against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, a fourth-place finish in the 2008 CHL Memorial Cup, and a Western Division Title in 2009.  The Devils have recognized his importance and impending future with the organization and want to be extra cautious with his development. 

            So far in his first season at the professional level, Clermont is 4-4-0 with a 3.89 goals against average and 87.8 save percentage.  

            The race for the starting goalie role in New Jersey will be one of great interest for the NHL community.  Frazee, Kinkaid, Wedgewood, and Clermont are making very interesting cases to be the next starter for the Devils.  As the 2011/12 season begins to come to an end, only time will tell who will be the next “Marty.”

*The reason why the 1995 Stanley Cup was so special to the Devils was because it kept the team in New Jersey.  If they had not won, the NHL had plans to move the club to Nashville.  Eventually, in 1998, Nashville was awarded an NHL franchise as part of the NHL’s expansion to 30 teams.

Where to Next? The NHL Winter Classic, a Neutral Location, and Advantages

By Dan Marley

            This week, we watched two of hockey’s biggest rivals battle outdoors in the streets of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The visiting New York Rangers came from behind to defeat the hosting Flyers three to two, a game that will live in resplendence and glory for Rangers fans, and infamy for Flyers fans.

Hockey fans across the United States are anxiously awaiting the news for next year’s contest, hoping that different teams for once can take the ice.

Next year, the National Hockey League should consider playing in locations that are not located where the previous participants are from; however, if they have to for reasons of marketing and profit, the teams should play at a neutral location.

The key word here is “neutral.”  Never has anyone in any professional sports league considered playing a game like this in a nonbiased setting unless certain circumstances arose.  If possible, what two teams that draw heavy volumes of interest across the country can play in the Winter Classic at a neutral location and where?

The answer: Penguins versus Flyers at Beaver Stadium in Penn State University.

Hockey fans are probably tired of seeing these two teams in another outdoor classic, but knowing Gary Bettman, Barry Melrose, and company, they might consider this option.

Currently, Penn State athletics are in a rough patch after the sex scandal involving former head coach Joe Paterno and defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.  An incident like this will take years for the university to recover.  However, for the athletic department, there is some good news on the horizon.

According to reports on ESPN.com, the Penn State Ice Hockey program will be upgrading to Division I.  A move like this will continue to increase the popularity of the school and calm the current dilemmas that are bothering the school’s athletic department.

In terms of marketing, “what better way to celebrate Penn State hockey’s newest achievement than a NHL Winter Classic?”.    

Penn State is a perfect neutral ground for the Flyers and the Penguins.  Both teams are within a three-hour radius of the campus and have been known to draw big crowds from all over.

This Winter Classic has the potential to last a week with various hockey events, leading up to and preceding the big game.  These include an American Hockey League Winter Classic, an ECHL Winter Classic, and Penn State DI outdoor hockey.

The battle of Pennsylvania will continue in the AHL, with the Scranton/WB Penguins taking on the Hersey Bears.  The Bears will be playing in the 2012 Winter Classic Festivities on January 6 in Philadelphia against the Adirondack Phantoms.

This particular situation with the Bears might mimic the one with both the Penguins and the Flyers; however, unlike the rest of the league, Hershey can get a good attendance.

The ECHL has never hosted an outdoor game, unless I am mistaken.  Currently, there is only one ECHL team that plays in Pennsylvania: the Reading Royals.  The Royals are the minor league affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. 

However, there are two teams that play within twenty miles of the eastern and western Pennsylvania borders and are the affiliates of both Pennsylvania teams: the Wheeling Nailers (Penguins) and the Trenton Titans (Flyers).  All three of these teams play in the same division in the ECHL with the Elmira Jackals of Elmira, New York.

 Having two of the three Pennsylvania state-limit teams or even all four teams of the Atlantic Division in a day-night double header can help the ECHL gain more recognition across the country as the league continues to expand.

Finally, an outdoor college hockey game featuring Penn State University will close off an amazing week of hockey in Happy Valley.  Potential opponents include Ohio State, Boston College, Boston University, and UMass-Amherst.

The concern of hosting a game like this on neutral ground is which of the two teams will have the home advantage.  Having no home team for this particular Classic can open up opportunities for future NHL markets.

Since 2008, the National Hockey League has been playing games in Europe.  After the games, there is usually a one- week break in the season.  During that week off, the Penguins and the Flyers should play a regular season game in a venue of a new potential market.  This will test the new markets to see whether or not they deserve a team. 

Preseason games have been used to do this, but hockey fans in these areas are not fond of watching no name prospects play on teams with weak farm systems.  They would rather see Sidney Crosby and Claude Giroux battle for scoring supremacy instead of Jason Akeson and Dominik Uher battle for roster spots.

The schedule for Flyers/Penguins matchups will go as follow: two at Wells Fargo, two at CONSOLE Energy Center, one at Penn State, and the other at the potential market location.  The markets that everyone has been obsessing over lately are Kansas City, Missouri; Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Hartford, Connecticut; Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; and Las Vegas, Nevada.

A lot of people are getting sick of seeing the Penguins and the Flyers play in the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.  However, because of the popularity of these two teams, it is bound to happen again within the next five years.  By having a Winter Classic at a neutral location, especially Penn State University, everyone can benefit from this.  No one needs to have home field advantage.  Minor league hockey can get some much- needed recognition.  The tradition of college hockey can continue to grow as it introduces a new member to its more competitive ranks of Division I.  A new market can be tested properly.   

2011 Down, 2012 To Go: Kitchener Rangers So-Far Year in Review

by Dan Marley

            The Kitchener Rangers have ended the first half of the season on a positive note, with a lot to look forward to for their push to the 2012 Ontario Hockey League playoffs. 

            They are currently 25-10-1 with 51 points in the standings, good for second in the Midwest Division and third in the Western Conference.   They have won seven of their last ten, with their previous two victories coming against the Guelph Storm 4 to 3 on New Years Day to start the 2012 calendar year and a 4 to 1 victory back on December 30 against their division rivals, the Owen Sound Attack, to end 2011.

            The key factors that have so far contributed to the team’s success on the ice are their defense and goaltending and multiple sources of goal scoring.

            As of January 2, the Rangers are second in the league in goals allowed with 92.  They have also kept themselves out of the penalty box, tallying 533 penalty minutes, the second fewest in the league.

            The five players that played key roles on the defensive front are defensemen Cody Sol, Ryan Murphy, and Julian Melchiori and goaltenders John Gibson and Franky Palazzese.

            Sol has clearly identified himself as the team’s enforcer, probably the best on the club since Scott Stevens.  Stevens spent only one year with the club before being drafted fifth overall in the 1982 National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals, which resulted in an OHL Cup and Memorial Cup.  Sol is so far living up to the caliber of Stevens, registering seven goals (four on the power play) and seven assists with 103 penalty minutes and a plus-28 rating in 32 games.

            Ryan Murphy missed play for the month of November due to concussion-like symptoms and other forms of head trauma after being checked to the boards by Tom Kuhnhacki of the Niagara IceDogs.  The injury scared Kitchener, but those fears left when Murphy returned in early December and played in full form, as if he was never injured.  He continues to play his position well as the offensive defenseman and contribute to all types of plays at both ends of the ice. 

In 19 contests, Murphy has registered 12 points and 12 penalty minutes and a  plus-6 rating. 

During Murphy’s one- month absence, Melchiori took over the role as the playmaking and puck moving defenseman that has helped Kitchener generate offense.  In 33 games, he has tied his last season point total of 19 with two goals and 17 assists.  This will be his final year in the OHL.

Kitchener is one of few teams in the league that are evenly splitting time between their goaltenders.  Both Gibson and Palazzese possess different styles of goaltending that perfectly compliment one another.

Gibson’s success in controlling rebounds and playing the body earned him a roster spot on Team USA for the 2012 World Juniors in Alberta, Canada.  In 21 appearances in net, Gibson has psoted a 14-6-0 record with a 2.52 goals against average and 93.3 save percentage.

Palazzese has been on a role lately, especially with Gibson temporarily out of the lineup.  His ability to spot the puck when screened and movement along the crease and post to post has made him a dominant force in net.  In his past 11 starts, Palazzese went 10-1 with 20 goals allowed and a save percentage over 92 percent.

The Kitchener offense has come from multiple sources this season, with five players tallying ten or more goals.  Tobias Rieder (22-15-37), Radek Faksa (16-17-33), Michael Catenacci (12-19-31), Andrew Crescenzi (10-13-23), and Zach Lorentz (12-9-21) are the backbones of this team’s offensive successes.

The Kitchener Rangers play their next game on January 6 at home against Christian Thomas and the Oshawa Generals. 

My Thoughts: Barclays Center in Brooklyn a Possible Spot for a Minor League Team

By Dan Marley


Over on the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, a new sports and entertainment complex is being built.

Named the Barclays Center, its expected completion date is in September of 2012.

With the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association relocating here, big-league professional sports will be back in Brooklyn for the first time since 1957.  With the Nets, more tenants might make the Barclays Center their new home.

According to sources, the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League will more than likely fill in one of the open spots.

In their first decade of operations, the Nets and Islanders played in the same venue in Long Island, bringing forth a nostalgic intention of reuniting the two teams under one roof.  This move would be great for the Islanders, however, skepticism and financial worries center on this potential move.

Since 1972, the Islanders have played at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where they won four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983.  Their thirteen consecutive playoff appearances from the 1975 to 1988 seasons too brought in heavy volumes of fans and fan favorites like Bryan Trottier, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Mike Bossy, and Clark Gilles.

After the 1989 season, however, two decades of missing the playoffs, poor trades, and early postseason exits led to a decline in attendance and popularity.  The 2004/05 NHL Lockout and 2008 United States economic recession were of no help to this team’s woes, as the rise of lacrosse and the poor economy in Nassau and Suffolk counties contributed to the franchise’s steady demise.

According to ESPN, the Islanders averaged 11,000 fans per game, the worst in the NHL.  Of these fans, a majority of them were fans of their Atlantic Division rivals and of the notorious Quebec-ians that migrated from Quebec City on several occasions who wish to bring the Nordiques back into the NHL.

To make matters worse, fans found other ways to use their tickets instead of going to the games or selling them online for a dime a dozen.

Greg “Opie” Hughes of The Opie and Anthony Show broadcasted his feelings about his favorite hockey club all over YouTube by dumping his tickets into the Hudson River after the Isles had lost its seventeenth in 18 games early in the 2010/11 regular season.

Also, when the vote this summer came for a new arena on the Island, no one showed up to the voting booths.  Those who were able to make some kind of effort to cast their ballot voted “NO”.

If the Islanders cannot make ends meet now, how would they be able to do so 30 miles west?

These reasons do not just affect the Islanders; they also affect the rest of the league.

Apart from the Islanders, the New York Rangers are playing at the newly renovated Madison Square Garden five miles north of the new site.  The Rangers have one of the biggest fan bases in the league, and a huge following across the globe.  Also, the New Jersey Devils play ten miles west in Newark, New Jersey, and have a steadily growing fandom.

It is because of this that NHL hockey will not be able to properly thrive in Brooklyn.  However, a minor league hockey team will be able to find a home here.

The Rangers are a perfect candidate for an affiliation here in Brooklyn.

Right now, the Rangers have an affiliation agreement with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League.  The Whale play 120 miles away from Madison Square Garden, and the travel between destinations on game day plays a heavy toll on the players being called up and sent down.

The traffic from the airports to the arena during rush hour too is critical, delaying the arrival of the players, giving them less preparation time for their upcoming contests.

Another dilemma with this affiliation is the poor attendance at the XL Center in the Hartford Metropolitan Area.  In an arena that seats 15,000-plus, the Whale average only 5,600 per game, as of the 2010/11 season.  Reasons being due to the poor conditions of the XL Center in Hartford and the emotional toll that took place in 1997 when the Hartford Whalers relocated to North Carolina.

A clear indication of dissatisfaction was seen during the Whale Bowl, the AHL’s “Winter Classic” that saw very little interest in the Hartford community.  The crowd attendance was equivalent to the maximum capacity of the men’s bathroom at the University of Connecticut football field.

A change in scenery would be best for the organization and for player development.

An affiliation in Brooklyn for the Rangers will preserve a New York hockey identity within the five boroughs and make call ups and send downs easier to regulate and conduct.

Instead of a plane or long car ride to and from Hartford, players will be taking a short subway ride between boroughs, cutting down travel time and making arrangements stress-free.

Because of the close proximity of the two teams, fans can meet and greet with future Rangers and help better promote player and team development in the upcoming seasons.  If fans want to see how the prospects are doing, they can go to the games at an affordable price and see them play, rather than look up highlights online or read biased articles that do not depict the real style of play that they witnessed.

As for media agreements, WKRB (90.3 FM) and Brooklyn Community Access Television Brooklyn can air the games.

WKRB currently broadcast the Brooklyn Cyclones (Single-A affiliate of the New York Mets) of the New York-Penn League and the addition of a sports team to a student-based network can lead to more advertising, scholastic programs, and financial interests to the Brooklyn Center for Media Education.

The biggest concern centering on this move would be the scheduling of games and transportation.

In regards to this, the AHL can make the Brooklyn team’s schedule non-conflicting with the NHL’s, having them play at home when they are on the road and vice versa or playing on the other’s off days.

Another concern is keeping the AHL and NHL 30 teams even.

Relocation would be required, and there are two perfect candidates for this: the Whale and the Abbotsford Heat.

In Hartford, there have been murmurs about building a new sports and entertainment complex in the surrounding area with the slightest hint of bringing back their beloved Whalers.  If construction does go underway, the Whale would need to relocate, and Brooklyn would be a perfect fit for the farm team.

When the Heat popped into the hockey picture in British Colombia as the farm team for the Calgary Flames, all major markets in that area focused their attention on the Heat, disrupting broadcasting agreements with the Chilliwack Bruins of the Western Hockey League.  Chilliwack and Abbotsford are very close neighbors.

Media focus of the Heat led to a major decline in profits for Chilliwack and eventually to their relocation in the B.C. capital of Victoria.

“You don’t do what Calgary did here,” said Daryl Porter, former owner of the Chilliwack Bruins, on Chilliwack’s 89.5 The Hawk back in April, “… [There’s a code in minor sports, and especially in hockey]… the fundamental bad break at the end of the day [turned us into victims].”

Ironically, the WHL reigns more supreme than their AHL competitor in the Western Canadian province.  Despite the new complex that was built in Abbotsford, the team averaged less than 50 percent attendance, while the Chilliwack Bruins averaged over 60-percent at the 5,000-plus during their tenure at the Prospera Center.

By relocating the Heat to Brooklyn, not only would the Rangers have a closer minor league affiliate, the popularity and media rights to the B.C. Division of the WHL will be preserved and given more room to grow.

The last major concern of a professional or minor league team heading into the borough is the competition between both the new team and the Brooklyn Aviators of the Federal Hockey League.

The Aviators play at Aviator Sports and Events Center down the road on Flatbush Avenue.  The organization has developed a winning dynasty, with two league championship appearances and one title dating back to the time they were the New York Aviators of the North East Professional Hockey League.

The decision of moving the Aviators to a new location, the Brooklyn AHL team using Aviator Sports as a training facility, and naming the new AHL team after these Aviators are not the best of ideas.

However, the two can coexist where both can benefit from an affiliation agreement with the Rangers.

Currently, the Aviators are the “proud” affiliate of the Wheeling Nailers, who are the East Coast Hockey League affiliate for the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins.  New York fans are not too fond of either of these teams.

To better promote hockey in Brooklyn and preserve a New York identity, the Aviators should consider signing an affiliation agreement with the Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL, who are currently the AA farm team for the Rangers.

Also, when it comes to scheduling, since the FHL plays their games primarily on weekends, both leagues must make sure that if both teams play on the same day, they should not play at the same time.  Everyone gets a cool taste of the good old hockey game in Brooklyn at every level.

The National Hockey League must not consider allowing any team to occupy a space at the Barclays Center, especially one that has a decaying fan base and is in close proximity of popular and successful franchises like the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers.  Instead, the American Hockey League is a perfect fit, as a center for player development and affordable family fun.  It may not happen right away, but proper delegation of the idea will work great and spread the word of hockey in a very positive way.