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Infidel Castro
Jun 8, 2010

Again and again
Your face reminds me of a bleak future
Despite the absence of hope
I give you this sacrifice




Are you a rabid hockey fan who needs more than the NHL to get his/her fill? Perhaps you live in some backwater poo poo hole like Saskatoon or Milwaukee and want to talk about your local team! Well buddy, this is the thread for you!

This thread is for discussing North American minor leagues (AHL, ECHL), Junior leagues (WHL, OHL, QMJHL, USHL), as well as European leagues (KHL, SHL, etc.) and the new NWHL. This thread does not cover NCAA Hockey. If you wanna talk about that, the NCAA thread is here.


National Women's Hockey League

Website: http://nwhl.co/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFwEggLD91IcxpZvGqltJvw

This year is the NWHL's inaugural season, and it has the distinction of being the first women's hockey league to pay its players. As a result, pretty much all the top talent in women's hockey jumped ship from other leagues to make this the world's best women's hockey league. For now, the league only consists of four teams: the New York Riveters, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, and Boston Pride. If the league succeeds, it might not be long before it expands out of the northeast U.S. to Canada and the Midwest. If you're interested, they even stream all league games for free on YouTube!


American Hockey League

http://www.theahl.com
The American Hockey League (AHL) is the top-flight minor league in the US and Canada. Over 80% of the players currently in the NHL played in this league at one point. Sufficed to say, this is the league to watch if you want to see your team's future players.

On top of being the top development league for the NHL, the AHL is often where proposed rule changes are tested to see how they work in practice. For example, the new 3-on-3 OT the NHL is using this season was implemented largely due to its success in the AHL last year.

Rule changes for the 2015-16 Season
- Overtime is now 5 minutes of 3-on-3 play.
- Shootouts have been reduced from best-of-5 to best-of-3.
- Coaches can challenge a call on the ice provided they still have their timeout.
- The defending player taking a face-off is required to put his stick down first.

Relocations
- Manchester Monarchs (LA) relocated to Ontario, CA and are now the Ontario Reign
- Worchester Sharks (SJ) relocated to San Jose, CA and are now the San Jose Barracuda
- Adirondack Heat (CGY) relocated to Stockton, CA and are now the Stockton Heat
- Oklahoma City Barons (EDM) relocated to Bakersfield, CA and are now the Bakersfield Condors
- Norfolk Admirals (ANA) relocated to San Diego, CA and are now the San Diego Gulls
- St. John's IceCaps (WPG) relocated to Winnipeg, MB and are now the Manitoba Moose
- Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL) relocated to St. John's, NL and are now the St. John's IceCaps

Affiliation Changes
Portland Pirates are now affiliated with the Florida Panthers (prev. Arizona)
San Antonio Rampage are now affiliated with the Colorado Avalanche (prev. Florida)
Springfield Falcons are now affiliated with the Arizona Coyotes (prev. Columbus)
Lake Erie Monsters are now affiliated with the Columbus Blue Jackets (prev. Colorado)

Division Alignment


(The thread title refers to the fact that the five teams in California only play 68 games this year, eight fewer than the rest of the league. The standings in the Pacific will be determined by points percentage as opposed to straight up points as a result. If you're thinking that's stupid/bullshit, that's because it is.)


ECHL

http://www.echl.com/

If the AHL is AAA Hockey, the ECHL would be AA. Few players who wind up in the ECHL have much chance of ever making the NHL, and those that do usually are backups and 4th liners. The ECHL used to stand for East Coast Hockey League until 2003, when it absorbed the remaining teams from the West Coast Hockey League. Prior to the 2014-15 season, it also absorbed the remaining Central Hockey League teams. As a result, the ECHL spans from Alaska to South Florida. The ECHL, however, is known for having the greatest logo in professional hockey.


Canadian Hockey League

The main prospect development league in North America, the CHL is composed of three leagues. Each league holds its own NHL-style playoffs with the winners of each league along with the host city playing in the prestigious Memorial Cup tournament. The CHL is considered a "major junior" league and is sometimes referred to this way.

Players in the CHL are aged 16-20 (with an occasional 15 year old permitted in the OHL via "exceptional player status"). 20 year olds are considered "overage" and limited to 3 per team while teams may not play more than 4 15 or 16 year olds. Age for CHL purposes is based on the calendar year so for the 2013-2014 season, a 20 year old is any player born in 1993. This contrasts with the NHL where draft eligibility is determined by age on September 15.

Each CHL league has an annual draft of bantam-aged players within their regions and the leagues hold a combined import draft for players from outside North America who may wish to play in the CHL. Teams are limited to 2 import players.

WHL (Western Hockey League)
The WHL includes 22 teams in four Canadian provinces and two American states. The WHL holds the CHL rights to players from the four western provinces, all three territories, the American Pacific Northwest and other designated states west of the Mississippi River. The winner of the WHL playoffs is awarded the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

Official website: http://www.whl.ca/

OHL (Ontario Hockey League)
The OHL is composed of 20 teams, located in the Canadian province of Ontario and the American states of Michigan and Pennsylvania. The winner of the OHL playoffs is awarded the J. Ross Robertson Cup.

Official website: http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/

QMJHL (Ligue de hockey junior majeur du Québec)
Also called "the Q", the QMJHL is the only CHL league with no American teams (although there used to be one in Maine). The QMJHL has 18 teams, based in Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The league has CHL rights to players from these provinces as well as Newfoundland and New England. The winner of the QMJHL playoffs is awarded the President's Cup. The league is known for high scores and a style of hockey which prioritises offense. Pity the goalies.

Official website: http://theqmjhl.ca/


Kontinental Hockey League

Russia is pretty into hockey. They've had aspirations to create a pan-Europe league to rival the NHL, but for now they have the KHL. Originating from the Russian Superleague, the league has expanded beyond Russia with teams in Belarus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Ukraine and Finland. Prominent ex-NHLers include Alexander Radulov (CKSA Moscow) and Ilya Kovalchuk (SKA Saint Petersburg). Some Russian prospects take their time moving over to North America from the KHL.

Changes for 2015-16: Spartak Moscow will return to the league prior to this season and Atlant Moscow Oblast will not participate in the league this season due to financial problems. HC Donbass, which suspended operations due to the rebellion in Ukraine and had hoped to rejoin the KHL this year, will play in the Ukranian PHL.

Official website: http://en.khl.ru/



FAQ
Sounds cool! How can I watch?
The best way is in person. Minor hockey is cheap and you can probably get decent seats for $10-$15. Check your local team's Twitter or Facebook for additional promotions (e.g. my local WHL team has a limited number of seats on sale on Mondays for $5).

But if you don't live near a team, or want to keep up with their away games, the best way to keep up for free is radio. Yes, that's still a thing. Most if not all of these teams have all their games broadcast by a local radio station, and radio is almost universally available to stream (legally!) for free online with no restrictions on location. Sure, this means you can't see the games to judge your team's precious prospects with your own eyes, but radio commentating is very thorough and hearing the players' names to know who has been involved in the play gives a pretty good idea of who has played well. Hockey Webcasts is a fairly comprehensive source to stream radio for almost every North American team from the NHL, AHL, ECHL, WHL, OHL, and QMJHL. If your team is missing, check the official league page or team website.

The AHL, WHL, OHL and QMJHL all have sites like NHL Gamecenter Live where you can watch the games online. However, they are expensive and the quality tends to be pretty bad, with the video often just being a low-res feed of whatever goes up on the jumbotron. On occasion, games are televised locally in which case you might be able to find them on your favourite illegal streaming site. All KHL games are streamed through onhockey.ru, but they happen in the middle of the (North American) night and are in Russian, so that may or may not be your thing.

There is also Hockey Streams (http://www.hockeystreams.com), which not only carries NHL but AHL, CHL, and KHL games as well. The feeds suffer from the same quality issues as the official options, but the cost is much more reasonable. Nevermind that poo poo, HockeyStreams is dead.

Why can't my team's hot prospect play in the AHL if he doesn't make the NHL team?
You can blame the NHL/CHL Agreement, a.k.a. why I didn't get to see Seth Jones play in Milwaukee.

Somewhere around 60% of all NHL players played in the CHL, making it the main pool from which the NHL drafts its players. To prevent NHL teams from taking their best players and immediately sending them to one of their minor league affiliates, the NHL and CHL made an agreement. If a player was drafted from a CHL team, they have to either be 20 years old by Dec. 31 (i.e. overage) or have played four years in the CHL in order to play in the AHL. Otherwise, the player must be sent back to the CHL team that has their rights. Note that this only applies to players drafted from the CHL, not players drafted from European leagues or the NCAA, even if they go on to play in the CHL after the draft.




Note: OP is work in progress, will add as I have time.

Infidel Castro fucked around with this message at 02:27 on Feb 7, 2016

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Infidel Castro
Jun 8, 2010

Again and again
Your face reminds me of a bleak future
Despite the absence of hope
I give you this sacrifice




Reserved

DJExile
Jun 28, 2007


New thread, good OP, and praises sung of radio broadcasts.

:swoon:

DollyDagger
Dec 31, 2007
Hey, make a section for the NWHL.

Infidel Castro
Jun 8, 2010

Again and again
Your face reminds me of a bleak future
Despite the absence of hope
I give you this sacrifice




DollyDagger posted:

Hey, make a section for the NWHL.

I redid the AHL section since it had a lot of changes and that's the league I know best. The rest was basically copied over from last year's OP. I'll edit in new stuff as I can get it done.


e: NWHL stuff is in.

Infidel Castro fucked around with this message at 23:06 on Nov 5, 2015

fits
Jan 1, 2008

Love Always,
The Captain
nwhl has games one day a week and i'm pretty sure they're streaming them all for free but I keep forgetting to check

Infidel Castro
Jun 8, 2010

Again and again
Your face reminds me of a bleak future
Despite the absence of hope
I give you this sacrifice




Updated the OP with some KHL stuff.

Also holy poo poo how did I never notice that the QMJHL's logo is a loving skate until now?

Loqieu
Feb 27, 2001

Not sure if it mandates being included, but the Champions Hockey League is having it's second consecutive season under the current incarnation. It features the top teams from all the European leagues, except the KHL which has opted not to join. It's currently in the second round of the knock-out stage. The tournament airs on ONE World Sports in the US, and Sportsnet in Canada.

iwentdoodie
Apr 29, 2005

🤗YOU'RE WELCOME🤗
Anyone been to a Gulls game yet? I wanna go, but not if the stadium blows.

The Aardvark
Aug 19, 2013


iwentdoodie posted:

Anyone been to a Gulls game yet? I wanna go, but not if the stadium blows.

I'm looking to go on the 13th or 14th so I shall report. But it's the old Sports Arena so it's probably eh.

Slappy Pappy
Oct 15, 2003

Mighty, mighty eagle soaring free
Defender of our homes and liberty
Bravery, humility, and honesty...
Mighty, mighty eagle, rescue me!
Dinosaur Gum

iwentdoodie posted:

Anyone been to a Gulls game yet? I wanna go, but not if the stadium blows.

I was so excited about them coming back but I been working 60 hour weeks and my wife is 8 months pregnant so no.

Of course the stadium blows. It's horrible.

toe knee hand
Jun 20, 2012

HANSEN ON A BREAKAWAY

HONEY BADGER DON'T SCORE
In Best Name in the WHL news, Victoria Royals rookie goaltender Griffen Outhouse picked up a win today and is 3-0. He is 17 years old.

Infidel Castro
Jun 8, 2010

Again and again
Your face reminds me of a bleak future
Despite the absence of hope
I give you this sacrifice




toe knee hand posted:

In Best Name in the WHL news, Victoria Royals rookie goaltender Griffen Outhouse picked up a win today and is 3-0. He is 17 years old.

If there was ever a player the Flyers need to draft, he'd be it.

DJExile
Jun 28, 2007


The OHL's Flint Firebirds were down 3-1 to reigning Memorial champ Oshawa and came back to beat them. Their owner fired all the coaches immediately after the game because his son was on the team and he thought he wasn't getting enough playing time. The other players, including the owner's son, responded by going to his office, tossing their jerseys on the floor, and quitting.


:psyduck:

DOOMocrat
Oct 2, 2003

The Texas Stars are probably going to give Jack Campbell some starts soon and I've got so much heartburn about it. Lagace is playing okay and certainly on a beter trajectory but he's not a reserve goalie by any means just yet.

Hand Knit
Oct 24, 2005

Beer Loses more than a game Sunday ...
We lost our Captain, our Teammate, our Friend Kelly Calabro...
Rest in Peace my friend you will be greatly missed..

I don't have anything to add but want to note that I have read this and am still trying to process it.

Infidel Castro
Jun 8, 2010

Again and again
Your face reminds me of a bleak future
Despite the absence of hope
I give you this sacrifice




@OHLInsiders is reporting that Flint did a 180 and resigned Karpa and Gruden to 3-year contracts.

Turns out it's hard to own a hockey team that doesn't have hockey players.

Infidel Castro fucked around with this message at 20:27 on Nov 9, 2015

Starsfan
Sep 29, 2007

This is what happens when you disrespect Cam Neely
if you were a head coach why would you sign on for 3 years with this circus of a hockey team.

I mean the way hockey works it's all one big old boys club. Those guys would have been working as coaches again in the OHL in less than a year.

fits
Jan 1, 2008

Love Always,
The Captain
:eyepop:

Nissin Cup Nudist
Sep 3, 2011

Sleep with one eye open

We're off to Gritty Gritty land




How's Auston Matthews doing these days

Hand Knit
Oct 24, 2005

Beer Loses more than a game Sunday ...
We lost our Captain, our Teammate, our Friend Kelly Calabro...
Rest in Peace my friend you will be greatly missed..

DOOP posted:

How's Auston Matthews doing these days

He got injured and then the league went on break, so he hasn't played in about three weeks now.

ThinkTank
Oct 23, 2007

Hand Knit posted:

He got injured and then the league went on break, so he hasn't played in about three weeks now.

There was an interview with (an admittedly biased) Marc Crawford who said that before he was hurt he was the unquestioned best player in the league. He's going to be one hell of an NHLer.

In unrelated news, for the first time that I can recall the highest ranked Canadian for the 2016 draft is pegged at 8th (depending on what nationality you view Jakob Chychrun as having I guess). No matter how you shake it this is going to be one hell of a draft for American players, it's great to see.

http://www.tsn.ca/forwards-dominate-top-of-2016-nhl-prospect-race-1.391662

checksin
Nov 23, 2006

I joined the new sensation, the #RXT REVOLUTION~!

:chillout:

he knows...
Please stop sharing pictures of these jerseys so I can actually afford to buy one
These fuckin things are going to go for like a grand now that the entire internet knows about them

Hand Knit
Oct 24, 2005

Beer Loses more than a game Sunday ...
We lost our Captain, our Teammate, our Friend Kelly Calabro...
Rest in Peace my friend you will be greatly missed..

Someone who watches London games: who are Marner's linemates?

ThinkTank
Oct 23, 2007

Hand Knit posted:

Someone who watches London games: who are Marner's linemates?

I don't watch the games, but I read reports every so often and from what I understand they most often load up a line of Christian Dvorak and Matthew Tkachuk with him. They combined for 16 points against the Storm the other night.

dyn
Jan 9, 2005

Barn duelin' since '07

ThinkTank posted:

I don't watch the games, but I read reports every so often and from what I understand they most often load up a line of Christian Dvorak and Matthew Tkachuk with him. They combined for 16 points against the Storm the other night.

I was at that game.

It was..a sight to see alright.

Marner has some of the best vision and awareness I've seen in a player. Really amazing to watch.

Hand Knit
Oct 24, 2005

Beer Loses more than a game Sunday ...
We lost our Captain, our Teammate, our Friend Kelly Calabro...
Rest in Peace my friend you will be greatly missed..

ThinkTank posted:

I don't watch the games, but I read reports every so often and from what I understand they most often load up a line of Christian Dvorak and Matthew Tkachuk with him. They combined for 16 points against the Storm the other night.

I saw Tkachuk had 30 points in 16 games so I figured it was worth an ask.

a neat cape
Feb 22, 2007

Aw hunny, these came out GREAT!
the Gulls own, the stadium blows

Mage_Boy
Dec 18, 2003

This hotdog is about as real as your story Steve Simmons




So the WBS Pens are now 10-1 and undefeated at home. They managed to win tonight's game with a final score of 7-0 against their rival Hershey Bears. I think Pittsburgh has a pretty strong future in the net. I'm also glad I went to this game instead of watching the Pittsburgh game, since I'm happy instead of depressed.

fits
Jan 1, 2008

Love Always,
The Captain
jarry is cool and good

murray is probably in contention for the YOUNG GUNZ goalie squard with subban/hellebuyck/allen

Mage_Boy
Dec 18, 2003

This hotdog is about as real as your story Steve Simmons




fits posted:

jarry is cool and good

murray is probably in contention for the YOUNG GUNZ goalie squard with subban/hellebuyck/allen

Yeah, Murray looked pretty good in the NHL preseason. He keeps his calm really well, which is a big thing in a goalie. I'm hoping Jarry started tomorrow, since he looked good in the last game I saw him play, and I don't want them to break Murray by giving him every back to back.

Furnaceface
Oct 21, 2004




Mackenzie Blackwood is probably going to be pretty good guys. Too bad NJ drafted him and he will share the Corey Schneider fate.

Also good is that Barrie and Kingston appear to be good again. :toot:

Hand Knit
Oct 24, 2005

Beer Loses more than a game Sunday ...
We lost our Captain, our Teammate, our Friend Kelly Calabro...
Rest in Peace my friend you will be greatly missed..

Furnaceface posted:

Also good is that ...Kingston appear to be good again. :toot:

Ahaha

Haha

Ha

ElwoodCuse
Jan 11, 2004

we're puttin' the band back together
Mage, you in Wilkes-Barre? My family has had season tickets for the entire baby pens existence. I'm more of a Dennis Bonvie and Toby Petersen OG though.

Mage_Boy
Dec 18, 2003

This hotdog is about as real as your story Steve Simmons




ElwoodCuse posted:

Mage, you in Wilkes-Barre? My family has had season tickets for the entire baby pens existence. I'm more of a Dennis Bonvie and Toby Petersen OG though.

Live just north. Got 22 games this season. Team is 11-1 now. Currently on a 10 game streak.

fits
Jan 1, 2008

Love Always,
The Captain

DJExile
Jun 28, 2007



holy poo poo :stare: that game had to be fun as gently caress

ElwoodCuse
Jan 11, 2004

we're puttin' the band back together
Another barnburner: Wilkes-Barre trailed Hartford 5-1 after 1, won 7-6 in overtime. 11 straight.

Mage_Boy
Dec 18, 2003

This hotdog is about as real as your story Steve Simmons




ElwoodCuse posted:

Another barnburner: Wilkes-Barre trailed Hartford 5-1 after 1, won 7-6 in overtime. 11 straight.

What's funny about that is WBS was on a 3 game strech. I expected them to lose the winning streak from being tired and having to travel after two days at home. I was actually amazed at how they managed to pull this off. That is now two games this past weekend that they have won by scoring 7 goals.

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Infidel Castro
Jun 8, 2010

Again and again
Your face reminds me of a bleak future
Despite the absence of hope
I give you this sacrifice




Viktor Arvidsson has a point in every AHL game he's played this season and just matched the AHL's longest points streak of the season so far at 10. I'm thinking he kinda owns.

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