HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Anyone heard anything about a newly forming/formed "independent junior A tier 1" league in Wisconsin? Calling itself Elite Junior A hockey..

Just wondering, they supposedly are considering themselves an equiv to the USHL despite the lineage that has taken the USHL from a goon league to the premier feeder system into D-1 and the NHL in the US.

Thoughts?

Where did you hear about this league? And from who?

Yes, this rumor is true! I have been contacted to work in the front office of the Madison Muskrats and the Oshkosh Otters. Play will start in the Fall of 2011.

USHL is NOT the only Tier I Junior A league in the country.

www.wisconsinjuniorhockeyleague.com

When will the teams be announced? And is there a draft for this league? I couldn't find it on the website

A "Tier I" status is issued by USA Hockey for meeting criteria. If this league is independent, then it is saying it is not being sanctioned by USA Hockey and therefore declaring themselves Tier I to attract players. Also because it is not sanctioned it wont be insured by USA Hockey and the league or team will need to provide insurance for it's players. It is possible, but very unlikely that this league will 1. be any good and 2. last longer then two years. These renegade leagues have a history of failing in the US.

This league will not be very good. The top players will all still go to USHL teams 1st. Then to the NAHL, then to the MNJHL or CSHL because these leagues are already proven to move players on to higher levels of hockey. Also since the website says that there are no player fee's, these owners better be willing to lose a ton of money each year if they want to keep the league alive/

You never know, there are a number of D3 schools in Wisconsin. Maybe they use this as their recruiting/development pool.

huville wrote:This league will not be very good. The top players will all still go to USHL teams 1st. Then to the NAHL, then to the MNJHL or CSHL because these leagues are already proven to move players on to higher levels of hockey. Also since the website says that there are no player fee's, these owners better be willing to lose a ton of money each year if they want to keep the league alive/

Spoken by a true veteran of the league. How would you know if this league will be any good? It may end up being great. Can't knock something you haven't seen.

Fireman66 wrote:Yes, this rumor is true! I have been contacted to work in the front office of the Madison Muskrats and the Oshkosh Otters. Play will start in the Fall of 2011.

Really what is with the rodent names or did you just make this up to make people on the board to like you

darkdemon wrote:

Fireman66 wrote:Yes, this rumor is true! I have been contacted to work in the front office of the Madison Muskrats and the Oshkosh Otters. Play will start in the Fall of 2011.

Really what is with the rodent names or did you just make this up to make people on the board to like you

Don't be attacking my credibility demon! Your just jealous because you don't have a career in hockey like me. Your probably some construction worker that spends to much time and money at strip clubs

Fireman66 wrote:

darkdemon wrote:

Fireman66 wrote:Yes, this rumor is true! I have been contacted to work in the front office of the Madison Muskrats and the Oshkosh Otters. Play will start in the Fall of 2011.

Really what is with the rodent names or did you just make this up to make people on the board to like you

Don't be attacking my credibility demon! Your just jealous because you don't have a career in hockey like me. Your probably some construction worker that spends to much time and money at strip clubs

How did you know........by the way you can never spend enough money at a strip club

[quote="GR3343"][quote="huville"]This league will not be very good. The top players will all still go to USHL teams 1st. Then to the NAHL, then to the MNJHL or CSHL because these leagues are already proven to move players on to higher levels of hockey. Also since the website says that there are no player fee's, these owners better be willing to lose a ton of money each year if they want to keep the league alive/[/quote]

Spoken by a true veteran of the league. How would you know if this league will be any good? :roll: It may end up being great. Can't knock something you haven't seen. [-X[/quote]

I can say this because it is true. The USHL is king in the world of US junior Hockey. The NAHL is 2nd. Also, it would be very hard to recruit players from states like Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan and Illinois when they could just stay close to home and play tier III.

As for the ways Wisconsin schools recruit... Yes maybe a few schools would look at this league for a few players but they would not change their recruiting ways much from the way they are now which is USHL, NAHL, tier III. And in some cases (St. Norberts, Superior) Canadian juniors-USHL, NAHL, tier III. Thats the way it is.

huville wrote:
I can say this because it is true.

Still, how can you say it's true if the league hasn't even begun play yet? Didn't I read they start in 2011? No one is disputing how good other leagues are. Tough to knock something until there's actual proof. In my opinion, an open mind to situations or opportunities like this would be a better route rather than bashing something because it's new. You may end up being right, but then again the Wisconsin league may offer something that appeals to others. Like I said, tough to knock it until we've actually seen it.

I think it's true that we have to wait before we can say bad things, but using history as a guide... these leagues rarely last more then two or three years and usually lose people a great deal of money.