2023-24 ECHL Season Thread

[jabberoski]

Hey kids, guess what ... the 2023-24 ECHL season has started ... ECHL season open(ed) on Thursday

Where's Hutch when we need him? Don't feel like you have to answer.

 

[GindyDraws]

Where's Hutch when we need him? Don't feel like you have to answer.

No, please, I can't bear to hear him talk about the fact that he has to watch the Not Portland Pirates for another season.

 

[Ratitude]

You know what is great about this season so far? Finally no more insurance company sponsored blue goals lol. Opening night at home last night here in Adirondack against Maine. Off the ice lots of love shown to Maine as Adirondack was Lewiston Strong. Glad the ECHL shed the blue paint scheme this season, hopefully they keep it that way.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

You know what is great about this season so far? Finally no more insurance company sponsored blue goals lol. Opening night at home last night here in Adirondack against Maine. Off the ice lots of love shown to Maine as Adirondack was Lewiston Strong. Glad the ECHL shed the blue paint scheme this season, hopefully they keep it that way.

Yeah, it's really great that the league lost a sponsor that helped keep the lights on at 28 arenas around the country because (checks notes) ...someone didn't like the color of the goal frames being something other than red.

 

[Atlantian]

You know what is great about this season so far? Finally no more insurance company sponsored blue goals lol. Opening night at home last night here in Adirondack against Maine. Off the ice lots of love shown to Maine as Adirondack was Lewiston Strong. Glad the ECHL shed the blue paint scheme this season, hopefully they keep it that way.

I was working on getting our nets prepared for this season, but we had to hold off because there was a different company trying to make a deal with the league for the net posts. Pink Whitney was trying for black goal posts this season, but the deal fell through.

 

[Ratitude]

I was working on getting our nets prepared for this season, but we had to hold off because there was a different company trying to make a deal with the league for the net posts. Pink Whitney was trying for black goal posts this season, but the deal fell through.

Lol well keep them red, try to generate revenue another way lol. Actually on ice advertising for some teams is just absolutely awful. I get it's a necessary evil but anything cluttering up the ice surface, the goals, and glass is just a pet peeve of mine. To me the fans come first, advertising some large company (yes I get they pay bills) sacrificing the fan experience is something the organizations should never do. Even in the FPHL nowadays most teams have all kinds if video boards and other space to advertise. Use display boards in the bathrooms for puck sakes lol.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

Lol well keep them red, try to generate revenue another way lol. Actually on ice advertising for some teams is just absolutely awful. I get it's a necessary evil but anything cluttering up the ice surface, the goals, and glass is just a pet peeve of mine. To me the fans come first, advertising some large company (yes I get they pay bills) sacrificing the fan experience is something the organizations should never do. Even in the FPHL nowadays most teams have all kinds if video boards and other space to advertise. Use display boards in the bathrooms for puck sakes lol.

LOL, well, got any ideas for a league-wide sponsorship worth half a million dollars, LOL?

No?

Then shut up.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Norfolk still afloat?

 

[JMCx4]

Norfolk still afloat?

The city? Yes. Though USACE does have a plan to keep the rising waters under control.

The Admirals? They remain scheduled to host Maine in their 2023-24 home opener on Friday night @ Scope. So I reckon that's a Yes as well.

 

[jabberoski]

Nor

The city? Yes. Though USACE does have a plan to keep the rising waters under control.

The Admirals? They remain scheduled to host Maine in their 2023-24 home opener on Friday night @ Scope. So I reckon that's a Yes as well.

Norfolk played its first three home games of the season last week against Worcester.

 

[JMCx4]

Norfolk played its first three home games of the season last week against Worcester.

Why wasn't I informed?!

 

[jabberoski]

Why wasn't I informed?!

Blame Hutch!

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Thanks, been worried about Norfolk for a while since they went from AHL to ECHL with the affiliate struggles.

 

[JMCx4]

Thanks, been worried about Norfolk for a while since they went from AHL to ECHL with the affiliate struggles.

You can always check their website for clues. Just do a better job than I did.

 

[Ratitude]

I can complain about the blue nets and the over saturation of on ice advertising all I want lol. If the FHL can sustain without mucking up the ice surface or painting the goal hardware blue then so can the coast. I can complain about anything I feel the need to complain about lol. Think some crazy guy behind a keyboard will stop me lol, I am going to get after it.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

I can complain about the blue nets and the over saturation of on ice advertising all I want lol. If the FHL can sustain without mucking up the ice surface or painting the goal hardware blue then so can the coast. I can complain about anything I feel the need to complain about lol. Think some crazy guy behind a keyboard will stop me lol, I am going to get after it.

Keep on trolling.

 

[JMCx4]

Me & Mrs. JMC attended two early season ECHL games this weekend, one each in Duluth & North Charleston. These were our first in-person E' games in two years, and they reminded me how much the League needs to find a means to employ two referees for every game rather than just 25% of them. Even at this level, the play is too fast - and too physical - for one set of lead official eyes on the ice. Though the missed calls (and mis-calls) do spice up the home crowd reactions, so they've got THAT going for them.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

Me & Mrs. JMC attended two early season ECHL games this weekend, one each in Duluth & North Charleston. These were our first in-person E' games in two years, and they reminded me how much the League needs to find a means to employ two referees for every game rather than just 25% of them. Even at this level, the play is too fast - and too physical - for one set of lead official eyes on the ice. Though the missed calls (and mis-calls) do spice up the home crowd reactions, so they've got THAT going for them.

An additional referee for every regular season game, figuring a referee gets $250 per game (should be in the ballpark - part-time referees get a game fee and mileage that is around that amount) over 1,008 games would cost the league $252,000.

Maybe you can get Geico on the horn and sell the goal frame sponsorship?

I absolutely agree with you. Every game should have four officials, but it's also a matter of expense.

 

[JMCx4]

An additional referee for every regular season game, figuring a referee gets $250 per game (should be in the ballpark - part-time referees get a game fee and mileage that is around that amount) over 1,008 games would cost the league $252,000.

Maybe you can get Geico on the horn and sell the goal frame sponsorship?

I absolutely agree with you. Every game should have four officials, but it's also a matter of expense.

What if we all pooled our HFB Sportsbook Cash? I'm in for $5,000.00.

 

[FrHockeyFan]

Season over for Iowa's Dman Jules Boscq. The French International is now purging a suspension until next summer for doping violations dating back to December 2021.

Back when he was playing for the Boxers de Bordeaux of the French Ligue Magnus, he was tested positive to tuaminoheptane, a banned substance that was an ingredient of a cold medication spray he was using. The following summer, the French Anti-doping Agency suspended him for 2 months.

However WADA felt the sanction wasn't severe enough and appealed to the CAS. The hearing took place in December 2022 with the ruling in favour of a new suspension being given on 31st October last week.



According to Hockey Archives' Marc Branchu, the promising 21 year-old player was hoping to pursue his career in Finland but no club was willing to take a gamble until the ruling was announced.

He therefore turned to the ECHL thinking he could ride a potential suspension out like Vitālijs Pavlovs did back in 2014. However the IIHF told him his time in the US wouldn't count and the suspension would begin only once he is back in a league under its jurisdiction.

Jules Boscq, suspendu, doit mettre fin à sa saison | Équipes Nationales - Hockey sur glace | Hockeyarchives

In 4 games with the Heartlanders, Boscq notched 2 assists and a ratio of +2.

 

[CrazyEddie20]

Season over for Iowa's Dman Jules Boscq. The French International is now purging a suspension until next summer for doping violations dating back to December 2021.

Back when he was playing for the Boxers de Bordeaux of the French Ligue Magnus, he was tested positive to tuaminoheptane, a banned substance that was an ingredient of a cold medication spray he was using. The following summer, the French Anti-doping Agency suspended him for 2 months.

However WADA felt the sanction wasn't severe enough and appealed to the CAS. The hearing took place in December 2022 with the ruling in favour of a new suspension being given on 31st October last week.



According to Hockey Archives' Marc Branchu, the promising 21 year-old player was hoping to pursue his career in Finland but no club was willing to take a gamble until the ruling was announced.

He therefore turned to the ECHL thinking he could ride a potential suspension out like Vitālijs Pavlovs did back in 2014. However the IIHF told him his time in the US wouldn't count and the suspension would begin only once he is back in a league under its jurisdiction.

Jules Boscq, suspendu, doit mettre fin à sa saison | Équipes Nationales - Hockey sur glace | Hockeyarchives

In 4 games with the Heartlanders, Boscq notched 2 assists and a ratio of +2.

This might be the first time a player has been suspended for doping while playing in a league that doesn't test.

 

[JMCx4]

This might be the first time a player has been suspended for doping while playing in a league that doesn't test.

Save that for a card in your Hockey Trivial Pursuit game.

 

[FrHockeyFan]

In case anyone is curious, a game is streamed live on YouTube every Sunday.

 

[JMCx4]

The JMCs attended 3 more South Division games this weekend to wrap up our November road trip. All three games had 2 referees, must've been the 25% of ECHL games with a 4-man crew.

Entertaining hockey at both arenas, and the fans were ... fans. The not-quite 2 year-old Enmarket Arena in Savannah is definitely worth a visit (reminded me of an oversized version of Xtream Arena in Coralville); but their "security" walk-through is a joke at the entry doors, and we never did encounter a staff member to scan our e-tickets. Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville has been spruced up some since we visited 9 years ago, but the seats could still stand replacing (more than the team's 50/50 drawing share would cover, I'm sure).

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Trying to get to game in Norfolk soon.