NHL Meets AIHL..

[Vapor#42 0]

So what do you boys think of that... Who would have thought that Australia's own AIHL would have come this far..

NHL meets AIHL

http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/se...0%7c0&p=2&tag=6

Well, here is the story.. Due to the current NHL lock out this yr, we all know that the boys from the big show have been situating themselves world wide for a bit of hockey action.. but hold on a second.. Australia? thats right, former Pittsburg Pens Assistant captain is now playing right here in Australia, situated in the state of Adelaide, he has inked a deal with the Adelaide Avs for a 1 yr contract playing pro Aussy hockey! - pretty cool eh!

Link to the Ice Hockey Australia News.. - http://www.iha.org.au/news_49.asp

Just found myself quite hyped about this whole situation seeing as i am a dedecated Australian Hockey player...

What do you boys think about this ???

[mickz 107]

The pics you linked to look like it's for a Bauer/Nike ad = P

[Gongshow11 1]

think that league is liek mens league for him? and whats the average salary?

[shute 4]

average salary .... :lol: i think it's more like what is the average cost per person to play in that league... :P i mean come on... australia. I think you could play in a better league in japan. oh man are the Pens are in trouble... :D

[kosydar 0]

Laugh all you want, but the truth is the vast majority of us would get our asses handed to us in this league.

[mrciv 0]

the truth is there r like 5 imports on each team the rest r equivelent to mens gold and silver house league players. and the best rink in melbourne is like 120+70 with low borads and no plexiglass at all just netting!!! this guy is just on vacation and playin a little hockey. i mean come on u dont go play in australia to get better at hockey!!! maybe he will be playin in the jamaican elite league next year?? the elite league here in cali at healthsouth is better than that league!!!!

[Vapor#42 0]

Ok guys, laugh it up.. just to let you know though, our national under 19 youth team won gold at the 2005 IIHF World Championships Div 3 and have now been advanced to Div 2 for the 06 World championships.. Do remember that Australia is still very new to the sport, but in the past 10/20 years has come a hell of a way.. Any ways, i do really think you missed my point. I was just stating that as a proud Aussy, our National league is advancing fast and im totally hyped about the fact that we now have the opp to see an NHL player skate in the AIHL..

P.s. I have seen various hockey games over seas ranging from NHL to Midget and our hockey is really not as bad as you may think. { mrciv - of course you wouldn't come to Australia to get better at hockey, but at least we have the opp to play the game that is our passion.. }

PP.s. The Australian National Senior Team completed the IIHF 2005 World Division II Group A Championships as Silver Medallists..

[sherwood21 0]

I think its pretty impressive to play for your country, no matter what country it is. I doubt anyone on this board will ever play for their country at the WJC's, Olympics, World Cup, etc.

Plus add in the resources that Canada has compared to Australia in terms of hockey. If other countries had as much access, we wouldn't be so dominant. But, thats why Canada is so dominant (and Sweden, old Russia, Czech's, USA)

[Eazy_b97 1]

i mean come on u dont go play in australia to get better at hockey!!!

Where does an NHL player go to "Get better" then? Certain players need certain things, maybe this guy wanted to work on his hands a bit, so he went to a league where he was able to dominate, people do it all the time. It's why alot of NHL teams keep their prospects in junior, so they are able to get alot of ice time and dominate.

[chippa13 1844]

i mean come on u dont go play in australia to get better at hockey!!!

Where does an NHL player go to "Get better" then? Certain players need certain things, maybe this guy wanted to work on his hands a bit, so he went to a league where he was able to dominate, people do it all the time. It's why alot of NHL teams keep their prospects in junior, so they are able to get alot of ice time and dominate.

They don't leave their players in junior to dominate. Once a player becomes dominant in juniors the NHL team will pull them out because that is how they develop bad habits and lose their edge.

[Eazy_b97 1]

You've never heard a team say "were sending this player down because we want him to have the extra ice time and learn how to dominate and control the flow of a game?" Learning to control the flow of a game, and dominate is an important factor. It's why Toronto left Colaiacovo down there, it's why Spezza was kept up. He had already dominated, they didn't, he had learned that skill. If they are constantly kept at a lower level, they will develop bad habits, but most of the time they will spend some games in the NHL, miss the first month or so of their junior teams camp, then go to the AHL, or even NHL team once the junior season is done.

[chippa13 1844]

You've never heard a team say "were sending this player down because we want him to have the extra ice time and learn how to dominate and control the flow of a game?" Learning to control the flow of a game, and dominate is an important factor. It's why Toronto left Colaiacovo down there, it's why Spezza was kept up. He had already dominated, they didn't, he had learned that skill. If they are constantly kept at a lower level, they will develop bad habits, but most of the time they will spend some games in the NHL, miss the first month or so of their junior teams camp, then go to the AHL, or even NHL team once the junior season is done.

Teams don't send guys back to juniors to learn how to dominate. They send them back to develop. Learning how to take control of a game and being sent back to dominate are two different things.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Most guys are drafted at 18. It'll depend on how much the team needs them, but alot of guys who are drafted high don't even average a PPG in juniors and have alot of growing left to do. I see dominating as learning to take control of a game and minipulate the flow when they are on the ice, you apperantly don't. I guess we differ on it.

[chippa13 1844]

Most guys are drafted at 18. It'll depend on how much the team needs them, but alot of guys who are drafted high don't even average a PPG in juniors and have alot of growing left to do. I see dominating as learning to take control of a game and minipulate the flow when they are on the ice, you apperantly don't. I guess we differ on it.

Dominating is what Crosby does. It is what Thornton, Lindros, and Lemieux did in juniors. If you don't average a PPG in juniors and are sent back for seasoning, it is not to learn how to dominate. Players are returned to develop, not dominate.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I see domination as controllin the flow, getting into every situation and minipulating the flow. You don't see Dominating as that. We are just defining the word differently, I don't think our views on this (although apperantly in a few other topics do :)) differ that much on this.