Summer Beer League Problems

[nyhockey6 1]

I put together a team in our local rinks 4 on 4 Summer League, we finished the regular season 6-0 and in the playoffs we won all 3 of our games. The way the league was set up, since the two rinks in Queens, NY are operated by the same management company there would be an inter rink playoff with the winners getting a free Fall season. Which is cool and they really didn't have to do it that way. What no one told us was that the winner of the league in Flushing (Where we played, only 4 teams) would have to play against the winner of the A division of the other rink which allows minor pro players to play in that division. My team is good but nowhere near a A division team, we're middle of the pack B at best. We have 1 kid who played Juniors and a couple others who played High School, then the rest of the team like myself are just intermediate players.

There are two kickers in this whole thing; First one is the league director is the captain of the team we played in the finals, since his team lost to us they get to play against the B division. The second thing is he same guy is giving me to the ok to bring down ringers to play against the A division team, which in my eyes means he knows we're not good enough to hang with them. So my question and my assistant captains questions to him are then why are we playing them. Why not give the division that allows minor pro's to get the free season and then have the B and C division winners play the top two teams from our league.

Sorry for venting but this situation has me really upset and I dunno what to do about it, my 12 guys busted our butts every night to win the league and all we get is a pat on the back saying congrats on winning the league, now bring down ringers to help you matchup better against the A division for the chance to win a free season.

[twolinepass 0]

That doesnt seem fair at all but all you can do is try and out play them and see if you can pull off an upset and the win would mean that much more.

[IniNew 53]

So the worst thing that can happen is you have to pay for next session? Just go play the game! You'd of been paying again eventually anyway.

[bob_flip 0]

Seems like they are ready to loss the final game. Actually the game doesn't have a sense.

[txhockey 0]

Let me see if I have this straight. It's like telling the Hershey Bears they have to beat the Chicago Blackhawks in order to win the Calder cup?

[Law Goalie 147]

Simple answer: they want to give the free season to a team full of guys who won't be around in the fall, since they'll have disbanded and rejoined their pro teams.

Ringer up, play hard, see if you can beat the system.

[hockeyherb 1]

Did you get it in writing that you can add ringers and does the team you'll be playing know that? Make sure so there won't be any issues if you do get ringers and win.

If I was on your team and you wanted to replace me with a ringer so I could get a free season I'm ok with that!

Is there anyone that the league director reports to? Could you ask that person if this was a previously known matchup or if the director just decided this is how it was going to be after he lost to you in the final?

[edinburghcaps! 0]

Did you get it in writing that you can add ringers and does the team you'll be playing know that? Make sure so there won't be any issues if you do get ringers and win.

If I was on your team and you wanted to replace me with a ringer so I could get a free season I'm ok with that!

Is there anyone that the league director reports to? Could you ask that person if this was a previously known matchup or if the director just decided this is how it was going to be after he lost to you in the final?

i would second that opinion! money could go to something else!

[nyhockey6 1]

So the worst thing that can happen is you have to pay for next session? Just go play the game! You'd of been paying again eventually anyway.

We're cool with the possibility of having to pay next season, but we just feel it should have been set up differently.

Let me see if I have this straight. It's like telling the Hershey Bears they have to beat the Chicago Blackhawks in order to win the Calder cup?

I'd say it's more like the Hershey Bears having to add Ovy, Knuble, Backstrom and Semin to win the Calder Cup lol

Simple answer: they want to give the free season to a team full of guys who won't be around in the fall, since they'll have disbanded and rejoined their pro teams.

Ringer up, play hard, see if you can beat the system.

I've made a few phone calls already, I got a friend who has played Minor Pro in Poland to play and another kid who plays college up at one of the SUNY schools to fill in

Did you get it in writing that you can add ringers and does the team you'll be playing know that? Make sure so there won't be any issues if you do get ringers and win.

If I was on your team and you wanted to replace me with a ringer so I could get a free season I'm ok with that!

Is there anyone that the league director reports to? Could you ask that person if this was a previously known matchup or if the director just decided this is how it was going to be after he lost to you in the final?

I didn't get it in writing, he told me on the phone and also said it to me and my assistant captains outside of the locker room the other night. So there are witnesses.

All of our weaker guys have said they're ok with being replaced by ringers, myself included. I just feel bad that we did so much with our team the way I built it and now this shit happens and most of the team is going to have to sit.

I'm scheduled to have a call this afternoon with the overall hockey director to discuss all of this stuff, I'm hoping he can understand our points and maybe tell the league director that he needs to change things up.

[shotty 7]

if only one team gets to play for free in the upcoming season, it will always be the best Div 1 team against whoever else... they are simply rewarding the best team, and, possibly, hoping that the best team isn't around for the full length winter season, as lawgoalie suggested.

most teams only get a pat on the back when they win their division (i was actually surprised when our team got a plaque upon clinching our div a couple seasons ago), so to be playing against a elite team with a free season on the line is pretty cool, take it for what its worth. if you lose, whatever. it was a bonus game against a team far above your skill level.

i think to cast off your players for ringers is a bullshit move. i would never do it. MAYBE i would add two or three into the current roster and make an extra line or something, if it was allowed, but to send your worst players packing is ridiculous. even if i desperately wanted to win, i wouldnt ask any of my guys to step aside, regardless if they offered... all i would do is ask the whole team for a decent amount of lead time if they are not going to be able to make the final game.

anyways, best of luck, dont sweat about it too much... it's beer league hockey.

[sickwilly 37]

I'd say bring the guys that got you there. Try to have fun with it. I agree with the suggestion of adding a few ringers in addition to your guys, but only if your regulars are okay with it.

[Chadd 916]

Dress as many players as you can and start line brawls until they can't put enough players on the ice.

[Law Goalie 147]

Oh, and explain the ridiculous situation to the refs before the game. They may just give you a few sympathetic calls.

[Jarick 5]

Play your best, have fun, and don't worry about it. Maybe bring in a ringer or two if you can, but don't short shift the guys who got you there. That's my two cents.

My team a few years back won a "trip" to nationals (for rec league...go figure), which was being held about 30 minutes away. We got completely smoked because we were a good team at our level, but not at the level of the national teams (side note, if you're such an awesome D-level team, shouldn't you be playing C-level?). Still, it was free hockey and we got a case of beer after each game because it was sponsored by Coors.

[BarDownGinos 3]

Dress as many players as you can and start line brawls until they can't put enough players on the ice.

I like it. However, starting fights with guys who get paid to punch people in the face isn't always the brightest idea. I have seen a few guys learn this lesson the hard way.

[BobbyD9 0]

Dress as many players as you can and start line brawls until they can't put enough players on the ice.

And put on the foil!!!

[titand19 0]

I'm here to set the story straight. I'm on the team from the City Ice that you guys are playing. The grandpa of our team who is nearing 50 told me about this thread. I figured I would shed some light on the situation.

Firstly, we have no semi pro guys on our team. A portion of the guys on our team have played junior, and less than a handful have played any type of semi pro. Those those did play semi pro did so some time ago. Out youngest player is 25, oldest is 48. A good portion of our team will be missing on vacation as well considering we thought the season was ending July 31st.

Secondly, this should have been set up differently. I do think it's completely unfair that both of our teams can't get free seasons for the fall. We won our rinks and now we need to play a team that we've never heard or seen before.

Thirdly, we don't expect to beat you guys, and we never go into a situation being cocky. I personally don't want to fight anyone or have the game turn into a shit show. We've had 1 or 2 guys drop the gloves in the past and trust me, you don't want to be the other guy. However they're def not looking for this and were showing the "dicks" on the opposing teams not to be dicks.

Lastly, no matter where we've all played in the past, we're all here in the same place. Beer League. We're expecting a good competitive game and boozing after. Worst case, maybe some of us will run into old friends and we can all get hammered after.