Motor City is Loaded

[WingsVK97 0]

http://www.freep.com/news/latestnews/pm2606_20050201.htm

More proof if you needed it that the season is shot. It looks like Kris Draper, Derrian Hatcher, Chris Chelios, and probably Kirk Maltby are going to play with the Motor City Mechanics. But I'm really excited about this. The UHL's Richmond Riverdogs are going to play thier last two regular season games in Roanoke VA (my city of residence), and thier opponent for these games are.....ding ding ding! The Motor City Mechanics! I get some Red Wings Lite. I'm stoked.

[Eman24dx 0]

is that league any Good?

[PH_Hockey2 4]

The UHL is the United hockey league and is a step below the AHL. The team here in Port Huron are called the Beacons, but right now there in finical trouble and may leave Port Huron next season. My boss is kind of upset too because he made thier goalie a 1500 dollar mask and he still hasent been paid yet. Anyway, the hockey is good but Hatcher and Chelios will clean house in that league.

[Kirsch 1]

OMG

You live in Port Huron? I'm in the Quad Cities and here we've got the Mallards. About the only games I go to every year are against the Flint Generals and the Beacons. Last time I went I was with three friends and were about 4 rows up from the ice, just high enough to be barely over the glass. We had Vary so pissed off he was livid. We kept chanting his name and standing and pointing at him, I'm surprised he didn't jump the glass and come after us. Ahhh good times.

The Motor City Mechanics are easily the worst team in the league so this will make things very interesting, hopefully I'll be able to make it out to a game to see 'em play.

The competition is pretty fierce, usually fairly high scoring, and twice as many fights as in the NHL. The ice is smaller, so that changes things a bit. Overall the games are a lot of fun.

[mojo122 535]

Is the ECHL not a step below the AHL?  I am not too knowledgable in that, but I thought it was.

Yes it is. You are so correct.

[Brandonov22 0]

Yeah, doesn't it go:

NHL

AHL

ECHL

UHL

[Shorthanded67 0]

Yeah the UHL is pretty much the lowest league on the pro hockey totem pole, but it's generally a good evening out, cheap tickets, and hey...it's hockey, right?

On a side note, the UHL offices are based here just outside of St. Louis, MO. I actually play on a team with the President/CEO of the UHL, Richard Brosal (...yeah maybe he's better off in the office instead of the rink... :lol: ). Sweet UHL jerseys though!

[Brandonov22 0]

Yeah the UHL is pretty much the lowest league on the pro hockey totem pole, but it's generally a good evening out, cheap tickets, and hey...it's hockey, right?

Yeah...but too bad the beer is still $5

[Dangles 0]

What about the Central Hockey League?

[Shorthanded67 0]

Yeah the UHL is pretty much the lowest league on the pro hockey totem pole, but it's generally a good evening out, cheap tickets, and hey...it's hockey, right?

Yeah...but too bad the beer is still $5

So true, BUT the thought process is that you can afford the beer when the tickets are so much cheaper. Those suits upstairs in the marketing department are pretty clever... :P

[mik3 1]

A guy I've played against a bunch of times is a numerous time UHL mvp, that right there should discredit the league.

[WingsVK97 0]

http://www.detnews.com/2005/wings/0502/02/A01-77565.htm

Well, I'm sad now. They won't be coming to play Richmond in Roanoke. They are only going to play in the home games and travel to the Michigan based away games (Flint, Kalamazoo, Muskegon and Port Huron).

I know the UHL only lets you have 7 veteran players on a team, I'd say they've done pretty good with three of those slots!

[WingsVK97 0]

The UHL is the United hockey league and is a step below the AHL. The team here in Port Huron are called the Beacons, but right now there in finical trouble and may leave Port Huron next season. My boss is kind of upset too because he made thier goalie a 1500 dollar mask and he still hasent been paid yet. Anyway, the hockey is good but Hatcher and Chelios will clean house in that league.

I heard a rumor that your team, Port Huron, might move as well. Roanoke VA, my hometown, is supposedly the place the league is going to relocate them. I work for a news station down here and we called the team to try a confirm anything but they said they were doing fine (of course). It makes since not to announce stuff like that untill after the season so you don't hurt ticket sales, but I'm sure someone may have leaked a nugget.

Any truth to that rumor? I'm trying to give my reporters something else to go on.

[MDE3 0]

The ice is smaller, so that changes things a bit.

The ice is smaller???....most rinks built in the last 30 + years are 200' x 85', why would they make the rinks smaller just for the UHL, particularily if other teams/leagues use the same surface, or is it just one rink?

[Louie 28]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=113530&hubName=nhl

[Gongshow11 1]

it goes

nhl

ahl

echl

chl

uhl

sphl

finally hit the 500

[Louie 28]

I thought the CHL was basically on the same level as the ECHL.

[mik3 1]

eh, since a lot of ECHL guys have contracts with nhl teams I'd say that puts it higher.

[WingsVK97 0]

Here is the article from the Detroit Free Press that TSN used in there story. The Free Press one goes in a little deeper and talks to some of the UHL's head guys. I'd read this one over the TSN one. Though Kevin Kerr has grounds to make his case, he seems a little too irked by the whole thing.

http://www.freep.com/sports/redwings/wings...2e_20050202.htm

[joshy207 15]

I think Kerr's got a valid point. Especially at the UHL level, the presence of NHL guys could put some "bubble players" out of work. I know the Mechanics are struggling, on and off the ice, so Hatcher, Chelios, and Draper will really help in the win column and at the box office, but if the NHL resumes play, those guys are gone just like that. Basically, the team is using the players and the players are using the team. The short-term benefits far outweigh the long-term ones.

[D-MaN88 0]

I wouldn't mind seeing them play here...I'm from Fort Wayne, Indiana which is home to the Fort Wayne Komets but yeah it stinks for the fact they arent going to any games out of detroit other than the other Michigan based teams.

[Kirsch 1]

Well, they are playing in the Quad-Cities February 26th so I will definitely be there, against the glass.

Also, if I'm not mistaken the neutral zones are smaller, and the ice behind the nets is smaller in a UHL arena.

[WingsVK97 0]

http://www.riverotters.com/news_dtl.php?QnArticleID=93

More NHL guys in the UHL. Barret Jackmen, glad to see he's still kicking, and Ryan Johnson.

I'm beginning to agree with some of these posts that all the veteran slots in minor league hockey are going to go to locked out NHL players. THe leagues won't say no cause it will jack up the ticket sales and make the games more competitive. But are they being scabs by playing there and taking up roster spots in leagues that have salary systems like the ones they are opposing every other week?

[Chadd 916]

Scabs, no. Hypocrites, yes.

[wingnut17 0]

I live in Kalamazoo and ive been hearing that they brought them in just to get attendince in Motor City, theu have only been drawing like 1500 peopple a game. Also heard they were only playing home games.