However why would they not put the Bluehawks in the Hoosier with Cincy-1, Indy -1, CCYHA Blue Jackets-1, and the Cardinal.
Then put the CCYHA 95 in the Bluegrass with, Cincy 95, Indy Checkers-2, Evansville, and Arctic Blast.
This would put the first year 95 teams and small or "isolated" teams in one division and the second year 94 teams and large or medium orgs. in the other.
In this new "Hoosier" divisions the Bluehawks, Cinci 94 and CCYHA 94 would fight for the top spot with the Indy and Cardinal team capable of knocking any of those three out of the top spot.
Then in the Bluegrass division the Cincy 95, Indy -2 CCYHA 95, will have more depth but the Blast and Thunder will have a couple of players that could help carry those teams over the 95 teams. This division would be up in the air.
Then come tourney time the Hoosier division should be tough to beat.
Posts: 131 | Location: In the Net | Registered: June 25, 2004
I don't disagree with your proposed re-alignment - although I think it will be kind of interesting to mix '95 teams with '94 teams.
Speaking of '95 teams...does anyone have any insight into the 95 AA teams (Columbus, Indy-2, and Cincy-2)? Why are they playing up? Are they pretty strong? Do they have any kids that can carry them at the AA level or do they play a solid team game? Just curious...
Posts: 7 | Location: Columbus | Registered: August 11, 2004
I think most of the 95 teams are the Mite AA teams from last year. The Cinci and Dayton Gems teams were very close with the Racers and Bluejackets behind them last year. With the Gems folding, one or two kids from the Mite AA Gems went to the Bluehawks Squirt AA a couple of others to the Bluehawks A then a couple of the Gems went to Cinci Squirt AA 95's. The Cinci Mite AA team from last year is mostly the same for the Squirt AA 95 minus one kid that moved up to the AA 94 team. So Cinci should still be strong along with Indy and the Bluejackets right behind them.
Posts: 131 | Location: In the Net | Registered: June 25, 2004
However why would they not put the Bluehawks in the Hoosier with Cincy-1, Indy -1, CCYHA Blue Jackets-1, and the Cardinal.
Then put the CCYHA 95 in the Bluegrass with, Cincy 95, Indy Checkers-2, Evansville, and Arctic Blast. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOP IT, STOP IT NOW -- you are making way too much sense
------------------------------------------------------------- Does anyone on the BTHL board monitor these forums?? If so what is the reasoning for not making this alignment?????
Posts: 131 | Location: In the Net | Registered: June 25, 2004
The bottom line is that we have 3 playing levels; AA, A & B. Teams don't apply to play in A-major, A-minor, etc, etc. The problem we have as a league is that we cover a geographic area that is much much larger than any league I know of (other than AAA leagues), especially when comparing to the Cleveland Suburban league. All these extra divisions sound great until you start putting divisions together and see that teams end up with 5-6 hour drives (one way!) just to play a regular season game. Think Toledo-to-Evansville-to-Charleston.
Teams apply to play in one of the 3 divisions mentioned above and then depending on how many teams we get I will split them into geographic divisions with 2 exceptions:
1) The number of teams in each division must be equal (or within 1 team with an odd number). 2) If an association places multiple teams at the same level AND the resulting travel distances are not extreme I will try to split them up.
If you have suggestions that will improve the divisions with this criteria; I'm all ears.
Another problem with splitting into divisions by perceived strength is with the tournament seeding. By placing the "strongest" teams in one division and the "weakest" teams in another you unfairly favor the "weak" teams with higher seeds.
Keep in mind the league schedule will typically represent less than half the games a travel team will play for a given season. You are free to schedule as many non-league games with opponents of your choosing. AND, it can easily be done at the scheduling meeting. AND, you can even add them to your online schedule. They just don't count when it comes to determining the standings.
