Don't you think they learned their lesson, merging with programs that can't compete (and for the most part don't want to compete)?

Some random thoughts:

Believe it or not, I think they have learned something. Problem is that it will be forgotten as they learn their next lesson, that they can't compete at AAA. For example, I think that they 92 Cincy team and the 93 Col team had more fun winning and developing at AA than they'll have at AAA. Core team members want AAA, because there kids can play and develop at that level, but the entire org struggles to find 17 families that buy into it when they win single digit number of games against AAA. 95 & 96 might be different and give it a chance. Columbus is obviously beginning to reap the rewards of being an NHL city and will do well for years to come. If the league adds a few other good, but like teams, league could do well. Other additions might include Toledo, Indy, Lansing, Grand Rapids. Problem is, most of these cities appear to like to winning at Tier II and may not be interested in Tier I losing. I think that the attempt to go Tier I ultimately hurt hockey in Dayton and Indy over the past five years and could have the same impact on other hockey communities that aren't careful. BTHL would have been wise years ago to limit AA teams to the top 4-6 by way of a preseason tournament. They watered down AA and the real AA teams felt the need to move on (unfortunately they thought they were now AAA, which they aren't, unless you call the MWEHL AAAA).

quote:

Originally posted by butter balls:
so the GLHL is really a AA League?

I write "AA/AAA" because I don't know where that line is drawn. As Scar mentioned, if you call GLHL "AAA" then the MWEHL would have to be "AAAA". Yes and no.

Yes the MWEHL as a whole, top to bottom, will be better, but that doesn't mean none of the GLHL teams can be considered AAA. If competing in the MWEHL is the measuring stick, Cincy 92, in the MWEHL last year would have finished in the 4th, 5th or 6th spot, so would Butler County's 92s. Cols. 93s, same thing. Indy 94s, same thing. Cincy and Cols. 95s, same thing. Now next year, move all of those teams down two slots, because none of them will consistently beat Mission or Chill. But does that mean none are AAA? They will consistently compete against and beat CYA, TI, VH, and yes, even the beloved Barons. By MYHockey standards, all of the teams I listed are basically top 75 AAA teams in North America. And they would all get hammered by the top 25. So the question is, where is the AAA cutoff? top 50? 75? 100? There is no clear answer, but I tend to agree with Scar -- there are many, many Tier II, AA teams that will consistently beat the teams I listed. So are the AA or AAA?

As to Simba's question, "no" GLHL and BTHL will never merge. BTHL, as is their right, chose to focus on A and B level hockey, abandoning AA and AAA. Two separate organization with two separate focuses makes sense.

I'm not sure i get what you are saying. I beleive I heard that Barons' beat Cincy 92 last year something like 9-0 and that Cincy maybe beat Belle Tire once last year by a goal. Stats from last year have Belle Tire 0-28 in the MWEHL? What's your logic for placing them 4th, 5th or 6th?

Can you list the many, many tier II teams that compete and beat the teams you listed? What age groups?

It has been my observation that the BTHL doesn't seem to mind having a revolving door around programs being in or out of the organization. Subsequently, they have been more an A and B league (essentially house), like Knid states. I don't know if this is by design or even if it matters to whoever runs the organization. However, it does appear that the BTHL is letting an opportunity slip by to both grow the organization at more levels and run it in an improved manner. I have been involved in teams in both the BTHL and CSHL. Each league has its pros and cons.

This year we were again looking at where to play. The BTHL was not chosen because the competition does not look to be strong and there is really no realistic approach to divisional play. That is, teams are placed based on the size of the organization, not the actual skill level of the team. So, let's say you play on a second picked team for a large organization, the first picked team doesn't play in the BTHL, guess what? You play AA when you are probably an A team, thus throwing the competition out of whack and frustrating all parties, then next year the teams leave. The solution appears simple, take some time up front to play ˜ranking' games to determine team placement, then set the divisions and do the scheduling. However, it does take more time, effort and planning. I'm not sure this is something BTHL is willing to take on.

BTHL may be too late though. Rumor has it that the 2 large Columbus organizations are working behind the scenes to form a new league for both Tier 1 (AAA) and Tier 2 (AA, A and B) teams in western Ohio, eastern Indy and lower Michigan teams (basically I-75).

Wouldn't that be the GLHL since reading their site and bylaws seem to accept Tier 1 and Tier II organizations?

Once the leagues figure themselves out (who is coming and who is going), we will need to keep this thread alive with some good old predictions for MWEHL, GLHL, BTHL and CSHL in 94s and 95s since thats where it all began two years and 12000 hits ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Vermicious Knid:
Once the leagues figure themselves out (who is coming and who is going), we will need to keep this thread alive with some good old predictions for MWEHL, GLHL, BTHL and CSHL in 94s and 95s since thats where it all began two years and 12000 hits ago.

"I'm your huckleberry"

I still can't figure out the leagues. How about just Ohio? Based on last year, here is how I see the first polls of the season--

94s top teams (in order):
Barons AAA (easily strongest)
Phantoms AAA (some turmoil with organization)
Sylvania AA
Toledo AA
Ohio AAA Blue Jackets (formerly Capitals)
Cincy Cyclones AAA (struggled, but added some 95s)

95s top teams (in order):
Cincy Cyclones AAA (State AA Champs last year)
Ohio AAA Blue Jackets (BJs/Caps merger)
Barons AAA (6th place in MWEHL; looking at 8th place this year)
Gilmour Sabres AA (lost some players)
Cleve. Phantoms AAA (lost their rink and some players)
No. Olmsted AA (includes 94s; class of CSHL)
Toledo (getting stronger)
Cols. Capitals AA (second team BJs/Caps merger)
Sylvania


96s (in order):
Barons (by wide margin)
Strongsville AA (took some lumps last year to be here; SS regional champs)
Toledo AA (State AA champs)
Cols. CCYHA (State AA runner-up)
Cols. Caps (early loss to CCYHA)
Cincy

Write it down.

quote:

Posted September 14, 2006 10:25 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Vermicious Knid:
Once the leagues figure themselves out (who is coming and who is going), we will need to keep this thread alive with some good old predictions for MWEHL, GLHL, BTHL and CSHL in 94s and 95s since thats where it all began two years and 12000 hits ago.


"I'm your huckleberry"

I still can't figure out the leagues. How about just Ohio? Based on last year, here is how I see the first polls of the season--

94s top teams (in order):
Barons AAA (easily strongest)
Phantoms AAA (some turmoil with organization)
Sylvania AA
Toledo AA
Ohio AAA Blue Jackets (formerly Capitals)
Cincy Cyclones AAA (struggled, but added some 95s)

Agreed, but, the Cincy AAA lost half of last years team to the Dayton Bluehawk AA (independent). Cincy AAA did fill the roster with new players so should do OK, but the Bluehawks AA may be the big surprise.