Any guesses as to the teams that will make up the Buckeye Bantam AA division? It says Northern Kentucky is slated to play Bantam AA but I had heard most of last season's team were 2nd year Bantams so my guess there is that they play at the Bantam A level. Here are my guesses in no particular order:

Cincy Cyclones
Indy Racers
Louisville Stallions
Columbus Blue Jackets
Sylvania Maple Leafs*
Newark Generals*

*I suspect both these teams would prefer to play 'A' but looking at the rosters they both are potentially returning their top players from last season. My backup to those two would be Evansville.

Thoughts?

from what i have heard cincy burgdorf is playing AA and Murphy team could end up AA depending on how the placement tourney plays out...

Louisville Stallions, Indy Racers are for sure...dont know about Columbus BlueJackets, Dayton BlueHawks & Ft. Wayne Komets on if they plan on going BTHL or not..or doing LCAHL or in the case of Dayton playing independent..

Evansville was 14-1-1 at the A level last year and return about 1/2 their team, they would likely be candidates to play AA...

Butler County & Columbus, IN are other strong A teams that could end up at AA depending on how the placement tourney plays out...

Only six 94's will return this season to the Thunder. There were nine 93's and seven 94's last season. Evansville was a much stronger team with a 93/94 combination rather than the 94/95 group they will be this year. That has historically been the case with this team. They will be a middle of the pack "A" maybe a little higher But they won't be an easy win for anyone. I would expect them to play "AA" teams outside of their league schedule and that was key to a successful season last year as they finished 12-12 vs "AA" teams.

thats why the placement tourney was implemented i think...to try and limit perceptions\beliefs from influencing where teams play and instead see the teams on the ice...

for what its worth, Evansville two years ago when 94/95s were together played "A" and went 17-4-3...

last season as mentioned Evansville was 14-1-1 as an "A" level team...

if the league directors want to go with 7 AA teams its very possible Evansville is among the top teams who could end up playing at AA even if some people feel they should play A, win their league and then play AA outside...

why play 24 games versus AA teams outside your league if you are really an A team?? hmmm???

Don't under estimate Northern Kentucky, heard they may have picked up a former Cyclones goalie.

Looks like Columbus Blue Jackets are in, at least their website says so. Anyone know anything about this team/players.

N. Ky's web site doesn't even show a bantam team. Are you sure they are having one? My understanding is that most of last years bantam AA were 93's and their peewee A team had only 4 or 5 2nd yrs.

quote:

Originally posted by clonehead:
N. Ky's web site doesn't even show a bantam team. Are you sure they are having one? My understanding is that most of last years bantam AA were 93's and their peewee A team had only 4 or 5 2nd yrs.

Yes it looks like Northern Kentucky will not have a Bantam team at any level. The Buckeye AA Division looks like it added two Minor AA teams from Dayton and Cincy. The Cincy teams looks like it has some kids that played on the Cincy Peewee Major AAA team, should be a solid squad.

If the teams remain the same for the Preseason Tourny, here is my guess best to worst:

Indy
Cincy AA
Louisville
Cincy 95AA
Dayton
Columbus
Ft Wayne