Except there are 11 teams in the new tuition free junior league. Even if the youth teams only play each other twice, that is 20 games. A full EHF schedule is another 33 games. Thats 53 games before playoffs for either league or any tournaments that some of these high profile teams will want to do.

Playing two full league schedules seems like a stretch to me.

Thank you, Mr. Clairvoyant, for setting us all straight.

Ummmmm, except, no one aspires to be the EJEPL.

RG may be an arrogant pr!ck, like you, but he his far smarter, my friend. He will figure out how to leverage this to create better hockey for MA as well as make $$$ doing it.

thank you and the $10,000 per team the EJ gets is not something to aspire too?? This will demand probably twice that plus a higher yearly team fee. They have no interest in "creating Better Hockey" only creating Deeper pockets. Enjoy paying double while your kid plays againts the same talent they are now with a few extra games thrown in

IHC charges about that for U16 already. So does BA. Neither are in the EJEPL.

I realize you are handicapped by being a youth parent. It's a whole different ball game after Bantams.

Who cares what teams charge their players now and we all know neither of those teams are in the EJEPL. Never said they were so keep being an idiot. I am talking about League Fee's per team not individual fees per player. This thread is about creating a bigger USPHL league and since you have no clue how these leagues actually work you should just stop showing your ignorance. Check out the Models of the EJ and USPHL Youth. they are supplemental Leagues. Every team that plays at the youth level also plays in their own league closer to home. SO get over the "better Hockey" thing. its not and it wont be. Its only there to make more $$ for the men who run the league.

Stop making **** up. There may or may not be truth to your statement but you have no way of knowing. People on here always act as if they know both leagues inside out. And.you.don't.

Sigh.

It's an opinion a$$hat. If you disagree, offer a counter argument. That's how discussions boards work, no?

I bet there are plenty of people on here that have kids in both leagues, or kids who have spent time in each league, that can size up the talent level of both leagues. Many kids on the "elite" teams all skate skills and play tournaments together in the off-season. There's more crossover/interaction between leagues than you think. Once you get to peewee, if you've been in the same league(s) for 6+ years most of the kids know each other, and many parents do too. This has been my experience, maybe it's different for others.

My kid plays on an Islanders elite team. I spoke with RG directly about this. Supplemental only and he's not even sure if the juniors level will actually be voted in to tier 2. As of now no EHF teams have committed at the youth level. So until it's announced settle down big boys.

USPHL application for Tier II was denied by USA Hockey. So business as usual next season or do they not take no for an answer...

So Kings, Islanders, Flames, etc won't be leaving EHF for the USPHL youth division we assume?

Hopefully, they push forward anyway. All of these East Coast players have to go out to the midwest for a year or two just to come back to play college hockey out east. F Them. I would like to hear their reasoning for denying the application that was asking for an opportunity to be heard!

After reading up on it, it looks like it's going to happen one way or another. Either USA Hockey will reverse its decision on appeal, or the USPHL will just leave USA Hockey entirely. Makes you wonder what USA Hockey is thinking. Why would they deny more free-to-play opportunities at the junior level? There's too many crap pay-to-play leagues now, why not deny them?

Probably has more to do with how they figure they are going to make it as free-to-play. Their financial projections probably don't work out. They don't want to start a whole new league just to have it fold because the teams can't support themselves.

Yep!, There is a big difference between starting a league and a league ongoing sustainability.

These owners are wealthy because they are smart businessmen! Obviously a gate would be negligible and maybe a few extra bucks from marketing/ advertising. Charge every other player an extra $300 +/- a year playing Tier 1 youth with the goal of playing Tier 2 Jr's down the road. It is a no brainer! Parents are already spending $5k a year ( min per player) on teams, travel, skills, etc. What is another few hundred a year with that kind of dangling carrot.

Seems fishy to me.

they got denied because they would not meet all the requirements. Like you need to take a bus at the tier 2 level. USPHL teams objected to this because of how close rinks are and it is $1000 per game for the bus. How much billet the charge can be was an issue. also some others.

Buy a couple mini buses ( Great Advertising!) $35k each, Billet fees? Puhlease...

What were the other issues? Common, It makes too much sense to have a Tier 2 League in area where we have the players and the colleges that they will matriculate to.

Because it's not a sustainable business model. The league would fold. Cannot fund through youth programs because people are not willing to pay more so older kids can play for free. Too many other options out there now. The end of the day it was a flawed model from the get-go and USA hockey will not let this happen.

But elite hockey is watered down with tuition players. Need this league to work so i can tell everyone that my kid is premier which is better than elite which is better than select which is better than town.

The stronger programs are going to buy out or force the smaller programs to fold! It is earily similar to the Big Box stores force the mom and pops to fold. It is already happening and it is good for all.

Instead of playing on the River Hawks 1st or 2nd team, you will have a chance on playing on the Islanders 1st or 2nd team. If it doesn't happen you will have the lower level teams to fall back on but will have similar or same resources as the higher level teams ( And the Gear _ don't kid yourself- It matters )

In the end you will pay a little more...So what!! With all of the money we spend on hockey for our kids, a few hundred more is not going to create some sort of Exodus. Besides it is going to become a monopoly and the clear path to Tier 2 Jr Hockey, which now will become the preferred path to college. They will not charge a gate or perhaps will charge for a season league pass for families to come watch their kids play ( home or away). Will help defer league costs! We already pay gate fees to watch or kids play summer hockey, why wouldn't we be willing to pay a few hundred to see our kids play free jr hockey??

The previous poster either has grown kids or is in denial. Either way it is going to happen and will mostly be positive. IMHO.

Well the USHL can have nightly paying gate of 3,000 - 5,000 which no one on the east coast will be able to do. That is enough 'reasoning' for me.