ECHL Implications

Well this topic has been bothering me for a while now and I figured now is as good a time as any to write about the East Coast Hockey League.

I love the fact that we(hockey in general) have a resource like a tier 3 hockey league in north America. However I now find myself questioning the validity of the league who has just lost their top 30 skaters.

I say they have lost this because the AHL changed a rule this year allowing teams to carry one extra skater. So you can imagine where most of these skaters come from: the ECHL.

With this change the ECHL takes a big hit. In a league where goalies are already totally dominant with SVPs of .930 being almost normal, scoring has taken even more of a hit. And that is never good for a league that is struggling already.

I hope that this league continues to live on, however, it is becoming more and more difficult. And now considering the economic struggles that the US is enduring it is hard to see this league staying a float. The ever changing NHL affiliations bring a constant flux that also stresses this league.

It will be intersting to see how this league performs fiscally after this rule change. Well, not that I could ever find that kind of information anyways.

I think this league has still been living off residual success from the NHL lockout when it had players like Scott Gomez and other viable NHLers.

In other news, the Toronto Marlies take on the Hamilton Bulldogs today at Ricoh coliseum for what is the second of twelve QEW battles.