USHL making it’s way East?

There was a report in the Huntington News (West Virginia) recently citing the arena in town wants an USHL Team.

Prior to the Tuesday, May 26 Huntington City Council meeting, Big Sandy
Superstore Arena Director A.J. Boleski has requested to make a presentation
regarding the United States Hockey League.

I think the USHL should make its way East. It’s called the United States Hockey League and the most Eastern team is in Ohio.

It’s going to be difficult though. The biggest challenge will be the travel if the USHL expands more East. Maybe they create a sister league like in the Canadian Hockey League it could work.

At the same time not having the top junior league in the New England and the Tri-State regions just doesn’t seem right. The North East has two Tier III junior A leagues the Eastern Junior Hockey League and the Atlantic Hockey League.

This would be the perfect time for the USHL too get into New England. High School Hockey is down in Massachusetts in terms of overall talent. One of the reasons has been junior hockey. Some of the players want to stay home to play hockey before they head off to college. A Tier I Junior League in the region would allow them to stay home and play competive hockey.

There are great junior teams in the EJHL and AJHL who could be a decent team in a Tier I league. You have the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs, Boston Junior Bruins, New Jersey Hitmen, New York Apple Core, and the Syracuse Stars in the EJHL. The AJHL has the New York Bobcats, New Jersey Rockets, Boston Bulldogs, and the Northern Cyclones. I am sure one or two expansion franchises would be created.

One question is the talent pool would be waterdown? It could but I believe there are good players playing in Midget Hockey would find a spot be decent. Also I believe players from non traditional markets are more inclinded to play hockey away from home at the highest levels. Atlantic Canada could be a recruiting ground.

That’s My Take

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About Chris Wassel

Simply I am a sports writer whose first loves will always be hockey and food. As we attempt to fix the site which has fallen into some disrepair (okay a lot), any and all help is always appreciated. For now, everything will channel through on a post by post basis. As always, let's have some fun!

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