Expansion teams select Head Coaches

 As the date of the CCHL Expansion Draft continues to get closer, the league's newest franchises have made one of their most important decisions yet.  

Ok, yes I know they have already named their respective organizations but what I'm referring to in this instance, is the naming of their first-ever Head Coach.  

While some may not consider it important, it sets the bar for how their organization wants to play the game and how they are looking to play in their inaugural season.  

While the roster construction remains anyone's guess, we at least now know who will be guiding the players when the new franchises take to the ice this fall!  

The V'al-d'Or Golden Nuggets kicked things off and immediately went big-game hunting as they reached an agreement with former Fort Erie Falcons' Head Coach Jon Cooper to lead the team.  

While Cooper struggled in Fort Erie this season, there is no doubt he was heavily favoured to catch on with one of the new upstart franchises in the CCHL.  Cooper is known to get the best out of players and there is no doubt that the Golden Nuggets will come prepared to play each and every night this season.  

Shortly after that, the Crystal Lake Campers completed their search as well, inking Jeff Blashill to become their first coach.  Blashill has always been best known for his work in the minor leagues but comes with a wealth of experience and will no doubt be a great fit for the Campers as they pitch tents this fall.  

This coming weekend our newest franchises will find out what CCHL Conference they have been assigned to for the upcoming season.  In another week we'll announce the four division names and then towards the end of the month, we'll see what teams will play in each division.

While the big game might be this Sunday, we have a lot of big things coming up in the CCHL and I can't wait to see how everything plays out.  

- The Commish!  

Expansion template online!

 Well now that our expansion teams have been unveiled, it is time to start thinking about what your mock protection lists consist of as things will happen quickly. 

Going through the exercise will also help you see what tradeable commodities you may have or need to move in order to avoid losing them in the expansion draft.  Perhaps you want to keep the player or players, but need to work out a deal with the expansion teams to not take the player if you leave them unprotected.  If you get ahead in your planning, you can look towards such a deal to ensure certain guys from your roster are indeed taken.  

One of the important things to start thinking about is listing out who your expansion-exempt players are on the roster.  Those are first-contract CCHL players or players that are under 150 games played in their NHL careers by the time our expansion draft lists are due.  There will likely be a lot of overlaps in those groups but the 150 games played should cover some young goaltenders that are not on their first deal because of years as a backup, but a team is rewarded for hanging onto them during this long development curve.  

I would highly recommend plotting out both scenarios, that is the 14 skater protection model and also the nine forwards, four defencemen, and one goaltender model.  In doing so, remember teams must expose one goaltender or defenceman but can only lose one from those two position groups on the defensive side of the puck.  If you expose more in the 14 skater method in order to protect more forwards, it could prove to be beneficial in that you protected some of your higher skill players but you'd also be exposing any goaltenders not exempt in the process.  

There are so many ways teams can go through the expansion protection process.  I've posted a link below for the expansion protect template and exposure list on the website that we will be using to submit.  

I think that's it.  Have fun playing and planning as the CCHL gets ready to expand!  

(Note:  This is a rough discussion of strategy and to introduce the template.  For full rules on expansion protection lists, please consult the rules on the CCHL website)

Expansion Template (byethost4.com) 

-The Commish!  

Expansion Looming - have you started looking at it?

 With expansion looming and Monday's trade deadline upon us, it might be time to start evaluating what you have and need to protect for the upcoming expansion draft.  

I highly suggest you start reviewing your rosters and developing mock protection lists using both the 14 skaters OR nine forward, four defencemen, and one goaltender protection model to see which one works best for you.  I suggest this because things are going to get moving fast following the season so preparation is paramount to your team not losing somebody you really like.  

It is also important you must expose at least two players for the expansion draft.  Seeing as teams cannot lose more than one forward OR one defenceman or goalie, you need to ensure you are going to expose at least one forward and one goaltender or defenceman.  If you do not have it, be prepared to act quickly to acquire something to expose in the short trading period prior to expansion because you may have to expose a player you would have protected if you do not have enough to expose.  Most of us should not have a problem with this, but it's something to be very keenly aware of heading into the Expansion Draft.  

One other thing to review is your first CCHL contract-exempt players.  Those players are often the ones on the payroll page that have lower salaries or are M designated this year.  Don't forget, if they are RFA but coming off that first contract, they are still exempt from the expansion draft.  

There are some exceptions, such as European free agents that sign their first deals (think Mikheyev) that will have some higher values on first contracts or some goaltenders like Alex Nedeljkovic who did not qualify for the disk until his cheap entry-level deal was up.  His first CCHL contract became three million bucks so while the earlier cheap years are lost, it allows a team to protect a goalie in their prime still since it's their first CCHL contract.  It really is the old 'you win some and lose some' with some of the older players being more expensive but protect worthy on their first deal.  

If you aren't sure if it's the first contract, please check with Matt and Bobby as we should have the data.  

I think that's it but figured this would be a relevant blog given the trade deadline is coming up and people should really start trying to plan accordingly for expansion.  If you're thinking about it in April, it's probably a little late!  

Enjoy trade deadline 2022!

-The Commish 

CCHL Expansion Schedule and more!!!

 Hello everyone,

I figure it is about time to provide an update on our expansion process as we are getting close to introducing our two new franchises to the league and doing our alignment for the upcoming season(s).  

The week of January 24th is the date - we will unveil the new teams to the league.  The following week we will then allow them to announce their first-ever head coach from the list of coaches currently looking for work in the CCHL.

Following that, we will have a drawing that assigns either the Canosa or Corfield Conference to our new members, and the week after that - we will announce our four division names for the following season.  While these will honor hockey history (but not CCHL history), we are confident that you'll love the old-school flavor our executive committee has chosen for the 4 divisions.  

With the divisions now named; a must to assign teams to them, we can then assign our teams to the divisions and we can begin to see what teams we are going to hate starting next season (as if you already don't hate Sudbury enough!).  

Following that, we'll get into announcing the draft lottery odds (a bit re-vamped with expansion) and the regular season should conclude on March 8th.  Following that we'll do the draft lottery to determine who picks first in the 2022 Shane Wright, errr CCHL Entry Draft.  

Really there is a whole lot more happening but I'm excited as I believe it is probably going to be a very exciting bunch of months for the CCHL as a whole.  

Expansion throws in a new wrinkle that none of us have had to deal with before in this league while providing a much-needed cash injection.  

As commissioner, I cannot tell you how happy our free-agent players and agents are as well.  I take calls daily from the agents of Jeff Skinner and Kyle Okposo expressing excitement about their players getting an opportunity next year with expansion, or on an existing CCHL roster.  They've been honing their skills this past season and both look the best they have in years.  While their contracts may not have been great the last season or two, they'll definitely add value to a team next year with more employment spaces opening up! 

I'll leave a full tentative schedule at the bottom of this blog so you can see what it looks like going forward as it'll be a busy but important few months for the league! 

Enjoy Monday's trade deadline and remember, you can't win sitting on your wallet or draft picks!  

-The Commish

Tentative Schedule for expansion and up to the draft.

Week of Jan 24 - teams announced/intro to the league

Week of Jan 31 - head coaches selected

Week of Feb 7 - Conference Assignment for Expansion teams

Week of Feb 14 - Division Names Announced

Week of Feb 21 - Divisions/teams announced

Week of Feb 28 - Draft Lottery Odds Announced 

March 8th - end of regular season - draft lottery

April 6th - last possible date of playoffs (likely a week earlier they end)

April 1-7 - pre-expansion draft period

April 7-10th - approx date expansion lists due (cannot trade after list submitted)

April 10-12 - expansion draft

May 1st - Free agent RFA/1 UFA due

May 15th - UFA bidding round 1 starts 

July 8th - CCHL Entry Draft 

WIS World Junior Blog

 A look at the WJC and WIS players

This will be a look at the WJC, the fun packed tournament and a look to the future WIS players. As expected mostly players from team Sweden.

Sweden

Calle Clang (G) -plays in SHL for the Rögle club as a backup.

Jesper Wallstedt (G) -recently acquired via trade in CCHL, plays in SHL as a starter.

Leo Lööf (D) -a surprise nomination plays in the Finish Liiga.

Joel Nyström (D) -playing in SHL and doing pretty good.

Anton Olsson (D) -playing in the SHL for Malmoe Redhawks.

Zion Nybeck (W/C) -playing in the 2nd tier HockeyAllsvenskan

Isak Rosén (W/C) -playing in the SHL.

Other teams

Karri Aho (D) - (FIN) playing in Finish Liiga and undrafted by NHL but drafted by WIS!

Kirill Kirsanov (D)-(RUS) playing in KHL.

Matej Kaslik (C/LW) -(SLO) another undrafted player in NHL but drafted in CCHL. See if that will change next year.

Simon Knak (RW/LW) -(SWI) drafted as an overage in NHL but was taken as an 18 yo by WIS.

Missed out

Carl Lindbom (G) -I thought he was to be the third goalie but just missed out.

William Wallinder (D) -a surprise cut as he plays well in SHL for Rogle.

Lucas Raymond (W) -playing pretty well in NHL instead...  :-)

CCHL holiday schedule and OT change

 Hi everyone,  

I'll add this to the blog section as well to make finding it easier later on as well.  

One of the things I love about the Simon simulator is the numerous options but it's also one of the things I hate the most as well.  

I did some digging this week because I was reviewing players on the ice in OT as something seemed off for me.  Turns out, I was very correct.  

There is a setting that I have never checked off for us to have a tab for OT where we can set out players that we want on the ice in OT.  What has been happening is they have been taking the players we have set for the 3 man PK, and in most lineups those are the most defensive players.  We've been treating our fans to some very boring overtimes folks!  

I discussed quickly fixing this and adding the setting with the executive committee.  It was unanimous that everyone wanted to set their 9 forwards for OT and 5 defencemen that can go on the ice, in the order, they want them out there.  I'm not normally about a change in the middle of the season but this should have been in place and in the million options, I missed it.  It will reduce the number of shootouts as well since players will be on the ice in OT that actually want to score.  I apologize for that but it will be added after games on Monday night.  

You will need to send in a new lineup to account for this before games resume after our break, but please do not do so immediately.  By the time I upload if you send right away, the file will be too old so I need you to wait until the 27th when I do an update on the files.  

I'm posting a schedule of events below so we know and everyone will have two days to send it for the resumption of games.  

After games tomorrow night, we will have a one-week holiday break.  

December 21-28 - Christmas break for games.  

December 27th - files will be uploaded and updated.  All teams must send a lineup before games resume on December 29th.  

December 29th - games will resume at 7:00PM.  

Trade freeze:  No trades will be permitted after games tomorrow night until after games start back up on the 29th.  After the games are played, you may submit trades again.  

Please let me know if you have any questions.  

Thanks,

Matt

CCHL Prospects tournament postponed - not cancelled

 I'm sure this is a long-overdue blog and explanation as to why we haven't heard anything about the CCHL prospects tournament this year, so let's try to discuss it here.

The intent back in the summer was to always do the tournament over the Christmas holidays but a few things are in the way.  

One of those is that it is a busy time of year for us at work and as a result time is limited.  It wasn't supposed to be but I literally had half my team go off on maternity leave which left an enormous challenge ahead of me and left me working a lot of extra hours and weekends.  

Secondly, in that time, my wife decided that we needed to go on vacation over the Christmas holidays now that the border has opened back up to cross over the bridge.  So, with that being said, I'll be away over the holidays for a bunch of days.  

I loved the tournament last year and I think that the best thing to do is move it annually to the beginning of September each year.  

Why you ask?  

Well traditionally based on the responses and emails, most of us are starved for some sort of CCHL action after basically having nothing all summer.  What better way than to have the draft in July, compile combined rosters with your lethal lottery partner, and do the tournament starting just after Labor Day?

An added bonus to this is that we will have just completed the CCHL draft, meaning the players we picked in the entry draft will be eligible to play as well.  It's almost like the Traverse City rookie tournament and for that reason, I really love the timing of doing it then.  

It also works a LOT better for my schedule as well, and unfortunately, that does have to be a factor in things.  

With that said, we'll probably take a break on game action from the 21st to the 28th of December - a complete trade freeze for the holidays. We'll open back up the 29th for trades and a file update with games resuming on the 30th.  

I do apologize for the rescheduling of the tournament this year but I'm excited to have it go when it does in early September.  

Yours in hockey,

The beloved (or hated) CCHL Commish