CCHL Announces Reorganization and New Hiring in League Finance Department...

 I am pleased to announce a partial re-organizing of the CCHL Finance Department.

Nicol ready to enjoy a snack...

  Bobby Nicol, Czar of all Finances since the Summer of 2012, (after Dave Kehler passed away), has been named the Director of Finance for the CCHL.

 I am also pleased to announce the hiring of Chris Kash into the newly created position of Assistant to the Director of Finance for the CCHL.

 Kash will provide support to the department and report directly to Nicol. Duties will include various tasks as assigned by Bobby including new rookies being added to apba disk for the first time, researching NHL salary and contract information, making coffee, reviewing all RFA/UFA resign/release info, reserve player info, lunch runs, ensuring that all CCHL salaries are accurate with regard to actual NHL, copier maintenance, and the occasional sweeping up.

Mr. Kash will be compensated at a rate of 65% of what we compensate Mr. Nicol at, which is, for transparency sake, equal to what we currently compensate Mr. Young and roughly 70% of what Mssrs. Canosa and Corfield receive for their work.

New guy also likes food...

 Mr. Kash will now enjoy an assigned parking spot, albeit in Niagara Falls, CAN and a discount card to use in the CCHL Cafe (also located in Niagara Falls, CAN.)

It is also understood, Mr. Kash will be expected to attend quarterly league office meeting in Niagara Falls and to pick up Mr. Corfield on his way past Troy, OH to said meeting. (Donpaulo provides his own transportation from God only knows where he might find himself on those dates.)

As the newest member of the CCHL Executive team, Mr. Kash will be expected to cover the food and beverage tab for the first working dinner attended by all the above-named league officers, during said meetings.

Welcome aboard, Mr. Kash!

Niagara Falls Thunder Brace For Uncertain But Promising Future (Part One)

Niagara Falls Thunder Brace For Uncertain But Promising Future


Niagara Falls (CP) - The roller coaster season for the Niagara Falls Thunder has been one of great disappointment, yet satisfying rewards. While the Thunder have underachieved on the ice, they have overachieved off of it.

The Thunder, for years harnessed by financial struggles, has made tremendous strides in the money game this season, and it will only bolster the stability and flexibility of the franchise in the future. Often with the "future is now" mentality, the Thunder's bankroll continuously took a hit. The hit got to the rock bottom point...again. "We were saddled with so much financial burden due to many poor contracts, and big contracts, that it was tough to see any future beyond the current season," GM Nicol expressed. "Any planning was incredibly difficult. If the team was playing well on the ice, the concern was lessened, and we could count on big bonus and playoff revenue. But when the team was playing poorly, it really drew a grim picture for us," said GM Nicol.

The Thunder lost roughly $5M dollars last season in overall revenue. They lost $12M the season before. They were barely at $25M cash reserves. They were in serious trouble. The $20M league loan was implemented and granted last season to give them some kind of cash flow/wiggle room again ($40-$45M). However, the payback on the loan was coming for this season, and the next 2 seasons to come, as well as several large pay increases to roster players. Not to mention the heavy raises the season before to several key players. "We got caught in the 'having too many players who got good' in the NHL at the same time; got so good that they got big raises/contracts from their NHL teams, and those contracts reflected right over to us," GM Nicol said.

"So basically we got to the point where we had to part with some key star players who made a lot of salary," Nicol said. "We also had to shed payroll of some bad contracts, and to do that we had to find trade partners with low payroll willing to take on the said contracts while offering them prospects and picks for their trouble, which is frustrating but necessary to achieve the end goal," GM Nicol said.

Payroll wise, the Thunder currently are at their lowest level in several seasons. At roughly $68M spread out over 28 full-time roster players, 3 "M" rookies, and 2 reserve players, this is as lean as it gets to secure 33 players while maintaining a competitive and somewhat effective team on the ice. At times, the roster was down to 25-26 full-time players but GM Nicol felt the need for some added depth in goal, as well as on the blueline with the additions of Reto Berra, Richard Bachman, and this week at the player add/drop deadline, Jason Garrison. "We waited on Garry (Garrison) till the final hour, to allow us that financial flexibility due to his $2.5M contract," GM Nicol said. "He was a guy we know will be back in the NHL this season as well (from what we are told, with a new team). If for whatever reason he stays down in the minors, he will be a nice reserve contract for us next season, so very little investment in a proven reliable NHL d-man," GM Nicol stated.

Back to the overall payroll, last season the Thunder finished with a $112M burden for its roster. The season before, not much better at $108M. To cut $44M from the end of last season was a very involved and strategic process for GM Nicol. The major part of the process was finally cutting ties and saying goodbye to longtime captain and Thunder player, Jonathan Toews. "It was difficult, to say the least," GM Nicol said. "He was a huge part of our team in every facet you can think of. We drafted him as an 18 yr. old, we signed him and re-signed him and made him our captain. He only played for us all these years (a very rare thing in the CCHL)," GM Nicol replied. However, at an annual salary level of $13.8M over 4 years, it was roughly $55M owing that the Thunder could not justify anymore. "He was struggling on the ice, pointwise, production. It finally convinced me, it was time for Captain Serious to move on and continue his great career somewhere else," GM Nicol said. Enter, the Hamilton Tigers. Enjoying their most productive season in their CCHL history, they needed that one-star player to put them over the top. A trade was worked out that worked for both teams, and instantly was a financial win for the Thunder. Not to mention, the Thunder found trades/agreements to rid of Dan Girardi ($7.5M), Trevor Daley ($7.2M), Rick Nash ($8.85M), Pekka Rinne ($7.7M), Brandon Sutter ($3.3M), and Bobby Ryan ($7M)

With all this inclusive, as the team stands now, they are set to MAKE $7.4M this season, in upfront monies. This even includes the $4M the team had to pay off of the league loan and does not include the bonus and playoff revenues to come, which are expected to be $1.5M to $4.5M (playoffs), and  $1M to $3M mil (bonuses). All total, the team is expected to make between $10-$11M this season. A HUGE reward and accomplishment to say the least. Considering only 6 other teams (possibly 3-4 more teams after playoff/bonus revenue) out of 21 in the CCHL are expected to declare a profit, this is even a greater goal reached. "We fought hard to make this financial structure work, and we feel we accomplished our goal 100%," GM Nicol said. "It was a struggle let me tell you again, and we had to grind some teams in trade talks to get either some cash back or for them to take a player from us to make a deal work. Not something I liked to do, but other GM's understood, and that's the great thing about this league. A GM does a favor for you and you remember and return that favor in the future when they are in need. It's the price of doing business with loyal people." GM Nicol stated.

ON THE ICE YOU ASK? The team has all season wallowed in mediocrity. Forever .500, and trying to stay there, has been quite a marginal goal for the Thunder. It's something they did not expect, however, early on and all season long, the struggle in goal was a major part of it. "We had to part with Pekka. We didn't want too, but given his huge contract and UFA status, it was the right time to deal him. Especially with him getting off to a good start in the NHL. The timing was there." GM Nicol said. Of course, it left the team with a huge goaltending issue as Petr Mrazek simply did not progress like first thought. Desperation surely set in when the team reached out for veteran goalie Roberto Luongo for stability for the "now". Luongo has been pretty good so far for the Thunder after being a healthy scratch for Springfield for over half the season. "We knew he was rested and unused, so figured he comes to start for us and gives us 25-30 games for sure, and is fresh. It also gives us a goalie for the playoffs to give us some shot if nothing else," GM Nicol said. And with no clear UFA re-sign in sight, the Thunder have not ruled out re-signing "LU" to a new contract considering he makes just under $1.5M, which is VERY modest for a starting NHL goalie. "To get him signed for $1.6/$1.7M for another season or two, I mean that makes sense, considering how well he has been in the NHL this year for Florida. The numbers are there. However, with his serious injury, that may hamper him from being a viable option. "We are keeping an eye on it and are hoping he gets back in between the pipes for the Panthers ASAP and stays healthy the rest of the way, while keeping up his numbers. And then it's a slam dunk easy decision to keep him around while we groom a younger goalie or two here." GM Nicol said.

You want more ON THE ICE talk? You'll have to wait until PART II of this candid interview with GM Nicol. Part II has some juicy details on Rick Nash's not so friendly departure, as well as Shane Doan's meltdown which led to his ticket out of town. And of course, everyone's question on how Anthony DeAngelo won not only a full-time roster spot but a top D pairing spot this season. Also, DeAngelo's incredible offensive production. Who knew? GM Nicol said that he was the only one who did! 

STAY TUNED!

Update: How are the Musicmen prospects faring at the World Juniors?

The 2018 World Juniors Tournament is underway as the competition sees final seedings and matchups clarify and we enter the "serious" half of the annual hockeyfest.

Here's an update on the Dayton Musicmen prospects and their performance so far:

FORWARDS: 

CANADA: 

Jonah Gadjovich (F)  - 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points, + 2 and 11 shots on goal. The second rounder taken by the Canucks and currently playing for Owen Sound in the OHL. Has had a strong tournament thus far. Engaged, smart with the puck is currently tied for 10th among all forwards in tournament scoring.

Taylor Raddysh (F) - 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points, + 3 and 7 shots on goal is tied with Gadjovich in forward tournament scoring. Oozing with skill, this Tampa draftee has been leading the charge in Erie all season and is sure to be a key weapon as the tournament moves into its later stages. 
Drake Batherson (F) - 1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point, +1 and 5 shots on goal so far. A mostly quiet tournament so far for the Ottawa Senators prospect, he's holding his own against international competition as well as other players from the rival Ontario Hockey League.

Michael McLeod (F) - 0 goal, 1 assist, 1 point, +2 and 1 shot on goal through 3 tournament games. A quiet stat line, but McLeod's skating and hockey smarts combined with a taste to avenge last year's loss to the Americans. The fans in New Jersey have a good one on the way.

UNITED STATES: 

Patrick Harper (F) - 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, + 1 and 3 shots on goal. Similar to Batherson, Harper hasn't been one of the standouts so far, but the Boston University skater remains a weapon that can contribute meaningfully on a moment's notice.

Max Jones (F) - 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, +1 and a team second-best 11 shots on goal. Jones brings a reputation to the tourney of an undisciplined but talented player who - if he was able to play under control - could be a significant contributor to the USA attack. So far, the discipline is there.

FINLAND: 

Aleksey Heponiemi (F) - 1 goal, 0 assists, 1 point, EVEN and 2 shots on goal. Finland's offense has scored just 3 goals through its first two games, and Heopniemi has one of them. Not much else to report ... so far...


DEFENSEMEN:

CANADA: 

Cale Makar (D) - 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points, +2 and 6 shots on goal in three games puts Makar tied for 3rd among all defensemen in the tournament so far. A pretty impressive toolset and the calmness I've read so much about is evident in this high profile tourney.

Dante Fabbro (D) 0 pts, -1 and 4 shots on goal. Limited time due to a lingering injury hasn't helped Fabbro's production. Doesn't seem out of place, but not one of the big dogs just yet for Team Canada.


GOALIES:

UNITED STATES: 
Joseph Woll (G)  - Stopped 39 of 42 shots on goal through two games. Woll has been solid and if the USA Blueline steps up its game, he will likely shine even brighter. Surrendering the net to teammate Jake Oettinger produced mixed results. Team USA won the critical game against Canada in a shootout, but Oettinger's numbers (19 of 22 shots saved, and a .864 save percentage vs. Woll's save percentage of .929. suggests we'll see Woll, a Maple Leafs prospect, again in this tournament.

FINLAND: 

Ukko - Pekka Luukkonnen (G) - Allowing 5 goals in just two games at this level isn't going to excite many Finns but his upside is still major. Finland doesn't seem to have the horses to keep up with Canada and the US, although the game vs. the Canadians was closer than it could have been.

SWEDEN: 

Olle - Eriksson Ek (G) - Just 18, Ek hasn't seen any game action yet and may not. This experience is more about preparing him for the next few years when he's expected to capture the #1 job in nets for the Swedes.

Miners Come Close, but...

Despite strong effort, Miners lose again.

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON)

Matt Stajan and Brandon Sutter each had a pair of assists, and Erik Haula’s second period marker stood up as the winner, as the Las Vegas Aces skated to a 3-2 victory over the Sudbury Miners on Thursday night.

Vincent Trocheck and Aaron Ekblad each scored in the losing effort for the Miners, while goalie Ben Bishop stopped 23 of 26 shots faced.

Sudbury opened the scoring early in the first, when Ekblad's shot from the circle beat Aces goalie Carter Hutton cleanly to give the Miners a 1-0 lead.  The Aces would respond a few minutes later, when Trevor Daley’s point shot beat a screened Bishop to tie the game 1-1 after the first period.

In the second, the Aces would carry the play, outshooting the Miners, 10-5.  As a result of their strong play, they would take a 3-1 lead to the dressing room on goals by Haula and former defenseman Miner Ben Hutton.

The Miners would put up a fight in the third and were able to get within one on Trocheck’s goal, his 14th of the season.  Despite outshooting the Aces, 11-4 in the period, they could only get the one past Hutton as the Aces would hold on for the victory.

“Obviously we're very disappointed with the result but for the most part I thought we played well," Trocheck said.  "It's frustrating…….as one of the offensive players, we are supposed to produce a number to help the team win and we haven't done that in a while. It's not like we're missing chances, we just aren't getting many chances and that's frustrating."


MINERS NUGGETS

- Radim Vrbata currently sits as the Miners scoring leader with 47 points but was held pointless for the second straight game.

- Goaltender Jake Allen will get the start on Saturday versus the Springfield Isotopes.  Springfield currently sits in 3rd place in the Canosa Conference with 88 points. 

Miners help Norsemen end winless streak...

Norsemen snap losing streak, defeat Miners 5-2.

CANADIAN PRESS (Minneapolis, MN)

The Minnesota Norsemen picked up a sorely needed win in their first game back after Christmas.
Led by Anders Lee’s hat trick, the Minnesota Norsemen ended a two-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Sudbury Miners on Tuesday night.

Bryan Little also scored a pair of goals for the Norsemen, which currently hold the last playoff spot in the Canosa Conference after last night’s contest, three points ahead of the Sanibel Islanders.

Goaltender Pekka Rinne made 17 saves in the Norsemen net to notch his 20th victory of the season.

“We played hard. It's a good two points for us, the 27-year- old Lee said. "I felt pretty good throughout the entire game."

Tobias Reider and Marcus Foligno scored for the Miners, who were down 2-0 and 3-1 during the game. Goalie Ryan Miller, making his second Miners start, made 26 saves in the loss. “We were behind it. When you get down two, you have a problem," Miners coach Derek Sutton said. "We
weren't good enough to win."

The Miners did get a bit of a scare in the game when winger Anthony Duclair limped off the ice after blocking a shot with his foot early in the first period, but Miners coach Derek Sutton said post-game that it doesn't appear to be an injury that could cost his player a significant amount of time off the ice.

"The doctors have X-rayed it and it came back negative," Sutton said. "His foot is a little sore obviously from blocking it, but he's in good spirits. Looks like he is day-to- day.”

This re-building year, which has included a lot of losing, is starting to wear on some of the Miner players. “We are not one of the top teams," Miners forward Vincent Trocheck said. "We are one of those teams that have to battle really hard, so we need our best effort every night to have a chance to win. We came a little short here against a really skilled team. The good thing is we never gave up and we worked really hard, but at some point we need results. A loss is a loss, no matter how hard you work."

MINERS NUGGETS

- The Miners continue to struggle offensively. Going into last night’s game, they currently sit dead last in goals scored.

- The Miners will try to snap a two-game losing streak, when they return home on Thursday night to take on the Las Vegas Aces. Game time at the Vale Centre is 7:30pm.

2018 World Juniors Rosters Breakdown By CCHL Team Ownership:

The 2018 World Junior Hockey Tournament is underway in Buffalo New York.  Always an entertaining and interesting tournament, we get a glimpse of a LOT of future NHL-ers in action against their peers from around the world. 97 CCHL prospects will be participating this year.

Let's look at how many players each CCHL team has involved in this year's Tournament:

1) Wisborg - 13 players - Jonas Rondbjerg (DEN), Markus Nurmi, Aapeli Rasanen, Joni Ikonen, Adam Ruzicka (FIN), Filip Gustavsson, Timothy Liljegren, Jacob Moverare, Elias Petterson, Alexander Nylander, Axel Jonsson Fjallby, Oskar Steen (SWE) Tobias Geisser (SWZ)


2) Dayton - 12 players - Cale Makar, Dante Fabbro, Jonah Gadjovich, Taylor Raddysh, Drake Batherson, Michael McLeod (CAN), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Aleksi Heponiemi (FIN), Joseph Woll, Patrick Harper, Max Jones (USA), Olle Eriksson Ek, (SWE)

3) Parry Sound - 10 players - Jake Bean, Tyler Steenbergen, Sam Steel, Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas (CAN), Kristian Vesalainen (FIN), Andrew Peeke, Will Lockwood, Trent Frederic (USA), Vitalii Abramov (RUS)

4) Victoria - 9 players - Malte Setkov, (DEN), Otto Koivula, Joona Koppanen, Eetu Tuulola (FIN), Kieffer Bellows (USA), Ostap Safin (CZE), Dmitri Samorukov, Dmitry Sokolov, (RUS), Filip Larsson, (SWE)

5) Sudbury - 8 players - Alex Formenton (CAN), Olli Juolevi, Juuso Valimaki, Henri Jokiharju (FIN), Jake Oettinger, Casey Mittelstadt, (USA), Martin Necas (CZE), Artur Kayumov (RUS)

6) Seattle - 7 players - Boris Katchouk, (CAN), Kaspar Kotkansalo (FIN), Ryan Poehlig (USA), Vojtech Budik (CZE), Mikhail Berdin, Klim Klostin (RUS), Jesper Boqvist (SWE)

7) Minnesota - 6 players - Carter Hart (CAN), Ryan Lindgren, Mikey Anderson, Joey Anderson, Riley Tufte (USA), Linus Hogberg (SWE)

8) Springfield - 5 players - Conor Timmons, Kale Clague, (CAN), Adam Fox (USA), Marcus Davidsson, Fabian Zetterlund (SWE)

9) Siberia - 4 players - Brett Howden, (CAN) Miro Heiskanen (FIN), Filip Chytil, (CZE), Erik Brannstrom (SWE)

10)  Long Island - 4 players - Robin Salo, Eemeli Rasanen, (FIN), Logan Brown (USA), German Rubtsov (RUS)

11) Calgary - 3 players - Maxime Contois (CAN), Eeli Tolvanen (FIN), Linus Lindstrom (SWE)

12) Portland - 3 players - Victor Mete (CAN), Unto Vaakanainen (FIN), Jeremy Swayman (USA)

13) Ottawa - 3 players - Josh Norris (CAN), Andrei Altybarmakyan (RUS), Gustav Lindstrom (SWE)

14) Georgetown - 3 players - Janne Kuokkanen (FIN), Dylan Samberg (USA), Tim Soderlund (SWE)

15) Niagara Falls - 2 players - Kailer Yamamoto (USA), Maxim Sushko (BEL)

16) Hamilton - 2 players - Colton Point (CAN), Ondrej Vala (CZE)

17) Sanibal - 2 players - Callen Foote (CAN), Frederik Lindstrom (SWE)

18) Fort Erie - 1 player - Mikhail Maltsev (RUS),

19) Dartmouth - 1 player - Libor Hajek (CZE)

20) Las Vegas - 1 player - Dillon Dube (CAN)

21/22) Reykjavik, Halifax - 0 players

T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the league...(By Matt Young)

T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the league
Plenty of teams were stirring, the trade deadline approached;
The players were traded to their new teams with care,
In hopes that a Kehler Cup soon would be there;

The fans were all snug in their beds,
While visions of red goal lights danced in their heads;
With Imama in the minors and I in my fifty mission cap,
Had just settled down with the CCHL map,

When out in the parking lot there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the boardroom to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like the Finnish Flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of arena lights to objects below,
When what to my wandering eyes should appear,
But a team bus, bruised defencemen, and a six-pack of beer,

With a little old driver, so harmonious and wearing a Musicmen shield,
I knew in a moment it must be Bill Corfield.
More rapid than Bure his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and sung, and called them by name;

“Now Sbisa! now, Irwin! now, Stuart and Del Zotto!
On, Ruhwedel! On Girardi! On Tennyson and Barberio!
To the end of the rink! Hit them into the wall!
Now shot block away! Shot Block away!, Shot block away them all!”

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the arena roof
The prancing and pain of each dman’s gigantic hoof.
As I drew in my hand and was turning around,
In through the door, Bill Corfield came with a bound.

He was dressed in a suit, from his neck to his foot,
And his players were all tarnished with athletes’ foot;
A bundle of picks he had in his book,
And he looked like a used car salesmen using his latest hook.

His eyes – how they twinkled! His goatee how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose a tad bit hairy!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the look on the face guaranteed a great show;

The list of transactions he held in his teeth,
The players on it that he would bequeath;
He had a broad face and a shrinking belly,
That shook when he laughed like he’d just ripped off Peter Chiarelli.

He was conniving and quick, pretty damn proud of himself,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
His trade offer was fair; I didn’t smash my head,
It gave me to know it wasn’t a trade to dread;

He spoke many a word, explaining why the trade would work,
And filled my roster nicely; he wasn’t a jerk,
And grabbing a microphone to his face,
He’d announce to the group we have found commonplace;

He sprang to their bus, kicked his traded player to the curb,
And he wrote up a good old-fashioned $50K trade blurb.
But I heard him exclaim, as they drove out of sight,
We may have lost the game, but we put up a good fight!

It was not what we thought he would say with the holiday,
It’s not like they dressed Brad May.
We thought he’d exclaim with all his might,
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!