The Minor Pro Hockey Scene

I love sports and I have always enjoyed learning about the minor pro levels. However, there is a trend in the US with minor pro hockey leagues popping up every year only to fold either mid season, or at the end of the season. My examples? Here they are

Mid-Atlantic Hockey League (MAHL)- Started in 2007, folded after 1 season; 5 teams based in Pennsylvania, upstate New York, and Ohio.

Teams
Indiana Ice Miners- Indiana, Pennsylvania
Jamestown Vikings- Jamestown, New York
Mon Valley Thunder- Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania
Valley Forge Freedom - Oaks, Pennsylvania
Wooster Warriors- Wooster Warriors (folded during season)

Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL) - Founded in 2008 and managed to play a full season despite issues with numerous franchises running out of money.

Teams
Brooklyn Aces - Brooklyn, New York
Danbury Mad Hatters - Danbury, Connecticut
Hudson Valley Bears - Poughkeepsie, New York
Jersey Rockhoppers - West Orange, New Jersey (League Champions)

NorthEast Pro Hockey League (NEPHL)- Founded in 2009 from the ashes that was the EPHL, the league never really started. Announced 6 teams to start the season but majority owner of league had severe health issues and decided to drop out. However, 3 teams stayed on with one folding after month. Therefor the two team "league" continued with no fan fare. Not sure if any player actually got paid.

Teams competing
New York Aviators - Brooklyn, New York -(2009–2010
Rhode Island Storm - Kingston, RI (2009–2010)
Connecticut C-Dogs - East Haven, CT (Folded Dec.2009)

Teams that folded before season started
Twin City Yeti - Fitchburg, MA
New England Pharoahs -Salem, NH (what a horrible team name, should have seen the logo!)
Boston Wings - Saugus, MA

Midwest Hockey League (MWHL) - Founded in 2008, but never actually played one game - all teams folded except one team that decided to join the All-American Hockey League (Madison Ice Muskies). But that team had a very short life in the AAHL, folding after two months due to players not getting paid and them being evicted from apartments because team had not paid rent.

All-American Hockey League (AAHL)- Founded in 2008 as the AAHA, this is the league that continues to hobble along for the last three seasons despite teams vanishing overnight, only to reappear like an apparition. Have been reports of players never getting paid, being evicted, and having to sell their own car to pay for food. But somehow, someway the league forges on for another season.

Teams
2008
Battle Creek Revolution
Chicago Blaze
South Shore Shooters became Chi-Town Shooters (new owner)
Evansville IceMen
Motor City Gamblers became Detroit Dragons (new owner), but folded mid-season

2009
Battle Creek Revolution
Chi-Town Shooters
Evansville Icemen
Chicago Blaze - Folded mid-season
Detroit Hitmen - relocated - became Western Michigan Blizzard
Madison Ice Muskies - Folded mid-season

2010
Battle Creek Revolution
Queen City Storm
Lapeer Loggers
Troy Bruins
Madison Ice Muskies - relocated became Wooster Korn Kings, but folded after 2 games
West Michigan Blizzard - relocated to Indiana Blizzard - But folded
Chi-Town Shooters - Started mid season to replace Indiana Blizzard

Federal Hockey League (FHL) - Founded 2010. This league has shown a little more promise than the others with the strength of one franchise, Danbury Whalers. The Whalers are a well marketed and team and prove it with their league high average paid attendance of 1,800, I say Paid because it is noted that a lot of the other teams are giving away tickets to try to get fans to attend. Case in point the newly relocated Broome County Barons franchise was only getting around 75 paid fans a game, yet averaging 300. The franchise is now on Cape Cod.


Akwesasne Warriors - Akwesasne, Ontario
Thousand Islands Privateers - Alexandria Bay, New York
New York Aviators - Brooklyn, New York
Broome County Barons - Chenango, New York - relocated to Hyannis, MA
Rome Frenzy - Rome, New York
Danbury Whalers - Danbury, CT

Now I am hearing that not one, but two new 'leagues' are trying to start up pro teams. One league the Northern Professional Hockey League (NPHL) is planning on setting up shop right in the middle of the AAHL's market (doesn't make sense right?). Then a new league with a twist has emerged on the Atlantic seaboard, the Atlantic Hockey Association (not be confused with the Atlantic Hockey Association, which is a NCAA Division 1 hockey conference).

This AHA is apparently going to have only have a few season games, but have its teams play an independent schedule meaning they can play whoever they want. But my question is with this style of a league be more successful than the others that have come before it? Only time will tell. Currently the AHA only has one team called the New Jersey Spartans (not to be confused with the Amateur Football team, New Jersey Spartans). Despite the leagues poor efforts for originality, maybe a league with only a couple official league games, will allow the teams to draw in some games with senior league teams or travelling teams from Europe. Either way, it seems that no matter how poor the economy, no matter how many unwilling fans there are, these minor pro leagues will continue to pop up.