USA Single 'A' Tier 2 Hockey Scene

As the seasons wind up and playoffs start, or end, now comes talk of next seasons Single 'A' Tier 2 professional scene.

The AAHL (All American Hockey League) is about to finish its playoff finals this weekend and the future looks bleak for the AAHL. The league finished with only 2 teams, no, not like how every other league finishes its season with only two teams left in the playoffs. The AAHL literally only had two teams alive after a tumultuous season that saw teams fold and relocate only to fold too. Personally, this league has never been a professional league and should be considered Senior or Semi-Pro league with players getting some money from time to time. Not too mention it has never finished a season with all its teams that started at the beginning of the season playing at the end of the season. This league is on its way to the minor hockey league cemetery, RIP AAHL.

The FHL (Federal Hockey League) managed to finish its first season limping on the strengths of its attendance leader, Danbury Whalers (average 1,700 per game). However, the Rome Frenzy ran out of money before the season ended and the Broome County Barons were forced to move to Cape Cod after they too ran out of money. It was discovered that clubs were giving away tickets to bring fans in, so attendance shown on the league website is not paid attendance. However, Danbury attendance is paid because of the amount of fans they have managed to bring in. Next season the FHL announced it placing a team in Northern Vermont and Illinois. Yes, Illinois, on the other side of the FHL league map (see map below). Vermont wasn't much of a surprise, but what will be a surprise is where they decide to put a team.

The NPHL (Norther Professional Hockey League) announced plans to set up shop next season in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Thats correct, they plan on playing right were the AAHL, MAHL, and MWHL have already failed. Why would this league work? I don't know. I honestly have a hard time seeing this league start, unless it revives the old dead franchises of the AAHL. The NPHL will have a weekly salary cap of $4,000 USD, meaning that a roster of 18 players gets to split the $4,000 ($222 per week for 1 player). However, it is widely known that these low level leagues do not pay on time or at all during a season. Just to compare, the FHL states its weekly salary cap is $5,050 ( $280.56 per week for 1 player). But some FHL teams couldn't make salaries this year due to low attendance.

So what is the 2011-12 season looking like? Well, I made a map to give an idea what next season could look like. The arrows are the new expansion areas for the FHL, but they have not announced cities yet, the same for the NHPL (just put league logo over states they want to put franchises in).