monkeypower

What was the deal with that? Was it an accident and then just wasn't fixed (NHL jersey rules?)? Was it intentional? Was it just the Coyotes being the Coyotes?

The Toronto Rock announced today they are relocating to Hamilton beginning this next season. However, the release goes out of it's way to specifically word the relocation as "relocat[ing] the team's home games" and the team will still be called the Toronto Rock, so they aren't committing to a "full" relocation (because they don't want to lose that precious Toronto branding/connection). They used to be the Ontario Raiders when the previously played in Hamilton and the release says they represent the entire province, so why not go back to Ontario? (I mean, I know why they didn't, but still). We'll see how Hamiltonians accept the name and Torontonians accept the move. Early Twitter reaction isn't great.

Got to add maple leaves in the logo to show they're a Canadian team...

I believe, from the article I posted about this a bit back, that there had been a trademark filing for "Utica Devils", but I guess they're sticking with Comets. Good, I'd say.

Called it.

I like that the wave and sand are part of the jersey wordmark, but I think there's too many colours going on. ---- My Timber Rattlers are starting the season against Beloit tomorrow. Where did we end off with that whole (failed) Snappers rebrand? There were the finalists which seemed to be widely panned, including by people outside of here, and then they were going to still be the Snappers on like weekends(?) once they moved into the new stadium at some point this season, but then the entire rebrand was pushed back a season? Is that right?

Or something like the CHL, where there are three different "leagues" under one larger, umbrella league. There doesn't need to be a dissolution of the AHL or teams breaking away to create their own leagues, just have regionalized "leagues" under the AHL banner. Though have four leagues so the AHL doesn't have a Memorial Cup thing happening. Not that I'm saying it's something I think the AHL should do, I honestly don't know (or care enough) about the AHL to really have an opinion on it, but it's a hypothetical that doesn't immediately jump to the fracturing of the AHL.

Did you miss the whole reveal of the name here...?

The Kraken really got crackin' in joining the NHL. They just got sued by a Seattle establishment called the Kraken Bar & Lounge because the team was going to name the restaurant at their practice facility the "Kraken Bar & Grill", and now according to a tweet, have decided to name the restaurant a different thing because of the lawsuit.

Never had Whataburger, never been to Texas for that matter, but I've only heard good things about it.

On April 9th, the CJHL, the Canadian Jr. A umbrella league (like the CHL but for Jr. A), announced that the BCHL submitted notice to withdraw their membership from the league effective March 24th. The BCHL is widely considered the best junior A league in Canada and has been in some minor spats with the CJHL over it. The BCHL said in their announcement they aren't withdrawing from Hockey Canada nor the BC Hockey association, so they aren't appearing to go full outlaw league at this point, but there haven't been any official explanations as to why the BCHL withdrew nor what their future plans are nor how Hockey Canada will respond. The leading theory (some facts, some conjecture based on those facts) is that the BCHL doesn't want to have to deal with player cards anymore, which are basically player rights/roster spots for teams. A player is "carded" when they sign a letter of intent with a Jr. A team and each team can only have 25 "cards" at one time and can only use 45 "cards" over the course of one season. To get a carded player from the team they signed with, the other team either has to make a player trade or a what's essentially a cash considerations trade. The BCHL also wants to be able to recruit out of province U18 and U16 players, which isn't allowed under CJHL rules. There have also been recent-ish changes to the Import Player rules, which has led to BCHL teams losing more American players to the USHL and NAHL. Those roster/recruiting rules, and how BCHL teams often make roster moves that are "technically legal", have led to the previous minor spats with the CJHL. The theory continues that the BCHL feels they are the best Jr. A league in Canada (like I said above, pretty widely accepted) and better than the USHL and NAHL at developing NCAA players (BCHL is a declining third behind both of those leagues in NCAA commitments). However NCAA commitments from BCHL (and other CJHL league) teams are down as the American leagues have improved and the BCHL's ego is trying to essentially create a Major Junior NCAA-eligible league to keep pace with the American leagues. TL;DR: The BCHL has withdrawn from the CJHL, with the leading theory being the BCHL doesn't want to play by the CJHL's roster and recruitment rules anymore so that the BCHL can restore their declining standing with the NCAA by trying to create a NCAA-eligible super league.

Both Langley and Victoria already have both a WHL team and a Jr. A (for the time being) BCHL team. Abbotsford has no hockey team besides a Jr. B team, but that doesn't matter.

To play connect the dots a bit, with that Utica trademark filing, could the Canucks be thinking about giving Abbotsford a second chance at the AHL?

There was a news article yesterday saying there was a dispute between the Devils and Binghamton ownership, including a note that the Utica Comets President filed a trademark for Utica Devils earlier this month, and then an article today saying the Devils have informed the Binghamton group that they are moving the AHL Devils.

Just saw this on Twitter, the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Jr. A Northern Ontario League rebranded as the Elliot Lake Red Wings. WordArt font and the tire and wings not facing the same direction.

I was sucked in by the branding and the regionality of it. Probably one of the worst things I have ever tasted.

I like that anniversary logo. And did the Danville Bobcats play a game? Not that I follow the SPHL in any real capacity, but that graphic you posted is the first I've ever heard of them.

Is it bad that I like that logo? I think it's a neat and clever idea.

After making a really great change to the home and away set, the Wheat Kings also snuck a new "Stealth" alternate in a couple days ago. Those sleeve numbers are so small. Also the Hitmen and Hurricanes played a colour on colour game, with the mismatched socks (all the WHL teams appeared to do it). There's no good game action photos, but you can kind of see Lethbridge in these pics and here are the highlights. The Hitmen numbers still suck.

The red and blue Brooks Bandits of the AJHL unveiled a BFBS new alternate.

Well, that's not for certain yet. The Ducks have yet to put out anything about what the Reverse Retro getup looks like, besides the jersey. The dark socks, and the pants for the matter, come from NHL 21 and we all know EA's uniform track record with uniforms.

The Henderson Silver Knights have a town crier announce the goal scorer.

MOD EDIT: Let's not encourage breaking the rules.

Couple more things about the Coyotes from 31 Thoughts podcast episode. Chayka was forced to change his phone number during/after their arbitration because Arizona harassing him because they thought he was feeding information to Friedman I guess in Arizona you can only get a a sports betting license as part of a Tribe or as the owner of a local sports team, which seems to be a reason why Merulo bought the team in the first place The biggest trouble facing the Coyotes from the NHL is if the industry growth funds were misappropriated because those funds come from revenue sharing Friedman also said the law firm who met with Coyote employees is the same one hired by the league to investigate Dale Tallon, so the NHL might be starting to look into what's going on

I guess Brampton's not a hockey market? The Battalion moved because of low attendance and then now the Beast are gone too, though the Beast aren't folding under normal circumstances.