2008 Woodie Awards
In the crease
Ali Myers
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: sports
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Sure, the NHL and the potential thrill of winning the Stanley Cup draws hundreds of thousands of fans to arenas each season, but what about the little guys? I'm talking about the teams that don't get as much media recognition and often have smaller arenas than those of their NHL counterparts.
The American Hockey League (AHL) and the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) are the two premier minor hockey leagues beneath the NHL. NHL, AHL, and ECHL teams all work together under an affiliate system. For example, the Pittsburgh Penguins are affiliated with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL and the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. Players from all three teams are called up and sent down through the system depending on performance or required conditioning stints after an injury.
A player can also be sent down if he is put on waivers. When a player is put on waivers, he can be picked up by another team within 24 hours of being sent down. Otherwise, he stays with his original club.
Affiliate agreements can last anywhere from one year up to several years. The NHL provides prospects to AHL and ECHL teams. These players start the season with a minor league team to develop their playing skills and learn the system of professional hockey. A player either stays in the minors for the whole season, gets called up for part of the season, or can get called up and stay there the whole year. Other successful players leave the minors and never come back. However, career minor leaguers are out there.
NHL teams can even have a partial affiliation agreement with two minor league teams. For example, last year in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, we were privileged enough to see both prospects from Pittsburgh and the Edmonton Oilers. However, this only lasted for one season and this year, Edmonton has moved their prospects to the Springfield Falcons in Springfield, Massachusetts. This year, the Philadelphia Flyers has sent some of their prospects to the Wheeling Nailers.
There is also a championship to be played for. The AHL plays for the Calder Cup and the ECHL plays for the Calder Cup. Each league has its own playoff format and fans make predictions and buy tickets to see the championship cup lifted. Both trophies make arena tours during the next season; making sure all fans have a chance to see the respective Cups up close. Winning a championship is still not taken lightly in the minor leagues.
The American Hockey League (AHL) and the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) are the two premier minor hockey leagues beneath the NHL. NHL, AHL, and ECHL teams all work together under an affiliate system. For example, the Pittsburgh Penguins are affiliated with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL and the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. Players from all three teams are called up and sent down through the system depending on performance or required conditioning stints after an injury.
A player can also be sent down if he is put on waivers. When a player is put on waivers, he can be picked up by another team within 24 hours of being sent down. Otherwise, he stays with his original club.
Affiliate agreements can last anywhere from one year up to several years. The NHL provides prospects to AHL and ECHL teams. These players start the season with a minor league team to develop their playing skills and learn the system of professional hockey. A player either stays in the minors for the whole season, gets called up for part of the season, or can get called up and stay there the whole year. Other successful players leave the minors and never come back. However, career minor leaguers are out there.
NHL teams can even have a partial affiliation agreement with two minor league teams. For example, last year in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, we were privileged enough to see both prospects from Pittsburgh and the Edmonton Oilers. However, this only lasted for one season and this year, Edmonton has moved their prospects to the Springfield Falcons in Springfield, Massachusetts. This year, the Philadelphia Flyers has sent some of their prospects to the Wheeling Nailers.
There is also a championship to be played for. The AHL plays for the Calder Cup and the ECHL plays for the Calder Cup. Each league has its own playoff format and fans make predictions and buy tickets to see the championship cup lifted. Both trophies make arena tours during the next season; making sure all fans have a chance to see the respective Cups up close. Winning a championship is still not taken lightly in the minor leagues.