WHA
World Hockey Association
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
WHA Super Junior League
If you visit www.worldhockeyassociation.net, you’ll see this:
WHA SUPER JUNIOR LEAGUE - TRYOUT CAMP
2005-2006 Season to consist of six teams in Florida division
TRYOUT CAMP INFORMATION:Date/Time:
September 24 - 8 p.m. until 11 p.m.
September 25 - 8 a.m. until 11 a.m.Venue:
Lakeshore Memorial Arena
Etobicoke, Ontario
If the plans are the same as I heard previously, “super” juniors players have a maximum age of 23.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
WHA Becoming More of a Reality
While the league is still far off from being considered a possible alternative for players next season, with or without an NHL, the tournament the World Hockey Association plans on holding this spring is certainly looking like it may happen.
Scott Burnside writes for ESPN about the WHA securing GM Place in Vancouver, and about a European group of investors looking to purchase part of the league. He adds some information about further rules changes and the possibility of Sidney Crosby playing (written as Sidney and Sydney in the article, with the former being the correct spelling).
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Recchi Not Committed to WHA Yet
Mark Recchi confirmed he spoke to Jeremy Roenick about the WHA tourney that is scheduled to be held in May, but he wasn’t sure how his name got on the list of players according the Post-Gazette (via Jamie Fitzpatrick).
At the time of this posting Recchi’s name is not on the player list.
The WHA declined to comment.
From the PG story:
Recchi said that if he declines to participate, “they won’t have a hard time replacing me,” and expressed misgivings about money that will go to the players. The WHA Web site said there will be “$2 million in prize money” and each participant reportedly will receive $20,000, but Recchi said he feels this should not be a for-profit venture for his colleagues.
“I’m not too keen on part about getting paid,” he said. “I’d rather it all go to charity. I want to do it for the right reasons. I don’t want to do it for money.”
From Jamie:
Assuming the tournament goes ahead, the big question isn’t who will play. It’s, how will they play? There’s $2 million in prize money at stake, small change by NHL standards. If you’re a pro hockey player, are you ready to go through walls to win a short, meaningless, one-off tournament?
It’s good to know Recchi doesn’t think the tourney will have a hard time finding players, but both articles hint that money won’t be a factor in play. If that’s the case, then the tournament could be doomed for entertainment failure. The last thing anyone wants to do is watch the OSHL again. I think a possible extra 100k per player (estimated from the $2 million prize) will indeed be enough to motivate some. Quite a few players here in NA and Europe are playing with passion simply because they’re being paid and that it means something to at least part of the roster, and the desire to win can certainly rub off. While a few on the list make some nice cash in the NHL, quite a few don’t and I have little doubt this money is all the incentive needed to make them play hard - and that could be enough to have the snowballing “I don’t want to be shown up” effect and give us some emotionally-charged hockey.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Help Rule the WHA
The World Hockey Association is asking fans what rules they’d like to see in place.
Take the survey
View the results
Some interesting questions are up there. While I was expecting no-touch icing and touch-up offsides, I wasn’t expecting to be asked what I thought of icing on the penalty kill or the removal of a gamer for third-man-in. I thought I might see an instigator question, which there’s not, but a WHA representitive told me they don’t really expect much fighting in the upcoming tournament. Neither do I, but when you see Jim Cummins name as a confirmed player, you think it might be a possibility. So while they used an All-Star comparison with me, I was thinking more like World Cup.
I was also told to expect a television announcement within the next week or so. I have to say I’m not sure if I care who carries it, as long as it’s carried. It’ll be hard to judge the play if it can’t be seen.