Madison Ice Muskies release logo

The Madison Ice Muskies of the Mid West Hockey League announced there logo for the 2009-2010 season that will commence in November.

Take a Look:

Quad City Mallards Jerseys

Here are the new Quad City Mallards jerseys for the 2009-2010 IHL Season:

Original Story Click Here

Quad City Jerseys to be unveiled tomorrow

In a article today on Quad Cities Online it is reported that the Quad City Mallards will unveil thier new jerseys at a press conference on Thursday July 15th 2009. The time or location of the press conference is still unknown but it will be featured on Slap-Shots.net as soon as the new look is released.

Central Hockey League's LIFE to get better!

If you have been to the Central Hockey League website (Link) lately you will see this banner at the top of the page:
It is this exact banner that has had CHL hockey fans debating for weeks on what this banner really means. If you click on the banner it brings you to a message that states:

"The Central Hockey League is launching something new, just for the fans, in July. The announcement will change the landscape of the hockey/sports world. Check back on www.centralhockeyleague.com for all the details later in July!"

Does this mean a new tv deal, new interactive website...we can only guess.
Let us know what you think this may mean in our comment section of this post.

Icemen To Take On IHL's Dayton Gems

The Evansville IceMen of the AAHL are excited to announce that they have come to an agreement to take on the Dayton Gems of the International Hockey League in an exhibition game on Wednesday October 14th, at 7:00pm EST at Hara Arena in Dayton Ohio.

IceMen General Manager Chip Rossetti was excited about the opportunity. "We are going to play this game on the third day of our training camp," Rossetti said. "This will give us a great opportunity to see how some of our guys will do against a higher level of competition.

"Since the Gems IHL season starts just a couple of days later, the team has agreed that they will play their rookies against the IceMen.

"This is also a great chance to introduce the AAHL product to the International Hockey League," Rossetti coninued. "We had a number of guys called up to the IHL last season and this will help so showcase some of our talent to that league. It is also a great chance for the Gems to get one last look at some of their younger guys before the season starts.

"Tickets are available by contacting the Dayton Gems ticket office at 937-275-7777. The IceMen encourage as many fans as possible to make the trip to support their hometown team and help pull for an upset.

Original Story Click Here

Look for new AAHL teams in the coming days

Sources close to Slap-Shots.net have confirmed that the All-American Hockey League will be making announcements on new member clubs in the coming days.

How many new teams is uncertain at this time but this could bring the AAHL from four teams just a season ago to six or seven teams for the 2009-2010 season.

Evansville Arena becoming reality

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Evansville officials plan to build a new 11,000-seat arena in conjunction with a major remodeling of a downtown hotel.Work could start as early as next month on what Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel (WINE’-zap-fuhl) says will be a transformation of the city’s downtown.
The plan announced Monday will put the $127 million arena on a different site than first picked after the city could not agree with property owners on a sale price. The new project will include partial demolition of the existing 470-room Executive Inn.
Developer Browning Investments plans to renovate the remaining 250-room facility, which will be connected to the arena.
Weinzapfel expects the arena to be completed by late 2011. Much of its funding will come from casino tax revenue and local food-and-beverage taxes.

Link to story here

New IHL Website on it's way

Look for a new International Hockey League website for the 2009-2010 season but not a website created by Oryan Web Design Company.

The IHL will be releasing a brand new more user friendly website in the coming weeks. For the past seven years the IHL has been using Oryan Web Design as there web provider but thought it was time for a change.

Hopefully the new website is much more interactive with videos, photo's, bio's and the such.

www.ihl-hockey.com

NEPHL...

Yet another single "A" hockey league is on it's way. In an article from American Pro Hockey they announce that the North East Professional Hockey League will launch its inaugural season this November. The league will consist of teams in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, with the possibility of additional locations in the future.

If this league is serious about making a go at this they are already off to a bad start. To start off they must have the worst league logo in history, secondly they announced there league on a blog site and last but not least they do not have a website a big no no is this tech friendly world of ours. If this league is going to work it's going to have to have all of there ducks in a row before going forward with this.

More on this story to come.

Pensacola 100% in SPHL!

A release from the Pensacola News Journal states that Escambia County commissioners have approved hockey in Pensacola and the Pensacol Ice Flyers will take flight.

"Commissioners unanimously approved:-- An ice hockey lease at the Pensacola Civic Center between the county, Pensacola Ice, LLC, and SMG Corporation, which manages the Civic Center.

The contract is designed to provide a break-even financial program for use of the ice, and the county will be reimbursed the $220,000 it is expected to invest in equipment and Civic Center repairs.

The team proposed to play there would be called the Ice Flyers, but it's still unclear whether all the hurdles have been cleared by the management of the Southern Professional Hockey League team to be ready to play this fall.The SPHL season starts Oct. 23 and concludes 22 weeks later on the third weekend in March."

For the full article click here

Vote 4 Pensacola Ice Flyers Logo!

With the on going spectulation of what the new SPHL team in Pensacola will look like the Pensacola News Journal took it into their own hands and started a Vote for your favorite Ice Flyers logo Poll.

Unfourtunatly they have also added this to the poll:

(NOTE: This polling of our readership is for entertainment purposes only; the
results will not be used to select the new Ice Flyers logo.)

Either way I hope the Ice Flyers take notice and use (#3!) one of these logo's.

The team said that a vote would be held for two weeks beginning July 1 on the Pensacola News Journal's web site. There are four finalists to choose from. Here's a preview.

To view the poll Click Here

Vote Wise!

Throwback 90's: Flint Generals

Welcome to the first logo/jersey of Throwback 90's! Well I think I went alittle one sided for this first selection only because they are my favorite hockey team of all time even with there latest woes, but anyways here it goes.

The first selection goes to the 1995-1996 Flint Generals with there General jumping out logo. This must be my personal most favorite logo the Generals have used in thier history. I believe this logo embodies what Flint Generals hockey is all about rough and tough blue collar hockey, something hockey in Flint has been missing these past few years.

Along with this logo the team sported Dallas Stars type yellow and white jerseys at home and blue and yellow jerseys on the road. As much as I like this logo these jerseys just do not do it for me, maybe its because they look this the Dallas Stars jerseys.

In the 1995-1996 season the Generals won thier first Colonial Cup with a 51-5-18 record one of the best season Flint has ever seen so far.

Throwback 90's

Slap-Shots.net is excited to release our new feature "Throwback 90's". Every week Slap-Shots.net will feature a jersey or logo from the 1990's anywhere from the original IHL to the WCHL.

Slap-Shots.net will be taking submissions so, if you remember a logo for the past and want to share it email us at info@slap-shots.net subject line: 90's.

Look for our first entry tomorrow when we unveil our first logo.

Riggs days in EPHL numberd

In a press release from the Quad City Mallards today the team has hired former EPHL Comissioner Jim Riggs as the clubs Executive Vice President.

The Quad City Mallards announced on Wednesday that Jim Riggs has been named as the club's executive vice president, according to Christopher Lencheski,
managing member of the Mallards. As executive vice president, Mr. Riggs will
direct all business activities, sales, and media and hockey operations for the
Mallards professional hockey club in the new IHL. Riggs will assume his new role
on Friday, July 10.

Where that leaves the EPHL is yet to be seen

Full Release can be found here

Quad City Mallards Press Confrenece

This may be alittle old but in case you missed it here is the link for the full Quad City Mallards Press Conference:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Flint Generals will return to IHL next season

by Dan Feldman The Flint Journal

Former Quad City Mallard goaltender Jeff Reynaert once called the archrival Flint Generals "the cowards of the league" when both teams were members of the defunct United Hockey League.
Flint and Quad City will have a chance to rekindle those old feelings after a two-year hiatus — this time in the International Hockey League.

Despite rumors of the team folding, Flint will return to the IHL for a third season.
"The Flint Generals will be playing hockey in the International Hockey League for the 2009-2010 season," said Michael Franke, chairman of the IHL board of governors. "That is 100 percent."

Quad City, along with the Dayton Gems, are joining the league this year. The Kalamazoo Wings moved to the East Coast Hockey League, meaning the IHL will have seven teams.
The Generals will return with a new look on the bench and in the front office, which may help their viability.

"To not say that it was a struggle for the Flint Generals last year would be telling a lie," Franke said. "It was a struggle."

Coach Bobby Reynolds posted he wasn't returning as the team's coach on his Facebook.com profile. He wrote his years with the Generals were "awesome."

Franke said Flint will hire a new general manager to run the team's daily operations — someone to focus on sponsorships, sale and distribution of season tickets, promotions and advertising.
"That is something that, in all truthfulness, was missing last year," Franke said.
Franke said the Generals were close to finalizing deals with the coach and general manager and expects the hirings to be announced within the next 10 days.

"From the league perspective, we are very encouraged with the behind-the-scenes work that has taken place within the Flint Generals organization over the course of the last several weeks," Franke said.

The Generals also announced in March that Ron Sanko, Chuck Glasscock, Jeremy Piper, Bob Dodge and Detroit Red Wing Kris Draper wouldn't return as owners. Travis Prince, Bob Perani, Brandon Bordeaux and Ron Mitchell remain.

The Generals participated in the IHL meetings the week of June 15 and the schedule meeting in Fort Wayne on July 1.

Their schedule will be released in the next 7-10 days. The season will open the weekend of Oct. 15.


For Original Post Click Here

Abbotsford Heat Jerseys

The Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League have just released there jerseys for the 2009-10 campaign. I for one am a fan of the jersey, it looks great with the logo and still have a Calgary Flames feel to it.

New League Announcement posponed...

The expected announcement set for today has yet again been postponed and from what it looks like the announcement will not be made until the owners of the league give Jim Riggs the thumbs up.

Check back for more

Scott Allen Head Coach?

In a news article posted on June 30th, the Quad City Times announce the possibility of Scott Allen former Quad City Flames Assistant Coach would become the head coach of the new IHL franchise the Quad City Mallards.

Allen in his time as a head coach he has been seen in stints with the Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL) and the San Antonio Rampage (AHL). Scotts all-time head coaching record is 172-195-29, Scott's time spent in the American Hockey League would be a definite bonus for the IHL club by ways of recruitment.

Adirondack Phantoms: New/Old Logo

Here is the new (well kinda new) logo for the Adirondack Phantoms. I for one am glad they didn't change is because I really like this logo and believe it is one of the better logos in hockey.

Pensacola Ice Flyers pass 800 mark in season ticket sales

The Pensacola Ice Flyers a proposed expansion team in the Southern Professional Hockey team has announced on their website pensacolaiceflyers.comthat they have surpassed 800 season tickets and now sit at 849. That 849 is 401 less than they need to play this season. Tim Kerr, the teams Owner is confident that they will in fact make that number and begin play this season.

His latest plan to increase sales in released on thier website:

Here is Kerr’s Game Plan –
We have almost 300 individual season ticket holders both corporate and individuals and we need them to find a friend or business associate to purchase one more ticket. Season ticket holders that purchase or sell one more ticket will become a “Friend of Hockey” and their name will be permanently engraved on a plaque that will be displayed at the Civic Center along with Founders Club Members. This will result in 300 more sales
Opening Day Game Jerseys – This is a one-time opportunity to get an opening day jersey from a new team. Game day jerseys have been auctioned off for thousands of dollars during the season. This jersey could be the best. The first 20 businesses or individuals that help sell ten season tickets will be guaranteed the opening home game jersey. Each person or business representative will draw a players name before the home opener and would receive the jersey from the player, with photograph and autograph at the conclusion of the game. This will result in 200 more season tickets. People interested in getting these jerseys should email
alan@pensacolaiceflyers.com.

Hopefully this team can get off the ground before this season starts.

Toldeo to hold pre-season game against Port Huron Ice Hawks

The Toledo Walleye announced that they will play two pre-season games in October and one will be against the International Hockey League's Port Huron Ice Hawks. The game will take place on Sunday, October 11th 2009 at a small local arena in the Toldeo area.

This is very exciting for ECHL/IHL fans as for the past two months fans of both leagues have been on a constant debate on which league is more superior. Although this is only an exhibition game this will still be a showing on each league capabilities.

Mississippi Surge Release Logo and Name

COAST HOCKEY ANNOUNCES NEW TEAM NAME
Logo, team colors and website also unveiled.

BILOXI, MS – After more than 3,500 names were submitted for consideration, Coast Hockey, LLC announced that the name of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) team playing at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum is the Mississippi Surge. The Surge will begin play in the SPHL in October of 2009.

Surge General Manager and Head Coach Steffon Walby says that “With the resurgence of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the power that we have as a community, we feel that this name matches our strength and courage.”

Eighty seven fans suggested the name and the team randomly selected Pascagoula native Frank Corder to receive two free Surge season tickets for the 2009-2010 season.

The Surge also introduced the team logo and colors. Mississippi Surge President Bill Yates explains, “We feel that the logo is a great representation of the electricity our fans will experience during our games.” He adds, “The blue, gold and metallic colors are bold and powerful which is what Surge Hockey is all about.”

In addition to the team name, logo and colors, the team introduced www.mssurge.com as its’ website. Fans can also get news about the team on facebook.com and twitter.com.

Mississippi Surge season tickets can be reserved with only a $25 deposit. Also, Mississippi Surge merchandise is available at the team’s office located inside the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. More information can be found at www.mssurge.com.

Expansion on the way for the AAHL

In a news article released only afew days ago the All American Hockey League (AAHL) has announced that they have delayed release of the 2009-2010 schedule.

"Due to ongoing lease negotiations, and some minor scheduling conflicts theAAHL will postpone releasing its schedule to July 18th.The AAHL must in its effort to provide fans the best entertainment value, be sure that we have made every effort to properly and effectively schedule all current teams, while allowing some additional time for expansion teams to conclude their affairs. "

The news article states that one of the reasons for the delay is a possibility of expansion within the league. Some possible locations are Lapeer (Mich.), Madison (Wisc.) and two other teams in Ohio.

Check back soon for more info.

New league on the horizon

Rumors are swirling that the year old Eastern Professional Hockey League is well finished and a new league from the same origins will appear with Jim Riggs behind the wheel yet again.

The new league is reportedly only bringing the Brooklyn Aces along but they may move to Danbury where the Madhatters have seemed to be left dead. The league will have two Long Island teams and two teams out of Massachusetts.

Word is we will hear more about this new league on Monday...Stay tuned.