CIHL admits mistakes, looks ahead
The Canadian International Hockey League is hoping that 2015 is a happy new year.
To be sure, the CIHL is embracing 2015 and moving ahead with plans to promote its student-athletes at three upcoming showcase tournaments.
All three showcases will be held in Michigan, which makes for easy access for American college hockey scouts. Michigan is home to a number of college hockey programs.
The first, which is slated for January 8-10, will be hosted by the Kalkaska Rhinos of the CIHL. Other teams scheduled to participate are the Batchewana Attack and Espanola Rivermen of the CIHL, the Detroit Fighting Irish of the Midwest Jr. Hockey League and the Central Michigan University Chippewas of the Division 3, American Collegiate Hockey Association.
Then, from February 6-8, the aforementioned Detroit Fighting Irish of the MWJHL will play host to a tournament that will include CIHL teams.
Looking further ahead, the Fighting Irish will play host to yet-another tournament — the CAN-AM Independent International College Showcase — from April 3-5.
One of the top teams in the three-year old MWJHL and coached and managed by seasoned hockey boss Dan Vasquez, the Fighting Irish has already moved more than two dozen players on to ACHA and Division 3, National Collegiate Athletic Association schools. All players received financial awards of $6,000 or more, Vasquez told HockeyNewsNorth.com.
CIHL founder and president Tim Clayden is appreciative of the opportunity to showcase players from his first-year league — especially the non-American skaters.
“American players understand the NCAA and ACHA college hockey process as they have grown up with the criteria of these university programs,” said Clayden. “It is Canadian and European student-athlete players who need a little more guidance and help with direction and their promotion to the U.S. college level of play.”
PAST, FUTURE
Clayden is hopeful that the upcoming showcase tournaments will allow the CIHL to move forward and put behind it what can be best described as a trying four months for the new league, which is now operating with four teams — Batchewana, Espanola, Kalkaska and the Sudbury Royals — following the November departure of four southern Ontario-based entries.
“CIHL Hockey cannot deny that our league has experienced unforeseen growing pains that has hurt our growth in our inaugural season,” said Clayden. “We have had unfortunate issues that have made everything involved that much more difficult.
“But we remain committed to continuing what we have started on behalf of all players and each community that has remained involved,” Clayden continued. “Quitting is not an option. Quitting sends the deepest, insincere message to the student-athlete players and parents and communities that have not quit on our CIHL Hockey vision. Our executive and remaining teams will keep the very same commitment.”
Clayden said that even with the growing pains, there is still a demand for the CIHL Hockey model from not only European and North American players but also from various communities and owners that have inquired about becoming involved as early as next season.
Clayden said he will be more careful in welcoming ownership groups in the future.
“The future is bright with interest,” Clayden added. “However, a proven ownership screening process and expansion committee is now in place to avoid the same pitfalls that CIHL Hockey has experienced this season.”
Clayden said the next three or so months will determine the success of the league in its first season — one that will not be determined by wins and losses but in how many student-athletes the CIHL has helped better prepare for the next level of play.
“Playing in college showcase tournaments in the second half of the season is an expensive undertaking for all teams. Part of the CIHL Hockey vision is to ensure our student-athlete players get out and in front of the schools, through college showcase tournaments, league play and the promotion of individual players to American college and university programs that meet each player’s family budget,” he noted.
FINANCIAL AID, ELIGIBILITY
Clayden pointed out that well in excess of 200 ACHA and Division 3 NCAA schools offer financial aid to gifted student-athletes from the United States, Canada and European countries.
“Due to lack of knowledge of the recruiting process and lack of exposure, thousands of athletes are overlooked every year. CIHL Hockey is committed to changing that for each of its players and teams,” Clayden said firmly.
“You can’t play in college if you are not academically eligible, no matter how good you are. Our newest program, the CIHL Hockey Academy Student-Athlete Players Services, will offer a step-by-step plan that will help talented young hockey players with their promotional needs. Our goal is to help each of our academy-committed players get recruited. Our primary goal is to help athletes find the best situation that meets each individual family budget, while allowing them to continue to participate in a sport they love,” added Clayden.
Another good article by Randy Russon and I want to say that many Irish Fans are looking forward to playing the Teams from the Canadien League. I believe that all good teams from here do apprecciate the opportunity to play teams from Canada and I know that in talking to some of the Irish players who we know that they to are looking forward to these opportunity’s.
Yes for certan mistakes have been made and it is good to see that Mr. Clayden is admitting these mistake’s that have been made.
The Batchewana Attack are the best team in the League and even they have made mistake’s so yes this is a growing process. The Attack have many good people on board of course lead by Denny and also we should mention Charley, Jimmy, Remo as Assistants who help out a great deal. The Attack are going to improve there operation in time of this I have no doubt. Happy New Year to all.
Good Artacle Randy. Lets give this League the chance that it desserves !!!!!!
The Batchawana Attack wood beat most of the Teams in the N.O.J.H.L. if given the chance !!!!!!
Peachy go Manitoolin an bring in New Year with big bang lass nite
ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
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Good job admitting mistakes were made.
Unlike other leagues Tim has the manhood to admit these points instead of blaming everyone else like someone else does.
Student athletes are the main concern here though.
Looking forward to the second half of the season.
..You are “right on” Mason Dixon 100 % Correct.
RR: Any truth to the rumor that the Beavers will be leaving the Nojhl to join up with the Cihl for next season??
I here one of are Goalies want to go and play in Canada for 1 of them teams up there that will be at Kallkaska. 4 goalies we have is 1 to many maybe even 2 to many.
I wonder if Randy has herd of this being that he seems to no all of whats happenin.
CIHL will have a future because of the so many grate hockey people that are involved – examples – Tim Claydon, Tommy McCarthy, Denny Lambert, Charley Murray are 4 men who have been around the game for more than 100 yrs combined total.
Hurd..Batchewana against ABITIBI…give me a break…no contest…..
timminsflash you are right…Batchewana wood beat Abitiby by 3 or 4 goals…no contest as you say.
Easy now Hurd…
What Im hearing is that Hill or Dombroski will be traded to the “C.I.H.L.” League.
Randy Russen have you heard of this? Your being quite quiet.
who is your source for this trade and to where would they go?
My source is anonimous you should know that/
Well what if I was a close friend to Hill and he doesn’t know what’s going on and wants to know which is getting traded or are you just blowing smoke.
If you are a close friend to Hill then I suggest you act accordingly.
“What I’m hearing is that Hill or Dombroski will be traded to the “C.I.H.L.” League.” Players do not have to accept trades between the CIHL & the MWJHL.
Players cannot be traded as it is a PFP league.
There are trades made in the MWJHL, the CIHL and the NA3HL, Dave — and all three leagues are pay-to-play.
That would be incorrect Dave! Players can be traded for pizza & a roll of tape if both teams and players agree to the trade and the players agree to report. But the player does not have to report to a team not sanctioned by it’s governing body of the team he originally signed with.
I never new that one sanctioned league ( mwjhl sanctioned by AAU could make trades with a independent league ? Would the AAU approve trades being made between the 2 leagues ?
Sure hope the American boys on the Attack that are without representation get as much of an opportunity to be scouted by the colleges as those with representatives speaking for them. A lot of these boys were promised they’d be scouted when they joined the team and to see that it might come to pass is encouraging, if they all get the same looks from the scouts.
Pretty sure that the MWJHL is not apart of the AAU anymore but I could be wrong. Maybe you can confirm that.
Mason, MWJHL is still a part of the AAU. It is the NSHL that left the AAU prior to the start of this season.
Ok thank you I thought I read somewhere that were leaving the AAU
I’ve. Looked everywhere and there is nothing about the mwjhl leaving the AUU .
Hey Bristol type into google
Go the AAU site ther mason Dixon and funny thing the mwjhl is still under there site , so maybe go take another look there pal
Again and slowly if you google it i read an article that said that. Okay bristol so google it whether true or not that’s what it said. Hello and stay awake thank you.
http://aauicehockey.org. Looks to me like the mwjhl is still under he AAU . .. Interesting
Not to interfere but as I told Mason prior, the MWJHL is still a part of the AAU. It is the NSHL that departed the AAU last fall.