Showcasing the players
The new Canadian International Hockey League is intent on providing multiple showcase tournament opportunities for its players before and during the upcoming 2014-2015 season.
Along with its United Hockey Union partner from the Midwest Jr. Hockey League, the CIHL will either host or is invited to participate in three confirmed showcase tournaments beginning with the Fall Summit College Classic Weekend to be held in Traverse City in mid September.
The reigning MWJHL champion Traverse City Hounds will play host to the event in which the Batchewana Attack and the Espanola Rivermen of the CIHL have already confirmed their attendance.
“We are looking forward to continued growth and success of not only our league but all of our partners under the UHU umbrella including the new CIHL,” said MWJHL commissioner Scott Gardiner. “These showcase events will give players an opportunity to show college coaches and scouts that they are or will be college hockey material.”
Following the Traverse City tournament is the Shamrock Showdown College Showcase, to be hosted by the Detroit Fighting Irish of the MWJHL on September 18-21.
Fighting Irish coach-general manager Dan Vasquez has extended an invitation to all teams in the MWJHL, CIHL and Northern States Hockey League to attend the Shamrock Showdown, which will be held at the Ice Box Sports Centre just outside Detroit in Brownstown.
HockeyNewsNorth.com is on board as a sponsor of the Shamrock Showdown.
“The goal is not only to get all of the players on the teams who attend early exposure from the college scouts but to allow the college coaches and scouts to become more aware of the vision of the UHU and its associate leagues,” said Vasquez.
Then on January 9-11, the Collingwood Ice will play host to the CIHL Winter College Classic Weekend in which all teams in the new league will participate.
CIHL founder and president Tim Clayden said he is taking steps to try to ensure that scouts from American and Canadian schools will be in attendance.
Waiting to see who will be the Coach of the Soo Batchewana team. A lot of rumours around Town names that I have heard are Sean Gags, Donnie Gags, Mike Hall, Rico Fata.
Does anyone know if the Rivermen are planning on resigning any of the players who were on the team last season. The younger players like Busby, Theriault, and Labelle would be good signings and would be names the fans were familiar with.
Good work by those involved to set these showcases up . Could prove to be valuable opportunities for the players .
I agree with you Mike Bowman. This is a good example of the 2 Leagues teaming up to promote the Players and Teams at Showcase tournamints.
Tournaments such as this are good because the Scouts can see so many kids on one weekend.
The MWJHL & the Canadian League are to be commended for this venture to showcase the players from both league’s! This is a novel idea … and an excelent one at that.
Hey Espo I hear that Theriault is coming back along with a few more like Campbell and Martin. I think Busby will be back also I am thinking that Labelle may be making the move south to be closer to Barrie.
Wow that is just impressive. Kudos to all those involved, it truly shows your dedication to advancing players in their careers on and off the ice. This must be incredibly exciting for the future players. Looking forward to watching the CIHL this year, there is a wealth of great hockey people involved.