Comments on: Leonard Drops the Gloves http://morehockeylesswar.org/blog/archive/2008/04/08/leonard_drops_the_gloves/ Peace, Justice and Hockey Fri, 16 May 2008 19:45:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Steve http://morehockeylesswar.org/blog/archive/2008/04/08/leonard_drops_the_gloves/#comment-18027 Steve Sun, 11 May 2008 16:25:23 +0000 http://morehockeylesswar.org/?p=429#comment-18027 Hey Gary, actually the Buckaroos were fully pro, and only went semi-pro when the WHL folded in '74. Many folks think the level of play in the old WHL was on par with the NHL. The Winter Hawks are Canadian major junior, which is at least a level above junior A. (USA hockey now has three tiers of Junior A, just to add to the confusion; tier I is as close to Canadian major junior as USA hockey gets, but even that's not quite there. Then there's tier III junior A, like the Jaguars, which are several steps below the Hawks.) Canadian major junior is the top level of junior hockey in the world. Of the four teams left in this year's NHL playoffs, only one -- Detroit -- doesn't have a former Winter Hawk on its roster. Hey Gary, actually the Buckaroos were fully pro, and only went semi-pro when the WHL folded in ‘74. Many folks think the level of play in the old WHL was on par with the NHL.

The Winter Hawks are Canadian major junior, which is at least a level above junior A. (USA hockey now has three tiers of Junior A, just to add to the confusion; tier I is as close to Canadian major junior as USA hockey gets, but even that’s not quite there. Then there’s tier III junior A, like the Jaguars, which are several steps below the Hawks.)

Canadian major junior is the top level of junior hockey in the world. Of the four teams left in this year’s NHL playoffs, only one — Detroit — doesn’t have a former Winter Hawk on its roster.

]]> By: Gary Walter http://morehockeylesswar.org/blog/archive/2008/04/08/leonard_drops_the_gloves/#comment-18020 Gary Walter Sun, 11 May 2008 06:03:13 +0000 http://morehockeylesswar.org/?p=429#comment-18020 Steve, Actually Portland used to have a Bona Fide semi-pro hockey team - the Portland Buckaroos. Of course, that was back when the Western Hockey League was on par with the EHL and the CHL. But the blazers sacked that too. Harry Glickman, the former GM of the Buckaroos helped bring the Blazers to town, which has been a success. However, Portlanders, with their focus on areas outside of arena sports, couldn't support a semi-pro and a major league franchise. So, the Bucks went away and we were left with the Winterhawks - which is basically Junior A hockey. The loss of the Buckaroos also hurt PAHA (Portland Amateur Hockey Association) - evidenced by fewer ice rinks in a city that has doubled in size. I don't think the NHL players strike helped this any either. Hockey is a great sport, but those who live in the temperate environs called "the States" haven't completely figured that out yet. Thanks for listening, Gary (never quite good enough for the NHL) Steve, Actually Portland used to have a Bona Fide semi-pro hockey team - the Portland Buckaroos. Of course, that was back when the Western Hockey League was on par with the EHL and the CHL.

But the blazers sacked that too. Harry Glickman, the former GM of the Buckaroos helped bring the Blazers to town, which has been a success. However, Portlanders, with their focus on areas outside of arena sports, couldn’t support a semi-pro and a major league franchise. So, the Bucks went away and we were left with the Winterhawks - which is basically Junior A hockey.

The loss of the Buckaroos also hurt PAHA (Portland Amateur Hockey Association) - evidenced by fewer ice rinks in a city that has doubled in size.

I don’t think the NHL players strike helped this any either.

Hockey is a great sport, but those who live in the temperate environs called “the States” haven’t completely figured that out yet.

Thanks for listening,
Gary (never quite good enough for the NHL)

]]>