Mid-Atlantic Hockey League

Mid-Atlantic Hockey League
Founded 2007
Folded 2008
Head Office Canton, Ohio
Commissioner Jim Riggs
Current champions Indiana Ice Miners
Official Web site MAHLHockey.com

The Mid-Atlantic Hockey League (MAHL) was a minor professional ice hockey league in the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions of the United States. The league began play in November 2007. The league was a low level league designed to help ex junior and college players gain pro experience and exposure and move up to higher level leagues.

First season

The league cancelled the remainder of the 2007-08 season and suspended operations on February 12, 2008, declaring the Indiana Ice Miners league champions. The MAHL hoped to return with teams in new locations in 2008-09.[1] League president Andrew Haines (the same Andrew Haines who owned the American Indoor Football League and currently owns the United Indoor Football League) assured that the league would return to action for the 2008-09 season;[2]Jim Riggs was the commissioner of the MAHL.

Off season activity

The league hoped to expand to between eight and twelve teams, and advertised employment positions for expansion teams in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.[3] Despite stating that the Jamestown and Valley Forge franchises were the most financially solvent, the league announced that Valley Forge would not return to play in 2008, and on March 18 announced that the Jamestown Vikings would be relocated to Ohio to become the Lake Erie Vikings, citing an infamous vandalism incident that made national headlines as reason for the move.[4] On March 11, 2008, the league announced the first expansion team, the South Shore Shooters, based in Dyer, Indiana.[5] Under new ownership and a new head coach, the Indiana Ice Miners planned to return.[6] In April, the league announced the team from Wooster, Ohio would relocate to Trenton, Michigan, and play as the Trenton Warriors.[7] The league also signed a television deal with Fanz TV, a syndication service, but this was never broadcast. Expansion franchises in Battle Creek and Chelsea, Michigan were also announced.

MAHL Folded

In August 2008, Andrew Haines sold the league ownership to Andrew Miller.[8] But after touring league teams, Miller and his legal team sought to abandon the contract with Haines. Miller took his Battle Creek, Michigan franchise to the All American Hockey Association. The South Shore Shooters also joined the AAHA, and the league folded.[9]

2007-08 teams

Team City Arena Outcome
Indiana Ice Miners Indiana, Pennsylvania S&T Bank Arena League champion
Jamestown Vikings Jamestown, New York Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena Relocated as Lake Erie Vikings
Mon Valley Thunder Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania Rostraver Ice Garden Folded[10]
Valley Forge Freedom Oaks, Pennsylvania Oaks Center Ice Folded
Wooster Warriors Wooster, Ohio Alice Noble Ice Arena Relocated as Trenton Warriors

2007-08 season

Standings

GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts
Indiana Ice Miners 32 31 1 00 238 88 62
Wooster Warriors 30 14 14 02 159 158 30
Jamestown Vikings 31 13 18 00 145 170 26
Mon Valley Thunder 31 11 17 03 153 206 25
Valley Forge Freedom 30 8 20 20 131 2004 18

2008-09 teams

The following teams were scheduled to play the 2008-09 season before the league folded.

Team City Arena Outcome
Battle Creek Revolution Battle Creek, Michigan The Rink Ice Arena Transferred to the All American Hockey League
Chelsea Tornadoes Chelsea, Michigan Arctic Coliseum League folded
Indiana Ice Miners Indiana, Pennsylvania S&T Bank Arena League folded
Lake Erie Vikings Auburn Township, Ohio The Pond League folded
Pittsburgh Iron Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania Mount Lebanon Ice Center League folded
Chi Town Shooters Dyer, Indiana Midwest Training & Ice Center Transferred to the All American Hockey League
Trenton Warriors Trenton, Michigan Kennedy Recreation Center Folded

References

  1. ↑ Fanelli, Patrick. Mid-Atlantic Hockey League Suspends Play 80 Games Into Initial Season The Post-Journal. 13 February 2008.
  2. ↑ Fanelli, Patrick. Mid-Atlantic Hockey League Officials Say Hockey Will Return To City. The Post-Journal. 24 February 2008.
  3. ↑ MAHL Employment Opportunities mahlhockey.com
  4. ↑ Vikings relocate for 2008-2009 season mahlhockey.com
  5. ↑ South Shore Shooters announced as 1st MAHL expansion team mahlhockey.com
  6. ↑ Ice Miners retain general manager indianaiceminers.com
  7. ↑ Warriors relocating to Trenton, Michigan mahlhockey.com
  8. ↑ http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3705059
  9. ↑ MAHL folds http://www.prohockeynews.com/hockey/publish/mahl/MAHL_folds_MWHL_fails_to_launch.shtml
  10. ↑ No second year for Thunder - PittsburghLIVE.com

External links

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