Apparently they will be in the South: http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080514/SPORTS/546228184

A friend of mine who is close to the situation says an official announcement will come Monday, just in time for the draft.

Head Coach Paul Baxter is one of only three players in NHL history to have more than 400 PIM in a season. Let the gongshow begin!

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=253

it only makes sence to put them in the South division...no body else will travel up that way and up to Alaska!!

Interesting to see the article mentions Texas as still part of the South.

I was kind of negative about this franchise but now, eh -- I'm interested to see how it turns out. Or how the rest of the division alignment goes.

They should change the name of the South division to the West division, it makes more sense.

I was thinking the same thing, Ez. Have East-Central-West instead of North-Central-South.

Looks like this makes 19 teams now, which will really throw a monkey wrench into the Minnesota Showcase. Again.

Broadcaster73 wrote:

I was thinking the same thing, Ez. Have East-Central-West instead of North-Central-South. Looks like this makes 19 teams now, which will really throw a monkey wrench into the Minnesota Showcase. Again.

One team will always be left out.

A lot of team movement in the last 30 days or so, I doubt anymore movement will take place to make it 20 teams.

Texas threw it all off for the league.

Does Frankenfeld always have to use the word "footprint" in any discussion involving the league? Time for a change btw

Broadcaster73 wrote:

Apparently they will be in the South: http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080514/SPORTS/546228184 A friend of mine who is close to the situation says an official announcement will come Monday, just in time for the draft. Head Coach Paul Baxter is one of only three players in NHL history to have more than 400 PIM in a season. Let the gongshow begin! http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=253

I find it interesting that the "broadcaster" for the most penalized team in the NAHL would make this comment.

Funny thing is when WF was playing their game, being physical in your face hockey, They were winning.. Then everyone started calling them Goons and guess what..... They started taking less penalties and started the slide backwards

Re: Fan Support

Keeper23 wrote:

I have no doubt that the fan support in Wenatchee will big. The state of Washington is no stranger to junior hockey with 4 teams in the state already (5 if you include Portland, Or.), and all these teams have huge support from their hometowns. However these teams are ran like professional teams. I hope they have a first class operation, not run like a mickey mouse operation like most teams in the NAHL. The NAHL needs more professionaly ran clubs in order to survive

Well, here's the state of Washington roster:

Spokane Chiefs
Seattle Thunderbirds
Everett Silvertips
Tri-City Americans
Seattle Junior Totems
Tri-City Titans

No, you don't count the Portland Winter Hawks, because they aren't in Washington, just like the River City Jaguars aren't in Washington. A touch more research would have made your post more complete.

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080515/NEWS04/698330275/1001

St. Lou wrote:

Broadcaster73 wrote: Apparently they will be in the South: http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080514/SPORTS/546228184 A friend of mine who is close to the situation says an official announcement will come Monday, just in time for the draft. Head Coach Paul Baxter is one of only three players in NHL history to have more than 400 PIM in a season. Let the gongshow begin! http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=253 I find it interesting that the "broadcaster" for the most penalized team in the NAHL would make this comment.

I find it interesting that St.Lou has nothing to add to this thread either.

There is not going to be a "South Division".

The "West" will be the three Alaska teams and Wenatchee.

The other two divisions will have seven and eight teams. Look for more teams to fill out the west in the next few years. Phoenix is on the short list.

There is still talk under the table about the Michigan group doing there own thing. I hope they stay put. I like the idea of this league playing more games within the division and making the inter-division games special. Would be nice to see each team, each season, and that could be done with a balanced schedule that rotated trips to Alaska/West every other season with hosting the other division.