IceHL Fantasy League
Lately, I've been trying to think of ways to revive the IceHL project. If you're new to this, the IceHL was a fantasy hockey league where readers made all the decisions. You picked what cities would have teams then voted on user-submitted logo designs. All in all, we ended up with 30 unique teams. It was an exercise to get creative, and brand teams from the ground up.
So I thought, why not set up an actual IceHL fantasy league this year? We'd use an online service like Yahoo or ESPN. Icethetics readers could own and manage IceHL teams and go head-to-head throughout the season. And maybe there could be a small prize or two for the winner.
This is not a done deal yet. I haven't decided whether to do it. But there's been a big response on Twitter and via email, so I'm going to take the next step. If we use ESPN, which is most likely, you can only have up to 20 teams in your custom league. This means we won't be able to use all of our IceHL teams, unfortunately.
My guess is there are more than 20 of you that will be interested in joining this league. (I could be wrong.) That being said, everyone who wants in will have to apply to play. Here are the rules:
Applying for an IceHL team
I'm not going to require that you have experience playing fantasy hockey, but at least that you have an attention span long enough to finish the season. I know a lot of people start a team and forget about it by December. You have to be willing to commit if you're going to apply.
If you are awarded a team, you must be willing to use the IceHL team's name and logo that is assigned to you. Changing it without permission from the commissioner will be grounds for termination from the league. So how do you apply for a team?
Application Instructions
Apply by posting a comment below which must include the following:
- Your first name and last initial (ex.: Chris S.), no screennames
- Your email address (it will only be seen by me and is the only way I'll be able to contact you if you are awarded a team)
- In the body of the comment, please note your experience, if any (remember, it doesn't matter), playing fantasy hockey and list your preferred IceHL team choices. List at least 3 and no more than 10. (If no teams on your list are available to you, one will be assigned at random.) Also please note whether you designed any of the winning IceHL logos. Teams will be assigned to owners based on order of preference. All 30 teams and logos are listed below.
How owners/teams will be selected
The only fair way I can see to select owners and assign teams is at random. However, some applicants will be given an advantage in the selection process. If you designed any of the winning logos for the IceHL and would like to participate in the fantasy league, your name will go in the hat twice, while everyone else's goes in once. This doesn't assure you'll get a team, but it does give you better odds (which you deserve for your hard work).
Other advantages will be revealed later. However, I don't want to give them away now so as to avoid potential cheating.
IceHL teams
Select your preferred teams from this list.
| Alaska Huskies |  |
Atlanta Arsenal |  |
| Baltimore Blue Crabs |  |
Boston Colonials |  |
| Boulder Beasts |  |
Calgary Cavalry |  |
| California Wave |  |
Chicago Hitmen |  |
| Dallas Outlaws |  |
Detroit Motorheads |  |
| Edmonton Kodiaks |  |
Hamilton Steelcats |  |
| Houston Hellcats |  |
Milwaukee Lagers |  |
| Minnesota Mammoths |  |
Montreal Olympiques |  |
| New Orleans Gators |  |
New York Guardians |  |
| North Carolina Nighthawks |  |
Portland Pioneers |  |
| Quebec Armada |  |
Regina Renegades |  |
| Salt Lake City Scorpions |  |
Saskatoon Sharpshooters |  |
| Seattle Aviators |  |
St. Louis Archers |  |
| Tampa Bay Barracudas |  |
Vancouver Lumberjacks |  |
| Washington Sentinels |  |
Winnipeg Winterhawks |  |
If you would like to apply for a team in the IceHL Fantasy Hockey League, please read the application instructions above. Failure to follow the 3 simple instructions will disqualify you from consideration.
Chris
Forgot to mention something. All applications must be submitted by Thursday night. None will be accepted after that time... unless I deem it necessary for some reason. Then the winners will be announced on Friday morning. If you are selected and do not reply within 24 hours, your team will be given away to another applicant.
Applications close Thursday at 11:00 PM
Chris
A lot of great response to the idea of an IceHL fantasy league. Already around 100 individual applicants looking for one of 20 IceHL teams. I think it's safe to say we'll move forward with this. And I'm going to set it up through ESPN's fantasy website, in case you were wondering.
With so many entries, I know most of you will be disappointed by not getting a team. Some have asked whether we could do two separate leagues of 15 teams so we could at least use all 30. This is still an experiment so I'm going to stick with just the one 20-team league for now. We'll see how it goes and maybe do it up next season.
My vision for that would include an extension of the IceHL project next summer in which we expand the league to 40 teams and set up two 20-team fantasy leagues in 2011-12. Then maybe we take the top 3 or 4 finalists from each group and do a playoff pool for the ultimate IceHL champion.
Back to this year's league. I have some more details for you. The 20 teams will be divided up into four divisions, each of which will be named after a popular IceHL artist. We'll be using the guys who had by far the highest number of nominated and winning logos in the project.
The IceHL divisions will be named: Wheeler Division, Smith Division, Robbins Division and Taylor Division. Just my way of making sure we don't forget about our incredible designers. By the way, the league will be available for all to see and follow along with, so even if you don't own a team, you can still feel involved.
Chris 
Reader Comments (123)
Preferred teams
Winnipeg
=Washington
North Carolina
New York
Calgary
Been playing fantasy hockey the last 5 yrs or so. As well as being involved in many mock drafts on popular hockey forums such as hfboards. It's a hobby for me and a ton of fun :)
I have been playing Yahoo Fantasy Hockey for years, in both private and public leagues. My choice of teams would be as follows: Chicago Hitmen, Edmonton Kodiaks, Milwaukee Lagers, Vancouver Lumberjacks. I really hope I get picked, it sounds like a ton of fun.
Boulder
Winnipeg
Seattle
Calgary
Been playing fantasy hockey for 8 years now and am looking to be in a league that actually stays competitive the entire year!
I have been doing hockey pools for the last 10 seasons (minus the strike-cancelled season). In the first few seasons, I was consistently finishing in the bottom of the standings. But in the last 4 seasons, I have not finished lower than 3rd place. I am competitive and persistent in pools, and always play to the end no matter where I am in the standings.
team choices:
1. Chicago Hitmen
2. New Orleans Gators
3. Seattle Aviators
I've been playing various fantasy hockey leagues for a decade and have organized office pools for the last three years or so (currently play in CFL football and English Premier League soccer pools as well). No problem for me to keep committed to fantasy sports :)
My preferred IceHL teams (beginning with top choice, descending from there):
Calgary Cavalry
Milwaukee Lagers
Alaska Huskies
Montreal Olympiques
Seattle Aviators
Regina Renegades
After that: anybody but Edmonton ;)
Been playing Yahoo Fantasy hockey for 3 years now, in 2 pools at least per year.. and follow it from start to finish no matter how I rank. Never played the ESPN one but am eager to try if thats the route it goes.
Preferred teams:
Edmonton
Vancouver
California
Boulder
Winnipeg
Washington\
Milwuakee
Edmonton
Boston
Atlanta
I have been doing fantasy leagues for the past 5 years, have yet to win but came a close second a numbe of times.
No real fantasy experience, just a life-long hockey fan.
Preferred teams:
1. New Orleans Gators
2. Tampa Bay Barracudas
3. North Carolina Nighthawks
4. Dallas Outlaws
Experience:
Have had 2-3 years of Fantasy Hockey experience. Each year I was the commissioner of a league (2 years ESPN, 1 year Yahoo) as well as participating in 2-3 other leagues each of those years as well. Currently commissioner again and involved in two other leagues. One championship, two 2nd-place finishes and one 4th-place finish. All other finishes were average or bad. Heh.
Team preferences:
Alaska Huskies
Baltimore Blue Crabs
Tampa Bay Barracudas
Salt Lake City Scorpions
North Carolina Nighthawks
Hamilton Steelcats
Montreal Olympiques
I've been playing fantasy sports for past 5 years. From Hockey to Football leagues I do it all. I use ESPN for the leagues I'm in, and I'm a very active owner. I drop and pick up players and try to makes trades.
Preferred Teams
New York
Washington
Minnesota
I played Fantasy Hockey through Yahoo! last year and thoroughly enjoyed it.
1. California Wave
2. Salt Lake City Scorpions
3. Tampa Bay Barracudas
4. Regina Renegades
I'm going into my fourth year of fantasy hockey, and my second year of being the commish of my own ESPN league. All three years I've competed so far, I've finished in the top 3 every season. I've also been a part of various playoff and olympic hockey pools throughout the years, as well as playing fantasy football until recently.
As for the teams, here are my preferred ones:
Baltimore Blue Crabs
Chicago Hitmen
Houston Hellcats
Montreal Olympiques
Regina Renegades
Saskatoon Sharpshooters
St. Louis Archers
Vancouver Lumberjacks
Washington Sentinels
Winnipeg Winterhawks
I have been doing fantasy hockey for about 5 years now and I currently own two teams on espn.com and one on yahoo, but that will not at all stop me from keeping up with this team. I lost in the finals in my league last year so I know what I'm talking about when it comes to hockey. I too hate when people can't pay attention for the whole season so don't worry, that won't be me.
Team Preferences:
1. Calgary
2. New Orleans
3. Tampa Bay
4. Boston
5. California
6. Edmonton
7. Montreal
8. Seattle
9. Baltimore
10. Winnipeg
I have played fantasy hockey only for a year, this year is my second, though in my first year I dethroned the two-time defending champ in my league to take the championship. Absolutely loved pouring over stat sheets all year, would love to do it here!
California
North Carolina
Seattle
Houston
Baltimore
Quebec
Have been playing fantasy hockey and football on yahoo for the past 2 years
Perferred teams:
NORTH CAROLINA
MILWAUKEE
MINNESOTA
SASKATOON
VANCOUVER
I've run a league and played the past 4 seasons
Team Choices:
Saskatoon
Milwaukee
Quebec
Edmonton
Regina
thanks!
Ryan Laden
reladen@yahoo.com
Played ESPN Fantasy Hockey last year. Had two teams. Finished tied for first in one league and second place in the other. This is a very cool idea and I would be honored to take part.
St. Louis
Alaska
New Orleans
i have been playing fantasy sports for 5 years hockey for 3 years played on both yahoo and nhl made the finals of my legues 2 times big fan of the website!!!
preferred teams
1. Boston
2. Milwaukee
3. Vancouver
4. California
5. Washington
6. Portland
7. Quebec
8. Calgary
9. Chicago
10 New York
I have been participating in Yahoo! fantasy leagues in the past and have joined a Nucks Misconduct league this year. My preferred IceHL teams are:
1. Saskatoon Sharpshooters
2. California Wave
3. Quebec Armada
4. Montreal Olympiques
5. Edmonton Kodiaks
6. St. Louis Archers
7. New York Guardians
8. Atlanta Arsenal
9. Washington Sentinels
Played fanasty for the 1st time last season and loved it. Im happy to finally see the IceHL finally make a return!
1. Calgary Calvary
2. Californa Wave
3. Quebec Armada
4. Milwalkee Lagers
5. Dallas Outlaws
Preferred Teams:
Montreal Olympiques
Houston Hellcats
Milwaukee Lagers
Winnipeg WInterhawks
Played Fantasy hockey for 4 years now, pride myself on never bailing on any league.
Very excited at the prospect of owning an IceHL Franchise this season!
I've played fantasy hockey leagues for a few years off and on now.
Seattle
St. Louis
Vancouver
Salt Lake
Bouler
I'm a Fantasy Hockey veteran and very familiar with both ESPN and Yahoo!'s interface and structure. If I were to take part in this league, it would be a pleasure to take on one of the following logos in order of preference:
Saskatoon Sharpshooters
Milwaukee Lagers
Boulder Beast
Regina Renegades
Seattle Aviators
Portland Pioneers
Salt Lake City Scorpions
Houston Hellcats
Winnipeg Winterhawks
Alaska Huskies
Two years fantasy experience. As a Leafs fan, it gives me something to root for. I'm the commissioner of a Yahoo! league.
California
Hamilton
Portland
Seattle
Alaska
I've done Yahoo fantasy for a few yrs, but haven't in 2 years and would love to get back into a real league. im on the east coast in DE so my chooses would be:
Washington or Baltimore
But I'll take any of them
This is my second year in fantasy hockey. I finished 7th out of 12.
1. nighthawks
2. huskies
3. gators
4. winterhawks
5. cavalry
6. armada
7. kodiaks
8. wave
9. hellcats
10. motorheads
I've played in a few fantasy hockey leagues before (Yahoo and CBC). Some have turned out better than others, but the important thing to me is that I'm active about it - I work in front of a computer, so finding time to make daily changes isn't difficult. I watch tons of hockey, and I think it'd be neat to transfer that knowledge to something practical (well, more practical). I've also been following this blog since it's infancy, and I'd love to be a small part of drawing more people to it.
The only team I prefer to have would be Vancouver - if I can't get that, I'd take anything else available.
I'd love to be the owner of one of the following teams:
1. St. Louis Archers
2. North Carolina Nightwings
3. California Wave
4. Washington Sentinels
5. New York Guardians
I've been in three Yahoo Fantasy Hockey Leagues, won my first championship last year, and also participated in many video game based hockey leagues since 2007. I'm currently a commissioner for a Yahoo Fantasy league this year, and playing in another in which I will be actively participating in to win yet another championship for my own branded team. I'm a hardcore hockey fan, and I've been an active designer with hockey uniforms. I submitted 3 jersey ideas to Icethetics back in 08, two St. Louis Blues ones and a Senators jersey that was featured in a Freakout Friday blog.
1) Vancouver Lumberjacks
2) Seattle Aviators
3) Milwaukee Lagers
4) New York Guardians
5) Boulder Beasts
Been doing fantasy hockey for about 7 years with family and friends, very excited about possibly being involved in this fantasy hockey pool !
Have played fantasy hockey forever. Didn't play last year because i couldn't get enough interested friends. This would be a nice way to get back into it.
1. New Orleans
2. Quebec
3. Minnesota
4. Milwaukee
5. Alaska
6. Edmonton
7. Atlanta
Any team would really do...
Thanks.
1) Montreal Olympiques
2) Calgary Cavalry
3) Atlanta Arsenal
4) Chicago Hitmen
5) Hamilton Steelcats
I have been playing fantasy sports for about 4 years and have been playing fantasy hockey for 3. I am very committed and will pay attention to the league the whole year
Been playing FH since 2002, and win most of the leagues(mostly because others drop out)
Very interested in this idea!
Top 3:
Salt Lake City
Seattle
California
I have some fantasy hockey experience but not alot. I am a big hockey fan and I know the game very well.
My list of preferred teams are:
1. VANCOUVER LUMBERJACKS
2. WINNEPEG WINTERHAWKS
3. QUEBEC ARMADA
4. CALIFORNIA WAVE
5. EDMONTON KODIAKS
6. SEATTLE AVIATORS
7. MINNESOTA MAMMOTHS
8. MONTREAL OLYMPIQUES
alaska
edmonton
chicago
New York
this will be my 4th season of fantasy hockey
5 years fantasy football, 2 years fantasy hockey.
1. NC Nighthawks
2. Dallas Outlaws
3. TB Barracudas
4. ATLArsenal
5. Cali Wave
6. NoLa Gators
7. Mil Lagers
1st Year playing Fantasy Hockey, multiple years of football and baseball.. but avid Hockey fan.. I live in California so its hard to find people committed to a league..
California Wave
Edmonton Kodiaks
Winnipeg Winterhawks
Vancouver Lumberjacks
Quebec Armada
Alaska Huskies
Boulder Beasts
3 yrs of experience in ESPN fantasy hockey...preferred teams:
1. Boston Colonials
2. Boulder Beasts
3. Seattle Aviators
I am an avid follower of hockey and take every chance available to join fantasy leagues.
1. Vancouver Lumberjacks
2. Alaska Huskies
3. Montreal Olympiques
4. Seattle Aviators
5. New York Guardians
6. Boston Colonials
7. Saskatoon Sharpshooters
Experience: played on yahoo for two seasons. Have played Fantasy Football for the past 7 years.
Prefered teams:
Minnesota Mammoths
Quebec Armada
Boulder beasts
Montreal Olympiques
Played fantasy hockey in a league with my friends for the past couple years but were not doing it this year.
1. Chicago Hitmen
2. Quebec Armada
3. Salt Lake City Scorpions
4. Alaska Huskies
5. Winnipeg Winterhawks
I am fantasy hockey player but only about one or two leagues a year. But I am a huge hockey fan, mainly the New Jersey Devils.
1. New York Guardians
2. Washington Sentinels
3. Winnipeg Winterhawks
4. Boston Colonials
5. Vancouver Lumberjacks
6. Calgary Calvary
7. North Carolina NightHawks
8. St. Louis Archers
9. Hamilton Steelcats
I've been playing fantasy hockey for 6 years now. I like to have no more than 2 teams a year since I want to actually focus on them and not just choose players at random and hope 1 of my 15 teams turn out okay. I've done 2 teams per season twice and only 1 team the other 4 years. Out of those 8 total teams, i've won 3 times and never finished outside the top 3 with any of the others. Not sure if this is the type of info you want or not... but there it is...
my preference of the teams/logos:
1. Alaska Huskies
2. Baltimore Blue Crabs
3. California Wave
4. Milwaukee Lagers
5. Minnesota Mammoths
6. Seattle Aviators
7. Boston Colonials
8. New York Guardians
9. Winnipeg Winterhawks
10. Quebec Armada
sorry i gave you the wrong email
I've been playing Yahoo! Fantasy hockey for about 4 years now. I've won a league, and gotten the best record in another league, and have always finished above .500.
My preferences:
1. California
2. North Carolina
3. Boston
4. Seattle
5. Quebec
6. Montreal
7. Houston
8. Minnesota
1. Quebec Armada
2. Boston Colonials
3. Minnesota Mammoths
4. Winnipeg Winterhawks
I do not mind playing with any team.
I have been playing fantasy sports for about five years, hockey from the beginning. I have used both yahoo and espn as a commissioner and participant. I have been with Icethetics from when it was NHLToL and I love the site
Would love the chance to be involved
Vancouver
Seattle
Winnipeg
Portland
I've played Yahoo Fantasy hockey and won the office pool two years ago
I have played fantasy hockey for three seasons. I have finished the runner-up in the first two seasons and won the championship the third year.
Montreal Olympiques.
Alaska Huskies
Hamilton Steelcats
New York Guardians
Boston Colonials
I've played fantasy hockey for almost five years. Gone to the finals three of those years. I have some background in design work. I work and go to school online so I am able to set time aside for this. If you need someone to commit to this, then I would be good person for this. When I take part in something, I give all I have and put in as much time that is needed for it.
Teams:
Alaska Huskies
Calgary Cavalry
Houston Hellcats
New Orleans Gators
I have not played fantasy hockey before, but I have played fantasy football and baseball for 5 years. (I won my football league in '07 with the Brady/Moss duo on my team.)
Name: Christian R.
Email: christiancryder@sbcglobal.net
Preferred Teams:
Boston
Calgary
Washington
Boulder
oops. Chris, I though email and name were only to be seen by you?