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)
I have been playing fantasy hockey for the past 3 years. I always play for the full year no matter how my team is doing. I check on my team everyday and am always willing to make a move.
Teams:
Detroit Motorheads
Atlanta Arsenal
Edmonton Kodiaks
Houston Hellcats
St. Louis Archers
Alaska Huskies
team preference
1) milwaukee
2) alaska
3) saskatoon
4) vancouver
5) tampa bay
I've been playing fantasy hockey for at least 5 years, I love keeping up with my team and following my players as it makes me enjoy watching hockey even more. I always end up doing fairly well because I pay attention and follow the NHL religiously. I think this league sounds like a fantastic idea and i'd love to be a part of it.
i've been in fantasy hockey league since i was a teeager compiling stats from the newspaper every week back in the late 80's and 90's. Currently i've been commisoner of a league of friends for the last 5 years on Yahoo, never used the ESPN site. I live in Canada, eat, sleep, breath hockey, i've enjoyed this site ever since i found it about a year ago and would love to keep the IceHL going, think it's a great idea.
1. Winnipeg Winterhawks
2. Quebec Armada
3. Hamilton Steelcats
4.Calgary Calvalry
I've started playing fantasy hockey this season. I already have a team in a league on Yahoo, but I believe I can manage two.
Teams:
Wave
Guardians
Huskies
Archers
Just started fantasy hockey last year with espn. Very familiar with fantasy football, and aware how lame it is when people quit because they're team is doing poorly. Hockey is by far the most entertaining sport and having fantasy hockey with this new twist would be a pleasure. Being a die hard Dallas Stars fan my obvious choice is Dallas Outlaws, love all the logos, but that one hits the mark. Big fan of this site, and wish that Dallas would get a new sweater besidies the plain black we're currently stuck with. I'm hoping somebody up top checks this site out for ideas.
1. Dallas Outlaws 2. Minnesota Mammoths 3. Tampa Bay Barracudas. 4. New Orleans Gators 5. Boulder Beasts
6. Portland Pioneers 7. Baltimore Blue Crabs 8. Houston Hellcats 9. Alaska Huskies 10. St. Louis Archers
I have played fantasy hockey for a few years now, and i loooove reading expert predictions on teams and players, which is why i have a stack of hockey magazines that is the size of me! i love the site, and i think it's awesome that you decided to put the teams made by such creative people, to league-use in a way. thanks, chris!
1- Milwaukee Lagers
2- Minnesota Mammoths
3-Calgary Cavalry
4- Edmonton Kodiaks
5- Atlanta Arsenal
6- Boston Colonials
7- New Orleans Gators
I don't care what team, just give me random one.
Have played fantasy hockey for a few years.
1. New York Guardians
2. Winnipeg Winterhawks
3. Calgary Cavalry
4. California Wave
5. Chicago Hitmen
Montreal Olympique
Quebec Armada
Calgary Hitmen
Saskatoon Sharpshooters
Other than that ANY team at random would be more than welcomed.
I've been in multiple fantasy baseball simulation leagues using the game OOTP, therefore I know how to run a team even though most of my experience would be in baseball. I am a hockey nut however; canadian born and bread. Habs fan for life. I'm in fantasy hockey leagues every year. I stay up to date with all the news and transactions and have a very sophisticated knowledge on NH: happenings. Thanks for the consideration. If its a bonus, I share the same name and last name initial as you!
ive played fantasy hockey for a couple of years now. love the idea of an icehl fantasy league glad to see it make its come back! Email is petro8666@aol.com
teams:
NEW YORK MINNESOTA
CHICAGO CALGARY
MILWAUKEE WASHINGTON
NEW ORLEANS DALLAS
NORTH CAROLINA
MONTREAL
I have been playing fantasy league for about 4 years now, and I love it. I was kind of disappointed when I couldnt get into the league that I am always in this year, so I must play this. I am very competitive and I'm sure to pick a good team. Thanks Chris!
Prefered Teams:
1. Baltimore Blue Crabs
2. Vancouver Lumberjacks
3. Salt Lake City Scorpions
4. Seattle Aviators
5. North Carolina Nighthawks
6. Calgary Hitmen
7. New Orleans Gators
I have played Fantasy hockey and football for the past 3 years.I am usually in multiple leagues at the same time and am able to manage them all so keeping up and being committed to the project will not be a problem. I am very interested in playing.
Team Preferences
1.) Calgary
2.) Washington
3.) Alaska
4.) Vancouver
5.) New Orleans
Vancouver Lumberjacks
Regina Renegades
Edmonton Kodiaks
Alaska Huskies
Winnipeg WinterHawks
I've been playing fantasy hockey for about 3 years now. Hockey is my favorite sport. I currently have one league on ESPN with my friends and a couple on Yahoo! with random people. I'm easy to get along with but also I'm very competitive. I'm from around the Pittsburgh area and I would love to be in this league to hopefully win and show that people around here know more about hockey than just the Penguins. If you choose me, I will be dedicated to the league because I don't really have much of anything else going on at the moment besides school. I'm on the computer a lot so it will be checked frequently. In closing, pick me because I love hockey, I'm competitive, and I'm dedicated.
5 years fantasy experience, have run leagues for 3 years, won one time, runner up another time
New York Guardians
Milwaukee Lagers
Baltimore Blue Crabs
Preferred Teams:
Montreal
Quebec
Saskatoon
Vancouver
New York
Edmonton
I've been involved in Fantasy Hockey since 1995, both as a participant and a commish. I eat, breathe, piss, s*** hockey. I love new challenges and find myself intrigued by this league. Bring it!
No reeeeeal experience, just a hockey mega-fan.
Preferred teams:
Vancouver
Montreal
Quebec
Hamilton
Chicago
Fantasy hockey really dug into my soul during college. I've always enjoyed the sport but I became really passionate about it with my friends. It's a lifeblood and I'm addicted 100%!
Washington
Quebec
Boston
Seattle
New York
Hamilton
Thanks!!!
Four or five years of fantasy hockey experience -- won once, commished two other leagues -- but I've had trouble consistently finding a good group of owners to stick it out through the entire season. Have also commished a Fantasy Football keeper league for the last 10 years (won twice).
Preferred teams:
Washington
Milwaukee
Hamilton
Detroit
California
Quebec
Cheers.
Oooh ya. Baltimore should be added to the list! When I lived in Washington we would suck down beers and trays of those crabs all night long!
i've played yahoo hockey for first time last year but played ESPN fantasy hockey for the last 4 years
i'd like
1 North Carolina Nighthawks
2 Chicago Hitman
3 Alaska Huskies
Any team is fine with me. I just want in!
I've been playing in fantasy leagues for about 6 years now. Have won a few on yahoo. Recently hosted my own with 20 guys in it at my house. In several pools. Enjoy it very much.
CALGARY CAVALRY
WASHINGTON SENTINELS
EDMONTON KODIAKS
REGINA RENEGADES
CHICAGO HITMEN
No more applications are being accepted for the 2010-11 IceHL fantasy hockey league. Thanks to everyone who applied. Winners will be notified shortly.