Wanted: 17 New IceHL GMs!
Before you read this, I recommend scrolling down to read last week's IceHL update.
I'm now in the process of getting the 2011-12 IceHL fantasy hockey season off the ground. Last week, I got in touch with the team owners from our inaugural season in 2010-11 to see who would be returning. As it happens only 12 of the 20 are sticking around. But we're also adding in the other 10 IceHL teams that weren't used last year.
We use ESPN's fantasy hockey league website to operate the IceHL. It only permits 20 teams per league. Since there 30 IceHL teams, we'll be opening up two separate leagues this season, split up by conference, with 15 teams each. That means we'll need 17 new owners for 2011. (Really, only 16 because I'll be taking on a team this season.)
Now let's talk about what it takes to become one of the lucky 16.
Dedication
Managing an IceHL team isn't about how much experience you have playing fantasy hockey. It's about how much you're willing to commit to participating and keeping the league competitive and fun. If you're worried you'll lose interest halfway into the season, please sit this one out and give someone else a shot.
Applying for a team
Last year, more than a hundred people applied to own one of 20 teams. I anticipate a similar turnout this year. So if you're not serious about it, please don't apply. Save the space for someone who is.
You may apply for a team by posting a comment below with the following information:
- Your first name and last initial (ex.: Chris S.), no pseudonyms
- Your email address (if you enter it into the box that says "author email," it will only be seen by me and no other users; if you include it in the body of the comment, everyone will see it)
- In the body of your comment, please note your experience playing fantasy hockey and list your preferred IceHL team choices, in order, from the list below. Please pick no more than 10. (If no teams on your list are available, one will be assigned at random.) Also please note whether you designed any of the winning IceHL logos.
You have until the end of this weekend to apply. I need all of the owners decided quickly so we can start making league decisions together. That will include a live chat with all of the owners.
Selecting owners and teams
Last season, owners were selected entirely at random. I think that was the fairest way to handle it and we'll do the same thing this year. Just be aware that demonstrating your dedication and commitment to fantasy hockey will increase your odds. I'm looking for people who aren't going to lose interest halfway through the season.
Keep in mind, however, that simply being awarded a team doesn't guarantee you'll keep it. If any owner becomes inattentive or doesn't respond to communications and emails, I reserve the right to replace him/her with or without notice. Sorry, but I want to keep this league exciting and competitive.
Available teams
Here are a list of all 30 teams. You may select from any of those that do not already have owners.
| Alaska Huskies Owner: Steve S. 2011 Champion |  |
Atlanta Arsenal |  |
| Baltimore Blue Crabs |  |
Boston Colonials |  |
| Boulder Beasts |  |
Calgary Cavalry Owner: Joshua S. |  |
| California Wave Owner: Jon W. |  |
Chicago Hitmen |  |
| Dallas Outlaws |  |
Detroit Motorheads |  |
| Edmonton Kodiaks Owner: Ed P. |  |
Hamilton Steelcats |  |
| Houston Hellcats Owner: James L. |  |
Milwaukee Lagers |  |
| Minnesota Mammoths |  |
Montreal Olympiques Owner: Chris S. |  |
| New Orleans Gators |  |
New York Guardians |  |
| North Carolina Nighthawks |  |
Portland Pioneers |  |
| Quebec Armada Owner: Curtis L. |  |
Regina Renegades |  |
| Salt Lake City Scorpions Owner: Kyle G. |  |
Saskatoon Sharpshooters Owner: Brian H. |  |
| Seattle Aviators |  |
St. Louis Archers Owner: Ryan L. |  |
| Tampa Bay Barracudas Owner: Chris S. (commissioner) |  |
Vancouver Lumberjacks Owner: James W. |  |
| Washington Sentinels Owner: Simon C. |  |
Winnipeg Winterhawks Owner: Daniel R. |  |
If you want to apply, just make sure you follow the instructions outlined above. Good luck!
Chris
Application deadline: Sunday, September 4 at 3 PM Eastern (noon Pacific)
Reader Comments (161)
I have three years of fantasy hockey under my belt placing in second, third, and then finally a championship last year. They were Yahoo competitive public leagues. I am a fantasy freak as I've played every sport now, and have a team every year. I will be ultra competitive and dedicated to your fantasy league and promise to be a welcomed addition. I would really appreciate the chance to compete with you all! My team preferencs are:
1) New York Guardians
2) Baltimore Blue Crabs
3) Detroit Motorheads
4) Atlanta Arsenal
5) Hamilton Steelcats
6) Seattle Aviators
7) Milwaukee Lagers
8) Alaska Huskies
9) Portland Pioneers
10) Dallas Outlaws
i've been playing on Yahoo since '02, including running my own league since '05. i'd love to be in another competitive league since this is currently my only league and i've found fantasy hockey isn't very popular around Western NY.
my choices:
Baltimore
Seattle
Minnesota
Milwaukee
Portland
I've played in fantasy leagues for the last three years but my friends aren't as interested in fantasy hockey as I am. I'm looking for a more competitive league. I won my league last year. I also check this website daily so I will be monitoring my team closely if selected
1. Milwaukee
2. Hamilton
3. North Carolina
4. Seattle
5. Boulder
Fantasy hockey for 5 years including 3 championships in the past 4 seasons. Would love to be a part of the league, and although none of my concept submissions were posted i am still a regular submitter of ideas.
1. New York Guardians
2. California Wave
3. Milwaukee Lagers
4. Dallas Outlaws
5. Boston Colonias
Been playing for at least 6 years, I consistently do well and I've been told I'm a "waiver wire fanatic". (Seriously, I scour the waiver wire for sleepers like its my 9 to 5)
Teams
1) Dallas
2)Detroit
3)Regina
but I'd be happy with whatever
I've been playing fantasy hockey for years now. I also play other fantasy sports and have a great success. Huge hockey fan, sabres are my team and I follow this site daily as well as have submitted work here also.
1.New Orleans Gators
2.Milwaukee Lagers
3.Seattle Aviators
4.Alaska Huskies
5.Detroit Motorheads
6.New York Guardians
7.Hamilton Steelcats
8.Chicago Hitmen
After that I don't care what I'd get.
Also I think it'd be cool if each owner designed the uniforms for the team or if every year each owner designs an alternate jersey to go along with the uniforms the followers of the site create.
I have played fantasy hockey for the last two years with friends. I am ready to move on with a more serious and committed league.
Team choices: Chicago, Seattle, North Carolina, Hamilton, Detroit, Minnesota, New York and Regina.
Looks as though there is a lot of interest in this, but I have been playing fantasy hockey (Yahoo!, ESPN, CBC) for about 10 years and would love to play.
1. Boston
2. Chicago
3. Milwaukee
4. Regina
5. Detroit
Been playing fantasy sports for a few years, very interested in running a team for IceHL. Committed to be active throughout the season if selected and I revel the challenge.
Team Preferences:
Regina
North Carolina
Dallas
Chicago
Boulder
Alaska
Frankly I would love to run any available team..
Thanks.
I've been playing in the Yahoo! leagues for the last three years with a great bunch of folks from the old NHL Connect days, and I've been active the whole time. I'd be geeked to get picked for a team! Top choice is Chicago, and anything else left is wide open. Good luck to everybody who's shooting for a team!
Would love to have a team, have played fantasy football and hockey for a few years and won a couple times.
From Detroit and live in Minnesota now so I would love one of those two teams.
I've been playing fantasy hockey for about 5 years now, usually finish near the top. I almost won a league last year until the final week of the season. I've also been a huge Icethetics fan since the early NHLTOL days and just a huge hockey fan in general.
My only team preferences are:
1. North Carolina Nighthawks
2. Boulder Beasts
3. Regina Renegades
I am willing to use any team though.
I have not only been playing fantasy hockey but have been playing all major fantasy sports since the late 90's. I am a long standing member of a number of Keeper Fantasy League's and have won trophies on many occassions. I am an active and dedicated owner in each league that I participate in. Should I be selected I will bring that same dedication to this league and will return to play for years to come.
As far as which team I would prefer to run, that really doesn't matter to me. However, given that I am in Canada and on the east coast I would prefer one of the Eastern Canadian franchises like Quebec or Montreal. But again, I would be willing to take any available team.
Thanks in advance for the consideration.
Further to my last post...I didn't realize when looked through that Quebec and Montreal already have owners, so I will state again that I am not partial to any team but would like the opportunity to be involved. Thanks again.
I'd like to throw my hat in the ring and request a chance to get one of the open teams. I've been playing fantasy hockey for a few years and usually use Yahoo or ESPN (I like the auction style draft ESPN has). I also hate quitters, so no worries about me losing interest or not keeping up with everything. In any case, thanks for considering, and great job on the site.
Preferred teams:
1. MILWAUKEE LAGERS
2. HAMILTON STEELCATS
3. MINNESOTA MAMMOTHS
4. NEW YORK GUARDIANS
5. REGINA RENEGADES
6. ALASKA HUSKIES
7. ATLANTA ARSENAL
8. DETROIT MOTORHEADS
9. PORTLAND PIONEERS
10.CHICAGO HITMEN
Been playing fantasy hockey for a while now. Very active w/ my roster...
1. Chicago
2. Anyone they're all cool logos
Hi Chris et al.,
Been playing Yahoo leagues for about 4 years. My regular crew dissolved, so I'm looking for a new group.
I have no preference for any team - let those who have preferences get their choice! I didn't design any of the logos, but if there's ever the desire for some Bettman-style "expansion," I'm a professional designer and I'd be glad to help.
Andy
hey Chris,
I'm not gonna bother you with war stories of fantasy hockey teams of the past, even though most of them inevitably did better than my real-life team (the dearly departed Atlanta Thrashers).
Even though the thrashers left and my repeated attempts to quit the NHL, I like hockey too much. As such I'll take the helm of any fantasy team and I'll try to improve them to the best of my ability (as long as it ain't Winnipeg).
gur mie eu (that's Manx for Thank You),
headisgh
Bird Watchers Anonymous
This will be my fourth season participating in fantasy hockey. I am a member of a dual-league (ESPN Rotisserie and Head-to-Head with the same drafted roster annually) with a close group of friends, in which I won both leagues in 2009, finished 4th and 2nd in 2010, and 1st and 2nd last year. I have also participated in Yahoo! Fantasy leagues with writers from Silversevensens.com, the Parise-Staal Fantasy-Throwdown league (sponsored by writers from Yahoo!'s Puck Daddy Blog and the NHLPA; I won this league last year and received over $200 in prizes), as well as a few others. Even though my track record in these leagues is strong, I don't let my competitive spirit take the fun out of the game. I would love the chance to participate in this league. My top five IceHL teams are as follows, although I would accept any available team name and logo (except for Boulder Beasts; not a big fan of that one):
1. Alaska Huskies
2. Seattle Aviators
3. Hamilton Steelcats
4. New York Guardians
5. Boston Colonials
Best of luck to everyone else!
- Drew
Hi, I have been a fantasy hockey manager for 7 seasons now in Yahoo leagues. I have placed first twice and am usually top 3 (except one year got the wooden spoon).
Team preferences:
1. Vancouver Lumberjacks
2. Winnipeg Winterhawks
3. Calgary Cavalry
4. Hamilton Steelcats
5. Saskatoon Sharpshooters
6. Regina Renegades
7. Edmonton Kodiaks
8. Quebec Armada