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!

Update on Thursday · Sep 1 · 2011 | 10:38 PM PDT by Chris

Application deadline: Sunday, September 4 at 3 PM Eastern (noon Pacific)

Comments

[Logan M]

Id love to play! This is my 2nd year of fantasy hockey. I am a fantasy football convert. Haha. Hockey is the better sport :) Anyways, huge hockey fan down here in the south and Id love to play.

1. Atlanta (and i wont let them up and leave my city)
2. Alaska
3. North Caroilna
4. New York
5. Minnesota.

[Don H.]

I've been playing fantasy hockey for a dedicated 7 years now. I would happily take on any of these awesome teams. But my short list would include:

1. Alaska Huskies
2. Chicago Hitmen
3. Milwaukee Lagers
4. New York Guardians
5. Dallas Outlaws

Thanks Chris!

[Matt P]

Would love to play, open to any team

Won my office league last year, and was 2nd the year before been playing fantasy hockey for about 5 years now. Would love the chance to compete against fellow followers of the site

[Brendan A.]

You can delete my comment on page 2, here's is my updated teams with original comment:

"I've been playing fantasy football for about 5 years now, and I played my first year of fantasy hockey last year, coming in 9th out of 63 participants.

Team preferences (in order):
1. North Carolina Nighthawks
2. New York Guardians
3. New Orleans Gators
4. Alaska Huskies
5. Boston Colonials
6. Chicago Hitmen
7. Milwaukee Lagers
8. Baltimore Blue Crabs
9. Seattle Aviators
10. Portland Pioneers"

[Chris]

Hi again, guys. I had to make another change to the available teams. This time it was due to a horrible oversight on my part. When I was trying to confirm which owners would be returning for another season, the email from Alaska Huskies owner Steve S. managed to slip through the cracks. I have no idea how but now that the situation has been rectified, the first ever IceHL champion Huskies are no longer available. Nor is that 17th opening.

This means we're now looking for only 16 new owners for the new season. I apologize for the confusion and hope you guys don't hate me too much. Just remember though, that even if you aren't one of the 16 selected, you still have a shot at owning a team if one of the other owners doesn't work out. So don't lose hope.

One more thing. I'm stunned by the number of applications in such a short span of time. I'm still giving everyone until Sunday to sign up, but the deadline is now 3 PM Pacific time (noon on the east coast). This will allow me enough time Sunday night to determine the 16 selections and get emails out to them. Good luck!

[Noah L]

Been playing fantasy hockey for five years. I managed and won one league last year, and finished second in another

Preferred teams:

1. Boulder
2. Minnesota
3. Milwaukee
4. Seattle
5. Detroit
6. Atlanta
7. Really any team would be awesome.

[Tim R.]

I work in an art gallery, that get's me an in, right!?
I have "managed" 4 teams over the past 3 season. I like to make moves and take risks, none of the other people in my league really care, so it gets boring. I want more competition.

1. Atlanta Arsenal- -my wife is from Atlanta
2. Hamilton Steelcats- closest team to Buffalo
3. Minnesota Mammoths- I lived in Mpls for 4+ years
4. Chicago Hitmen- I am from Chicago.

[matt s]

Hey Chris, I'm on this site at least three times per day checking for updates, as well as following you on Twitter; no need to question my dedication, I'm always here. I've also submitted concepts to you, and also conversed with you via email and twitter.

I've played fantasy hockey with friends since 06-07, and I would absolutely love to get involved in this. I love hockey, and can be an awesome GM that can represent the league, and more specifically, one of the 30 teams. My ideal teams are as follows:

Minnesota Mammoths
Regina Renegades
Seattle Aviators
Hamilton Steelcats
Dallas Outlaws
Boulder Beasts
Atlanta Arsenal
Boston Colonials
Chicago Hitmen
Portland Pioneers

I will represent this league with passion and excitement. Please consider me.

[Jason M.]

I've been playing fantasy hockey for the last 3 years finishing well in most.

My team preferences
Seattle
North Carolina
Minnesota
Boulder
Boston
New Orleans
Atlanta
Baltimore
Dallas

Thanks for doing this again this year I was disappointed last year and I'm looking forward to the opportunity.

[Nathan W.]

I'm interested

1.Seattle
2.Detroit
3.Dallas

[Mike S.]

I've been playing fantasy hockey on Yahoo! since 2002 although I took the last two years off, but that was mostly due to my previous league falling apart and not any lack of interest/dedication on my part. If I am selected I will follow through for the entire season.

Here are the teams I am interested in:
1. New York
2. Milwaukee
3. Portland
4. Baltimore
5. Seattle
6. Chicago
7. Regina
8. Portland
9. Boulder
10. New Orleans

Thanks.

[Justin E.]

Never played fantasy hockey before but have played fantasy baseball with co-workers for the past two years. A Sharks fan through and through and hockey is the only sport i follow 24/7 and 365 days a year.

Preferred teams: Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, Winnipeg, New York, Minnesota

[Dave T]

Been playing for 3 years, just some public leagues online. Finished in second the first year then won last two years.

Baltimore
Boulder
Milwaukee
New York
New Orleans

[Matthew H]

Hey Chris,

I do a fantasy hockey league every year with friends and family, as well as the past two i've done online ones on TSN

1) New York Guardians
2) Milwaukee Lagers
3) Seattle Aviators

[Adam P.]

I have been playing fantasy hockey for the last 2 years with my family.

1.Hamilton
2.North Carolina
3.New Orleans

[Benoit S.]

Hi Chris, I've been doing Yahoo pools for the past 4 years, my best showing was third, but I consistently lead the league in transactions. And have organized office playoff pools in the last two years. I'm a huge Sens fan and even though I've moved to Melbourne, Australia I still live and breathe hockey. Thanks for considering me and organizing this...

1- Minnesota Mammoths
2- Hamilton Steelcats
3- Boulder Beasts
4- Regina Renegades
5- New Orleans Gators
6- Milwaukee Lagers

[Doug F]

Hey Chris,

I have been participating in online Fantasy Hockey for over 8 years now, mostly on the Yahoo Fantasy hockey site as well as running in person hockey pools for the last 20 years. I have been following the NHL since 1979 and I have always been a fanatic of hockey jerseys and logos. As a graphic designer, I can definitely contribute to help in the designing of more team logos if necessary. I would love the chance to be a part of the IceHL fantasy league.

I always enjoy reading your blog, great job!
Doug F.

Team Preferences:
New York Guardians
Chicago Hitmen
Hamilton Steelcats
Milwaukee Lagers
Minnesota Mammoths

[Jacob F]

I would like a fantasy team, been playing fantasy hockey with yahoo, cbc and nhl the last few years and would like and ICEHL team.

Here are the teams i would like to coach, (if none of them are available i will take whatever team is leftover.)

1.Regina
2.Hamilton
3.Minnesota
4.Seattle

[Cameron G.]

I live and breathe hockey.
I have been active in fantasy sports for years and would cherish the oppotunity to be part of a such a commited league
Let do this!

Chicago Hitmen
New York Guardians
Seattle Aviators
Minnesota Mammoths
Milwaukee Lagers
Portland Pioneers

(Originally posted on last week's IceHL update post, re-posting here just in case)

[VInnie R.]

Vinnie R. vjruffino@gmail.com
i have been playing fantasy for about a decade now. i am very competative when it comes to fantasy sports and have won multiple leagues. i am willing to take on any team that is available.