Week 4: It's times like this...

Week four is in the books and we are starting to see a return to form for many of the teams in the IHHL. The Boston Benders toyed with the Milwaukee Monarchs this week before finally bending the Monarchs to their will. The Las Vegas Balla’s continued their winning ways with a slam dunk win over the Saskatoon Sasquatches. The Denver Demon Donkeys managed to kick the Cleveland Blackjacks to the curb, extending their winning streak to two this season. 

Harpswell Mayors vs Washington Winter Warriors

The Harpswell Mayors were crushed at home this week by the Washington Winter Warriors. Coach H. Mac Cannon continued to roll all of his top lines in the match up in his bid to retain top seat in the league. The near 100 point blowout is the largest margin yet in this young season. Final Score: Mayors - 115.5 (2-2-0) to Warriors 212.3 (4-0-0).

Cleveland Blackjacks vs Denver Demon Donkeys

The Cleveland Blackjacks hosted the Denver Demon Donkeys this week; both teams looking to build off of their wins last week. The Blackjacks leveraged the home ice advantage early on in the week to build a small lead. It was superior play over the weekend by the Donkeys’ top line of T. Johnson (C, RW), M. St. Louis (C, RW), and J. Spezza (C) that ultimately won the day. Final Score: Blackjacks - 148.65 (1-3-0) to Donkeys - 160.25 (2-2-0). 

San Jose Soviet Bears vs Seattle Wolves

With the San Jose Soviet Bears reeling from two consecutive losses, the Seattle Wolves were primed for a win last week. Despite stellar play by J. Toews (C), the Wolves never seemed to click as a team and appeared to sleepwalk through much of the match up. The Bears took full advantage of miscues and slow line changes to post their second win of the season and move into second place in the Conway Conference. Final Score: Bears - 145.1 (2-2-0) to Wolves 108.4 (1-3-0). 

Saskatoon Sasquatches vs Las Vegas Balla’s

The Saskatoon Sasquatches, still looking for their first win of the season, hosted surprise powerhouse Las Vegas Balla’s last week. The Balla’s were bereft a coach last week as Owner and Coach Dan Hall traveled to Thailand to energize the team’s Southeast Asia base. Coaching the team by phone, Dan Hall was able to lead the team its third consecutive win of the season. Final Score: Sasquatches - 118.9 (0-4-0) to Balla’s 143.5 (3-1-0).

Milwaukee Monarchs vs Boston Benders

With the Monarchs looking to build on their first place lead in the Conway Conference, the Boston Benders came to town like a wrecking ball. Despite keeping the game close early in the week, the Monarchs became unraveled as calls against the team mounted. After the fifth consecutive penalty was called on the Monarchs Wednesday night, Coach Derek Heilman was overheard saying  “ It's at a time like this, when I think all we can do is turn our eyes up to the heavens and say...Oh shit.” Final Score: Monarchs - 136.25 (2-2-0) to Benders - 183.8 (3-1-0). 

Your Outtake of the Week: 

In a rare loss of control, Monarch’s Coach, Derek Heilman, is caught screaming at Boston Bender’s Owner, Ms. Samantha Winters, following the Monarchs crushing defeat.

Better Know an Owner

This weeks Better Know an Owner will focus on IHHL Co-Commissioner and San Jose Soviet Bears Owner, Scott Hall. Be sure to come back on Wednesday as Game Misconducts’ very own Bobby BeauFont digs deeper into the inner workings of this IHHL franchise. 

Better Know an Owner: Derek Heilmann

For the next 10 weeks, the IHHL will be taking a closer look at the owners of the IHHL Teams. Our cub reporter, Bobby BeauFont will be sitting down with each team owner to find out more about them as people and their vision for the IHHL. We open the series with an interview with IHHL Commissioner and Milwaukee Monarchs Owner, Derek Heilmann.

GM: Mr. Commissioner, thank you for sitting with us today, on Game Misconducts inaugural, Better Know an Owner.

Derek: Happy to be here.

GM: This is your second season as Commissioner of the IHHL. How do you balance your time between your business, coaching the team, new father, and your duties as commissioner?

Derek: It’s a constant struggle. I’m very blessed to have a family that really understands what it is that I do and that is as passionate about the business and league as I am.

GM: What are your plans for this year? Anything we can let the fans know about?

Derek: This year we are really excited to be announcing that in addition to the Outdoor Classic, the IHHL will be introducing the Third Jersey program as well as the IHHL Stadium Series.

The Third Jersey program is a nod to roots of the IHHL. An opportunity to pay homage to beginnings and re-introduce our fan base to some of the uniqueness of our league.

The Stadium Series is the IHHL’s way to get more teams into outdoor games. We want to have as many teams play outdoors for the fans as possible.

GM: Last year was a rough year for you; both on a personal level as well as professionally. What were some of the hard fought lessons you learned?

Derek: Last year was very trying. The biggest takeaway for me, was, everyday is important and that we can’t take anything for granted.

GM: From last year, how do you answer the questions of cronyism? To be clear, you did bring in two friends as owners who drafted high profile players and then, effectively tanked their respective teams.

Derek: I categorically deny any charges of cronyism. I brought in two owners who I believed would be wonderful additions to our growing league. Clearly I miss-read the intentions of Mr. Moran and due to the ongoing legal issues I can’t comment more on him, however, I believe that Mr. Prudente would have been a great owner had he not had his accident at the beginning of the season. Frankly, I don’t appreciate the constant rumor mongering that comes out of your publication.

GM: Sorry, lets move on shall we? Do you feel that losing your friends like that to impacted your ability to coach the Monarchs during the playoffs last season?

Derek: Dom was a great personal friend of mine and he is deeply missed. One of the changes we are making this year is that all proceeds from the All Star game are going into a fund for Dom’s family. We, all of the league owners and representatives from the players, talked about it and we feel that this the right thing to do.

In retrospect, I probably should have not been coaching the team in the playoffs. There was so much going on, but I did what did. No going back.

GM: Rumors are that Dom never really died. That the entire affair was staged as part of an insurance scam and that purported images of the accident scene are in fact, scenes from National Lampoons Animal House. How do you react to such charges?

Derek: That is incredibly offensive and I will not give you the satisfaction of a response.

GM: So you are not saying that those rumors are false. Very well, moving on. With so much of Knight Industries tied up in league contracts and exclusives, do you feel that the graft and corruption is too much or just right?

Derek: Knight Industries was a partner of the IHHL long before I became Commissioner. All partnerships are vetted and approved by the owners. I have nothing else to say on that matter.


GM: Is it true that David Hasselhoff, while holding the position of team goalie coach, Knight Industries and Monarchs Spokesman, has been engaging in contract talks with the Harpswell Mayors?

Derek: Those rumors were started by the owner of the Mayors and are completely false. I have, however, signed a deal with their former mascot, Toronto mayor Robert Ford. You’ll see him appearing in Knight Brewing ads next month.

GM: Do you feel that the adjustments that you made to this year leagues rules have had a profound impact on your teams performance so far, or are the changes more of a long term strategy to benefit the Monarchs?

Derek: I will not sit here and listen to you disparage both myself and my organization. *removes microphone and leaves*

Week 3: If it bleeds, we can kill it

Week three and the upsets continue in the IHHL. The Boston Benders, a team whose name froze ice last year fell to the nascent Las Vegas Ballers. The Milwaukee Monarchs put a stop to the Harpswell Mayors unbeaten streak, leaving the Washington Winter Warriors as the only unbeaten team in the IHHL. The Denver Demon Donkeys edged out the San Jose Soviet Bears by two and the Cleveland Blackjacks posted their first win of the season in the first sibling rivalry match of the season.

Cleveland Blackjacks vs Seattle Wolves

In the first “Hockey First, Family Second” matchup of the season, the Cleveland Blackjacks hosted the Seattle Wolves this past week. The Blackjacks, winless so far this season were looking to get back in the game; the Wolves were looking to bounce back from last weeks loss to the Monarchs. Despite consistent production from the Wolves top line, the Blackjacks received clutch play from , MacKinon (rw) and Crosby (c) allowing the Blackjacks to pull ahead and steal their first win of the season. Final Score: Blackjacks - 142.3 (1-2-0) to Wolves - 133.10 (1-2-0).

Saskatoon Sasquatches vs Washington Winter Warriors

The Sasquatches, looking for their first win of the season, hosted the dominant Winter Warriors last week. The Warriors, under the steady hand of Owner and Coach, H. Mac Cannon, rolled all four lines throughout the week and received solid contributions across the board. The Sasquatches by contrast only recieved output from their top line and fell due to a porous defensive line. With no contribution coming from secondary lines, the Sasquatches ended up loosing at home and the Warriors secured their three straight win of the season; leaving the Winter Warriors as the only undefeated team in the league. Final Score: Sasquatches - 131.1 (0-3-0) to Warriors - 152.2 (3-0-0).

San Jose Soviet Bears vs Denver Demon Donkeys

Two league stalwarts faced off last week as the Soviet Bears took on the Demon Donkeys. Both teams were looking for redemption, with the Bears dropping a game against conference rival the Monarchs last week and the Donkeys looking to put a mark in the win column. After starting off the week in the hole, the Bears were finally claw their way back into striking distance by Sunday. Unfortunately for the Bears, miscues in goal by Price ended up costing them the win. Final Score: Bears - 146.2 (1-2-0) to Donkeys - 148.95 (1-2-0)

Milwaukee Monarchs vs Harpswell Mayors

The Monarchs, fresh off their first win of the season took on rookie owner powerhouse, the Harpswell Monarchs. The Monarchs have been a dominate force this season, winning their first two games of the season handily. Despite a strong start to the week, the strain of performing at such a high level showed as the Mayors collapsed on Saturday. The Mayors did rally in Sunday’s game against the Monarchs, but in the end it proved to be too little too late. Final Score: Monarchs - 145.75 (2-1-0) to Mayors 115.75 (2-1-0)

Boston Benders vs Las Vegas Balla’s

The Benders, a perennial favorite, had extended their regular season winning streak to 10, in week two and were looking to extend the streak against the Las Vegas Balla’s. The Benders wasted little time exhibiting why they are a top ranked team in the IHHL. By the time Friday rolled around, the Benders were the owner a 15 point lead. Fortunes for the Balla’s changed on Friday though, with the team posting a solid win. This win gave the team the confidence it needed; post game, team owner and coach, Dan Hall, was quoted as syaing, “If it bleeds, we can kill it!”. Final Score: Benders - 183.55 (2-1-0) to Balla’s - 186.7 (2-1-0).

Play of the Week

This week's P of the Week goes to the Las Vegas Balla’s and their come from behind steal of the game against the Boston Benders.

Better Know an Owner

IHHL Fans, starting this Wednesday, we will be launching a new series called Better Know an Owner. In this series, Game Misconduct will be conducting interviews with the owners of the IHHL Teams. The first interview will be with the IHHL’s very owner Commissioner, Derek Heilmann. We promise that this will be an in depth hard hitting interview that you will not want to miss.

Week 2: It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything

Week two is complete, stats have been updated, and we are looking at an upset to the status quo ladies and gentlemen. Perennial Icebucket contenders the San Jose Soviet Bears and the Denver Demon Donkeys continue to stumble with both teams dropping games this week.  The Las Vegas Balla’s bounced back this week along with the Milwaukee Monarchs. Reigning Icebucket Champs, the Washington Winter Warriors, extended their winning streak to two; as did the Boston Benders and Harpswell Mayors.

Soviet Bears vs Mayors

The Soviet Bears looked tired and listless during their matchup with the Harpswell Mayors last week. The Bears, who barely eked out a win last week against the Monarchs, fell prey to sloppy defense and string of injuries that saw several key players go out on IR. The Mayors by contrast continued their strong debut in the IHHL under the stewardship of Jason Hawthorne Petty and Head Coach Rob Ford. The Mayors were able to capitalize on key turnovers and controlled the flow of the matchup all week. Final Score: Bears - 110.6 (1-1-0) to Mayors - 128.3 (2-0-0).

Monarchs vs Wolves

The Milwaukee Monarchs started the week off slowly against the Seattle Wolves, dropping the first three matchups of the week before rallying on Thursday. Bolstered by the top line of Ladd (LW), Okposo (RW), and Flippula (C,LW), the Monarchs owned the last four games of the week. The Wolves, who are off to their best start in years, were unable to hold the surging Monarchs back despite outstanding performances from Towes (C) and Iginla. Final Score: Monarchs - 132.25 (1-1-0) to Wolves 111 (1-1-0).

Sasquatches vs Boston Benders

Despite strong play this week, the Saskatoon Sasquatches were simply outgunned by the Boston Benders. The matchup was competitive all week, with each team trading off wins nightly, until Saturday. On Saturday, the Benders racked up nearly 60 points, effectively burying Sasquatches and winning the week. Final Score: Sasquatches - 137.7 (0-2-0) to Benders 182.9 (2-0-0).

Winter Warriors vs Blackjacks

The Washington Winter Warriors seemed to be sleepwalking through this weeks matchup against the Cleveland Blackjacks. Despite a lackluster performance from the Warriors, at least the team showed up to the game. The Blackjacks seemed to be phoning in their game this week; a weak showing from defense, combined with failure to capitalize on scoring chances doomed the Blackjacks from the outset. Final Score: Warriors - 139.4 (2-0-0) to Blackjacks 90.3 (0-2-0).

Balla’s vs Demon Donkeys

Still stinging from last weeks loss, the Las Vegas Balla’s came out strong in their home opener against the Denver Demon Donkeys. The Donkeys dropped their second straight game, falling to an unprecedented eighth place in the league. With the Donkey’s worse start to a season in over a decade, many fans are calling for Team Owner Cody Wright to step down as coach. While it is still early in the season, the poor showing combined with last seasons exit from the Icebucket playoffs means that Wright needs to turn things around fast. Coach/Owner Wright approaching things in his typical zen style, said “It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything”. Final Score: Balla’s 157.35 (1-1-0) to Donkeys 120.2 (0-2-0).

Gif of the Week

This weeks gif of the week showcases Denver Demon Donkeys Owner, Cody Wright’s reaction to his team performance this week.

“It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything”

IHHL Week 1 - Whoa, we're half way there

Welcome back to the Fifth Season IHHL fans! It has been a long summer, but the lads of Winter are back and ready to play.

Over the off season, IHHL management was busy tweaking rules and getting new owners lined up, all in hopes of delivering another high impact fun-to-watch season. With the first week of games halfway done, things look very promising. Old grudges have been renewed and new blood is being split.

The first week of the season is spanning 11 days in total, from Wednesday, October 8, to Sunday, October 19, as the teams ease into the new season.

San Jose Soviet Bears  vs Milwaukee Monarchs
The Soviet Bears, formerly the Barrel Riders of Buffalo, and the Monarchs have resumed their division rivalry in grand fashion. The Bears lead the Monarchs by a scant 20 points, but the two teams continue to trade blows and position on a nightly basis. Word from league sources is that the on-ice antics are spilling over to off-ice bravado and heated exchanges between the team owners. Current standing: Soviet Bears 121.7 to Monarchs 100.6

Saskatoon Sasquatches vs Seattle Wolves
The Sasquatches host the Wolves for their season opener and jumped out to an early lead on opening night. The Wolves fought back throughout the weekend though and now have a 30 point lead over the hometown favorites. With seven days to go, this matchup is far from over. Current standing: Sasquatches 76.05 to Wolves 106.

Harpswell Mayors vs Cleveland Blackjacks
New IHHL Owner Jason Hawthorne Petty spent most of the off season getting his team settled into their new home after moving the team from Richmond, VA this summer. The move seemed to energize the team that went all last season without a win. The Mayors jumped out to an early lead opening night, as they hosted the Blackjacks, but miscues over the weekend saw that lead evaporate as the Blakjacks rallied back. Many wonder if hiring former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford as the team coach may have been a mistake. Current standing: Mayors 99.95 to 115.85.

Washington Winter Warriors vs Las Vegas Balla’s
IHHL 2014 IceBucket Champions, the Washington Winter Warriors are hosting new owner Dan Hall and the Las Vega Balla’s this week. The Warriors were sluggish opening night, allowing the Balla’s to jump out to an early lead. That night, Owner Mac Cannon had a closed door meeting with the team that seems to have put a fire back under the reigning champs. Coming out the weekend, the Warriors hold a commanding 50+ point lead over the Balla’s. The week is far from over, but the Balla’s have their work cut out for them. Current standing: Warriors 150.50 to Balla’s 92.8.

Boston Benders vs Denver Demon Donkeys
The benders are opening up their season by playing host their bitter division rivals the Denver Demon Donkeys. The Benders, still stinging from their exit in the IHHL finals, came out strong and have the put the Donkeys’ on their heels from the start. Current standing: Benders 128 vs Donkeys 92.05.

2014 Season Kick Off

Greetings and Salutations Icehouse Hockey League Fans!

The leaves are changing, the temps are becoming more brisk, and the IHHL is preparing to open up for the 2014/215 IHHL Season in 10 days. The offseason has been a busy one for the IHHL. Two new owners have joined the league; Jason Hawthorne Petty, proud owner of the Harpswell Mayors, formerly the Richmond Prexies. Taking over Team Moran is Dan Hall; the team was moved to Las Vegas and renamed the Ballers.

In addition to the change in ownership and movement of those teams, the Barrel Riders of Buffalo moved to San Jose and changed their name to the Soviet Bears, following a falling out between the Buffalo City Council and team owner Scott J. Hall.

With the changes of summer behind them, the IHHL focused on its fall for the 2014 season. The draft, held on September 25, 2014, saw the Cleveland Blackjacks winning the lottery for the first draft pick of the 2014 Season. Here is the IHHL 2014 Draft order with links to each team's picks:

1. Cleveland Blackjacks
2. Seattle Wolves
3. Harpswell Mayors
4. Milwaukee Monarchs
5. San Jose Soviet Bears
6. Denver Demon Donkeys
7. Las Vegas Balla's
8. Boston Benders
9. Washington Winter Warriors - W3
10. Saskatoon Sasquatches

The IHHL Season opens on Wednesday, October 8, 2014. Your opening IHHL schedule, running from October 8, through Sunday, October 19, is: 

Soviet Bears	VS.	Milwaukee Monarchs
Saskatoon Sasquatches	VS.	Seattle Wolves
Harpswell Mayors	VS.	Cleveland Blackjacks
Washington Winter Warriors	VS.	Las Vegas Balla's
Boston Benders	VS.	The Denver Demon Donkey

IHHL: New Owner Announcment

Coming on the heels of the Yahoo! partnership announcement, the IHHL has announced that it has secured a new owner for the Richmond Prexies. Mr. Jason Hawthorne Petty, a railroad baron/magnet from Maine, will be taking over and moving the Prexies from Richmond to Harpswell, Maine.

In moving the team to Maine, Mr. Petty and the IHHL appear to be paying homage to that revered franchise, the Portland Mariners. This move has more than a touch of history about it and is almost a homecoming for fans in the New England. There has not been in a team in Maine since the tragedy that befell the Portland Mainers.

At the announcement press conference, Mr. Petty talked about the history of the Prexies and what it meant to be able to bring a team to Maine. 

“I have been a longtime fan and supporter of the IHHL and it was heartbreaking to watch the tragedy unfold surrounding the Richmond Prexies this season. Sid and the other players played their heart out, but with so much drama off the ice, there was no real way for them to stay focused.

When [IHHL Co-Commissioner] Scott [Hall] approached me about the chance to help out the league and this great team, I jumped at the opportunity. In bringing the Prexies to Maine, we get a chance to bring hockey home to the birthplace of one of the IHHL’s great teams!”

Mr. Petty and the IHHL, out of respect for the Portland Mariner’s history, have announced that the team will be relocating to Harpswell, Maine, and changing their names to the Harpswell Mayors.

When asked about the parallels between the Mariners and new ownership, Commissioner Heilmann said, “There is no way that this move could be better for our fans and supporters. Mr. Petty has a strong appreciation for the sport and respect for the history the league. His plans for the Harpswell Mayors will pay homage to the Portland Mariners and help engage our already active fans. This is going to be a great partnership!”

In taking over the Prexies, Mr. Petty is inheriting a strong team and worthy successor to the Portland Mariners. Many in the IHHL believe that, were it not for the tragedy that befell the previous owner, the Prexies would have been a strong contender for the Ice Cup. We here at Game Misconduct look forward to learning more about Mr. Petty’s plans for the team and wish him success in the season ahead.

IHHL: Player Coaches

Early on in the history of the Icehouse Hockey League, teams gravitated to a player coach model. Today we will be taking a look at the worst example of the player coach movement and the best. From 1929 until 1940, at least 2 teams in the league had a player/coach each season. The most infamous of these occurred right at the start of the Great Depression, with the, Montreal Reds dynasty.

Up until the 1929 season, the Reds had been coached by Tommy Creglorn. Creglorn, a legendary no-nonsense disciplinarian, often had conflicts with the players, but his track record in the playoffs and ability to get results kept him off the hot seat. That is, until he ran afoul of Reds star forward, Jacques Le’Lain. Right before the start of the Icebucket Championship in the 1928/1929 season. Le’Lain and Creglorn had a blowout over control of the locker room which lead to Creglorn being terminated and Le’Lain guiding the team through the playoffs to their fourth consecutive Icebucket Championship.

The following season, with Le’Lain officially installed as the Reds’ coach, did not go as well. The Reds suffered through their worst season ever; both in terms of injuries as well as losses. Many believe that Le’Lain’s lackadaisically training style lead the all time record in man game lost for the IHHL. This surge in injuries quickly depleted the depth of the Reds’ bench. Le’Lain’s frustrations were on full display during games, screaming at his players and breaking sticks over the goal posts. He quickly lost the locker room and after posting the worst record in Reds history, was removed as head coach.

The best example of the player coach era was the Washington Winter Warriors. The Warriors were a perennial fixture of the Icebucket Championships, making appearances in the final round more often than any other team from 1921 through 1950. From their inception, the Warriors operated under a player/coach model.

The Warriors were unique in that their owner, was the player/coach. The patriarch of the team, William Cannon, was a solid stay-at-home defenseman, who was comfortable coaching from the bench or on the ice. Cannon coached the Warriors from 1921 until 1939, where he retired from playing, but still acted as the coach of the team.

Cannon’s retirement and transition to an owner-coach marked the end of the player coach era for the IHHL. Many of the IHHL teams still have owners who coach the team as well. The most prominent examples being the IHHL Commissioner and Milwaukee Monarchs Owner, Derek Heilmann and the Denver Donkeys, Cody Wright. Many in the IHHL feel that this level of involvement by the owners with the team creates a stronger bond and results in a more engaging game play.

IHHL: Yahoo! Partnership Announcement

In the first bit of positive news to come out of the IHHL since the close of the season, Game Misconduct has received word that the IHHL has announced that the Board of Governors has voted and approved partnering with Yahoo! for the 2014-2015 IHHL Season.

In announcing the partnership, IHHL Commissioner Derek Heilmann was quoted as saying, “Moving the IHHL to Yahoo!, allows us to better serve our fan base, owners, and teams. Yahoo!, much like the IHHL, is pushing the envelope of technology to reach new markets and provide content where people are looking to find it; be that on the Web or a mobile device.

This partnership strengthens the our position at the forefront of technology is just one more piece of our broader strategy as the IHHL plans for the future.”

One of the big concerns for the league in this postseason was the lack of a partner to carry games moving forward. Since the public fallout between the IHHL and ESPN, many had wondered if the IHHL would be able to find anyone to work with. Given Yahoo!’s recent forays into the digital media realm, this is a deal that makes sense and could prove to be a huge boon to the IHHL as they look to shore up relations with their fans.

At last report, the IHHL was still on the hunt for two new team owners, but hopefully this partnership is just the start of positive news as the league prepares for the 2014 -2015 season.

IHHL History: First Dynasty

For the Icehouse Hockey League, the “Red Scare” of the 1920’s was a reference to the dominant play of the Montreal Reds. From 1925 to 1928, the Reds set the bar for repeated wins of the IHHL Ice Bucket. Previously, the Saskatoon Sasquatches held the IHHL record for consecutive Ice Bucket wins with their back-to-back win in 1922 and 1923. With the Reds four consecutive championships, the 1920s became known as the golden decade of Canadian hockey in the IHHL.

Throughout their winning seasons, the Reds combined hard hitting defense with a soft and deft touch of their forwards. Jacques Le’Lain, the Reds’ premier winger, racked up over 100 points in three of the four championship years. Le’Lain, known as an intense competitor, would stop at nothing to win and would often crash the net in an effort to unnerve opposing goalies. In 1926, Le’Lain was suspended for 5 games after boarding Boston Shamrocks goalie Bill McGuire, knocking him unconscious and ending his season. 

The Reds also had the best defensive pairing of the era in Max Wheeler and John Lach. Known around the league as the Red Wall,  Wheeler and Lach were considered the most physical defensemen in the league, racking up over 600 hits between them in the 1926 season. Despite the physicality of their play, the pair always made clean hits; resulting in some of the lowest PIMs in the league.

Harnessing and directing all of this skill and raw power was the job of head coach Tommy Creglorn. Creglorn, a no nonsense taskmaster, accepted nothing but perfection and discipline from his team. Training camps were known as “Creglorn’s  Crucible”, and led to more than one player quitting the league before the official start of his career. Held in the Canadian Rockies, the training camps were grueling affairs for the players in the summer months. Creglorn touted his training camps as the key to the Reds’ success, conditioning the players to be ready for any physical challenge. 

The combination of soft hands, hard hits, and disciplined play elevated the Reds to legendary heights in the league. Players like Le’Lain, Wheeler, Lach, and others, forged in the crucible of Creglon’s training camp, dominated the league. It would take half a century before another team could be compared the Reds; making the Reds the IHHL’s first true dynasty.

IHHL: Origin of the All Star Game

These days, the IHHL’s All-Star Game is a chance for the league to showcase its talent and raise awareness and funds for various charities, but it did not start off that way. The All Star Game started off on a much more personal level for the league. In 1925, just a few short years after the IHHL was formed and beginning to make headway, the league was devastated by a freak accident that resulted in the loss of one of the premier teams in the IHHL.

The Portland Mariners were a rising star in the IHHL, having won the Ice Bucket in the spring of 1924. The Mariners, a flourishing franchise in the league, benefited from the fact that they were able to use their location and connection to the local railways to expedite team travel to and from games. This helped to cut down on the expense of travel for the team as well as providing a convenient facility to host games.

A true working class team, the Mariners practiced and played in a converted train yard station in which the majority of the team worked at in the off season. League historians theorize that the work the players engaged in the off-season was comparable to the modern workout regime for players.

On January 19, 1925; the Portland Mariners were finishing their practice before leaving on a trip to Washington when the Portland Auditorium caught fire. The old wooden structure quickly lead to the blaze quickly sweeping through the arena, catching the the reigning champs on the ice. This tragic loss of the team led to the very first IHHL All Star game as a fundraiser for the families of the Mariners.

The IHHL came to a complete standstill as the owners debated whether or not to cancel the balance of the season. While the league deliberated, The Portland Star’s editor, Raymond Crowell, proposed that a benefit game be held for the families of the Mariners players. The owners of the Boston Shamrocks, Montreal Reds, and Cleveland Blackjacks, agreed that a benefit game would not only help the families but also help promote the league.

A meeting of the Board of Stewards was called in order to put the idea to a vote. Following the meeting, the Stewards announced that the Blackjacks would host the game with all revenue going to help the families of the Mariners. The game would pit two teams, comprised of the top two players per team from each conference against one another in a best of three series. The game was held a month following the tragedy; the Federal All Stars defeating the Continental All Stars two games to one in a spirited and emotional contest.

IHHL: Founding of the League

From the ashes of the International Canadian Hockey League (ICHL) and the Continental Hockey League (CHL) rose the Icehouse Hockey League (IHHL). In 1920 both the ICHL and the CHL were on the brink of collapse. The ICHL had spread itself too far across N. America with teams playing as far north as Yellowknife NWT, and as far south as Houston, TX. The financial strain of travel combined with the diminishing competitiveness of the league was proving to be fatal to the financial health of the league. The only teams that were able to generate enough interest to remain financially viable were the Seattle Wolves, Montreal Reds, Sioux Falls Scouts, and the Saskatoon Sasquatches. 

Meanwhile, the CHL's finances and attendance had been anemic at best, ever since the end of WWI. Again, the expense of travel and a depletion of quality players meant less games overall, and fewer games that were truly competitive. The only four teams that were able to consistently make ends meet were the Portland Mariners, Washington Winter Warriors, Cleveland Blackjacks, and the Boston Shamrocks.

On June 1, 1921 the owners of these teams met in Washington to discuss the creation of a new league. After a week of deliberation they founded the Icehouse Hockey League. League headquarters were established in Washington where they are still to this day. The league was separated into two conferences, the Federal Conference and the Continental Conference. The Federal Conference included Boston, Washington, Montreal, and Portland while the Continental Conference included Saskatoon, Cleveland, Seattle and Sioux Falls.

The first few seasons were rough going for the fledgeling IHHL. Transportation costs were a continuing pain point in the Continental Conference and there was a real risk of losing both the Scouts and the Pilots. The league soldiered on and by the spring of 1925, the IHHL found itself in a relatively stable position financially.

Original IHHL Teams

The original IHHL teams were located in Boston, Saskatoon, Cleveland, Portland (Maine), Seattle, Washington, and Montreal

• Boston Shamrocks
• Saskatoon Sasquatches
• Cleveland Blackjacks
• Portland Mariners
• Montreal Reds
• Seattle Wolves
• Washington Winter Warriors
• Sioux Falls Scouts

Barrel Riders Falling Out with Buffalo

In the wake of last weeks loss to the Washington Winter Warriors, more bad news is coming out for fans of the Barrel Riders of Buffalo. Following up on our report from last week about the kerfuffle between the city of Buffalo and the management of the Barrel Riders,it appears that the team is leaving Buffalo.

Over the past several months, team owner, Scott Hall, has been making out-of-state “business trips” to San Jose, California. When asked about these trips, Hall told Game Misconduct that he was simply looking at new arena designs for Barrel Riders; looking for inspiration on what could be done back in Buffalo. In addition to this, during IHHL Ice Bucket finals, Hall had the mayor of San Jose join him in the executive suite to watch the Barrel Riders play. Official word from the Barrel Riders states that the Mayor was merely invited to the game since he and team owner Scott Hall are old friends.

History of the Dispute

The dispute between the city and the Barrel Riders’ appears to have started shortly after the Barrel Riders won the Ice Bucket in 2013. The Barrel Riders, fresh from their victory and having secured the honor of hosting the first IHHL Winter Classic, began negotiating with the city for improvements to the Arena, and training facilities. Negotiations stalled near the start of the season and team Owner Scott Hall blamed many of the early season injuries on inadequate training facilities.

Talks between the Barrel Riders and the City broke down completely following the Barrel Riders’ loss of the Winter Classic. Hall was reportedly incensed by the lack of preparations taken by the city and state of the facilities.

Negotiations resumed near the start of the Ice Bucket playoffs, but sources inside of the Mayor's office said that the Barrel Riders never really seemed engaged and that the team was only going through the motions. These sources have confirmed that discussions on improvements on the existing arena and an extension of the Buffalo Riders contract to use the arena broke down early last week.

Barrel Rider Management has opted not to respond to requests for a comment on this story. It is not known for sure where the Barrel Riders will go, but it seems certain that their time in Buffalo has drawn to a close.

The IHHL appears to be floundering at this time with loss of two team owners, no partnership for the 2014/2015 seasons, and an apparent dearth of high caliber players to cover the 2013/2014 expansion. The Barrel Riders leaving of Buffalo may be the IHHL’s equivalent of the NFL Colts leaving Baltimore. What started out as a bright season for first year Commissioner Derek Heilman, may be his last unless these and other issues can be addressed.

Game Misconduct will continue to follow this, and other stories related to the IHHL as they unfold.

Off-Season News and Events

As a reminder, just because the IHHL season is over, does not mean that the news has stopped. Game Misconduct, in partnership with the IHHL, will be presenting “This Week in IHHL History”, as part of our retrospective series.

IHHL Playoff Summary: I'm gonna drop it at a higher level

The Icehouse Hockey League finished up the 2013/2014 season on Sunday, April 13, 2014. The final game of IHHL Ice Bucket Championship came down to a grudge match between the two division leaders. The Washington Winter Warriors held a two to one game edge in the matchup, besting the Barrel Riders of Buffalo on home ice in the IHHL Winter Classic. Over the course of the playoffs, both teams endured a grueling schedule leading up to the final seven games. In this last contest of the season, both teams were playing for pride, bragging rights, and the IHHL Ice Bucket.

For the Ice Chips finale, it all comes down to two teams with identical records. Team Moran, abandoned by their owner at the start of the playoffs, find themselves fighting not only for the first round draft pick, but to make themselves as appealing as possible to a possible owner. The Seattle Wolves, in their inaugural season, have established themselves as a solid team that will play havoc in the 2014/2015 season.

Ice Bucket

The Washington Winter Warriors took advantage of miscues by the Barrel Riders of Buffalo during the course of the week to gain a commanding lead of 28 points at the close of Friday’s matchup. In a reversal of fortunes, the Barrel Riders capitalize on sloppy play and poor line matchups by the Warriors during Saturday’s game, resulting in the Barrel Riders pulling to within two points for the final game of the season. All of this resulted in the championship coming down to the final game of the season.

Sunday’s game was a non-stop grind fest. The Barrel Riders, already done several key players called up players from the minors to bolster their ranks with the Warriors doing much the same. In the end, it was Frans Nielsen who came through for the Warriors; chipping in when it mattered most and bringing home the Ice Bucket to Washington.

Final Score: Warriors (16 and 3) 330 to Barrel Riders (16 and 6) 328.6.

Ice Chips

Team Moran dominated the matchup early on in the week and by Friday, held a 24 point lead over the Seattle Wolves. With the first round draft pick on the line, the Wolves came back hard on Friday and Saturday, erasing their deficit and went into the Sunday showdown with four point lead over Team Moran.

Come Sunday morning, the Wolves, battered and tired gathered for one last team meeting at Hip Stirs before the final game of the season. Meanwhile Team Moran, left rudderless since the departure of their team owner, barely made it to the arena in time for the pre-game skate. The Wolves executed their game plan, never letting Team Moran establish a presence in the game.

Final Score: Wolves (6 and 16) 223.3 to Team Moran (6 and 16) 198.8.

Gif of the Week

This week's gif showcases how the Washington Winter Warriors out hustled and outplayed the Barrel Riders of Buffalo. Ladies and gentlemen, your gif of the week: 

IHHL Playoffs: Final Week Mid-Point Update

With the final week of the IHHL playoffs half over, fans are watching an extremely competitive matchup take place for the Ice Bucket Championship. In the Ice Chip finals, the game is still competitive, but Team Moran is definitely seen to have the lead going into the final three games of the 2013 - 2014 season.

Ice Bucket

The Washington Winter Warriors are hosting a barn burner of a matchup with the Barrel Riders of Buffalo this week. The teams have been trading blows and wins on nearly a nightly basis. As of Tuesday, the two teams were tied for points and now the Barrel Riders hold a slim 8 point lead. With three games left to go, it is still very much anyone’s game.

Ice Chips

Team Moran continues their relentless march towards victory against the Seattle Wolves. With three games left in the week, Team Moran holds a 24 point lead. While this is not an insurmountable lead for the Wolves to overcome, Team Moran’s history in the playoffs has shown that they are tenacious when holding the lead.

Breaking News

As if the pressure of the playoffs and weathering injuries to key players were not drama enough for the Barrel Riders of Buffalo fans; it is now beginning to look like the team may not be in Buffalo for much longer. Sources inside of the Barrel Riders of Buffalo organization have told Game Misconduct that a huge rift is developing between team management and the City. The point of contention centers around the Barrel Riders facilities and the City’s refusal to pay for upgrades or adjust revenue sharing. Game Misconduct will have more on this story next week.

IHHL: Round Two Wrap Up: And the Song Bird Sings

Heartbreak and clutch play marked week two of the IHHL finals, as seemingly dominate teams collapsed under the pressures making it to the final round. Ladies and Gentlemen, we present you with the top teams in the Ice Bucket and Ice Chip finals.

For the final round of the Ice Bucket playoffs, the Washington Winter Warriors take on the Barrel Riders of Buffalo this week. Insiders are saying that this matchup is the Warriors to lose, with the Barrel Riders tired from a last minute surge and seemingly depleted from injuries.

In the race for the first draft pick of the 2014/2015 season, IHHL fans will watch as Team Moran and the Seattle Wolves fight for dominance. Team Moran is undefeated in the playoffs, while the Wolves rallied back from a deficit to put an explanation point on their win last week. Is Team Moran poised for a fall? Are the Wolves peaking at the right time?

Ice Bucket

The Washington Winter Warriors came into  playoffs cold and got off to a slow start in their matchup against the Saskatoon Sasquatches last week. Riding high off of last weeks win, the Sasquatches played a hard hitting game against the Warriors; by Friday, the Sasquatches were a mere 11 points behind the Warriors seemingly poised to continue their post season Cinderella run. By Saturday though, fatigue had set in and the Sasquatches fell to the Warriors. A deadly combination of sloppy mistakes and poor puck handling by the Sasquatches goalie spelled doom for the Sasquatches. Final Score: Warriors (19 and 3) 318.2 to Sasquatches (13 and 9) 268.5.

In a rematch of the 2013 IHHL Ice Bucket Championship game, the Denver Demon Donkeys challenged the Barrel Riders of Buffalo. The Donkeys took advantage of the Barrel Riders early and often; capitalizing on poor puck handling by the Barrel Riders and injuries. By Friday, the Donkeys held a 30 point lead over the Barrel Riders and seemed to have the match firmly in hand. Come Saturday, the Barrel Riders dug deep, seized control of the game and dominated the Donkeys to erase the 30 point deficit. On Sunday, the Donkeys were unable to get the line matchups they wanted as the Barrel Riders secured their second consecutive trip to the final round of the Ice Bucket championship. Final Score: Donkeys (18 and 4) 281.4 to Barrel Riders (16 and 6) 296.2.

Ice Chips

With a shot at the first round draft pick on the line, the Richmond Prexies took to the ice like a team possessed against the Seattle Wolves last week. The Prexies played their hearts out and by Friday, they had secured a 20 point lead over the Wolves. with so much at stake, the Wolves were not about to roll over and play dead. Friday night saw the Wolves tear into the Prexies and erase the 20 point difference. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, the Seattle Wolves continued to dominate the Prexies and racked up an additional 40 points to secure the win and a berth to the Ice Chips final round. Final Score: Wolves (6 and 16) 151.6 to Prexies (0 and 22) 119.3.

Team Moran, still running on autopilot, has developed into a seemingly unstoppable force as they rolled over the Cleveland Blackjacks last week. The Blackjacks only managed to post two wins last week against Team Moran and ultimately fell short of the win by over 40 points. Final Score: Team Moran (6 and 16) 175.9 to Blackjacks (3 and 19) 131.3.

Gif of the Week

This week's gif showcases the Saskatoon Sasquatches and the lackadaisical play that ended up costing them a shot at the finals.

IHHL Playoffs: Week 2 Mid-Week Update

As the IHHL looks to  enter the last week of the season, we here at Game Misconduct take a look at how the past week is progressing. Can the Sasquatches continue their Cinderella journey and topple a second top seeded team? Will the Donkey's be kicking the Barrel Riders over the falls? We will find out in the next few days.

Ice Bucket

The Denver Demon Donkeys appear to be continuing their winning ways against the Barrel Riders of Buffalo this week. After a a small win on Monday, the Barrel Riders have steadily fallen behind the Donkeys in points as the week has wore on. With the Donkeys holding a nearly 30 point lead, things are not looking good for the Barrel Riders going into the weekend. 

Last week's bye for the Washington Winter Warriors may have proven to be determential for the matchup with the Saskatoon Sasquatches. The Warriors, heavily favored in the matchup, hold a slim 11 point lead and have dropped the last two games to the Sasquatches. Can the Sasquatches continue this Cinderella run and upset a second top seeded team?

Ice Chips

Team Moran continues to be a force to be reckoned with, despite the absence of their owner and coach, Mark Moran. After viewing the Cleveland Blackjacks performance this past week, we here at Game Misconduct suggest that fans start reserving tee times now, as it appears the Blackjacks will be hitting the links on Monday.

The Richmond Prexies, still stinging from their loss last week, have redoubled efforts to secure that first win of the season in the matchup against the Seattle Wolves. As both teams face mounting injuries, they continue to trade wins night after night. With only three games left this week, the Prexies hold a 20 point lead, but will that be enough?

IHHL Playoffs: Week One Update: Winds of Change

With the first week of the playoffs over, we are looking at a new landscape. In the Ice Bucket finals, we have one Cinderella story taking shape as the underdog Saskatoon Sasquatches earned a berth to round two, facing off against the Washington Winter Warriors. Meanwhile, in the Ice Chips finals, Richmond fans saw their team fall short of scoring that first win of the season.

With the second round of the playoffs kicking off, we have two teams coming in cold from their bye weeks, facing off against two strong competitors. Will the bye week prove to be a boon or bust for the Washington Winter Warriors and Barrel Riders of Buffalo? Can the Cleveland Blackjacks capitalize on their win over the Richmond Prexies and take down Team Moran?

Ice Bucket Update

From out of left field, the Saskatoon Sasquatches blind sided the Boston Benders last week.  The Benders came out hard on Monday and beat back the Sasquatches by nearly 30 points. Sadly for the hometown Boston crowd though, the Sasquatches roared back the next night with a 40 point win. From there, the rest of the week was spent with the two teams trading punches; with last minute line juggling by the Benders failing to provide the needed spark to overcome the Sasquatches. Final Score: Benders (17 and 5) 301.6 to Sasquatches (13 and 9) 322.5

Coming into the playoffs, the Denver Demon Donkeys were riding an eight game winning streak as they faced off against the Milwaukee Monarchs. The Donkeys and Monarchs traded off wins early on in the matchup, but it was the Donkeys who managed to pull ahead on points, night after night. Score: Donkeys (18 and 4) 298.2 to Monarchs (12 and 10) 265.1.

Ice Chips Update

The Richmond Prexies put forth a true spirited effort this past week as they took on the Cleveland Blackjacks. With an unusual amount of tenacity, the Prexies posted win after win last week, keeping the Blackjacks at bay until the weekend. On Friday though, the Prexies seemed to implode, falling victim to bad penalties and sloppy play as the Blackjacks regained their composure. Final Score: Prexies (0 and 22) 170.6 to Blackjacks (3 and 19) 176.7.

Team Moran facing off against the Seattle Wolves, wasted no time in asserting dominance over the Wolves surging out to a 26 point lead on opening night. Team Moran faltered only once, before regaining their composure and reasserting their style of play. Final Score: Team Moran (6 and 16) 244.7 to the Wolves (6 and 16) 187.7.

Gif of the Week

This week’s gif goes out the the Saskatoon Sasquatches who did everything in their power to successfully deny the Boston Benders a win in the first round of the playoffs.

IHHL: Playoff Midweek Update

Today, with three games in, we take a look at how the first round is progressing. there are some surprising upsets in the making. Currently we are looking at the potential for one major upset in the Ice Bucket playoffs and the emergence of the feel good story of the season in the Ice Chips bracket.

The Saskatoon Sasquatches having been giving the Boston Benders a true run for their money this week. The Benders, still reeling from that narrow loss last week, put up huge numbers in Monday’s match, but dropped Tuesday’s game by more than 40 points. That win has led to the Sasquatches holding a 5 point lead over the Benders with four games to go.

Injuries have devastated the Milwaukee Monarchs ranks this week and may have cost them their chances to win against the Denver Demon Donkeys. The Donkey’s managed to eek out a small win on Monday, but took full advantage of the Monarchs depleted ranks on Tuesday; where the Donkeys outscored the Monarchs by a margin of nearly 50 points. The Monarchs were quick to conscript players from their farm teams and posted a win on Wednesday, but the Monarchs still face an uphill battle to earn back the 30+ points that they are currently down by.

Team Moran, still rudderless with the loss of owner Mark Moran, has taken it to the Seattle Wolves early on this week. The Wolves have been caught flat footed early on, but with Team Moran suffering injuries this week, the Wolves are hoping that a change to their fortunes is in the wind.

The Richmond Prexies have redoubled efforts this week in honor of their late owner, Dom Prudente. The Prexies currently hold a lead over the Cleveland Blackjacks, setting a new team record for most nights in the lead. Will the Prexies be able to hold on for the next four nights and honor Dom with a win?

Playoff Brackets

As a reminder for the IHHL Fans, there are two playoff brackets occurring at this time. The first is the Ice Bucket playoffs. The Ice Bucket playoffs is for teams in the running for the IHHL Ice Bucket. Currently the seeding for the Ice Bucket playoffs is:

1. Washington Winter Warriors
2. Barrel Riders of Buffalo
3. Denver Demon Donkeys
4. Boston Benders
5. Saskatoon Sasquatches
6. Milwaukee Monarchs

The second bracket, the Ice Chips bracket, is used to determine which team gets first pick in the next years draft. The seeding for the Ice Chips bracket is:

1. Richmond Prexies
2. Cleveland Blackjacks
3. Team Moran
4. Seattle Wolves

IHHL: Dom Prudenete In Memoriam

On Sunday, March 23, 2014, the owner of the Richmond Prexies, Dominic Gustavos Prudente got called up to the majors. Mr. Prudente expired shortly after his team and the Washington Winter Warriors finished up their match for the week.

IHHL Commissioner, Derek Heilmann, was with Mr. Prudente in his final hours. Commissioner Heilmann spoke briefly with Game Misconduct and told us that at the end, he lied to his friend. “I told Dom that the weekly matchup was closer than he had heard that and that Sid pulled a miracle out of the hat, getting the team the first win of the season.“ Commissioner Heilmann went on to say that “I had hoped… Against all odds, that if Dom believed his team was turning it around he’d… That Dom would… he’d still be with us.”

A private ceremony was held earlier this week, which was attended by close friends and family only. In attendance was Mr. Prudente’s close personal friend and IHHL Commissioner, Derek Heilmann. The following is an excerpt from Commissioner Heilmanns Eulogy for Richmond Prexies owner, Dom Prudente.

What can I say about Dom? Many of us are familiar with the story of  my good friend, Dom Prudente. Dom was ever an entrepreneur. He was the type of many who brought such a high level of energy to everything he did that you could not help but be excited too.

When it came time to expand the league, I knew the one man I wanted to be there with me. Dom would bring a fresh vitality and excitement to the IHHL that would inescapable.

When I approached Dom about this opportunity, he was overjoyed at the chance to bring a professional hockey team to Richmond, VA. Dom saw this as his chance to give back to a city that had given him so much over the years; this was supposed to be Dom's time to shine. Dom was called to that great big owner’s box in the sky too soon!

IHHL officials have told Game Misconduct that out of respect for Dom, the name of the Richmond Prexies will be retired and at the behest of the city of Richmond and Mr. Prudente’s estate, the team will be moved at the close of the 2013/2014 season. 

For the remainder of the IHHL playoffs, all teams will be wearing the Dom Prudente memoriam patch.

Matchup 22 Summary: Black hole sun, Won't you come and wash away the rain?

The IHHL lost two of its owners in the final days of the regular season, putting the fate of both teams into doubt. The loss of two team owners combined with the lack of a TV deal for the 2014/2015 season are casting a serious pall over the playoffs and putting the leagues viability into doubt.

Richmond Prexies Owner, Dom Prudente, passed away on Sunday after his teams’ crushing defeat at the hands of the Washington Winter Warriors. Hospital officials report that complications arose from Mr. Prudente’s long stint in a coma this season. Team sources say that the life just seemed to slip out of Mr. Prudente over the past week as the team took a beating in its matchup. Commissioner Heilmann, was by his friends side on Sunday rather than watch his team finish their matchup against the Saskatoon Sasquatches.

In addition to the bombshell of Mr. Prudente’s passing, IHHL League Officials confirmed this morning that Mark Moran, owner of Team Moran, has begun the process of selling the team back to the league. Sources close to other team owners are telling Game Misconduct that talk of legal action against Mr. Moran and his film.

Matchup of the Week

In a knockdown, drag out fight, the Barrel Riders of Buffalo traveled to take on the Boston Benders this week. The Benders’ owner, Samantha Waters, was actively tinkering with lines as she kept her team firmly focused on entering the playoffs with the leagues best win streak (8 games). In what ended up being the match of the week, it all came down to a nail biting finale with less than a point separating the two teams. Final Score: Benders (17 and 5) 308 to Barrel Riders (16 and 6) 308.4.

After a slow start, the Cleveland Blackjacks surged back in their matchup against Team Moran and by midweek, only one point now separating the two teams. Unfortunately, that rally exhausted the Blackjacks and Team Moran was went on to put an exclamation point on their last game of the regular season. Final Score: Blackjacks (3 and 19) 186.5 to Team Moran (6 and 16) 240.8.

The Denver Demon Donkeys took the Seattle Wolves to task last week. As the Donkeys’ prepared for the upcoming playoffs, team owner Cody Wright kept his team focused on disciplined play and finishing their shifts. The Wolves rallied once early on in the week, but the Donkeys were quick to shut that down. Final Score: Donkeys (18 and 4) 301.4 to Wolves (6 and 16) 161.2.

With playoff positioning on the line, the Saskatoon Sasquatches came out strong on the opening night versus the Milwaukee Monarchs. The Monarchs paid dearly for resting players at the start of the week and spent too much time and energy trying to catch up to the Sasquatches, all for naught. Whether or not the Monarchs overtaxed their players in the run up to the playoffs, only time will tell. Final Score: Sasquatches (13 and 9) 270.9 to Monarchs (12 and 10) 237.

In a regional grudge match, the Washington Winter Warriors hosted the Richmond Prexies, in what would be Prexies’ owner, Dom Prudente, final game. The Prexies, already crippled with injuries, were never in a position to seriously challenge the Warriors as the season closed out. Earlier in the week, Warriors’ owner, Mac Cannon, was asked why his team was taking such a hard line with the Prexies. Mr. Cannon replied, “It is called running through the finish line - not slowing down to cross it”. Final Score: Warriors (19 and 3) 278.8 to the Prexies (0 and 22) 139.

Gif of the Week: 

 This week's gif goes out to all the IHHL fans celebrating the start of the 2014 playoffs. 

IHHL Matchup 22: Midweek Update

As the IHHL closes out its final week of the regular season, what many thought to be an otherwise slow week has turned into a desperate battle for several of the teams. We here at Game Misconduct wanted to highlight three rather hot matches this week.

The Milwaukee Monarchs may have fallen victim to their own overconfidence. On Monday, the Monarchs opted to rest several key players rather than put them in against the Saskatoon Sasquatches, resulting in the Sasquatches surging to a 28 point lead on the opening night. At this time, the Sasquatches have a 38 point lead going into the weekend.

In a move that surprised no one, the Barrel Riders of Buffalo have opted not to rest any players this week in their matchup against the Boston Benders. This match, the most fiercely contested game of the week, has the teams separated by a mere 7. Is it possible that the Barrel Riders may put an end to the Benders’ league leading winning streak? Will either team risk any major changes to the teams with playoffs so close at hand?

One big surprise this week comes out of the matchup between the Washington Winter Warriors and the Richmond Prexies. The Prexies have not won a game all season and the owner has only recently come out of a season long coma, so no one thought that this would be a competitive match. What has surprised people is the that Warriors’ owner, Mac Cannon, seems to be channeling his Sensei from the Cobra Kai Dojo, Johnny Kreese, in calling for no mercy to be shown to the Prexies or their owner. The aggressive no-holds-barred style of play against the Prexies is considered unwarranted by many in the league.

Matchup 21 Summary: Tik Tok on the clock, but the party don’t stop

Going into the final week of the regular season, many teams are looking to address holes in their rosters that are still creeping up as a result of the Olympic games. The Barrel Riders of Buffalo, who have seen several key players go out with injuries, have publicly stated that they will be resting players this week in preparation for the playoffs. Whether this is a feint to throw off the Boston Benders for this week’s match up or the actual strategy is unclear at this time. 

Match of the Week - Monarchs vs Benders

After lightening his burden in managing the IHHL last week, Commissioner Heilmann and the Milwaukees Monarchs hosted the Boston Benders. The Monarchs, fresh off of their win against Team Moran, were looking to do the seemingly impossible, stopping the Benders. The Benders have not lost a game since the start of the year and appear to be peaking at just the right time to make a strong run into the playoffs. Savvy moves by Ms. Waters this season have positioned the Benders as the dominate team in the race for the Ice Bucket. All of this spelled doom for the Monarchs as they closed out the week over 100 points behind the Benders. With that loss, the Monarch’s hopes to catch the Barrel Riders and take over lead of the Conway Conference went down the drain. Final Score: Monarchs (17-4) 273.8 to Benders (12-9) 382.7.

In the battle of the coasts, the Seattle Wolves jumped out to an early lead over the Washington Winter Warriors. Mr. Cannon, owner of the Warriors, who have been dominant all season, attributed the slow start to the resting of his players in anticipation of the playoffs. The Wolves management issued a terse no comment when asked about the Warriors decision to bench players. Final Score: Wolves (6-15) 210 to Warriors (18-3) 288. 

The Richmond Prexies hosted the Saskatoon Sasquatches last week; Prexies’ owner, Dom Prudente continues to make excellent progress recovering from the coma he has been in all season. For the first games of the week, the Prexies hung tough with the surging Sasquatches and kept the match to within two points. As the week wore on though, the Prexies fell into their old habits of taking bad penalties and sloppy play in the defensive zone. With owner Dom Prudente on the road to recovery, we expect big things out the Prexies next season. Final Score: Prexies (0-21) 151.6 to Sasquatches (12-9) 256.2.

Team Moran made the trip to Buffalo last week to face off against the Barrel Riders. The Barrel Riders took advantage of Team Moran’s owner, Mark Moran, being focused on production of the “Flimsy Forward” to rest key players early on in the week. Mr. Moran did call into the team on Sunday for a pre-game pep talk that resulted in a win for that game, but it was too little too late. Final Score: Barrel Riders (15-6) 311.1 to Team Moran (5-16) 222.4. 

The Denver Demon Donkeys hosted the Cleveland Blackjacks for their last home game of the regular season. The Donkeys, locked in a battle for second place with the Benders, pulled out all the stops last week, jumping out to a 43 point lead over the Blackjacks on Monday. After that crushing start to the week, the Blackjacks were unable to get their heads back into the game. Final Score: Donkeys (17-4) 340.1 to Blackjacks (3-18) 162.2. 

Gif of the Week

This week’s gif is dedicated to the Boston Benders’ owner, Ms. Samantha Waters. As can be seen, the Milwaukee Monarchs were on the receiving end of the Benders’ aggressive play last week.

Matchup 20: Through the desert on a horse with no name

Welcome back to the IHHL. While the Olympics proved to be a great world class showcase for the talent that makes up the IHHL, it seems that that demonstration may have come at a cost. These past two weeks have been a roller coaster ride of thrills and chills for IHHL fans.

The Good

Richmond Prexies owner, Dom Prudente, is making a miraculous recovery. Showing signs of life and making solid progress towards recovery for the first time all season. By all accounts, it appears that team captain Sidney Crosby was the catalyst for this recovery. More details can be found in this Game Misconduct update.

The Bad

News out of Hollywood and sources close to IHHL Management agree that Team Moran owner, Mark Moran, has left the building to begin filming “The Flimsy Forward”. Game Misconduct broke the story on Friday.

The Ugly

The Olympic Games came at a high price for many of the IHHL teams. The huge number of injuries has forced many teams to reach far down the depth charts and farm teams in order to get through the last three matchups of the season.

Matchup 20, Summary

Washington Winter Warriors faced off against the Cleveland Blackjacks. The Warriors pushed hard to take advantage of the long format matchup of two weeks to crack 600 points. The Blackjacks meanwhile were looking to stop a six game slide and get back into the win column. Final Score: Warriors (16-3) 571.9 to Blackjacks (3-16) 286.8.

The Boston Benders hosted the Richmond Prexies this past fortnight. Despite Prexies owner Dom Prudente showing signs of recovery, the Prexies were unable to withstand the press of the Benders. The Benders have become on a tear since the start of the new year, owning a league leading streak of seven straight wins. Final Score: Benders (15-4) 510 to Prexies (0-20) 242.6.

The Saskatoon Sasquatches and the Seattle Wolves engaged in a pitched battle early on in the matchup. For the first week, the Sasquatches and Wolves traded wins on a nightly basis. The Sasquatches were finally able to establish dominance over the Wolves on March 4, with a win of 61 to 11. The Wolves rallied back with a 51 to 21 win the next night, but that would be the last win of the week for the Wolves. Final Score: Sasquatches (10-9) 452.6 to Wolves (6-13) 302.1.

Team Moran hosted the Milwaukee Monarchs and despite team owner, Mark Moran, being absent, the matchup was one of the closer ones. Event without their owner present, Team Moran put up a brave fight against the Monarchs. This weeks win put the Monarchs in place to gain a point against Conway Conference leader, the Barrel Riders of Buffalo.  Final Score: Team Moran (5-14) 353.1 to Monarchs (11-8) 458.

The Barrel Riders of Buffalo traveled to Denver to face off against the Demon Donkeys, in what proved to be most pitched battle of the week. The Barrel Riders a victim of injuries, quickly fell behind the Donkeys in the opening days of the matchup. Despite a late matchup rally, the Barrel Riders were unable to overcome their injuries and the whole that they initially dug themselves into. Final Score: Donkeys (15-4) 464.4 to Barrel Riders (14-5) 455.5
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Gif of the Week

This weeks gif comes from the Richmond Prexies game capturing team captain, Sidney Crosby's reaction to the news that owner Dom Prudente is coming out of the coma. 

Team Moran is folding, will the IHHL follow?

Photo used under Creative Commons,
Sebastien Grey, Studio M Academy

Information coming out of newly formed Hollywood Hockey Pictures points to principal photography on the “Flimsy Forward” is set to begin the first week of IHHL playoffs. The Flimsy Forward is the pet project of Team Moran Owner, Mark Moran. Sources inside of Team Moran say that owner Mark Moran is no longer managing the team and that he has no plans to come back next season.

The expansion of the IHHL and bringing in Mark Moran were two shining examples of Commissioner’s brash and flash style. With the loss of Team Moran, coupled with the collapse of the ESPN has dealt Commissioner Heilmann a devastating set of PR losses.

Recent movements in the structuring the management of the IHHL, creating the Co-Commissioner position, now appear to amount to rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic. Owners and fans alike are no doubt wondering what all of this means for the viability of the IHHL. This may end up being more devastating to the league than last year’s lockout.

It may be that the IHHL needs to look at contracting for the upcoming season if it is to survive. Contraction of the league would be, in this writers opinion, a good thing. With fewer teams in the league, the IHHL would be better positioned to deliver a higher quality product, since there would not be the dilution of talent that is in place now.

Breaking News: Co-Commissioner Position Created and Named

Today, IHHL team owners were shocked by an announcement made by Commissioner Heilmann, creating the office of Co-Commissioner for the league. It is interesting to note that the new position will be filled by Scott J. Hall, as there have been rumors throughout the season of strife between Mr. Hall and Commissioner Heilmann.

At the press announcement, Commissioner Heilmann was quoted:

“I am happy to announce the creation of the position of Co-Commissioner and to have my good friend and colleague, Scott Hall.  step up and take on the responsibility of improve the IHHL.  As we look to grow the leagues dominance in the sports entertainment industry, it is important that look for new opportunities and not be constrained by past decisions and actions

The first order of business that Scott will undertake is to work with Alyssa to find and a company that is better suited to work with the IHHL and moving us forward into the 21st century. I have the utmost confidence that Scott and Alyssa will be an outstanding team to help grow IHHL.

In the meantime, I will be focusing on supporting our league as we begin our push into the playoffs. “

Sources close to league management wonder if Commissioner Heilmann’s motivation is less about expanding the league and more about keeping Mr. Hall close and on a short lease. Setting the motivation for this move aside, the pairing of Mr. Hall with Ms. Gagen makes sense as it creates a team with a proven track record of looking after the league interests, deep experience with technology matters, and having deep ties to the entertainment industry.

Update: Dom Prudente recovering

In a season that has such a pall cast over it for the Richmond Prexies, team captain Sydney Crosby’s winning of the Gold medal for team Canada has been a true highlight. In a touching move, Crosby went to see owner Dom Prudente in the hospital and tearfully placed his gold medal around Dom’s neck.

Shortly after Crosby left the hospital, Dom Prudente began stir and show signs of life for the first time all season. Mr. Prudente called Game Misconduct earlier this morning to let us know that he is on the road to recovery and is looking forward to taking a more active role in the management of his team next year.

Many on the team believe that it was Sidney Crosby’s dedication of the Gold Medal win in Sochi to Dom that has made the difference. Our hopes and prayers are with Dom and his family.

Filed under Rumour: ESPN deal with IHHL DOA?

Sources inside of IHHL Management, speaking on condition of anonymity, are telling Game Misconduct that the league's’ negotiations with ESPN for TV rights to carry games have fallen through.

The sticking point for the league centers around the TV revenue sharing and ESPN’s promotion of the league. There has been grumbling from league owners for much of the season on how ESPN is handling coverage and the slowness in updating fans on what is happening with the IHHL.

ESPN is evidently balking, in part, with Commissioner Heilmann’s demands for promoting the league. One of the more outrageous request to come from the Commissioner is for ESPN to supply full sized Zambonis made entirely of Tim Hortons’ donuts, sitting on top of a Coldstone Creamery ice cream cake, for each team’s first home game of the 2014/2015 season.

Commissioner Heilmann's flair for the outrageous when it comes to promotional stunts may have permanently derailed the negotiations with ESPN. It is unclear what the options will be for the IHHL in the 2014/2015 season. 

Owner Profile: Richmond Prexies - Dom Prudente

The story of Dom Prudente is one of sorrow and tragedy. In the early 2000s, Dom ran a successful housing finance business. He would work long and hard to connect home buyers with the houses of their dreams in the Richmond area. When the housing market burst, Dom was forced to close his doors and lost nearly everything. After years of rebuilding, Dom was close to realizing a life long dream; owning and managing his own professional hockey team. 

When Commissioner Heilmann took over the league and was looking to expand the number of teams, the first person he reached out to was his friend Dom. The Commissioner knew that Dom would bring vitality and excitement to the league.

Dom, overjoyed at the chance to bring a professional hockey team to Richmond, VA, worked with the Commissioner to organize a parade celebrating the new team and the great times to come; and that is when tragedy struck for a second time in Dom's life. At the start of the parade, Dom, precariously perched upon the back of a convertible and waving to the crowd, fell. In falling, Dom hit the back of his head and was run over by the team bus. The accident resulted in Dom going into a coma and being placed in a full body cast.

With the IHHL draft taking place the next day, League owners unanimously agreed that the first round draft pick should go to the Richmond Prexies out of respect for Dom's condition. With that pick, the Prexies drafted Sidney Crosby, who was immediately promoted to team captain and coach. Crosby dedicates each game to the Prexies fallen owner telling everyone that Dom is watching over them. 

Despite herculean efforts by the player, the team has yet to win a game this season. Many in league now believe that Dom's fate is tied to that of his team. If only the Prexies could win a game, perhaps Dom would come out of his coma.

Owner Profiles: Cleveland Blackjacks - Alyssa Gagen

Alyssa Gagen, owner and General Manager of the Cleveland Blackjacks, is a woman of many and varied talents. Alyssa's road to becoming, not only a team owner, but an icon in the Icehouse Hockey League is a reflection of her dedication, adaptability and business savvy.

Alyssa first made her mark in the music industry working in New York searching out new talent. Alyssa's biggest find was Christopher Lee Rios, aka Big Pun, aka  Big Punisher. Big Punisher was the first solo Latino rapper to go platinum. In contrast to his large frame, Big Pun was a surprisingly graceful and nimble rapper, delivering his often clever, tongue-twisting rhymes at a torrential pace. 

Alyssa, the IHHL's first female Commissioner, served as a strong ambassador for the sport to its fans and built bridges between management and the players. She shepherd the IHHL through its first lockout during the 2012 to 2013 season. Drawing upon her experience in the music industry, she forged an agreement with the players' association that was beneficial for all parties. 

With the differences between the owners and the players worked out, Alyssa set about having the IHHL earn the respect and trust of the fans back. Throughout the entire lockout, she maintained an open and transparent dialogue with the fan base that helped the fans stay engaged. Post lockout, Alyssa used her contacts in the music industry to draw major bands to games, celebrating the return of hockey and spearheaded other fan-centric outreach projects.

For the 2013-2014 season, Alyssa decided to step down and focus on her team, the Cleveland Blackjacks. In stepping down, Alyssa said that "bringing the league back from the edge left too little time for me to focus on the team and the community that supports us. I know that this season will be a rebuilding year, but I fully expect the Blackjacks to once again be a dominant force in the IHHL."