Reunited NWHL Announced

[Jonesy]

The NWHL and the WWHL have joined again to create an 11 team league that will be called the NWHL.

[OnMAA]

The NWHL and the WWHL have joined again to create an 11 team league that will be called the NWHL.


Here is the discussion around it and the news bulletin from the Ontario based Forum:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/283026/thread/1152668725/Clarkson+Cup

[brookyone]

...and what of the rule / restriction in the former NWHL regarding "imports" on Canadian based teams?

[canadahockeymom]

...and what of the rule / restriction in the former NWHL regarding "imports" on Canadian based teams?

They are allowing 4 US players per team instead of the two they had.

[brookyone]

They are allowing 4 US players per team instead of the two they had.
Any limit is complete bull doody. The Whitecaps as an organization should have a major problem with such a policy IMO, and make that objection well known.

[OnMAA]

Any limit is complete bull doody. The Whitecaps as an organization should have a major problem with such a policy IMO, and make that objection well known.


Give them a chance. They are doubling the quota. Maybe there are plans to relax the restriction over time. If you remove the restriction completely right away, you would potentially alienate a few of the exisiting players who helped build the league. Restriction could also serve as an incentive to have a few more US based teams in the North East. That would make it a truly NWHL league.

Just me thoughts.

[canadahockeymom]

Any limit is complete bull doody. The Whitecaps as an organization should have a major problem with such a policy IMO, and make that objection well known.

Whitecaps will have no problem; the quota only applies to "Canadian based teams".

[Gamer]

Do Caps have quota of 4 Canadian players?

[goalie39]

Since the new NWHL is an 11 team league, I am assuming that the Griffins have finally stopped pretending that they are 'reorganizing' and have actually admitted that there is no Griffins anymore or perhaps it was suggested to them that the time has come to call it.

Anyone know anything definite about their situation?

[brookyone]

Do Caps have quota of 4 Canadian players?
Not that I'm aware of, I have my doubts, but I don't know definitively. Such a "reverse quota" would also not be right in my view.

Give them a chance. They are doubling the quota. Maybe there are plans to relax the restriction over time. If you remove the restriction completely right away, you would potentially alienate a few of the exisiting players who helped build the league. Restriction could also serve as an incentive to have a few more US based teams in the North East. That would make it a truly NWHL league.

Just me thoughts.
I do appreciate your point of view but have to remain in disagreement with any restriction policy and I can't see any justification. When speaking of the potential alienation of a few players, I think the restriction alienates a much larger pool of players, and possibly fans as it is. I guess I'll believe there are plans to relax restrictions when I see it happen. I hope you're correct, but I'm skeptical. I have to wonder (don't know the answer) how many US native players would end up on Canadian based team rosters without any restriction...it may not be all that many anyway when contemplating how many will want, and be able to manage continuing to play. I still feel no limit would do more for the health / vibrancy of the league long term tho. The "merger" does create potential for a more viable, sustainable & entertaining league.

You're gonna need more American players on ALL teams to have any chance for even moderate success in the US in my view.

[pgb-ohio]

I do appreciate your point of view but have to remain in disagreement with any restriction policy and I can't see any justification. When speaking of the potential alienation of a few players, I think the restriction alienates a much larger pool of players, and possibly fans as it is.Amen, Brookyone.

There are times when affirmative action plans are appropriate, but this isn't one of them. Do Canadian hockey players really need protection from superior foreign competition? The whole idea strikes me as absolutely laughable.

It makes sense for the CFL to have a quota. There's no reason that Canada's peak football league should become a U.S. minor league.

Another example: The old NASL had a quota for non-North Americans. Again, you can see the justification. One of the core goals of that league was to help North American players catch up with the rest of the soccer world.

Repeating for emphasis: Canadian hockey players -- Women or Men -- don't need to catch up with anyone.

I have to wonder (don't know the answer) how many US native players would end up on Canadian based team rosters without any restriction...it may not be all that many anyway when contemplating how many will want, and be able to manage continuing to play.Even if 4 foreign players per team is the number that would naturally occur anyway, having a quota is still something of an insult.

For the sake of argument, let's try out this thinking on another league, the WNBA. I'm not a hoops fan, but I presume that all WBNA teams have a large majority of U.S. born players. It's probably the case that the number of foreign born players on each roster is four or fewer. But suppose the WNBA decided to enact a rule and make it official: No WNBA team would be allowed to carry more than 4 non-U.S. players. Even if no jobs changed hands, wouldn't the rule stink -- a lot?

I still feel no limit would do more for the health / vibrancy of the league long term tho.Again, agreed.

Still, to really answer this question, you need to be completely clear about your objectives. If the ultimate goal is to develop Canadian Women's Hockey specifically and to maximize Canada's advantage in international competition, then the league should be limited to Canadians only -- no foreign players at all.

But my understanding is that real goal is to develop the best possible elite-level clubs, and ultimately the best league in the world -- the same as the Men's NHL. If that's the case, let the best players play.

[ARM]

I agree with the "no restrictions" side for many reasons. If the quota is a good idea, then why don't the NHL teams have them? Obviously, the situations aren't the same, because the NHL is a business run for profit and is all about competition. But competition is what puts fans in the seats at any level. Fans want to watch the best players, whether they are native to their country or not. When I watch the Minnesota Twins play baseball, I'd rather see Johan Santana pitch than some US-born pitcher who can't throw a strike. And I don't cheer any differently for Justin Morneau because he was born in Canada.

Without quotas, I don't think American players would overrun the league. There are only a few who are going to be willing to put their lives on hold and go live in Canada for the sole purpose of extending their careers. Those impacted by quotas certainly aren't making any money doing so. About all that the quotas accomplish is that it prevents a number of American players from winding up on the same team when it might make sense geographically for them to do so.

[OnMAA]

I agree with the "no restrictions" side for many reasons. ...snip....

Without quotas, I don't think American players would overrun the league. There are only a few who are going to be willing to put their lives on hold and go live in Canada for the sole purpose of extending their careers. ...


Looks like my restriction comments touched a nerve with some. Good comments and arguments by many. Let me be clear that I never stated an opinion but only suggested that they should be relaxed over time and be removed eventually. Do agree that the best thing for the expanded league is to have the best possible talent on the ice. As such to attact more top end Americans, the league would be best off expand to a few key centres in the states. Care should be taken however to not too expand too quickly. As long as the players still have to work and play at the same time, many will hang them up after college unless they have National team aspirations.

[hab]

Looks like the league has added another team in the Calgary area, at least on a provisional basis. The Strathmore Rockies will play in the league this year but not be eligible for playoffs. I understand that they are having tryouts this weekend and expect a number of US and Canadian college grads to be on the ice. It would certainly help the travel and scheduling challenges of the WWHL if a couple of cities could support more than one team.

[brookyone]

Whitecaps open season Oct. 20. The Minnesota Whitecaps, the only U.S. team in the reorganized Western Women's Hockey League, open their season Oct. 20-22 with a three-game series against the Saskatchewan Prairie Ice.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/15455354.htm

The Minnesota Gophers could have their hands full on the 29th when looking at some of the names on the 2006-07 Whitecap roster. Whitecaps should be a fun team to watch.

Though I can't vouch for the accuracy of this piece.

[puckcontrol]

I'd love to see a game between the whitecaps and the oval xtreme this year. Whitecaps have a great lineup and the oval xtreme have Wick, Goyette, Sostorics, Collins, Ferrari, Carla MacLeod, Corene Bredin, Jenny Creary, etc. Lots of other young talent too. Should be some great contests there.

[brookyone]

I'd love to see a game between the whitecaps and the oval xtreme this year. Whitecaps have a great lineup and the oval xtreme have Wick, Goyette, Sostorics, Collins, Ferrari, Carla MacLeod, Corene Bredin, Jenny Creary, etc. Lots of other young talent too. Should be some great contests there.
Here's what appears to be the current Whitecaps roster. Pretty nice roster at that!

http://www.minnesotawhitecaps.com/leagues/team_statistics.cfm?clientID=2178&leagueID=5109

[puckcontrol]

Great line up for the Whitecaps; the new roster for the xtreme isn't posted yet; I just know most of them. Should be updated soon.

[mattj711]

The whitecaps should have a very solid team this year. Based on prior years though, it'll be interesting to see how many of those players actually will be around for the games. It is my understanding that Potter will be missing most if not all of the first half of the season. I believe Erica Olso will be attending graduate school somewhere in Canada. Caroline Oullette's responsiblities at UMD will certainly limit her travel. My guess is we won't see the full strength of this team until possibly playoffs, but I'd imagine the Whitecaps will hands full against calgary in the playoffs b/c they'll have relatively little game time experience playing together.

[brookyone]

The whitecaps should have a very solid team this year. Based on prior years though, it'll be interesting to see how many of those players actually will be around for the games. It is my understanding that Potter will be missing most if not all of the first half of the season. I believe Erica Olso will be attending graduate school somewhere in Canada. Caroline Oullette's responsiblities at UMD will certainly limit her travel.
The roster seems to be a little makeshift, or something of a hodgepodge from time to time for sure. I was a little surprised to not see Jerilyn Glenn or Rhonda Curtin on the roster. Initially thought a couple more of last seasons Gopher seniors might pop up on the roster as well. I s'pose it's plausible any of them, or others could show up on the ice at times...we'll see. Maybe some of those I have in mind have decided to hang 'em up.

Natalie's former linemate?