Potential USA Locations for VHLM Relocation [2/2]

[Hybrid1486 577]

As I mentioned in my VHL.com article this week, my goal of speculating about where the next VHLM team would wind up was undercut when the location was put to a vote of six different cities this week. It seems like Halifax is going to land the squad, barring a comeback from Denver, so there’s not much to say about expansion locations this week…

 

…or is there?

 

The expansion location discussion has drifted away from “where will the next team wind up” to “what team ae we going to move to the US?” Currently, the VHLM is made up of three (soon to be four) Canadian teams, one European team, and one American team located in Las Vegas. The expectation is that either the team in Oslo or the one in Yukon will be relocated to an American city to balance the geographical spectrum out a bit. For what it’s worth, given that there are still two European VHL teams I think there should be at least one counterpart in the minors, although I do like the idea of a hockey team playing in the Western Hemisphere’s equivalent of Siberia.

 

So let’s say Yukon moves. Where should they go? Here are a few possible locations for the next American VHLM team:

 

Denver: The mountain city has a relatively strong hockey presence, if a relatively recent one. As the second-place vote-getter, it would stand to reason that if a second vote were to be bypassed then Denver would get the team by default. There are plenty of worse options out there.

 

Buffalo: Back in the days when VHLM teams were tied to their VHL counterparts (like the NHL/AHL relationship), the Nickel City housed Seattle’s minor-league squad. The city has a very strong presence in American hockey, hosting the NHL Combine and a couple recent World Juniors tournaments. It’s also my hometown, so it would get my vote.

 

Detroit/Chicago/Boston: Despite the VHL’s New York team borrowing its name from the defunct Gotham squad of the NHL’s early days, I don’t believe the VHL or VHLM has ever had a presence in any of these Original Six cities. That’s surprising to me (assuming it’s the case). Now would be as good a time to rectify that issue as any.

 

Raleigh: The Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup about a decade ago, and these days the hockey team…um…exists…and the fanbase…okay, no. Every list needs a filler, and this could really be any Southern city. It doesn’t even need to have a hockey team in the real world. I just picked Raleigh because that’s where I live now. Hell, I forgot until I started this sentence that the VHLM already has a team smack-dab in the middle of the desert. This could be New Orleans, or Tampa, or Austin, or whatever. It’s just not going to happen.

 

That list is as good of a place to start as any. It remains to be seen whether the VHLM will move back into the USA with a second team, but right now it seems like a safe bet. If the location comes by decree of the Commissioner’s Office, I’d expect it to be Denver. If there’s a vote, I’m going Buffalo.

 

533 words

[Banackock 8,044]

All would be nice minus Raleigh. 

[diamond_ace 3,112]

Pittsburgh

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

Review

I'd be ok with anyone of these just as much as I'd be ok with Yukon not moving at all. However, it has become apparent that none of these things happened but it should be remembered that these places should be at the top of the list if the VHLM were to expand once again.

[SlapshotWrangler 864]

Y u no add baltimore

[Jose Gonzalez 33]

JGRS Review

Information: 7/10 This is packed with information and is a very interesting read, but is limited to that score with such few words.

Readability: 9/10 This article is extremely easy to read, no other way to explain it.

Roleplay: N/A This is not an interview style media spot N/A

Total Score: 16/20 Good article, but has room for improvement.