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*puolivalmiste* · 09-01-2019, 07:08 AM

On oversaturated market of north american hockey SMJHL has it fair share of problems to make a profit. As SHL and other sports get most of the attention from media, I think it would be time to consider relocating, but where would there be enough interest for hockey to move whole league?

Well the answer is Europe of course as it is already home for many talented SHL players so this move could give most of them a home team to play or at least root for. If we would do relocating between seasons there would not be enough time for re-branding teams too much, just some new home country flavor and we should be set for the future, without angering too many old fans.

Also to further differentiate from SHL European Simulation Hockey League (ESHL) should have 3 points from win system (3 points for regulation win, 2 points for overtime or shootout win, 1 point for overtime or shootout loss and 0 points for regulation loss, first tiebreaker being points gained in games between tied teams). So lets see how current season would have gone on other side of Atlantic.

Dublin Falcons (Ireland)

Ireland's contributions to hockey should not be underestimated, they have been part of international competition for years. So when Falcons were looking a city to relocate it felt very natural to move to Dublin. Falcons owners have assured that low corporate taxes did not play any role in selecting location.

Dublin Falcons with record of 29-2-6-13 would be keeping their spot at the top with 97 points

Köln Knights (Germany)

Knights had many great options when moving to Europe as their history with Knights is much richer than Kelowna's. They decided to shoot for big German market and team soon found themselves taking new promo photos at Burg Castle near Köln.

Köln Knights would have been on second spot with record of 23-5-6-16 for total of 85 points, leaving them 12 points behind Falcons showing how dominant they were this season.

Halifax Raiders (United Kingdoms)

At Raiders head office you can hear loud rubbing of hands all the way to front doors, as they will save truckloads of cash while other teams are doing their re-branding. They think most of fans might not even notice them moving away if they start to play their games during night so they will be still aired at same time they were earlier.

Raiders had record of 18-8-9-15 that leaves them well behind of Knights with 79 points. So competition for second place was not nearly as close as it was at SMJHL where they were only a point behind Knights.

Linz Lions (Austria)

Lions were one of last teams to find a place to settle. Europe was full of places with heraldic lions that could have been used for re-branding of team but when they saw their team logo in Austria's colors they decided to take more practical approach and aim to make money by having rivalry with close by Raptors for both teams benefit.

Lions would have gone 21-5-3-21 on their European campaign leaving them with 76 points total, same point total that Whalers had but Lions took 10 points from their 6 games while Whalers only took 8. In the end at Europe Lions finish above Whalers on fourth place while in SMJHL they were 1 point short.

Västerås Whalers (Sweden)

Whalers had good offers from both Västerås and Vantaa from Finland, but knowing Finland conspiracy and its accused connection to Japanese whale hunting and fishing was last thing they wanted to be associated with. They were also considering Vadjø in northern Norway but found out that Armada had already settled pretty close and decided that Whalers by Swedish lake is as it was meant to be.

Whalers would have record of 20-6-4-20 and total of 76 points, leaving them bellow Lions and yet they both were closer to third placed Raiders, just one regulation win away while in SMJHL difference was 5 points.

Москва́ Мили́ция (Russia)

Militia is moving to largest market in Europe by going straight into hearth of Russia aiming to be home team for whole country. Most people in organization speak neither Russian or French so moving to Moscow was barely noticeable as they still don't understand people around them.

Moscow Militia finishes with record of 18-6-6-20 and 72 points earning them 6th place just like at other side of Atlantic, here they were just a little bit further away from two teams ahead but on the other hand they did not need to rely on tiebreakers to earn their 6th place.

České Budějovice Raptors (Czech Republic)

After Raptors found out what Raiders had done they thought they should also try to have as subtle change as possible. Their owners gave following comment: "Once we had found České Budějovice there was no looking back, it just fits like a glove, old fans will most likely feel like we never even left if they don't mind small alterations on team colors, or is it colours here?"

Raptors were one of teams that had many overtimes during this season yet change in point system did not effect their standing, with record of 17-5-10-18 they finished with 71 points, point behind Militia unlike at SMJHL where they were tied.

St.Gallen Scarecrows (Switzerland)

Anyone knows who is Louis? How about Gallen? Thought so, as they are no Patric but as Falcons moved to Dublin Scarecrows decided to take look elsewhere. In Switzerland they can earn so much more from ticket sales because local salaries are high, yet player salaries have league wide rules and they are forced to pay in dollars. Owners told they would like to pay higher salaries for players but rules are rules, just look what happened with Calgary.

With record of 17-7-4-22 Scarecrows finished with total of 69 points. They kept their 8th place and finished 2 points behind Raptors in both leagues meaning in ESHL they were marginally closer.

Akaa Outlaws (Finland)

Moving to small city of Akaa was not first thing Outlaws were planning, but as city officials explained that more than half of Finnish population would have less than 2 hour travel to their games and that it worked okayish for mall in neighboring city they should be fine. What in the end tipped Akaa's bid over Amsterdam's was chance to play at Kylmäkoski Areena (Cold rapids arena) once it is built.

Akaa works for Outlaws just as well as Anaheim as they finish 9th place with record of 16-6-5-23 for 65 points.

Alta Armada (Norway)

Armada is not just going to be team for all of Norway, they are planning to be pride of all northern Scandinavia and home team for Sami people. They are playing on smaller market but plan to get lots of revenue by hosting 15-20 winter classic games every season, only playing indoors when it gets too cold.

Armada stays at bottom this season regardless of continent where games are played. They end their season at 14-7-4-25 resulting in total of 60 points, leaving them whit about same relative difference to next team.

Final standings:

SMJHL

Detroit Falcons, 68 points
Kelowna Knights, 62 points
Halifax Raiders, 61 points
Vancouver Whalers, 56 points
Lethbridge Lions, 55 points
Montreal Militia, 54 points
Colorado Raptors, 54 points
St. Louis Scarecrows, 52 points
Anaheim Outlaws, 49 points
Anchorage Armada, 46 points

ESHL

Dublin Falcons, 97 points
Köln Knights, 85 points
Halifax Raiders, 79 points
Linz Lions, 76 points
Västerås Whalers, 76 points
Moscow Militia, 72 points
České Budějovice Raptors, 71 points
St.Gallen Scarecrows, 69 points
Akaa Outlaws, 65 points
Alta Armada, 60 points

In the end, only change in standings is Whalers and Lions switching places, but still end up playing each other in playoffs, tho this time Lions would have home advantage.

Some differences between teams were closer and especially Falcons were more dominant when playing over at Europe. Also if Armada was only one playing with 3 points for win system they could have finished 4th in SMJHL.

Now only question remains if we should do this before playoffs or during next off-season.

(1357 words + some editing done with banners, very proud with how Raiders one turned out)

Flareon · 09-01-2019, 09:11 AM

FinnRhys · 09-01-2019, 09:18 AM

Great article! Really like the creativity

FINN RHYS

[Image: hockey__27674.1518661372.1000.1200.jpg?c=2]

Raven · 09-01-2019, 09:20 AM

Creative idea love it

Thank you Fever, sköldpaddor and OD for the amazing sigs!

Montreal Impact/Militia Militia-Old

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JSS · 09-01-2019, 09:37 AM

that lions colour scheme is p nice

*Carpy48* · 09-01-2019, 09:50 AM

Yes, great idea (might not agree with all locations, but that's okay). Ilike

C9Van · 09-01-2019, 10:31 AM

First off as someone who lives near Halifax irl, they don't have a decent stadium to put that team, closest place would be 'Ull, Leeds or Sheffield probably.

Secondly, please don't make me play in wessie land ;_;

*puolivalmiste* · 09-01-2019, 10:38 AM

If main criteria for location would not be to keep same initial than they currently have we could find more suitable cities, but if done for real most teams would very likely change their names and logos to better fit for their new location.

But I think I covered at least most of important countries in europe (for SHL)

Also being separate european league would give us excuse to have separate drafts.

***hhh81*** · 09-01-2019, 11:32 AM

If I was forced to move Colorado to Europe, it would 100% be to Germany to honor the great Alexander Selich and Cassius Darrow

Interesting media, all the same

White Cornerback · 09-01-2019, 11:37 AM

TBH you'd prob have the team in Belfast considering we have no real interest in Hockey in the republic. Although in a United Ireland, Dublin is fine xo