The CHL is starting to hit second gear with their promotion of the 7th annual Subway Super Series (taking place November 16-26), a six-game series pitting the best of the WHL, QMJHL, and OHL against what is supposedly the best selection of young hockey talent that Russia can assemble.

My reaction? Who cares!

Look, Canada-Russia is nothing if not a talent-rich hockey rivalry, and there could very well be a new chapter added next February if the two countries meet for gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. And yes, that rivalry moves seamlessly to the junior level at each year’s World Junior Hockey Championships.

Unfortunately, this Subway Super Series has come off as a force-fed, artificial attempt to match that same intensity and it simply hasn’t worked.

Since the event began as the Canada Russia Challenge in 2003, CHL teams hold a dominant 30-6 record against their Russian counterparts (not what you would call ‘Super’ competitive). To the Russians’ defence, this imbalance can at least be partially attributed to an unfair structure in which they are expected to go overseas (the Series has always taken place in Canada) and visit OHL, WHL, and QMJHL teams on their provincial home soil.

The Russian hockey federation has come under fire in the past for not putting forth their best roster of junior talent for the event (neither Alex Ovechkin nor Evgeni Malkin have ever competed), but can you really blame them when they know they are exposing their players to major jet lag and potential injury for no clear purpose just weeks prior to World Juniors?

In a review of the 2005 event, hockeyfutures.com writer Leslie Treff alludes to its intrinsic inequality in saying that “the Challenge was first played in 2003, and not surprisingly, given its format, Canada has won in each previous year.”

So this Super Series really comes down to watching exhibition games between teams of OHL / WHL / QMJHL all-stars against a road-weary collection of largely B-level Russian players in the midst of a six-game-in-11-day stretch in three provinces and two time zones.

Sure, everyone loves international competitions that inspire patriotism and fan the flames of nationalistic pride, but it is difficult to fully invest in an event where the two sides are not a) fully invested and b) competing on an even playing field.

Here’s your bikini of the day from bikinibeat.org:

On Fan 590 Tonight-

- open phones with McCown from 4:05 to 4:40
- co-host from 5:00 to 7:00 is jim Kelley
5:20 Nick Kypreos, Sportsnet
5:40 Bart Andrus, Argos Head Coach
6:05 Don Banks, SI.COM
6:30 David Branch, CHL President & OHL Comish
6:45 Keith Law, ESPN on the ALCS & NLCS

On 640 with Brady and Watters thanks to Mike S.:

- Brian Duff of NHL Network on hockey
- hockey insiders Darren Dreger & Bob McKenzie at 6:10

Seguin, Hall.

It’s a battle that has started early in this 2009-10 OHL season and could continue right through to the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires has been on NHL teams’ radar screens for some time now, and had been tabbed the “next big thing” in the OHL once John Tavares moved on to the Island. However, Plymouth Whalers forward Tyler Seguin has turned heads for his scoring prowess early in the season, and it appears that we could be in for an interesting race to the scoring title.

TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie is one of the many NHL experts keeping an eye on the Taylor / Tyler rivalry. In a recent blog post, McKenzie reported that “the Taylor Hall versus Tyler Seguin argument is one we’re going to be interested in watching as we head towards the 2010 NHL entry draft.”

Through 10 games this season, Seguin leads the league in goals and total points, potting 14 goals and collecting 25 points. Meanwhile, Hall has played 11 games, but still trails with 10 goals and 12 assists (22 points).

Hall, though, leads where it matters most. While Seguin’s Whalers currently rank sixth in the Western Conference with a 6-4 record, Hall has led the high-powered Spitfires’ attack out to a West-leading 7-3-0-1 mark.

The two young phenoms, along with Windsor defenceman and fellow 2010 top prospect Cam Fowler, will clash for the first time this season on Saturday in a rematch of last year’s six-game Western semifinal. Needless to say, NHL scouts will certainly be paying attention.

That collective shudder you just heard throughout the OHL is the surprising return of the 2008-09 Player of the Year, Cody Hodgson of the Brampton Batallion.

Tabbed by many, including TheHockeyNews.com, as a Calder Trophy contender heading into the season, Hodgson continued to show the lingering effects of the bulging disc he suffered in the off-season and did not impress in Canucks camp.

This is Christmas come early for a struggling Batallion squad that has stumbled out of the gate to an 0-3 start to the season after reaching the OHL finals one year ago. Interestingly, Brampton began the year in disappointing fashion last season as well, starting out 2-6 before turning the season around.

Hodgson’s return also marks another entry into what will be a fascinating OHL scoring race. With Nazem Kadri (London Knights) previously being sent down by the Leafs to join Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires), Tyler Seguin (Plymouth Whalers), Eric O’Dell (Sudbury Wolves), and Luke Pither and Alexander Burmistrov (Barrie Colts), Hodgson will be in tough to claim the OHL scoring mantle from John Tavares.

The Marlies just don’t get it. For that matter, the folks who run MLSE don’t get it. The target audience for their product is families. Those who want to take the kids to a game but don’t or can’t afford NHL prices. They have once again priced their product way too high. Consider if you will:

Team Best Ticket Price Lowest Ticket Price
Marlies $41 $21
St. Mikes $19.95 $12.95
Brampton $18 $10

Now, I know already there are promo’s and other incentives to lower prices and throw in all kinds of freebies. However this is the same across the board. I also know that the price is reduced when season tickets are purchased, however that too is across the board. So for arguments sake let’s just consider the basic individual season ticket price.

I also know there is a difference between CHL hockey and AHL hockey. Guess who doesn’t? My kids. What they know is that there will be loud music, dancers, t-shirts, player access, and all the bells and whistles at junior games better if not similar to Marlies games. So if my kids don’t care the difference between a Marlie vs Phantoms game as opposed to a Battalion vs. Colts game, why the hell would I? This is simple. It’s all about bang for the buck and the absolute buck itself. I can get the best seat in the house for a junior game for $20, $1 lower than the worst at the Marlies. Guess where my money is going!

I also know there are diehard Marlie fans out there who are going to cry bloody murder that I would even consider comparing the two products. I know it. Those are the folks who go to lots of games and are either season ticket holders OR multiple game package buyers. I respect that. I am not putting you down at all. What I am saying is that in the battle for my entertainment buck, the Marlies have little to no shot. My family will be equally as entertained for $80 at an OHL game in the best seats as they would be for $84 in the worst. Here is the harsh reality when it comes to these types of sporting events, they have to sell the sizzle and not the steak. It’s more about the environment then it is about the on ice product. Parents like me care only that our kids are entertained; that there attention is captured for the amount of time we can keep them focused on the event.

What the Marlies don’t get is that if they priced themselves to compete with the OHL, they would attract that market. The games would be better attended and they would win in the long run. Look, the proof is in the pudding. Last year the league average was 5115 per game. Our Marlies came in at 3728 4th worst in the league. Now, I know, Toronto isn’t a hockey town. It is, however home to lots of potential customers like me. Folks who are looking for fun and exciting things to do with our kids as opposed to movies and the usual options. I am hear to tell you that the Marlies are blowing it. They have next to no shot at getting my money a those prices. There is no reason to go their games as opposed to the competition. I know, they are the Maple Leafs of tomorrow. Ask yourself this, as I did last year. Who would you have paid to see, John Tavares or Jiri Tlusty? My point is there is as good a shot to see an NHL star in the making at an OHL game as there is at an AHL game. So what exactly would I be paying for?

Baring serious sizzle at a Marlies game, there is no reason to go. Based on price alone, it’s an easy decision. Until MLSE wakes up and realizes, that every fan who is there, irrespective of the ticket price will spend more money and are therefore more valuable than the empty seat, it’s going to be very tough for them to draw more than they have. Lots of people say it won’t work here. I completely disagree. I think it can work here. I think it should work here. Until the tickets are close to the next best alternative they won’t work here.

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

Hey guys, it’s good to be here at the TSM blog. I am a 25-year old sports buff and aspiring writer, having studied journalism at Carleton University and Mass Communications at York University. I have had a chance to explore the sports media landscape from both media relations and journalistic perspectives. I worked in the PR department with the Toronto Blue Jays and with Tennis Canada, while also publishing sports articles that have appeared in MacLean’s, the Toronto Sun, Replay magazine, and on numerous web sites. I have followed CHL hockey for many years now, and even did some writing for the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s.

I know, I am fixated on this right now. The Bellville vs. Brampton game last night outdrew the Marlie game…..The Marlies announced a crowd of over 2200, the OHL game???? 3221!

SERENITY NOW

I have read the excellent comments on both of my earlier rants on this. here and here

Here are my comments in general:

1. RE: It’s not an event. Then shame on the Marlies for not making it an event. 3 different people told me that the crowd last night was between 750 and 800. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. If they can’t get more then 800 people out to a game they are doing something very, very wrong. Will it be like the skydome of old?? NO, of course not. Find your niche audience and cater the hell to it. 800 people is a joke. They should be totally embarrassed.

2. Icing a team of prospects- It’s irrelevant. This isn’t about the steak, it’s about the steak! It’s about filling the void to those who can’t or won’t pay to see the Leafs. The Rock and other type of alternatives do better then this i think. Don’t focus on the players or the product. Hell they are in the playoffs. Get a used car company to donate a car and raffle it off during an intermission, get someone to dress up as barney….whatever….bring in the Dallas cowboy cheerleaders…something…anything

3. Free Seat and Price- Yes $30 is too high for a playoff game. Tickets in advance of last night were advertised at $9. the whole building should be $9. My point on the free seat was to do something to encourage people to come and to bring others. If you give one seat away you will accomplish both.

4. Marketing and atmosphere on Sunday- I totally agree. Why anyone would text in anything at an event to win a “marlie prize pack” is beyong me. They didn’t even say what the prize pack was!!! The game was good, and the atmosphere was lousy. They aren’t focused on the right things. You shouldn’t want to leave your seats. Hell, they have no vendors coming to the aisles so you have to get up to get pre-bagged popcorn!

5. Roscoe the Season ticket holder: You don’t sound like an apologist- you are the paying customer! I can only tell you that I saw people leaving as they approached the doors when they saw the lines. When the building is 2/3 empty that is brutal. The guy we were with spoke to a Marlie guy on the phone, he was told that we were getting a deal at $30. He didn’t mention we could have sat anywhere for half of that…. With respect to concessions, do the marlies not control the concessions? If they don’t they should threaten to vacate if this isn’t addressed. Richard Peddie claims he goes to other areans specifically for this reason, to see what others are doing. I can tell you that the arena in Barrie is better operated. Kids play hockey all week long and at all hours. Give them the chance to play on an arena like the Ricoh and you will be surprised at the turnout. Get the beer leagues in too. The promos, while dumb, are crowd pleasers and they work. I mentioned the pizza pizza deal at the raptors game. The team was getting clobbered but when they hit 100 points the place went NUTS….The fact they include round one of the playoffs shows they are only mostly out to lunch. The fact that they still don’t draw flies shows you they are still out to lunch.

So come on folks, don’t you agree that we would support the team if it were more fun to do so??? I would take my kids a hell of a lot more often if it were. I know others would too. Not a knock on the OHL, but the Marlies have to outdraw them, have to!

Before the quotes, a few notes….

The ALL new TSM is coming soon folks!

Did anyone else watching the game tonight have the same feeling I did that the buds were going to lose this one, right after they failed to score on numerous scoring chances in the second period. It was one of those games where you could just sense that the Leafs inability to score was going to result in Carolina scoring almost with ease. Then whammo, Kaberle took the delay of game penalty and the rest was history. Too bad, the boys played well in the early going. Wait, not too bad, perfect. Hard work and a loss. It’s all good after all.

Ummmm the Raptors, anyone, signs of life, anyone???? What the hell is going on???? This team isn’t going anywhere fast. WE expected the leafs to suck, but the raptors???? Man BC do something, show us the team has a pulse…

On to the quotes:

“CBC’s Elliotte Friedman may be the first announcer in TV to work three sports in two days with three different hairstyles.”Chris Zelkovitch

“”Who made Dave Branch the guy who decides how fighting is going to be treated … in the OHL?” Mike Milbury

“Toskala is the 6th best goalie in the northeast division…seriously — wouldn’t u rather have any of the following..

price
halak
t.thomas
m.fernandez
ryan miller…

it’s possible he’s only better than cujo, pat lalime and whomever plays for the sens…but if this elliot kid is for real, then TOSKALA is the 7th best goalie in the division..” Greg Brady

“How do you hire a guy who was the worst at his job (they name bad trades after him, seriously, trust me, they call them Milbury’s) and put him on national television (on both sides of the border) and get him to critique how others are doing his job??!! He was the worst GM in 20 years, save for maybe Punch Imlach!!” Greg Brady on Mike Milbury as a tv commentator

“but not because he’s earned it; it’s because we have to see what we have in him.” Brian Burke on having to call up Justin Pogge this season.

“Only a blind optimist would suggest this off-season has done anything to move the Blue Jays closer to their first playoff berth since the 1993 World Series. It’s not just the profligate spending of American League East rival New York Yankees or that both the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles have made additions. It’s the lack of movement on the part of the team itself. It seems as though this has been a winter of discontent, at least in the media and to a greater extent the blogosphere. Be that as it may, Beeston said that when he is out and about he finds “a lot of people understand … the economy being what it is.” Jeff Blair on Paul Beeston having to explain the hibernation of the Blue Jays this offseason to season ticket holders (all 4 of them) tuesday night

“I enjoy acting, and I really like sex,” says McCarty, “so this was the perfect opportunity to combine two of my passions. I approached Vivid with the idea of shooting a film with a sexy but interesting storyline, and I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of control I was given throughout the production process. I am very pleased with the final edit of Faithless, and I just may do another adult film.” former Miss USA 1991 Kelli McCarty pageant winner stars in the new XXX porn flick Faithless, which goes on sale February 4th. Thanks to Perez Hilton for passing this along!

A few folks have asked me to post it, so here is the satellite hot stove from CBC tonight

tonight they talked about fighting, and the move to “ban it”, the CBA- Vinny, Al “he is being offered all over the league- at least 5 teams are in on it, TB wants Markov” Montreal number one on Vinny’s list..MB TB has a total lack of credibility if they trade him… NYI playing in KC…trade today…

watch it here

He may never amount to much as a coach, however Doug Gilmour deserves a lot of credit for taking a job as a head coach in the OHL with Kingston. To go back to that level is a serious commitment from a guy like Doug. Bus trips, dealing with kids (and their parents) is not a glamorous life nor an easy one. I know lots of critics who said he would never do the right thing, take the necessary steps and learn how to be a coach from the bottom up. Well, he has show them hasn’t he.

Good on him…