Intercontinental Hockey League

The ICHL, also known as the "Intercontinental Hockey League", was established in cooperation with collegiate and international hockey leagues worldwide to accommodate undrafted post-collegiate and semi-professional players. The league consists of 20 teams ranging from San Diego, California to Augusta, Maine. The league works in collaboration with the International Hockey Association to provide on going research of international hockey rules and regulations.

ICHL Teams

Western Division

*San Diego, Crush
*Portland, Warriors
*Reno, Cacti
*Denver, Mountaineers
*Anchorage, Icemen
*Austin, Twisters
*Kansas, Redstreaks
*Gatlinburg, Wolverines
*St. Louis, Hawks
*South Dakota, Indians

Eastern Division

*Evansville, Tigers
*Cincinnati, Owls
*Cleveland Heights, Knights
*Kentucky, Steers
*Tallahassee, Galaxy
*Savannah, Bears
*Erie, Waves
*Myrtle Beach, Dolphins
*Augusta, Moons
*Plymouth, Rangers

League statistics

The league schedule begins on September 15th of every year at the Host site tournament. In 2006, the host site was St. Louis, Missouri. The season consists of 70 games, a playoffs, and an international tournament.

International play

The Championship winning team from each participating country is the country's participant in the international tournament. In 2006, the international championship game consisted of the Czech Republic team defeating team USA 2-1 in double overtime.

Current revisions

The ICHL, while working in collaboration with the International Hockey association and IHF Guidelines [cite web|title=IHF Guidelines |url=http://www.fihockey.org/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,1181-117396-118663-nav-list,00.html] , has taken upon itself to participate in the rule amending process by which some international hockey rules are established or amended. Beginning in 2004, the ICHL initiated a community outreach program by which it attempted to help troubled youth within the local communities learn to play hockey. From this program arose a mandate from the league president, Dr. Hugh Vincent, that each team establishes a late night schedule as to keep the youth off of the streets. Currently, over 5,000 youth regularly attend each game on average in the ICHL's designated cities. Other revisions such as the initiation of team cheerleaders, established in 2002, have been recognized at the professional level as being very marketable.

League Leaders

A list of the league leaders beginning with 2004-2005 season:

*2004-2005-POINTS: Igor Jacovic 84 (San Diego), GOALS: Phillip Brent 42 (Boone), ASSISTS: Bryan Siminski 41 (Tallahassee), GAA: Greg Anderson 2.28 (San Diego)
*2005-2006-POINTS: Robert Cassidy 88 (Cleveland Heights), GOALS: Demetrius Lowrie 47 (St. Louis), ASSISTS: Christopher Cox 52 (Cleveland Heights), GAA: Trevor Jacobsen 1.97 (Anchorage)
*2006-2007-POINTS: Radaslov Dudichevsky 79 (Boone), GOALS: Michael O'Reily 46 (Cleveland Heights), ASSISTS: Gary Smith 41 (St. Louis), GAA: Greg Anderson 2.28 (San Diego)
*2007-2008-Season In Progress...

Future for players

In a 2006 poll to players, most ICHL players play in the league with the hope of being picked up by the NHL, The CHL, or some other international professional hockey league. Several players from the ICHL have went on to join professional hockey across the world.

References

*cite web
author = National Hockey League
title = 2005–06 NHL Official Rules
url = http://www.nhl.com/rules/index.html
year = 2005
accessdate = 2006-06-10
publisher = NHL.com

External links

* [http://www.hockeydb.com/ The Internet Hockey Database]
* [http://www.fihockey.org/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,1181-117396-118663-nav-list,00.html IHF Rules and Guidelines]