Thursday, May 31, 2012

U.S. Open Cup, hockey style?


I believe that hockey is a sport which is getting to be very popular. In most NHL markets, the game is growing. In other places, the sport needs a pick-me-up which would help teams in specific leagues grow.

In soccer, the U.S. Open Cup has been around for nearly one hundred years. The event has always been United States soccer’s national championship, and has grown in popularity, with eight MLS teams being knocked out this year in the first game of the tourney by lower division teams.

Bolded teams get a bye into the second round. This would be as of 2012-13 season. There will be a random draw for the rest of the teams. Anything could happen. A SPHL team could host a NHL team. Games would be played during the middle of the regular season. Don't know if this would be a workable idea, but would be very interesting.

96 teams would be a part of it at first, with possible expansion.


Anaheim Ducks
Boston Bruins

Buffalo Sabres

Carolina Hurricanes

Chicago Blackhawks

Colorado Avalanche

Columbus Blue Jackets

Dallas Stars

Detroit Red Wings

Florida Panthers

Los Angeles Kings

Minnesota Wild

Nashville Predators

New Jersey Devils

New York Islanders

New York Rangers

Philadelphia Flyers

Phoenix Coyotes

Pittsburgh Penguins

San Jose Sharks

St. Louis Blues

Tampa Bay Lightning

Washington Capitals


AHL (top nine American teams get byes)

Adirondack Phantoms
Albany Devils
Binghamton Senators  
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Charlotte Checkers
Chicago Wolves  
Connecticut Whale
Grand Rapids Griffins  
Hershey Bears
Houston Aeros
Lake Erie Monsters
Manchester Monarchs  
Milwaukee Admirals  
Norfolk Admirals  
Oklahoma City Barons
Peoria Rivermen
Portland Pirates
Providence Bruins  
Rochester Americans
Rockford IceHogs
San Antonio Rampage
Springfield Falcons
Syracuse Crunch
Texas Stars
Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins
Worcester Sharks


Elmira Jackals
Reading Royals
Trenton Titans
Wheeling Nailers
Cincinnati Cyclones
Evansville IceMen
Fort Wayne Komets
Kalamazoo Wings
Toledo Walleye
Florida Everblades
Greenville Road Warriors
Gwinnett Gladiators
Orlando Solar Bears
South Carolina Stingrays
Alaska Aces
Colorado Eagles
Idaho Steelheads
Utah Grizzlies
Bakersfield Condors
Las Vegas Wranglers
Ontario Reign
San Francisco Bulls
Stockton Thunder

CHL (just top four in each division except for this year)

Missouri Mavericks
Rapid City Rush
Quad City Mallards
Wichita Thunder
Allen Americans
Texas Brahmas
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

FHL (Federal Hockey League, top teams)

New Jersey Outlaws
Danbury Whalers
Thousand Islands Privateers

SPHL (Southern Professional Hockey League, top 2 teams plus the other team in finals qualify)

Augusta RiverHawks
Columbus Cottonmouths
Pensacola Ice Flyers

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