Idaho Steelheads vs. Dayton Bombers in ECHL

[Jim Franklin]

Go Steelies, I read in our paper that the Bombers like a slower more defensive low scoring game while our Steelies like a faster and higher scoring game. Current results Steelies 2-1 with the next two games in Dayton. For the Kelly Cup symbol of the League Championship which the Steelheads won in 2004 the first year they were in the ECHL which was quite an accomplishment for a first year team.

As a Geographer it is hard for me to equate teams based in Anchorage, Boise and California in a league called the East Coast Hockey League.

From 1945-48 I lived in Fargo, ND where they had grade school hockey before Little League baseball was organized.

Are there any Ohioans who wish to respond?

[Cindi Hammons]

I don't know much about the Bombers...

I agree with the East-West thing-y. Our Blue Jackets are in the Western Conference of the NHL. I don't get it. Then again, look at the map...why do they say Ohio is a Mid-western state? Look, we are one state away from the Atlantic Ocean and sit on the Northern border with Canada. Mid-west?

[Kevin Rector]

As a Geographer it is hard for me to equate teams based in Anchorage, Boise and California in a league called the East Coast Hockey League.

While it is true that the ECHL used to stand for "East Coast Hockey League" it no longer does. In 2002 the West Coast Hockey League went out of business and many of it's teams were absorbed into the East Coast Hockey League. With their absorption the name of the league was changed to ECHL. So ECHL is the name of the league, and not the intitials of the league.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECHL

[Jim Franklin]

Historically, Cindi, Ohio was part of the Northwest Territories so after the Louisiana Purchase those folks east of the Appalachians could not get it out of their heads that any place west of those mountains was "The West." It may be the result of the global designations of Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Syria and Jordan being called the "Near East" and Iraq to Saudi Arabia being called the "Mid East" and China, India, Japan as the "Far East." It is a matter of perspective. In grad school we geographers included a study on perception of "where does 'The West' begin?" For those on the East Coast it starts in Ohio, but for us out here we allow it to start from Montana to New Mexico. No true westerner considers Oklahoma and Texas part of "The West." Those are just on the western edge of "The South." To me the Mid West Colorado to Iowa and the Dakotas to Kansas. Minnesota to Ohio are simply the "Lake States." So regional names are as subjective as the perspective of the person. Perhaps West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky she be designated the "Near West."

[Jim Franklin]

Yes, Kevin, I was aware that the WCHL had collapsed but I think that rather than call what now exists the East Coast Hockey League the great hockey fathers could have taken on a name such as Continental Hockey League. Boise is in the Developmental National Basketball Association after being a member of the Continental Basketball Association. Our pro baseball team is in the Northwest League and we have an Arena Football team. A few years ago we had a membership in the Pro Tennis League on which Andy Roddick enhanced his skills.

[Kevin Rector]

...I think that rather than call what now exists the East Coast Hockey League the great hockey fathers could have taken on a name such as Continental Hockey League.

I agree 100% that EHCL is a pretty lame name for a hockey league. I think at that level of revenue every dollar is probably pretty important and they already had letterhead that said EHCL or something. :basic05

[Jim Franklin]

Well the good news this morning is that after dropping the first game to the Dayton Bpmbers our Idaho Steelheads swept the remaining four games to win the Kelly Cup and championship of the ECHL. That is twice in 4 years for one of the newest teams in the league. Go Steelies!

[Charlene Clevenger]

Congratulations to the Steelheads. Do they play at the Idaho Center? And where does the name Steelheads come from? Just curious.

[Jim Franklin]

No, Charlene. they do not play in the Idaho Center, they play at the Bank of America Arena in the center of Boise. I haven't seen them play but my son took me to a hockey game between the Swiss and Ukraine National teams prior to the 2002 Olympics near Salt Lake.

Steelhead is type of trout that is intensely sought after by fishermen in the Northwest.

[Carol Kane]

Hey Jim,

At this parsonage we chant GO BOMBERS!!!!!!!!!:basic05

[Jim Franklin]

Yes, Carol, and now they are gone for another year.

[Scott Rambo]

I'm not much of a hockey fan, but we do have an ECHL franchise here in my home town. So, with all due to respect to these better teams (for this year at least), GO ROYALS!