Recommended for you

Start writing a post

7 Reasons That We Love AHL Hockey

We honestly just really like all forms of hockey

Mar 27, 2019

The Ohio State University

122

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Erie_Monsters_Ice.jpg

Wikimedia Commons

Unless an AHL, American Hockey League, team exists in your town, chances are unlikely that you have any interest or care about a minor-league hockey franchise. But they're actually a vital part of the game. AHL franchises are "farm teams", or affiliates of NHL teams, where players are sent to improve their game, recover from injury, or have moved up from the lower-level ECHL. Every NHL team has an AHL affiliate, and they are extremely important for player development and building a fanbase. So we've broken down the seven best reasons why we love the AHL.

1. The games are FUN

I mean, seriously, who doesn't love seeing hockey players skate out of a giant inflatable mascot of their given team? For example, here is a video I shot of a recent game I attended in Cleveland featuring the Cleveland Monsters against the Hersey Bears.

2. AHL games provide important player development

The minor league franchises provide important player development for those who need it. Do we really expect every player to head straight to the NHL right after they are drafted? No, because that's unrealistic.

3. The cost

The AHL games are cheaper than those in the NHL. Coming from someone who has spent a majority of their budget on the Columbus Blue Jackets, having a cheaper option while still being able to support any given NHL franchise is definitely something I'll get behind.

4. The franchise names are AMAZING

The AHL franchise names are fantastic. Who can't get behind a name like the Tuscon Roadrunners? Maybe the Milwaukee Admirals? Well, if that doesn't do it for you, I'd recommend the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Blue Jackets. I recently attended my first Monsters game last weekend, in which Cleveland pulled out a 5-2 victory over the Hershey Bears (the AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals).

5. The level of competition is similar

There is a similar level of competition in the AHL as in the NHL. While AHL teams are not playing for the iconic Stanley Cup, there is a playoff system, in which teams face-off for the Calder Cup, which the Cleveland Monsters won in 2016.

6. Seeing future NHL prospects

Seeing prospects of a favorite NHL franchise is fascinating. As a diehard hockey fan, being able to watch the future of the team and see their skills first hand instead of only on Twitter is a treat for someone like me, just like this Artemi Panarin gif is a treat to humanity.

7. Hockey is honestly the best

I just love all hockey. For someone who simply has a love of the game, being able to experience a game that you have such a strong passion for, regardless of the level of game being watched, is something that I always enjoy beyond words.

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

87052

college students waiting in a long line in the hallway

StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Navigating the Talking Stage: 21 Essential Questions to Ask for Connection

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

National Writers Society

149662

a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

53143

loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets

StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Facebook Comments