FHL 1000 Islands article

[SemiProFan]

Great article/blog written by a fan exposing some of the shenanigans with photo, video, and player accounts of what went on this season up in 1000 Islands:

http://thefhltruth.blogspot.com/

[PilotsFan]

That's some serious BS! If this league intends on staying around and growing this kind of stuff has to end. Hard to believe this kind of stuff goes on.

[hockeywize]

Originally Posted by PilotsFan

That's some serious BS! If this league intends on staying around and growing this kind of stuff has to end. Hard to believe this kind of stuff goes on.

Ya.. I had actually heard from a former player that they had to wash their dishes in the bathtub.

[darius]

Originally Posted by PilotsFan

That's some serious BS! If this league intends on staying around and growing this kind of stuff has to end. Hard to believe this kind of stuff goes on.

You'd be surprised then if you heard more about living conditions in other leagues more accomplished. It's pretty much the same in all the lower lesser known leagues. They're crammed into a living space and get a check and meals.

[PilotsFan]

Originally Posted by darius

You'd be surprised then if you heard more about living conditions in other leagues more accomplished. It's pretty much the same in all the lower lesser known leagues. They're crammed into a living space and get a check and meals.

That's a shame, taking advantage of a young man who just want to play hockey..

Here in Pensacola the guys live on Pensacola Beach in 4-5 bedroom houses with each guy getting his own room and more often than not sharing a bathroom. Couple of years ago they did a "day in the life of" thing here. Here's a clip showing the players housing. All the houses are fairly similar and most guys live within a hundred yards or so from the beach. Starts at the 1:25 mark.

(spring break started this week so I'm sure the guys arent sleeping a whole lot right now...ha ha)

The Ice Flyers' Show - Presented by Cox -...

[theknuckler]

Originally Posted by PilotsFan

That's a shame, taking advantage of a young man who just want to play hockey..

Here in Pensacola the guys live on Pensacola Beach in 4-5 bedroom houses with each guy getting his own room and more often than not sharing a bathroom. Couple of years ago they did a "day in the life of" thing here. Here's a clip showing the players housing. All the houses are fairly similar and most guys live within a hundred yards or so from the beach. Starts at the 1:25 mark.

(spring break started this week so I'm sure the guys arent sleeping a whole lot right now...ha ha)

The Ice Flyers' Show - Presented by Cox - YouTube

if you want a league to have any credibility at all, you can't have the players living in places with no heat, beds, etc... I'm sure damn near every team in the sphl/chl have it right. but these new ''leagues'' if you even want to call them that, i'm sure have some very questionable arrangements for players that are from out of town or just young kids who'll do anything for a chance to move on, and then they get taken advantage of. it's a shame what people do to other people.

[hockeywize]

Originally Posted by theknuckler

if you want a league to have any credibility at all, you can't have the players living in places with no heat, beds, etc... I'm sure damn near every team in the sphl/chl have it right. but these new ''leagues'' if you even want to call them that, i'm sure have some very questionable arrangements for players that are from out of town or just young kids who'll do anything for a chance to move on, and then they get taken advantage of. it's a shame what people do to other people.

I know for a fact that the Outlaws living arrangements are quite opposite of TI. Alex Bay seems to be a pretty run down town and from what I hear more of a "summer" town.

[theknuckler]

Originally Posted by hockeywize

I know for a fact that the Outlaws living arrangements are quite opposite of TI. Alex Bay seems to be a pretty run down town and from what I hear more of a "summer" town.

that's for sure.

[docher]

Politics has and always will be involved in hockey from the Minors to the Pro levels.I can quarantee that players on other teams in the FHL live below sub-standard conditions. They are given a roof over their head, but that is about it. The pay is not great! If you take into account the amount of hours the players spend in the arena for practices, team meetings, games and hours spent on community involvement, they are paid below minimum wage. Nothing will change for the players unless they make a stand for themselves. This will not happen, as the players are not indispensable....there are 100's of other players willing to take their spot on the team. I'm sure many a player has heard, "If you don't do what we say, we'll release you." The FHL is a business. Here is an excerpt from The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA that more than likely sums up the believes of all owners in the FHL, “The Federal Hockey League is a winning proposition, a win-win all around,” said Friedman, president of the Danbury Whalers. “We just have a great business concept. We’re business first, hockey second. We’re fan friendly. We get into the community at the grass roots level.” Notice, not a mention or concern for their players, when trying to sell themselves!

[MrFrost]

I think its awesome the boys will endure the conditions to chase the dream

[GO67s]

No doubt the housing may not be the Ritz, however the majority of housing that I know of is decent housing much akin to student housing. I think the point that the blogger and others are trying to make is that the housing slipped below state law standards by the owner turning off the heat in the middle of the winter in up state New York causing flooding because of burst pipes. All this to save a few bucks in heating. This is not acceptable by anyone no matter how desparate they may want to play in this non-professional league. The fact that so many different people have now come forward shows there is a problem. You do not hear about the substandard housing in other leagues...that is because they still have the basics of civility ...this is much below that standard.

[HARDNOSED]

It's a shame alot of kids went to play in the FHL instead of going back to the SPHL.
Then some, because of a particular rule, weren't allowed back to in the SPHL for the rest of this year.Alot of good SP players went to Thousand Islands and New Jersey. The talent level was alot better at the start of the year from what I've heard but has been considerably weakened as the season went on. Probably because of the BS that has been exposed and there is probably alot more that will come to the surface. There seems to have been many forced and unforced defections. The ownerships and league ooperators seem to think they are the only game in town. They think they can operate without putting money into the right areas of operation. I really don't think they really have the money. They are just glorified super fans who couldn't care less about the kids and their safety. Wonder how the travel conditions are, especially for the longer distance road games. Do they have a sleeper bus? Also, based on the clips I saw, the security people at Thousand Islands aren't too professional to say the least.