The Continental Elite Hockey League was a Junior A league that existed from 2001 – 2004. The league was an independent Junior ice hockey league that did not operate under USA Hockey. There were later plans for a new league to begin play in the 2012–2013 season as a Tier II Junior league. The new Continental Elite Hockey League planned to have five to six teams ready to play in the league's first season.
The Continental Elite Hockey League was a Junior A league that existed from 2001 – 2004. The league did not operate under the auspices of USA Hockey as all other significant Junior leagues in the United States do. This led many to refer to the CEHL as the "rebel league," which may have contributed to the quick decline.
Hockey Weekly and Michigan Hockey joined newspapers around Michigan and Ohio in announcing the formation of a controversial new independent Junior A-level hockey league for the 2001-02 season.
The Continental Elite Hockey League (CEHL) played three seasons without any affiliation with USA Hockey to create opportunities for 21-year-olds. Using many Canadians on rosters allowed the CEHL to create a strong league.
The CEHL championships were won by the Detroit Lightning, Toledo Jr. Storm and New Jersey's Metro Moose.
The Traverse City Enforcers had the best attendance in the CEHL all three seasons by playing to near capacity crowds every game under the leadership of long-time minor league sports owner Barry Soskin. The Tri-City Hurricanes/Bay County Blizzard had the CEHL's second-best crowds during the first season, but no other CEHL club was ever to do well at the gate with the Junior A level game.
The first CEHL Commissioner was Kevin Shanahan and he was replaced by Gord Young. The CEHL was founded by Shanahan of Fraser, Michigan; Bob Clouston of Troy, Michigan; Barry Soskin of Chicago, Illinois; Mike Killbreath of Grand Blanc, Michigan; Carl Voelker of Fraser, Michigan; Bill Cherfoli of Fraser, Michigan; and Jamie Graves of Fraser, Michigan.
Voelker, Graves and Cherfoli were the owners of the Detroit Lightning, and also Great Lakes Sports Arena in Fraser. Clouston was a long-time owner and General Manager of hockey clubs, including the Port Huron North Americans of Major League Roller Hockey and many Junior A ice hockey teams. Killbreath was a long-time newspaper executive and was also one of the co-founders of the Great Lakes League in roller hockey. He launched the Tri-City Hurricanes but sold them at mid-season to concentrate on establishing a CEHL team in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Killbreath left the CEHL instead to launch a new low-level pro league known as the International Independent Hockey League (IIHL), which began play in 2003 but ceased operations in 2004.
After delaying the start of the 2004–2005 season by two weeks the CEHL officially suspended operations on October 3, 2004 for financial reasons.[1] The league caused controversy due to preparing for the 2004–05 season by holding tryouts and charging players to participate without ever actually playing any games that season. The CEHL folded shortly after Soskin pulled the plug on his club. Soskin resurfaced as operator again in Toledo with the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) club. Some of the former teams joined other junior hockey leagues while many other franchises folded.
League Champions
Toledo Jr. Storm (2001–02)
Detroit Belle Tire Lightning (2002–03)
Metro Fighting Moose (2003–2004).
Former players
Using many Canadians on rosters allowed the CEHL to create a strong league. A long list of CEHL players moved on to the minor pro ranks. One ex-CEHL player, Steve MacIntyre was signed by the New York Rangers after two seasons as the most feared fighter in the United Hockey League (UHL). He was recruited to play for the Tri-City Hurricanes in Bay City, Michigan by Owner & General Manager Mike Killbreath and Head Coach Kurt Walson. The Tri-City Hurricanes later became the Bay County Blizzard after a mid-season sale of the team by original owner Mike Killbreath. MacIntyre led the CEHL in penalty minutes and received a lifetime ban late in the season for his part in a nasty brawl with the Detroit Lightning. Banned by the CEHL, MacIntyre signed with the Muskegon Fury of the UHL and he helped them win the UHL's Colonial Cup as playoff champions. He was eventually signed by the New York Rangers and after spending several seasons in the minor leagues, MacIntyre made the National Hockey League (NHL) in 2008, with the Edmonton Oilers.
Teams
Many teams played within the league during its three seasons.
^Lawrence, Shane (8 October 2004). "CEHL: CEHL cancels season because of financial concerns". Hockey Weekly. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
March 11, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Continental Elite Hockey League news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Continental Elite Hockey League was a Junior A league that existed from 2001 2004 The league was an independent Junior ice hockey league that did not operate under USA Hockey There were later plans for a new league to begin play in the 2012 2013 season as a Tier II Junior league The new Continental Elite Hockey League planned to have five to six teams ready to play in the league s first season Continental Elite Hockey LeagueSportice hockeyFounded2001Ceased2004No of teams6Country United StatesLastchampion s Metro Fighting MooseOfficial websiteCEHL website Contents 1 League History 2 League Champions 3 Former players 4 Teams 5 ReferencesLeague History EditThe Continental Elite Hockey League was a Junior A league that existed from 2001 2004 The league did not operate under the auspices of USA Hockey as all other significant Junior leagues in the United States do This led many to refer to the CEHL as the rebel league which may have contributed to the quick decline Hockey Weekly and Michigan Hockey joined newspapers around Michigan and Ohio in announcing the formation of a controversial new independent Junior A level hockey league for the 2001 02 season The Continental Elite Hockey League CEHL played three seasons without any affiliation with USA Hockey to create opportunities for 21 year olds Using many Canadians on rosters allowed the CEHL to create a strong league The CEHL championships were won by the Detroit Lightning Toledo Jr Storm and New Jersey s Metro Moose The Traverse City Enforcers had the best attendance in the CEHL all three seasons by playing to near capacity crowds every game under the leadership of long time minor league sports owner Barry Soskin The Tri City Hurricanes Bay County Blizzard had the CEHL s second best crowds during the first season but no other CEHL club was ever to do well at the gate with the Junior A level game The first CEHL Commissioner was Kevin Shanahan and he was replaced by Gord Young The CEHL was founded by Shanahan of Fraser Michigan Bob Clouston of Troy Michigan Barry Soskin of Chicago Illinois Mike Killbreath of Grand Blanc Michigan Carl Voelker of Fraser Michigan Bill Cherfoli of Fraser Michigan and Jamie Graves of Fraser Michigan Voelker Graves and Cherfoli were the owners of the Detroit Lightning and also Great Lakes Sports Arena in Fraser Clouston was a long time owner and General Manager of hockey clubs including the Port Huron North Americans of Major League Roller Hockey and many Junior A ice hockey teams Killbreath was a long time newspaper executive and was also one of the co founders of the Great Lakes League in roller hockey He launched the Tri City Hurricanes but sold them at mid season to concentrate on establishing a CEHL team in Mount Pleasant Michigan Killbreath left the CEHL instead to launch a new low level pro league known as the International Independent Hockey League IIHL which began play in 2003 but ceased operations in 2004 After delaying the start of the 2004 2005 season by two weeks the CEHL officially suspended operations on October 3 2004 for financial reasons 1 The league caused controversy due to preparing for the 2004 05 season by holding tryouts and charging players to participate without ever actually playing any games that season The CEHL folded shortly after Soskin pulled the plug on his club Soskin resurfaced as operator again in Toledo with the East Coast Hockey League ECHL club Some of the former teams joined other junior hockey leagues while many other franchises folded League Champions EditToledo Jr Storm 2001 02 Detroit Belle Tire Lightning 2002 03 Metro Fighting Moose 2003 2004 Former players EditUsing many Canadians on rosters allowed the CEHL to create a strong league A long list of CEHL players moved on to the minor pro ranks One ex CEHL player Steve MacIntyre was signed by the New York Rangers after two seasons as the most feared fighter in the United Hockey League UHL He was recruited to play for the Tri City Hurricanes in Bay City Michigan by Owner amp General Manager Mike Killbreath and Head Coach Kurt Walson The Tri City Hurricanes later became the Bay County Blizzard after a mid season sale of the team by original owner Mike Killbreath MacIntyre led the CEHL in penalty minutes and received a lifetime ban late in the season for his part in a nasty brawl with the Detroit Lightning Banned by the CEHL MacIntyre signed with the Muskegon Fury of the UHL and he helped them win the UHL s Colonial Cup as playoff champions He was eventually signed by the New York Rangers and after spending several seasons in the minor leagues MacIntyre made the National Hockey League NHL in 2008 with the Edmonton Oilers Teams EditMany teams played within the league during its three seasons Traverse City Enforcers Brownstown Bombers Detroit Belle Tire Lightning Michigan Stars Toledo Wolf Pack Bay County Blizzard Dayton Gems Youngstown Phantom Rockets Toledo Ice Diggers Jackson Prowlers Tri City Hurricanes Metro Fighting Moose Toledo StormReferences Edit Lawrence Shane 8 October 2004 CEHL CEHL cancels season because of financial concerns Hockey Weekly Retrieved 31 December 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Continental Elite Hockey League amp oldid 1097378432, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
