Opinion: Hockey coming to East Montgomery County? - Kingwood

NAHL TO NORTH HOUSTON? MONTGOMERY COUNTY EVENTS CENTER

The rest of professional hockey is leaving Texas, what is Montgomery County Events Center thinking?

On the developer's website announcing the facility ( grandtx.com/venues/montgomery-count ), it lists professional hockey as being a facility user. 

The North American Hockey League has already replaced low level minor professional hockey in a number of Texas communities, so why is the MCEC mentioning the level of play as a possible tenant?

This is my profession and I've seen junior hockey flourish in the place of low level minor pro hockey failures.

What's the difference?

Low level minor professional hockey is more about players on their way out of the game than anything else. We are not talking about prospects, these guys are has-beens. One of the biggest reasons this level of play made such a hasty exit from the south was the fact that the players were more likely to be found at a bar than they were a church. There is only so much beer and fighting a person can handle before one is questioning the entire experience.

There is still beer in junior hockey, without it, I'm not sure the game would exist. The difference is that it's the fans drinking it and not the players. The junior level of play is for players 16-20 years old. Only exceptional 16s and 17s are ever considered. The level of play is generally equal to the "A" level of professional baseball. The National Hockey League and college hockey acquire players from the junior level of play.

Most of all, junior hockey is about players on their way up.... we are much more likely to see future NHL players from the NAHL than we are from the Central Hockey League or Southern Pro Hockey League. 

Texas Markets where NAHL replaced Minor Pro

Corpus Christi

Rio Grande Valley

Odessa

Ft Worth

Amarillo

Other Texas markets that had failed Minor Pro

Beaumont

Houston

Laredo

Waco

Central Texas (Belton)

Abilene

Lubbock

El Paso

The bottom line, the NAHL provides exceptional and affordable family entertainment while the CHL and SPHL is likely to not only cost more, but many will question the decision to even bring children to the game.

Any questions?