The Syndicate

G-Man wrote:I'm pretty well-versed in minor league hockey too, so I just checked. No NHL team and no AHL team (top-tier minor league) but Cinci does have the Cyclones. They're an ECHL (Eastern Coast Hockey League) team. The ECHL feeds into the AHL, which feeds into the NHL. The ECHL is the only second-tier minor league for hockey that carries any clout with the NHL Players Association, so it's possible for you to see players on the Cyclones who were drafted by an NHL team.

A lot of times the ECHL is the home for college players who were overlooked in the NHL draft or walk-ons who want a shot at earning their way up to the big leagues. It's a tough road but a few famous NHLers got their start in the ECHL, which is always awesome to see. I believe the Cyclones are a farm team for the Nashville Predators in the NHL, who forced a Game 7 against the Anaheim Ducks last night. I'm not sure which AHL team is the bridge between the two though.

Here in PA we've only got one ECHL team- the Reading Royals. They're the ECHL farm team of the Philadelphia Flyers, though, so I don't follow them. :P

G-Man wrote:

MovingPictures07 wrote:

G-Man wrote:Random thought that has always baffled me- why don't Pittsburgh and St. Louis have basketball teams? They have baseball, football and hockey but not basketball. Well, St. Louis HAD a football team until just recently anyway. Are their population sizes too small or not diverse enough to support a basketball team or is there just no interest from sports fans in those cities for professional basketball?

I've always wondered this about various sports. Cincinnati is the same way; they have baseball, football, and hockey, but not basketball.

Cincinnati does not have an NHL team. Columbus does but not Cincinnati.

G-Man wrote:Random thought that has always baffled me- why don't Pittsburgh and St. Louis have basketball teams? They have baseball, football and hockey but not basketball. Well, St. Louis HAD a football team until just recently anyway. Are their population sizes too small or not diverse enough to support a basketball team or is there just no interest from sports fans in those cities for professional basketball?