I've NEVER seen a hockey game end like this

This was a pretty insane situation from the SPHL, when the Vermillion County Bobcats simply didn't show up for their game. We'll talk aou tall that and more on today's hockey video!
Tweet from Dave Eminian: icetimecleve/stat...

[@jorins_4381]

Quick note on the Sarah Ayres tweet, it was made in reference to David Ayres allegedly emotionally abusing her, and their eventual separation. That tweet isn't about David Ayres, it's a personal tweet.

[@EckHockey]

Didn't know of that situation, bit of context here.

[@kazuhiramiller1616]

Always kinda wondered what was up with her and David. Could never really find anything on it though.

[@IceUp17]

@@EckHockey oh yeah there was quite a bit that surfaced right around when the divorce papers showed up and not much about it after they were signed. Not really sure what to believe in all of it but it quietly went away

[@mb-jq3mb]

"it was made in reference to David Ayres allegedly emotionally abusing her"... "That tweet isn't about David Ayres" ... huh bud?

[@atlasfeynman1039]

So instead of the tweet being about her (ex) husband being "beautiful for not only survive but thrive"... she is talking about herself being beautiful for surviving his "emotional abuse"? Why does she keep the last name Ayres???

[@SMA2343]

It’s really cool that the players just scored a single goal and then invited fans and such to skate with them

[@Waawaaweewaa_]

Lol they didn’t score a goal you idiot, it was a forfeit

[@EckHockey]

LeBron said a bad word.

[@KBlazers]

That’s Minnesota man. (Wild)

[@gbalph4]

Darn we didn’t win but hopefully the Kings win during Brownie’s jersey retirement.

[@mikewager3897]

Fuck man

[@Xstrangis]

He said “Fuck man” live on national television

[@Andy_Babb]

Lmao so random

[@jklmvideos7105]

I used to live in Peoria, IL, where the Peoria Rivermen, a former AHL team, play in the SPHL. They get a decent turnout, but when you share a huge arena/venue/b-ball court, the hockey games aren’t the ones that bring in the cash. One of my friends recently told me that the owner of the arena is trying to kick them out, but they won’t leave. I’m glad they’re hanging on cuz, as a kid, I fell in love with hockey after watching one of their games.

[@dylanjones5409]

Agreed, I love going to there games still.

[@maxscameraguy]

Peoria is a great hockey town, sad what happened to them really.

[@renegadeleader1]

That AHL version of the Rivermen used to be my team, the Worcester Icecats. St Louis bought them and moved them. Not because they were drawing bad, but because they wanted the AHL team closer to the parent club. The sad irony is if you fast forward to today the St. Louis Blues moved the AHL team from Peoria and bounced around a few cities before moving to Springfield Massachusetts to become the Thunderbirds which is only 40 miles from Worcester Massachusetts where the Icecats played. So much for moving to be closer to the parent club right? I think what hurt even more was the team that replaced them, the Worcester Sharks also moved west to be closer to their parent club, playing out of San Jose's practice rink as the Barracuda. Worcester now has the Railers which is an ECHL affiliate of the New York Islanders of all things.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

@@renegadeleader1 Worcester is just too small of a market to sustain a team in the AHL, it’s best suited for ECHL. Springfield, Hartford, CT, and Providence are best for AHL. Manchester, NH, Burlington, VT, Lowell, MA, and Portland, ME are best for ECHL

[@TheHouseDividedPodcast]

Peoria Native and Rivermen fan here. The Peoria Civic Center doesn't want to renew the lease with the rivermen, at least currently during the season. And part of the renew lease the rivermen want is that a new ice plant be put in the building. It's at a stand still currently, but Rivermen hockey as we know it could end after this season.

[@Bender_McGee]

Bobcats is (was) my hometown team. It’s been a shit show from the start. Ellen (the owner) was having continuous relations with players which is a big no no but she doesn’t care about the image this puts out. She wasn’t paying players, staff, or really anyone. We have local pick up at the rink during week nights and there were times when the bobcats equipment manager would be at the rink talking about how he hasn’t gotten paid in the last month. And he wasn’t the first one that had this problem. It just sucks because hockey in the VC is finally getting some publicity but it’s not the attention we want. This area has a real possibility of getting a good hockey following. We had standing room only games for our old NAHL team we had. I’ve been saying for years we need to go back to a junior team in the barn. It’s just really upsetting how this has all turned out. Especially because a bunch of buddies and I called this happening over a year ago. Sad days for VC hockey. Hoping we can bounce back and be better. If I had the money and the resources I would just buy this dumpster fire and turn it around because I would love nothing more than hockey to be popular again in this area.

[@cullenkelly2735]

Y’all need the dashers back

[@Bender_McGee]

@@cullenkelly2735 I don’t even want a pro team here anymore. A junior franchise would be best. Because then that’s a realistic pipeline we can have in line with our youth program. I coach for the 10u team and help out with other age groups and I would love nothing more than to see these kids get to play a next level right where they grew up playing. Then after juniors they can possible even go to college. For our area it’s much more beneficial for a junior team to be here.

[@duckattak]

Odds of having your local colleges start their own league? Wonder how that would work.

[@THEREDHOTWRECK]

So you're saying Ellen was sleeping around with the VC players?

[@undead2178]

I miss the dashers.

[@daryljohnson6738]

SPHL! My nephew just started to play down there for Evansville.

[@kalecaster227]

Thank you for using a clip of the Ice Flyers while going over what the SPHL was. It was great seeing recognizable names of the team that really got me into hockey, and I swear they're one of the only reasons I still live in this state.

[@cullenkelly2735]

Shoutout to ECK covering the sphl and fed

[@Meta463]

I have a local SPHL team from my hometown. We hate to see this happen but the writing has been on the walls for a long time. Not only is this team in total jeopardy, but last year's cup winner (Peoria Rivermen) is in jeapordy due to their arena not wanting to put up the money for necessary ice maintaince. I worry about the direction the SPHL is going.

[@EckHockey]

Yeah, more of these single-a leagues fold than not. Really hope they can figure something out.

[@renegadeleader1]

Last year's winner in 2022 was the Peoria Rivermen. The Pensacola Ice Flyers were the year before that in 2021. Anyways, to say the writing on the wall was there is a massive understatement. None of the staff was getting paid before the season even started, two coaches had already quit, and they were struggling to even put together even a minimum player roster for opening night. There was even speculation they would fold before the season started and never play a game period, so the fact they made it this far is a miracle unto itself. It's not surprising this team was a mess through and through when you find out this franchise was bought by a moderately successful local business man with a past of being investigated for fraud as a plaything for his daughter who became the GM and had zero experience in running a sports team, a business, or had no hockey knowledge whatsoever and named the team for her cat bob. No that last part is not a joke.

[@a4ordy877]

I was wondering what happened to the Rivermen after the Blues pulled out of the organization

[@isaacdurstmusic]

@@a4ordy877 yea basically we dropped and didn’t have the rivs for a while, then the peoria hockey community rallied and got us a team in the sphl. since then we’ve been a contender every year. it’s just the shitty city of peoria doesn’t want to give us money to move up league and they don’t wanna pay for our rink upgrades. we may not have a team next season. talks around town are that they are building a multi million dollar rink in pekin where the rivermen will move. team name i think is either the pekin ice carps or somethin like that. i grew up on rivermen hockey, im good friends with the family right at the heart of it. it’s just so sad to see our city not take care of the hockey family in peoria. hopefully we can save the team.

[@Tenskwatawa4U]

Well... there's a reason this league is at the level it presently enjoys. But they're trying, and that's what we're put here to do: the best we can. It's not always pretty, but it's hockey and the price of admission is affordable, so you can afford to go to lots of games and enjoy yourself. As opposed to only being able to afford one game a season, which is true of lots of NHL fans. Any hockey is better than no hockey, the way I see it.

[@welbus1]

I work as an off-ice official in the Quad Cities. This whole situation really stinks. Everyone hates to see a community lose their hockey team and the way this one is being handled is terrible. Dave is pretty spot on with everything he said. Hoping to see something from the league this week.

[@dylanjones5409]

You have no idea how cool SPHL coverage means to me as a Peoria Rivermen fan. The skill level is no where near ECHL but some of the unusual moments are awesome. If you get more of an opportunity, coverage of this leaguewould be awesome, even if it’s just a few videos here and there.

[@isaacdurstmusic]

let’s go rivs baby

[@Aokgolfer]

SAME HERE! But I’m a Macon Mayhem fan!

[@JimmyTwo-Times]

Go Dawgs

[@whitegravybeats5103]

Yes. Do a video on the history of the Rivermen, Eck!

[@pixelboard5495]

GO STORM!

[@bb-gc2tx]

this is surprising because their captain said the team had a buyer from florida lol

[@cjc2076]

So glad to see someone cover this! Big SPHL fan, watching this online live was WILD

[@recorderboi2232]

It was insane

[@3231rmj]

Plot of Shoresy season 1

[@rayzr8945]

Damn idk how I found your channel but I’ve been watching every video you upload since. Great work on every vid!!

[@sserafx]

I think I found your channel randomly and I accidentally became hooked to your content 😂

[@seancollins585]

Moved to Alabama from the State of Hockey, and quickly became an avid fan of the Birmingham Bulls. Never thought I’d see the day the SPHL was covered on this channel, but I’m so glad it was! Love videos like these that highlight some of the lesser known leagues and players. Keep up the great work!

[@TheGamefreak893]

Let’s go Bulls, glad to see I’m not the only one out here!

[@Margann1987]

My friend Douglas Blaisdell plays for the Bulls. I hope that he is doing well on your team. 😀

[@TheGamefreak893]

@@Margann1987 he has 4 assists this year, I’ll be on the lookout for him this weekend!

[@Margann1987]

@@TheGamefreak893 Sounds good! And four assists... he's doing well. He won't put up a lot of points but he is still a solid player.

[@mattdavis9220]

The SPHL is alive and well in Roanoke! We pack the house every week. Love to see you covering not only the NHL, but other leagues as well. Keep it up man!

[@khabbad]

Alive and well in a Pensacola as well. I think they’ve been averaging about 5k a game

[@stomachhurts2044]

I’m from the quad cities!!! Used to be called the mallards with in amazing logo.. sad times

[@terkish]

I remember going to open skate at that arena in the late 80's or early 90's back when the Danville Dashers played there. There was some kind of buzz going around about them folding due to scandal involving embezzlement or a staff member selling off their equipment.

[@SouthernSera]

SPHL games can be really fun. I lived in Knoxville, TN for almost 20 years and I loved taking my kids to the Knoxville Ice Bears games. The fans really got into it, the arena was always packed and they had entertainment between periods like Weiner dog races on the ice.

[@ZachAndCheese]

Adding to the Ayres situation (so it isn’t so out of left field) that David Ayres was the head coach for the Bobcats very briefly (one of 10 over the last 2 years).

[@ARCtrooper8248]

I remember when my town had the Mississippi Riverkings, had a good run and the games were fun. Wish I still had them around.

[@CJbrinkman602]

My parents used to go on dates to RiverKings games in the 90s when they played in Memphis. Been to a couple games when they played in Southaven too. But we all live in AZ and occasionally go to Yotes games. Sucks that they aren't around anymore.

[@theguyfromfortnite8848]

Agreed, I'm a Havoc fan and I was really young but that rivalry game was fun

[@KommanderHooyah]

It is weird seeing the Quad City Storm getting so much attention. The Quad City minor league teams were some of my local teams growing up.

[@BoganFromBama]

Been to a few SPHL games near where I live, and formerly shared the arena with one of the southernmost NCAA D1 hockey programs (Alabama-Huntsville Chargers, you can thank them for Cam Talbot, Eck) and it is a fun local experience and the closest hockey to me. Also because of my major in college (Sports Management with a Comm minor) I have been looking for jobs in the Huntsville area with them and they pretty much told me that they have a skeleton crew of 7 running the team operations in the offseason.

[@theguyfromfortnite8848]

Go Havoc

[@Elliesbow]

shoutout to the season ticket holder being a loyal fan. He deserves better!

[@christianbooth6235]

I’m from the Quad Cities and I typically avoid Storm games because of how difficult the games can be to watch, but I’m glad to see the league getting extra press for making the most of this odd situation. Hopefully the league can get their shit together too.

[@yrichoekstra418]

When I would be in Knoxville for work I would watch the Ice Bears. The hockey was good but the super fans reminded me so much of Major League. Trying to get the crowd going and all we wanted to do was enjoy our cheap beer and hot dogs while watching the game.

[@Buzzcut897]

@Eck I have a #7 goalie cut jersey from the VC Bobcats training camp/tryouts from August 2021. I drove down to Fishers, Indiana from St. Paul Minnesota to try out for their inaugural season. I’ve got some interesting stories from that camp!!

[@Reaganmacleod12]

They should sign me

[@_Detroit_]

As a person who went to went to multiple bobcat games it sucks that this is happening. The arena is almost perfect to go to as anywhere you sit is a great place to watch a hockey game. Tickets were cheap as well 10$ for a student. I though did see this happening as I took my roommate to a game where there were only 100 people in the stands

[@Ayxrzz.]

This is an SPHL game. My Roanoke rail yard dawgs play for them and it’s so entertaining to watch. Also the vermilion county bobcats are one of the teams you will rack stats against. They got a new coach and it’s pretty sad to see them fold. Also I might have found a jersey btw

[@Aokgolfer]

Cool to see someone talk about the SPHL down here in middle Georgia the Macon Mayhem is the only reason I like hockey and play it.

[@Donutlazer5931]

I want to cheer for Vermillion City because it’s named after a Pokémon city and their logo looks like a Pokémon too 😂

[@l_Live_In_Oregon]

This happened in the last season of the old CHL in 1983-84 season. First, The CHL's final champions, the Tulsa Oilers, were left without a home during their championship 1983-84 season when the team owners went into receivership. The Oilers played only road games for final six weeks of 1983-84 season. Second, the Billings Montana team, the Magic changed owners toward the end of the season, when the owner would not put any more money into the team, causing the players to strike that game.

[@PlaysPlaystation]

lmao those refs are from columbus, ohio. i know them. long drive for a cancelled game

[@lukespears1245]

Id love to see a video on pro roller hockey. Its a super electric sport and its super big in places like California where ice hockey is super expensive and hard to find. Narch and state wars pro leagues are both great. I play on a 16u roller team and i get to see a lot of these pro teams play in person and it can be the same level as energy as an AHL game. A lot of crazy plays and moves come out of these games and it would be super cool to see you do a video on it. Its definitely an underrated sport

[@koifishsports]

I've been to countless SPHL games in my lifetime. I remember when VC formed and I was happy to see the league grow even if a team underperforms. But seeing their attendance average at 499 while the average attendance for others is in the thousands (my team for example is a little over 5,000 a night) I had a gut feeling the team was sinking. It was a matter of time and it looks like that time came. Especially when they deleted their facebook.

[@shootface3222]

As a nearly life time fan of the Southern Pro league it’s awesome to see coverage on it. Even though a lot of people downgrade it to beer league, I think they have a bunch of really good players, that never get the light they deserve. The games are always super enjoyable and entertaining to watch. And the rivalries like Huntsville VS Knoxville are always a blast. Shame what happened to VC, they deserved better.

[@i.p.knightly149]

Must be one of the Canucks' affiliates.

[@cpt_crunch_md8681]

My old Coach was the Coach of the Bobcats and he ended up leaving after they fired their Hockey ops president. Their owner is an absolute nutcase and the players basically went on strike and cleared out their locker room even before the game started.

[@tiernanreed8562]

I’m from the quad cities the rumor of the bobcats folding was around a few weeks prior to this happening

[@caneyebus]

I love this level of pro hockey. It's awesome the players stuck around to skate with the fans

[@blackhawksfan7668]

In Connecticut, we have 2 AHL teams, but our Fed team gets more consistent crowds than Hartford or Bridgeport. It's just that small team pride and the Hatricks have a sick arena

[@OCs_And_Stories]

About the Bobcats, they have a lot of local hate, they had a team, the Danville Dashers were a staple in the Federal Prospects Hockey League and the town in general. The SPHL wormed their way into the location and made tons of people mad so it was a losing battle before the first pick drop. Check out the FPHL, I worked for the Danbury Hat Ticks.

[@hunteriscracked7116]

i have a sphl team in my city (hunstville havoc) the games are so fun with a bunch of crowd interactive stuff on the jumbotron on chants. they have a great atmosphere especially in the big havoc arena

[@khabbad]

Yea Huntsville and Pensacola draw pretty big

[@KramerWaifu]

Love the SPHL. A few guys I play men's league with now are former players and my dad has season tickets to the Knoxville Ice Bears. A great league, old style hard hitting hockey and its a shame to see teams go like this.

[@jimb.7523]

*Idk why, but the guy in the thumbnail looks like he could be a cartoon character.*

[@jasper.maxwell]

Teddy from Bob's Burger 😂

[@thefreshninja]

Revolutionizing the game eck 🥳

[@FalloutUrMum]

My friend is actually the Commissioner of the SPHL

[@thathondaguyxl4008]

I have been a quad city hockey fan since I was young, basically long story short an unfortunate thing with the bobcats happened and if I’m not mistaken they have folded. It’s unfortunate and my prayers too the fans and players are here for them all!

[@fleatactical7390]

Was figuring the bus broke down...

[@undead2178]

As somebody who lives in the area anybody with sense saw this coming. Tbh I'm surprised they even managed to last this long.

[@MbisonBalrog]

I never seen anyone die in a game till I first heard of Mat Petgrave.

[@michaelschaumburg589]

I’m like 40 minutes away from this place.. Never been to a game but I’ve watched quite a bit on the news about them..

[@TheKing99883]

Its basically the Noshow

[@oriamir8994]

When the entire franchise gets the call on the bus it being demoted back to their day jobs.

[@aspalovin]

Woulda been cool if the surviving team did a half team jersey change and played a lil shinny for the fan(s) for 20 min. Why not enjoy some ice time?

[@beerod324]

The big rumor about it was that the owner isn’t paying the players and they all sat. I used to be a mascot in this league and still have a good couple connections on it.

[@DaveKovalComedy]

I worked for a junior team in Ontario that folded suddenly one day because the owners had their assets seized and were thrown in jail when they uncovered a massive grow op on their farm lol

[@TonyMichaels166]

You should look into the Lapeer Loggers, an AAHL team that existed from 2010-2011. It was a glorified Fight Club on skates and was a shitshow behind the scenes. The team folded when the players refused to take the ice one night unless the owner showed up with a literal sack of money to pay them what they were owed. Dude never showed up and I’m pretty sure he left town and his to avoid paying.

[@Rob-uc8zr]

Dylan Larkin wants more money than Steven Stamkos

[@aspalovin]

inflation. Larkin is good. lol

[@Rob-uc8zr]

@@aspalovin he’s above average at best lol

[@casualhour3179]

I really can't imagine being into a hobby so boring that the most interesting thing that happens is when a team doesn't show up. Being from Canada, surrounded by hockey fanatics my whole life and playing it for 23 years. I still don't understand what people get out of watching sports, and not even the interesting ones like actions sports or racing. Traditional sports like hockey, baseball, football, are so uninteresting that the fan base has to be wasted at the games, and just go on Instagram the entire time.

[@spagbol525]

The Bobcats announced their midseason fold a few days ago. Honestly kinda sad. I hope Danville can find a new reasonable franchise soon.

[@ZACKMAN2007]

Thats a bruh moment if i ever heard one

[@tysasmr1320]

The team just announced that it’s getting shut down

[@Leolanischpani]

The game isn’t on hockey tv anymore I can’t find it

[@MrGlovesave33]

Best 2 words in sports as per Homer Simpson... de fault! Lol

[@scotthibbs]

I like the SPHL, I'm a season ticket holder. The only thing I wish they would change is to add a second referee. I can't find another league/association using one referee anymore. The SPHL is a good league - I hope they grow bigger from this loss.

[@renegadeleader1]

Honestly I'm a little disappointed the SPHL even allowed this to happen. The league is usually more stable than this and does a better job vetting it's owners unlike the Federal Hockey Lea... Excuse me, the Federal Prospects Hockey League as they had to declare bankruptcy and change their name to avoid a lawsuit from an injured player. The SPHL should not even be used in the same sentence as the Fed given how far above it the league is which makes this situation all the more sadder.

[@beerod324]

Update from my last comment, the team officially announced this morning via Twitter that the Bobcats folded. They had 10 players rostered and no coaching or equipment staff. I reached out to them a week ago to ask if they were folding and got an all caps “NOPE”. The next day, they deleted their page.

[@andrewhosfelt7360]

hey that’s my local team penscola ice flyers

[@puckrocker854]

The Bobcats actually were sold and relocated to a retirement community in Florida. Dickie Dunn wrote about it so it must be true.

[@smorrell19]

David Ayres is the guy who was the Zamboni driver who had to play an NHL game for the leafs vs. Carolina game?

[@BowzKnows]

That record is similar to the high school team I am *trying* to 'coach'.

[@BenaSTL]

Love Eck vids

[@jackoakes1998]

Shoresy "If you can't win don't play" 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@danny2971]

Bro in the video thumbnail should be a meme

[@jpgcne]

Very classy move.. tickets also should be refunded. Saw something almost happen like this for the Eastern Football League over the summer.. was sooo hot Marlborough Shamrocks had a full roster.. the opposing team had exactly 11 players to start.. no one else showed except 2 others for second half.. so they had to play every down on offense and defense... game was blowout as you can imagine.. called the game in 4th with maybe 10 min left

[@ryanmerrett9320]

SPHL is awesome big Ice Flyers fan here

[@khabbad]

Yea ice flyers game are a blast

[@aspalovin]

Gettin Slap Shot vibes of this league.

[@Nick007Gaming]

Wooo!

[@judasthepious1499]

kinda reminds me of the first "Slap shot" movie

[@RowanAlexander310]

Can't get you a Bobcats jersey, but I could swing an Ice Bears jersey!

[@kleptomaniagta5362]

I’m sad for the serial killer who lost his season tickets, now he’s gonna have many free evenings to roam around…

[@skler121]

They had a total of 11 coaches over their time in the league. The team had a few good games and beat the #1 team Peoria a couple times. I watch the Ice Bear which is in the SPHL, when they join we were excited because us a new team to play against. Mostly everyone in the league is sad the team folded. No one wants to see it happen. Luckily all of the players were put up on unconditional waivers. Hopefully they get picked up and get to keep playing.

[@whysoserious8666]

Sound like an episode of Shoresy.

[@cmacdhon]

What a shame. I hope the players find new teams.

[@yoggz]

Never heard of the SPHL.. Significanly below the ECHL, is this just like timbits hockey camp or something?

[@hacisme2456]

thats feelsbad for anyone that went to watch

[@renegadeleader1]

I've been there. When the AHL team I followed the Worcester Icecats left I started following another team in the same league the Lowell Lock Monsters who were 40 miles away from Worcester and honestly closer to where I lived at the time. After one season as Carolina's affiliate the team was sold to New Jersey, renamed Lowell Devil's, and afterwards the attendance just tanked. Why you may ask? The city of Lowell is only 18 miles outside Boston. Affiliating with a NY/NJ team in the heart of Bruins country and changing the name was a literal death sentence. Within a season attendance had dropped from a respectable 4500-5000 fans to sub 2500. That was attendance on paper by the way not actual. I do have to say the New Jersey front office people treated us few season ticket holders well though including things like New Jersey Devils lower bowl seats vs Philadelphia or the Rangers into our plans. Those NHL games became our annual booster club trips. I miss those days to be honest.

[@bc5935]

The Vemillion county Bobcats are terrible. But I could see their folding coming. I live in Huntsville and I am a big Havoc fan. We are supposed to play them Friday night. Still don’t know if we will play them or someone else.

[@rjsquad5046]

Did they not know at warmup that no body showed up

[@ryantwitter343]

Why are there so many gosh darn hockey leagues that no one knows about? Hockey is a niche sport played by few countries with high costs. How on earth is there so many people getting paid to play this sport when the quality reeks in these leagues?

[@upload638]

I had a chance to play in the espy or get a desk job. I chose the desk job.

[@weeklyvanilla9710]

They couldn't put bums in seats

[@JoshBolin4]

Does all hockey do 1-0 win on forfeit? in baseball you get a run for every inning on a forfeit for points for and against

[@JoshBolin4]

Just curious if anyone knows

[@daniellescott7838]

THIS IS MY HOME TEAM I LIVE IN THE QUAD CITIES (ps my team is the qc storm)

[@davidzimmerman3778]

That’s some slap shot shit!

[@JesusFriedChrist]

You can’t lose if you just don’t show up Big think strats, boys. 🧠

[@benderbendingrodriguez420]

What a weird story loool