HIHL Plans Massive ExpansionThe Hutorian Ice Hockey League today announced its plan to double the size of the league through a 25-year phased expansion. The first two expansion clubs will join the league for the 5412-13 season, and will be located in Axminster and Dalry. Every five years, two new clubs will join the league until there are 20 teams. Saint John, St. Adrian, Woodhurst, Wrightstown, Sutton City, Aylesbury, Kincardine, and Newport will all be included in the HIHL’s expansion.
To help build their clubs, expansion franchises will be able to select players from existing clubs in an expansion draft, and will have early negotiation rights for all pending UFA players heading into that summer’s free agency. They will also be guaranteed a top five pick in that year’s HIHL Entry Draft.
Teams will be added in pairs, with one team added to each of the existing North and South divisions. Once the final clubs are added in Kincardine and Newport, the divisions will be realigned, and split into North, South, East and West.
Starting in 5412-13, the top four clubs in each division during the regular season will make the playoffs. Once the league has 20 clubs, in 5432-33, the top 3 clubs in each division in the regular season will make the playoffs, with the first seed in each division earning a first round bye. All playoff series will remain best-of-seven.
Houston Sports & Entertainment to Purchase Two Expansion ClubsThus far, owners and ownership groups have been identified by the league for clubs in Axminster, Dalry, Saint John, Woodhurst and Wrightstown, and it has been announced that two of the clubs will be owned by Houston Sports & Entertainment. Currently, the company owns the Glentingham Steel, and will now own expansion franchises in Dalry and Woodhurst. This comes as Houston Enterprises, HSE's parent company, looks to begin expansion after many years of slow growth and job reductions. HSE says its two new clubs, and the new facilities that will be built to house them, will create more than 2,000 new jobs.
First Expansion Franchises NamedThe first two expansion clubs have been named. The Axminster Lumberjacks and the Dalry Ducks will begin play in 5412-13, with the first expansion draft set to be held in Spring 5412, in conjunction with that year's HIHL Entry Draft. The clubs will be able to select two players from each of the ten existing HIHL clubs during the expansion draft, and will have the same odds as the team who finishes second last in the 5411-12 season in the 5412 HIHL Draft Lottery.