I've always been a fan of center ice designs and thought that it could be cool to see the progression of them in the MAHL, it is going to be a long process but I will be doing it slowly but surely and updating it yearly as if it were real life (so if a town gets a new arena you'll be able to see the design and such).

I have the TCHL caught up to date and if you want to see just click here

One thing I should mention is that this is only for indoor arenas because outdoor rinks would have been very bare bones, many not even having a real circle just lines on the boards and a dot at center ice.

RoughRiders9 wrote:

Section30 wrote:

I've always been a fan of center ice designs and thought that it could be cool to see the progression of them in the MAHL, it is going to be a long process but I will be doing it slowly but surely and updating it yearly as if it were real life (so if a town gets a new arena you'll be able to see the design and such).

I have the TCHL caught up to date and if you want to see just click here

One thing I should mention is that this is only for indoor arenas because outdoor rinks would have been very bare bones, many not even having a real circle just lines on the boards and a dot at center ice.

On all of these outdoors rinks, do they still have boards up to form the rink, or is it just snow banks or the shores of the pond? 
 

All MAHL rinks, even on frozen ponds, have used some form of boards. Even if it was just some plywood, there had to be some form of boards at least 4 feet tall. All boards have been relatively the same since WW2 ended though

Final Preview

Richfield Roosters vs Bemidji Blue Ox
It all comes down to this. Richfield is here for the first time and hopes to keep the Cup in the West Metro. Bemidji is looking for their second Cup and have shown that they are more than capable of doing so, all they need is one more win. The big question is how much the 3 OT game the night before will effect the Cocks, but only time will tell. Will Richfield be crowned kings of the MAHL? Or will the Blue Ox bring Senator Kellogg's Cup back to Paul and Babe?

Let me hear your thoughts and predictions, comments are appreciated!

Final Prediction

Bemidji over Richfield
The Blue Ox trample the not-so-early birds

COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!  Crow on, Richfield, your Roosters are on TOP of the MAHL world...seeing how strong they looked all season, withstanding every challenge in their way, methinks we've got a real dynasty in the making.

And now, it's time for a very special edition of THIS YEAR IN MAJOR HOCKEY.

NHL
This was the first year of a brand-new era for the NHL, not only with the four former WHA teams joining the league, but also with this being the first year that helmets became mandatory for all new players (those who signed their contract prior to June 1, 1979 were grandfathered in).  The Canadiens' four-year run with Lord Stanley's Cup has come to an end, as the New York Islanders have captured it for the first time, besting the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 in the Finals to win it.

Your Minnesota North Stars returned to the playoffs this year, securing third place in the Adams Division with 88 points (22 behind the Buffalo Sabres).  The North Stars would have their deepest playoff run to date, sweeping the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0 in the Preliminary Round and going the distance against the four-time defending champions Montreal Canadiens in the Quarterfinals, winning the series 4-3 to dethrone the Habs after four years.  Unfortunately, the North Stars would be defeated by the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 in the Semifinals.  Still, with this historic run, highlighted by Al MacAdam winning the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy, hopes are high in the State of Hockey for next season and beyond.

Meanwhile, your Winnipeg Jets were not as fortunate, only gaining 51 points throughout the season, tied with the Colorado Rockies for the Smythe Division (and the NHL's) wooden spoon.  With their roster already decimated via a reclamation draft, the Jets had to trade away the face of their franchise, sending Bobby Hull to the Whalers, where he and rival-turned-teammate Gordie Howe would finish their careers in Hartford that season.  To make matters worse, sharing the arena with the MAHL's Winnipeg Monarchs took its toll on both teams this year, as the already-heavy use by both teams left the ice on the low side of both the NHL and the NLHL quality-wise (sparking rumors that the Monarchs may be moving to an under-construction arena on the University of Manitoba campus).  Despite these growing pains and the long, tough rebuild ahead, the Jets' rabid fan base is up for every moment of the challenge ahead.

Finally, after eight seasons in Georgia, the Atlanta Flames are packing their bags and moving to Calgary, Alberta this coming season, forming an instant provincial rivalry with the Edmonton Oilers, led by NHL newcomer and Hart Trophy winner Wayne Gretzky.

Olympics
If you didn't believe in miracles before, after the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, you've got to now.  Former University of Minnesota coach Herb Brooks already had his work cut out for him with the mighty Soviet Union team looming large, and his unorthodox "hybrid" style of rugged North American and team-centered European players divided fans across the nation.  Some asked why Brooks omitted several promising prospects, to which he would only answer "I'm not looking for the best players.  I'm looking for the right ones."

In Blue Division play, Team USA found themselves tied with Sweden for the group lead, advancing to the Final Round with the Swedish team, with Czechoslovakia finishing at six points and defeating Canada in the fifth-place game and Romania, West Germany and Norway all going home.  The USA's prospects looked especially dim as they were set to face the four-time defending gold medalists from the USSR in their first matchup on February 22, 1980, a night which would go down in world history even beyond a sports fan's perspective.

The first period saw the Soviets take an early lead, but the Americans' tenacity would shine through as US goalie Jim Craig turned away many a Soviet shot, while Mark Johnson tied the game at 2-2 in the second period apiece.

At the beginning of the second period, Soviet coach Viktor Tikhonov made a shocking movie by benching the world's best goalie Vladislav Tretiak in favor of backup Vladimir Myshkin, stunning players on both teams and proving the turning point.  Though Myshkin allowed no goals in the second period and the USSR took the 3-2 lead at the end of the period on a power play goal, nothing and no one could have prepared the world for what came next.

Taking advantage of a rare offensive opportunity on a power play, that old American spirit shone through as, after his teammate was knocked to the ice, Mark Johnson scored the game-tying power play goal at the 8:39 mark.  A couple shifts later, USA captain Mike Eruzione, having just gotten back on the ice, scored the go-ahead goal with ten minutes to go. 

With the Soviets unwilling to pull their goalie and Coach Brooks encouraging the Americans to keep playing offensively, that would be the final tally as the final horn sounded, the jubilant Americans on and off the ice packing together to celebrate while Coach Brooks headed to the locker room to cry, with his players joining him later on for an impromptu rendition of "God Bless America."  In the words of Al Michaels' call at that moment, "Do you believe in miracles? YES!"  Two days later, the Americans defeated Finland 4-2 to capture the gold medal and cap off a moment which will never be forgotten in hockey, sports, American or human history.

I'm Michael Burmy, and this has been This Year in Major Hockey for 1979-80...I'm ready for every offseason announcement the MAHL has coming-Minnesota is the State of Hockey, and this year hockey is what brought all Americans together.  May that spirit of unity continue to shine through, both on and off the ice.