Cyclones hire a new coach

The Cincinnati Cyclones hire Ben Simon to be their new head coach after Jarrod Skalde leaves for the AHL. Another coach for the Cyclones that has ties to the 2001 Turner Cup Champion Orlando Solar Bears. Hoping that Coach Simon will continue the winning ways of the Cincinnati Cyclones!

A failure of a season

Since returning from the dead the Cincinnati Cyclones have made deep playoff runs each season. Last season they did not advance out of the first round. Each previous season they either won the Kelly Cup or bounced in the conference finals.  This season the Cyclones did not even make the playoffs! This my friends is absolutely unacceptable in Cincinnati. The Cyclones this season did not play a complete period, game, series, or season. The coaching staff allowed the boys to glide through periods, games, and complete road trips. It is time for management to closely examine what happened to Cyclone hockey and fix it immediately. The front office has done a wonderful job getting people to the game. I hope they don't chase them away by having a bad product on the ice! It is time to find a new coach and return to the top of the ECHL!!!!

Coming together?

The Cincinnati Cyclones seem to be finding the back of the net more frequently, and playing a more complete game of hockey lately. They have surged up the standing surpassing the Chicago Express with a dominating 7-3 victory last night. Sure the team has done it with dramatic 3rd period come from behind wins, but who cares! It sure has been fun winning games with just mere minutes left! I hope this team makes the playoffs, and a have a deep run!

An Incomplete Season on the Ice.

The 2010-2011 Cincinnati Cyclones hockey season was an incomplete season. There was incomplete goal tending. Incomplete penalty kill. Incomplete power play. Incomplete defensive play. Incomplete offensive play,with led to incomplete scoring chances. This all adds up to incomplete coaching. The coaching staff at the beginning of the year wanted a rough, tumble, and power based team. Then towards the end of year went to a speed, and precision team. It is now obvious that these approaches did not work as the Cyclones earned the last seed in the playoffs, and then kicked out within 4 games.
Although the team was not as successful on ice as in the past they were very successful at the gate! The Cincinnati Cyclones once again saw their average attendance go up! This year they averaged over 4k fans a game! This is a long way from where they were in 2007! Congratualtions to the Cincinnati Cyclones!

Coming together or not?

The 2010-2011 Cincinnati Cyclones are a very frustrating bunch. They will play a good stretch of games where everything clicks, then the next few games they play hockey like it is a foreign concept. For the first time in a long time the Cyclones have a losing home record, and since this is the only way for me to see the team I have been very frustrated. I hope our boys turn it around because more people are coming through the turnstiles! The Cyclones are averaging over 4k a game which is amazing if you look where attendance was pre death, and since they came back from the dead! I hope this trend continues, but nothing helps attendance more than winning! The next few months are critical for our playoff seedings. Right now the Cyclones are in 8th place in the conference holding a 1 point lead over Kalamazoo. The Cyclones need to make the playoffs, and need all the fan support they can get!

On a sad note the Queen City Storm of the AAHL ceased operations due to lack of an adequate arena, and league. Hopefully they come back. They were a fun team to watch!

3 different leagues in a month

This hockey season I have been presented with a unique opportunity. I am able to see three different hockey leagues at three different levels within thirty minutes of my house. I guess you can say I live in hockey utopia.
We will start with the best league in the area. The ECHL, and the Cincinnati Cyclones. The Cyclones as we all know are the defending Kelly Cup Champions. The play for the Cyclones this year has been incomplete so far. The pieces finally started to fall in place against Toledo Wednesday night. The passes were more crisp, and puck moved at a quicker rate. It continued last night, and I believe the Cyclones are finally hitting their stride.
Moving 34 miles to the north from my house you will find the CHL and the Dayton Gems. The Gems play in Hara Arena which is a wonderful arena for this level of hockey. The fans are right on top of the action, and their is not a bad seat in the house. The Gems are a lot faster, and bigger than they were last year. The team is in 2nd place in the Turner Conference, and look to build on their early success. If you are a hockey fan, and live in the area you need to take in a game at Hara Arena, and watch the Gems.
Now heading to Sports Plus which is the closest of the three teams to my house you will find the AAHL , and the Queen City Storm. I went to the game Thursday night against the Troy Bruins not knowing what to expect. I was very impressed by the play of both teams, and speed. The Queen City Storm have a new fan, and I will be attending a few more game this season.
Of all the leagues I have seen the ECHL is the best, but there are players in each of the other leagues who could play in the ECHL. The great thing about having three hockey teams so close is that no matter what arena I attend the goal is the same for the players. Play hard, play fast, and try to move up to the next level.

New Coach

The Cincinnati Cyclones enter a new era as they name Jarrod Skalde the head coach. Coach Skalde comes from the lower level IHL now we're in the CHL Bloomington Prairie Thunder. In Bloomington the team was financed by the Fort Wayne Komets so we really don't know how the ole coach will fair when he has the resources to have a competitive team. Good luck to Coack Skalde!

Also good luck to Coach Chuck Weber as he moves up to the Rochester Americans! Our Cyclones now are affiliated with Rochester, and the Florida Panthers.

Kelly Cup Championship!

It has been a little over a month since the Cincinnati Cyclones captured the 2009-2010 Kelly Cup Championship, and I still can't believe it! When we slipped to the 5th seed, and had to play South Carolina I had my doubts. I knew we could beat them, but in a short series it was too close to call. After SC was dealt with I thought our talent was better than Charlotte's but was concerned that their size and toughness would break us down! Boy am I am glad to ever be wrong! The Cyclones picked up their game, and was able to play the hard hitting game! Once this series was over I truly believed that Reading would be a cake walk. Once we fell into a 3-0 I thought well that was a great run, and I hope Reading will be bring the Cup home to the east. Then the Cyclones won a game, then they won another to make it 3-2. Reading was coming unglued. I then told the wife the Cyclones were going to fool around and win the series. She was thinking the same thing. After the dramatic series with Reading there was not a shawdow of doubt in my mind that the Cincinnati Cyclones would not defeat the Idaho Steelheads. After stealing two games in Boise I knew we would be champions. Being at USBA on Friday May 21,2010 is one of the greatest days of my Cyclones fan career. I never imagined I would witness my favorite team win another championship let alone it be the Cyclones. I still can't believe it when I watch YouTube videos of it or look at pictures I took. The 2010 championship is one that just makes me excited to be a hockey fan everytime I reflect on it. All I have to say is congratualations to the Cyclones, Coach Weber, and this is unfreaking believeble!

2010 Cincinnati Bearcats schedule

I can't wait to see our Cincinnati Bearcats take to the field to try to be back to back to back BIG EAST CHAMPIONS!

Sept 4 at Fresno State
Sept 11 INDIANA STATE
Sept 16 at North Carolina State
Sept 25 OKLAHOMA
Oct 9 MIAMI
Oct 15 at Louisville
Oct 22 SOUTH FLORIDA
Oct 30 SYRACUSE
Nov 13 at West Virginia
Nov 20 RUTGERS
Nov 27 at Connecticut
Dec 4 PITTSBURGH

CHEER CINCINNATI CINCY WILL WIN!

IHL vs ECHL?

I attended the ECHL game Cincinnati Cyclones vs Toledo Walleye then the following day I attended the IHL game Dayton Gems vs Fort Wayne Komets. Both games were very entertaining. I think the goalies in the ECHL play a better game, and are more polished. The skaters in the ECHL appear to be faster, but I think the IHL players can step in and play the ECHL game. I think the reason this is is that the IHL plays more clutch and grab hockey where the ECHL is a hands off game. Yes it was hockey, but different versions of hockey. It is like you go to a restaurant and order a hamburger. Sure it was great, but at a different restaurant the hamburger is great as well. I enjoyed both leagues, and the Dayton Gems have a new fan. I never thought I would attend and IHL game since the nearest team was in Fort Wayne, but now I am trying to figure out how to schedule in Dayton games without missing Cyclones games! I am not in anyway saying Cincinnati needs two hockey teams again. I am saying it is cool to have two teams within an hour of each other in such seperate leagues!

Great times

Fortunately enough for me the Cyclones home games have fallen on off days for me. This is a rarity lately since my beloved boss assigned us to 12 hour shifts. It appears to me that the Cyclones are really catching on to Coach Weber's system. The puck is now moved with crisp passes, and the players not waiting on someone to be in "posistion." Also seems that the players taking shots have better shooting lanes then they did earlier in the season. The goalies also have been playing very well. I am impressed with both of them, and it doesn't bother me who is in goal on any given night.

The last few seasons I have been very impressed with the quality of play in the ECHL. It seems it has gotten a lot better than before the Cyclones shut down. I hope the quality continues to grow, and we will be watching Cincinnati Cyclones hockey for years to come.

Sugar Bowl review

The biggest game in the history of Cincinnati football was not the outcome Bearcat fans were looking for. Florida outplayed us, out coached us, out classed us, and just plain whooped us. Were the white uniforms, and the hideous white helmet really a flag of surrender before the game even began? Or were the Bearcats all white get up suppose to make them appear to be ghosts? Whatever the case may be the white helmets need to packed up, and shipped some where far far far far far away.

The play on the field was what I expected from the defensive side of the ball. I knew December 6th when the matchup was announced the defensive would not match up well at all with Florida's offense. I wanted UC to play any of the other BCS qualifiers except Florida. Well the cards were dealt, and the players attempted to do the impossible. Coach Kelly left for greener pastures in Notre Dame, and Coach Quinn was leaving for Buffalo at the end of the game. Although it is not an excuse to get blown out of the water. I had a bad feeling about the game, but I never imagined our offense would sputter, and put us in a 30-3 halftime deficit. Oh well it is great the we made it. Now it is time to learn for the experience, and win a third BIG EAST championship in a row! IN BUTCH JONES I TRUST, AND GO BEARCATS!

SUGAR BOWL!

I made a post awhile back hoping that our Bearcats would have a successful year. Did they ever! A perfect record of 12-0 was amazing! Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that the Bearcats could go undefeated. I am so proud to be a Cincinnati Bearcat that words cannot describe it. Football is a defining sport. It defines schools, cities, and regions. If a school is good at football there is more money for the school. With Cincinnati becoming a football school many good things are going to happen. It is amazing that we were able to sell the all the Sugar Bowl tickets that we were given. This shows that Bearcat fans are willing to travel any where to see their team play! I can't wait until we get to destroy the Florida Gators! GO BEARCATS! Hopefully after the Sugar Bowl the nation knows what it is like to be a BEARCAT!

Attendance

Who would have ever thought that hockey in Cincinnati would lead the league in attendance? Sure it was for just a few days, but I believe crowds below 1ooo are done here in Cincinnati. Unless of course there is another major snowstorm that would make it a hazard to travel. The Cyclones marketing department has been lights out in their promotions, and the team hasn't been playing to badly. It is fun to see 5000 on Friday and Saturday nights. Sure we've only had a few home games, and hopefully this trend of large crowds continue! If the Cyclones get on a winning streak I think the crowds will go through the roof! LETS GO CYCLONES!

Finally it is Hockey season, and I got a new computer!

After months of grueling waiting due to losing in the semi finals our Cincinnati Cyclones have hit returned to the ice! When I attended the home opener I was quite pleased with our teams play. They can score, skate, and be physical when the time is right. I think our 2009-2010 Cincinnati Cyclones are going to be an exciting bunch!
This is my first post in a long time. My old computer finally decided to crap out, and I just did not feel like replacing it with all the summer fun we were having. So finally a couple of weeks ago I broke down, and bought a new one. So here is to a great season, and to bring the Kelly Cup back to Cincinnati!

BACK TO BACK DIVISION CHAMPIONS!

Our beloved Cincinnati Cyclones have done it! Not since the Trenton Titans earlier this decade did it has anyone won the North Division back to back. After a worrisome start to the season Chuck Weber, and the boys got it going. A final three game stretch against Johnstown had all drama one needed. On Wednesday it was a must win to even make the playoffs. Then on Friday night it was a must win to have home ice advantage in the first round of playoffs. Then Saturday night in front of a Cincinnati Cyclones regular season record crowd of 11, 417 the Cyclones won the division! WHEW! Now to top it all off our battle tested boys must face a high scoring Nailer attack. Game 1 is on Thursday at U.S. Bank Arena. Be ready it is going to be a blast! Congratulations to the Cyclones for winning back to back titles, but now it is time to turn our focus to what is most important of all, defending our Kelly Cup! Lets make USBA the most hostile playoff environment in the ECHL! LETS GO CYCLONES!

2009 Cincinnati Bearcats schedule

I can't wait until the Bearcats take the field against their schedule this year! Hopefully it will be another successful campaign!


CINCINNATI
Sept. 5 at RUTGERS
Sept. 12 Southeast Missouri State
Sept. 19 at Oregon State
Sept. 26 Fresno State
Oct. 3 at Miami (Ohio)
Oct. 15 at USF
Oct. 24 LOUISVILLE
Oct. 31 at SYRACUSE
Nov. 7 CONNECTICUT
Nov. 13 WEST VIRGINIA
Nov. 28 Illinois
Dec. 5 at PITTSBURGH



Cheer Cincinnati Cincy will win!

Twister's World Record!

I was in attendance February 21, 2009 when Twister set his world record for sliding on the ice on his head! I have never before seen a world record be set, and was quite impressed by Twister's ability to set the record! Congratulations are in store for the Cincinnati Cyclones and Twister.

I brought along with me three newbies to Cyclones hockey, and they attended Tuesday nights game against Reading, and will be attending tonights game with me as well. They are very excited, and I am happy to help some people find the exciting game we all love, hockey. It is fun to go to games with people who don't really know the sport, and attempt to watch it from their prospective. I am really looking forward to the game tonight, and hopefully our Cyclones can pull off the win!

Hope to see a big crowd tonight, and a victory!
GO CYCLONES!

The Obama Bobblehead giveaway!

Who ever thought of giving out a presidential bobblehead in a Cyclones jersey is a genius. Making the Obama Bobblehead marketed to mass market of people. Not only did the game lure in hockey fans, it also lured in non-hockey fans that now might turn to be hockey fans. There was no buy one get one free tickets. They had to pay full price to get in. With tickets only 10 bucks this will really encourage more people to come out during these tough times.

Some people complain that all the fans that showed up were bandwagon fans. This team needs bandwagon fans to succeed. The more tickets sold mean a better possiblity of the Cyclones staying in Cincinnati for years to come. I don't want to sound preachy but next time someone sees a fan that doesn't really know their way around, talk to them, and welcome them to USBA. I want my kids to attend Cyclone games when they reach my age!

I can't wait till Wednesday I hope the snow subsides so I can go see the hated Elmira Jackals. I hope our boys are up to the test in destroying the goon squad! LETS GO CYCLONES! See you Wednesday night!

Orange Bowl, and other thoughts.

I was unable to attend the Orange Bowl due to my very busy work schedule. When you work at a 7 day a week 24 hour operation, and have minimum staffing requirements it is sometimes very hard to get days off at a moments notice. Anyways I watched in horror as my Cincinnati Bearcats were out played in every aspect of the game. I give credit to the Virginia Tech staff, and players for a game well played. Being a life long Bearcat football fan I was so excited that they were playing on the national stage. I truly believed they would rise to the occassion not just one burst of excitement, but keep it up for the whole 60 minutes. Oh well they got there, and now have a very good foundation to build on for years to come.
Some of the play calling was quetionable to me, but hindsight is 20/20. I am very proud of what this group of players were able to accomplish, they have raised the bar for Cincinnati football.

I attended the Cincinnati Cyclones vs Wheeling Nailers game last night. It was a decent game with goofy officiating. That ref was terrible last night calling stupid penalties on both teams. Wheeling deserved to win though. The Nailers look really good. They had players that would fight for loose pucks, and not give up. Hopefully this weekend against the Trenton Devils our Cyclones will beat them silly in front of some large crowds.

BEAT DAYTON!

The Beat Dayton promotion night didn't pan out. Our boys rallied from a two goal deficit to take a commanding 4-2 lead with about 3 minutes to go. Then the bottom fell out. Dayton scored 2 goals in that three minute span, sent the game to overtime and won in a shootout. With over 3k in attendance with many wearing their Beat Dayton t-shirts they went home disapointed. Don't get me wrong I like the idea of building the rivalry with Dayton by making t-shirts, Cricket cups and so on, but we have to win the game! A very intense third period made it a very lively crowd, and hopefully we can go up to Dayton on the 26th and beat the Bummers!