The Pigeonhole Hockey Podcast will be operating a “USPHL After Dark” fantasy league this season in which the host, co-hosts and other participants can draft and compete in a cumulative scoring system throughout the season. The USPHL After Dark fantasy league will consist of the current 18 teams within the Pacific, Mountain and Northwest Divisions of the USPHL Premier League. If you wish to join, send a direct message to @PHHOfficial on Twitter. Current rules and guidelines for the fantasy league are available below in this article – and winner earns bragging rights!
Rules and guidelines below:
1) There are no negative points for goals allowed, penalties etc. As this is a junior hockey development league, all aspects of this fantasy league and scoring shall remain positive. This is intended to be a fun, interactive way that provides extra attention on western hockey programs and focuses on the best on-ice attributes of the athletes, ultimately providing a little bit of extra attention to those athletes trying to navigate life and make it to the next level. Any negative remarks regarding the athletes could be met with an immediate removal from fantasy league participation.
2) Each fantasy team can draft NO MORE than one athlete per organisation for a total of 10 athletes; two goaltenders (required), two defenders (minimum), and six forwards (maximum). So this means if a team drafts an athlete from the Bellingham Blazers, that is the only athlete that team can select from that specific organisation. Two goalies are required on each team, no more, no less. However, each team is required to draft a minimum of two defenders during the draft, but there is no maximum requirement. Fantasy teams must adhere to these requirements later in the season should an athlete qualify for release to Free Agency (FA); information on “Released to FA” criteria later in article.
If an athlete that is a defender or forward on draft day switches roles during the season, the athlete remains on a team’s fantasy roster. The athletes selected on draft day must meet the above criteria. Our intent is to minimise unnecessary transactions throughout the season as this is not a pro-hockey league.
SCORING (based of stats from HockeyTV):
Goaltender Scoring:
Full Game Played-3pts
Partial Game Played-1.5pts
Shutout-4pts
Saves-.1pt per save
Assist-3 pts
Goal-10 pts
Forward/Defense Scoring:
Game Played-1 pt
Goal-2 pts
Assist-1 pt
Hat trick Bonus-3 pt
*Each goal additional goal beyond hat trick will include an additional +1pt bonus on top of goal points
RELEASED TO F.A. CRITERIA
This fantasy league will not allow trades or routine athlete releases, however, there are circumstances that will allow a fantasy team to release an athlete and acquire a new one. The same guidelines that applied on draft day, apply for selecting an athlete in free agency. Athletes can be released to FA under the following circumstances.
1) INJURY/INACTIVITY 3-GAMES: If an athlete has NOT been actively on the roster for three-straight games either due to being scratched or due to injury, fantasy team managers can choose to release the athlete to FA and you must select a replacement (Note: If it is officially announced that an athlete has sustained an injury, fantasy team managers must still wait for three non-active games before the athlete can be released).
2) PROMOTION: If an athlete departs the western USPHL premier divisions due to being called-up to a higher league such as the NAHL, USHL etc., a fantasy team manager can choose to immediately release the player and sign an available free agent. The fantasy team manager does not hold any rights to the player should they return to the western divisions of the USPHL.
3) TRADE: If an athlete is traded outside the western divisions, or signs to another Tier III league etc., fantasy team managers are immediately entitled to acquire a free agent. If an athlete is traded to another organisation within the western USPHL premier divisions, the athlete remains on the fantasy roster. HOWEVER, If an athlete gets traded to another western USPHL Premier organisation for which the fantasy team manager already has an existing athlete on their fantasy roster (ie. roster now has two players from the Provo Predators), the fantasy team manager CAN choose to keep both athletes OR release either athlete (not both) to acquire a free agent. In this scenario, there is no time limit to release an athlete and acquire a free agent.
As the season progresses, each fantasy team manager must monitor their own athlete situations and choose replacement players according to established guidelines and contacting the league commissioner. If one of the circumstances mentioned above applies to the athlete on a team managers fantasy roster, the team manager must message the league commissioner of any desired transactions prior to any game start time in order for points to be applied. The commissioner will also post his transactions on his personal Twitter account for time verification/transparency. Elite Prospects is an excellent tool to look up each player from each team to prepare for draft day! The draft is currently projected for either the mornings of September 4 or September 11.
The hockey “scoring” week will run Wednesday through Tuesday and weekly fantasy league updates should be posted on Twitter @PHHOffical no later than Thursday each week. If you think any guidelines has been overlooked or should be modified before the season starts, reach out!
Listen to this week’s episode of the Pigeonhole Hockey Podcast in which CD lists his Top 5 favourite NHL players all time and Steffen lists his choice for the Top 5 NHL players all time … why? You’ll just have to listen! Episode link below!
EPISODE HERE: Pigeonhole Hockey #221: NHL Best vs Favorite
Follow the Pigeonhole Hockey Podcast @PHHOffical on Twitter for junior hockey and other hockey news at Apple Pods or on a myriad of other podcast platforms!
Author: CD, Host, Pigeonhole Hockey Podcast
