NEW YORK — Anthony Furino announced plans Thursday for a 20-team fantasy hockey keeper league that plans to kick off in Summer 2009.
The AFHL will begin play in October 2009, Anthony Furino told a Manhattan news conference Thursday afternoon.
The A stands for amazing. “It will be amazing,” said AFHL executive Steve Stryska.
“Most importantly, the AFHL is going to be 100 percent fun,” Furino said.
There is an emphasis on fun. Stryska added that the AFHL will use News and Headlines and will also offer greater access to roster activities all year long.
He said rules would be adopted to accent faster play.
Several cities already have been selected for teams and more will be selected within 60-90 days, Stryska said.
The regular season will be played in the heart of fall and play on through winter and early spring. In the month of April, six teams will advance to a playoff round leading to a championship game.
Furino said the teams will be owned by a AFHL subsidiary and that general managers and coaches will be hired soon.
No television rights have been decided, although talks are being held with broadcast and cable networks.
Stryska said no franchises are immediately planned outside the United States, but that the AFHL will most likely expand into Canada and that Toronto would be among the cities considered.
The AFHL draft lottery will be held Wednesday, June 24 at 8 pm eastern. This lottery will randomly determine the draft ORDER, not the players drafted. The consensus number one pick for this keeper league is unclear with talented players like Ovechkin, Crosby and Zetterberg battling for the top spot in the AFHL draft.
(Draft lottery results will be posted on the website)
This lottery will randomly determine the draft ORDER, not the players drafted. The consensus number one pick for this keeper league is unclear with talented players like Ovechkin, Crosby and Zetterberg battling for the top spot in the AFHL draft. Let’s start the action!
The 20th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#20 – Lexington Leg Hounds
The 19th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#19 – Winnipeg Wheat Kings
The 18th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#18 – Seattle Bruins
The 17th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#17 – Chicago Wolves
The 16th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#16 – Hollywood Stars
The 15th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#15 – Vancouver Heroes
The 14th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#14 – Temiscaming Storm
The 13th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#13 – Toronto Red Devils
The 12th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#12 – London Mustangs
The 11th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#11 – Hamilton Outlaws
The 10th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#10 – Edmonton Hellstars
The 9th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#9 – Fort Drum Killers
The 8th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#8 – Detroit Gladiators
The 7th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#7 – Washington Power
The 6th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#6 – Manhattan Supermen
The 5th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#5 – St. John’s Red Wings
The 4th Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#4 – Deer Park Chiefs
The 3rd Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#3 – Buffalo Phantoms
The 2nd Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#2 – Oshawa City Leafs
And the 1st Overall Pick in the AFHL Draft goes to…
#1 – Boston Giants