Reid Cashman Goes Pro/Indy Article

Former Waterloo Black Hawk Reid Cashman has signed an entry level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Cashman will play for the Leafs' AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.

Cashman has the distinction of being the first Division I defenceman in 18 years to lead a conference in scoring by notching 45 points in his sophomore season. He led all team defencemen in points in each of his four seasons and he led all Division I defencemen in scoring in 2004-05. Cashman was a Second-Team All-American in 2006 and a Third-Team All-American in 2005.

Also, Marc Foster found an article in the Indy paper discussing the future of the Ice.

The current version of the Ice average 4,168, down about 500 from last year. And despite Skjodt's confident prediction to the contrary late last season, he is losing money for a third consecutive season. He won't reveal how much and declined an interview request.

"I admire what they're trying to do, but let's call it what it is -- it's amateur development hockey with 16- to 20-year-olds," said Larry Linde, who used to run the CHL Ice and also worked for the IHL team.

"A market that size, I think it should have pro hockey."

"It's too big a city," Jake Skjodt said. "We have the Colts. We have the Pacers. People don't really know about hockey. A lot of people don't know who the Ice are, still."

Adds Smith, "Some people know who the Ice are, but they think they're still a semi-pro team."

People have been commenting on the article on this site. I have met a handful of nice fans in Indy who do support their USHL team, but some of these people are just ignorant. I'm sure every city would love to have a pro team, but if you don't support what you have, you sure aren't going to have a pro team come to town, unless of course it is the UHL (and they will probably fold in a couple of years.)