Rumours of 2008-09 Expansion Swirling - Could we See the Return of the Fingers?

The RHL currently sits as a very balanced competetive league with 12 very active general managers. It has been many years in the making, with several GM and franchise changes every year. The RHL even survived through a lockout, which would have been only the leagues sophomore season. With the strong league of franchises currently participating, it is shaping up to possibly be the first time that the same 12 teams will take the ice 2 years in a row..... or will it?

Rumours are already swirling around the fantasy hockey world of a possible RHL expansion. The league currently has 12 teams with only 6 playoff spots to fight for. That means that currently only half the teams will make the playoffs this year. If the league were to grow to 14 teams, there would still only remain 6 playoff berths, thus, it becomes just a little tougher to even make the playoffs at all. These are the points currently being debating in the RHL head office in Mississauga. Although the league could definately handle a two team expansion, and all GM's would welcome the additional revenues, do we really want to overload the RHL at this point with too many franchises. My opiinion at this time is: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

What if? .....who would the new franchises go to? It is unknown at this time, but it is very public that GM Rob Atkinson is still bitter about his Hiawatha Fingers being thrown out after only one season. He has stated on several occasions that he does want back in. The Fingers were thrown out of the RHL after Atkinson attempted to move the franchise from Hiawatha Ontario to Banff Alberta. This move would have broken league rules involving the geographic boundaries of the RHL. It would have been a nightmare having one franchise on the other side of the country. Shortly after his dissmissal however, Commissioner Filion allowed a new GM to open up shop in Vancouver, a move that has not sat well with former GM Rob Atkinson. Now that the Vancouver Islanders have folded and all 12 teams are currently within Ontario borders, Atkinson could be awarded a franchise again, and he has agreed to keep the team in Hiawatha.

There has not been any speculation to who the 14th franchise would be at this time.

This GM would love to see the return of the Cooper Woodsticks or the Albequerque Isotopes. The Topes of course would be required to play in an Ontario city. The RHL has had some interest from Oshawa.