Blaze v Slavija Ljubljana running diary

15:00: And we're off...back in Aalborg for Slavija vs the Blaze, and Steve Fone is starting today...the Blaze fans are making a fine amount of noise...

15:02: SCOOOOOORRRRRREEEE BLAZE! Adam Calder! Not the worst start in the world, that...after a pass from Cowley, Cloutier with the second assist. On a side note, that's Cald's 250th point in a Blaze shirt-not bad in two and a half seasons...

15:03: We nearly have the Slovenians score, but the puck is kicked in, and the second referee of the two-ref system spots it, thankfully.

15:06: Cloutier is a "one-man wrecking machine" apparently...having seen him almost every chance you've been able to over the past two years, I've got some sympathy for the Slovenians who are on the receiving end...Meanwhile, Blaze survive another goal scare-high sticks, apparently...

15:08: It's getting somewhat crowded in the Blaze penalty box-Vychodil and Weaver are both in there...and once again the commentary team have proved me wrong-we're now getting the names of the Slovenes also-good work, gentlemen...

15:11: Cloutier nails yet another unlucky Slovenian, as Geoff and Andy have this exchange...

"Something's upset him today, I think"
"Yep, I reckon he's had his three Shredded Wheat for breakfast"
"Judging by that hit, more likely someone nicked his breakfast"...

Brought a smile to a grey Sunday afternoon in Coventry, that did...:)

15:18: Twelve minutes gone, and Joe Henry gets a shift! And then proceeds to throw a big hit, and there's the slightest bit of amusement in Geoff's voice as he mentions it...

15:24: Blaze are dominating after being on the powerplay, but still can't sneak a goal-it appears that Slavija are back in the game somewhat. Geoff has something of a coughing fit, so Andy takes over.

15:26: He's not doing too badly, either-but Slavija sneak one in...so it's now one each. Geoff has had a glass of water or something and resumes his commentary...

15:28: Slavija hit the post...they've got their tails up...

15:32: End of the first-Slavija one, Blaze one. And we have the traditional interview with Rumun...

15:42: We're reviewing the goals from last night. And they still sound just as good...the noise when Calder scores is something special...and then, two minutes later, Jonny Weaver makes history...at the moment there is still a rather large grin on my face...Lord only knows what the reaction of someone who was lucky enough to be there will be...

15:46: We're off for the second period. Meanwhile, back here I've also got the Simpsons on...it's fun, this multimedia stuff.

15:57: As you may have guessed, not much has happened in the past fifteen minutes...highlight, however, is Geoff, from nowhere, pronouncing the name "Blaz Javornik" properly...to Andy's amusement.

16:00: Dear Lord-we've just had the Birdie Song from Magnus the DJ's wife, who is obviously backing him up...I shall never complain about the music in the EIHL again...

16:07: It's still 1-1...unfortunately.

16:09: PANIC! Slavija somehow manage to get three players into the crease, along with four for the Blaze...Fone manages to get his glove on it, however.

16:15: Slavija make it 2-1...Matej Kralj. Surely we can't go from the sublime to the ridiculous?

16:16: The period ends-and Slavija are 2-1 up...

16:32: SCOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEE BLAZE! Adam Calder's second! He's got 14 this season already...literally about forty seconds into the third period. Excellent...there is hope again. For some reason, Danny Stewart called Geoff "George" and it's now stuck...

16:37: Blaze back on the powerplay...and Calder is after a hat-trick...

16:42: Slavija make it 3-2, past Steve Fone. Both commentators and those interviewed mentioned that today is something of an anti-climax after the great events of yesterday...

16:47: Make that 4-2. Fone lets one past him which Andy Buxton thinks he'll want back. The question is, what do we put this down to?

16:50: The Blaze aren't happy-shots are raining in on the Slavija net. Pity the goalie is on something of a hot-streak at the moment-it's becoming a running theme this weekend. At least the Blaze fans are still trying to lift their team...

16:56: Blaze four-two down and on the powerplay, desperately trying to get back into the game with four minutes left...

17:02: Andy has all but admitted the Blaze are somewhat tanking the game with "From the moment you can't qualify, it's all about making sure no-one gets hurt and you're all fully fit for Elite League action", as it finishes with Slavija winning 4-2. Still-there's always the moment from last night...

And on that note, we leave Denmark. Check back tomorrow for a review of tonights games, and all through the week for various ramblings, news and views, match previews, features and, of course, Round the Rinks on Thursday evening.

Until then, keep your eye on the puck...

Hungover Hockey...reflections on October 12th in the EIHL,

Ouch.
My head hurts after what was a great day for sport yesterday, internationally and locally. You can read all the Blaze stuff in the running diaries, so I'm not going to say anything more about that-this is the Saturday EIHL review.

Hull v Belfast: Fans in both cities are doubtless asking themselves "where did that come from?!" today-the Giants appear to have kicked their slump with a 7-1 demolition of the Stingrays in their own rink. Several players began to answer their critics, with Carlyle Lewis scoring twice, new boy Shaun Sutter getting one, and Ed Courtenay scoring as well as assisting on four others. Reading the Belfast fan reactions, they can't quite believe it-a worry for Hull is that starting goalie Ladislav Kudrna was pulled out of the game after the fourth goal-whether this was precautionary or due to an injury is uncertain, but given that Hull haven't conceded many this season while Kudrna has been on form, we shall have to see whether he plays tonight.
Nottingham v Sheffield: The Steelers took the ascendancy in this rivalry, coming back from an early Sean McAslan goal (which Steelers fans claim was way offside and should never have stood) to win 2-1 with goals from Ash Tait and Ryan Finnerty. By all accounts it wasn't a classic, but they won't be complaining in the Steel City today...
Basingstoke v Cardiff: The Devils take the points back to the Bay after a 4-3 win, although the main talking point is Max Birbraer assaulting Derek Campbell with a vicious cross-check after the Bison player had reportedly checked Jason Silverthorn to the head. With both teams meeting again this evening, this one will be one I'm keeping an eye on for the round-up tomorrow...

Now on to Blaze's final game in Aalborg, against the underdogs from Ljubljana...the running diary follows...