Round the Rinks 25th October

Mea culpa, everyone. Due to job-searching taking up the vast majority of my time (and by the way, if you know anyone who needs a hockey journalist, let me know...:)) I've only got up to get back onto writing Round the Rinks now, and completely missed the midweek games, so this post will be the one that makes reference to them There's a lot to cover so we'll get straight on with it...

Basingstoke: Another week in Hampshire, another midweek loss, 5-2 to the Panthers away. But despite this hope springs eternal in the land of the pink buses-after a fans' forum in which Ryan Aldridge apparently stressed the need for everyone to move forward as one now the financial concerns have been at least eased, and the signs are that things could be looking up as the Bison head into weekend action against a wounded Newcastle and a struggling Edinburgh. The Vipers, despite holding third in the EIHL, can be up-and-down in their level of play, and with the home crowd roaring them on at the Silverdome a point at least is a definite possibility, before the long trip north of the border gives possibly the Bison's best chance for a win in some time. If Dan Green can stop the shots like he has been doing, then don't bet against the Herd nicking a few much-needed morale-boosting points...

Belfast: In the words of Corporal Jones..."don't panic!". Have the Giants finally broken out of their slump? This weekend will go a long way to showing it if they have, as they face a tricky Manchester side in Dundalk-a team who have already won in Northern Ireland this season and will not be intimidated by the supposed star-power of the Giant's offense, and has the scorers to take advantage of the gaps in the Giant's d should they appear like they have done all too frequently this season. Certainly with this being the only game of the weekend for those across the Irish sea, anything less then a win will not be considered as an option by the Giants fanbase, organised Phoenix defence or not.

Cardiff: In a reverse of last week's fixtures, the Devils travel up to Sheffield on Saturday before welcoming Newcastle on Sunday. With new signing Mike Prpich looking to make an impact instantly and Sylvain Deschatelets wanting to prove the Devils management's faith in returning his job after his recent form is justified, the rapidly-improving Devils will be a very tough proposition, particularly since last week they narrowly lost to Sheffield at home before taking the points away from Newcastle. Sheffield will not be relishing welcoming the Welshmen, but Newcastle will be relishing the trip south even less, although revenge for last week's defeat, particularly with their need to keep up with the leading pack, will be at the top of their thoughts. Sunday in particular could be a barn-burner at the Big Blue Tent..

Coventry: My team have a make-or-break Challenge Cup game against a smarting Nottingham on the Saturday in the NIC, before welcoming Hull on the Sunday. With injuries throughout the camp in Weaver, Martin, Tasker, and Koenig (and that's just the ones we know about) this weekend will be a true physical test for the champions, particularly with the result of Saturday's game crucial in the race for the Challenge Cup semi finals. The game on the Sunday will not be the most scintillating ever seen, but the Stingray's abrasive forwards will be the last sights the recovering Neal Martin and hurting Jonny Weaver will want to see bearing down on them on the fore-check. It's weekends like these which the Blaze managed to gut out last year in their run to the title, and this one will be yet another one where the results are more important than how you get there.

Edinburgh: What do the Caps have to do to get a win? Another narrow loss to the Vipers in midweek means that the Scots are still anchored to the bottom of the table, and face two teams immediately above them this weekend in Hull and Basingstoke. Neither game will be pretty, but all teams involved will be looking to gain some ground on those around them, and for that reason alone they'll be some of the most hard-fought matches of the season. Can the Caps turn things around, or will they slide further towards an early long, dark winter even before the clocks go back?

Hull: Another week, another raft of "Stingrays ready for the challenge" press releases on Humberside. This week it's Paul Cabana and Dave Phillips stressing their commitment to the team and their readiness. But they'll need to be ready with games against a seriously hurting (in pride at least) Edinburgh on Humberside and the trip no-one wants to make (down the M1 to Coventry) on the Sunday. Stingrays might fancy their chances of at least one win after splitting a tough home-and-away with Manchester last weekend-but the question is whether they can find more scoring than just Paul Cabana, including some from defence. If they can, it could be a win on Saturday and at the very least a tension-filled night for the home Skydome crowd on the Sunday. If they can't, then it will be a long trip home on both the Saturday and the Sunday...

Manchester: It's not just the music that's surprisingly good in Manchester-the team are cruising along nicely at the moment. However, Altrincham Arena will be tense this weekend as the Phoenix take double-act of tight defence and potent forwards on the road to Belfast before returning home on Sunday to face Sheffield-two teams who will provide them with a stern examination of their trophy-aspirant credentials. With injuries yet to rear their ugly head in the North, the team will be at full strength and looking to do some damage against two of the league's traditional powerhouses. And don't bet against them doing so. It's strange-you never see anyone mention the Phoenix in the "best team in the league" discussion, yet every week they keep piling up points and making teams play VERY well indeed to beat them. At the moment, the Phoenix are soaring just under the radar of most fans in the league. And that seems fine with them...

Newcastle: "Vipers in "we're not that bad" shocker!". The Vipers are the hockey team's equivalent of a schizophrenic...one moment they're sublime, all sweetness and light, and then suddenly they lose control and it all goes out of the window. With two away games this weekend in Basingstoke and Cardiff, the Snakes will face a severe test of both their mettle and their tempers against two niggly teams who are very tough to break down. Can they keep their heads? If so, it could be a successful weekend on Tyneside.

Nottingham: Perhaps the best summary of the state in Nottingham is this anecdote. In my Double Overtime review last week, I gave the Panthers an F, and got a comment saying "good column, but you were too generous with the Panthers' grade". There are problems at the NIC, and they don't even have the Conti Cup Curse to blame it on. With just the one game this weekend and (reputedly) jobs on the line, it's time for the talk to stop and the hockey to begin in the Lace City...

Sheffield: Last but (rarely) least, the Steelers face Cardiff and Manchester as they bid to continue their quiet renaissance and pull away from the rest of the pack, while at the same time catch the Blaze at the top of the table.With no injuries the potent Steelers attack is at full strength, but will find it tricky against the solid Devils and Phoenix defences. Another four-point weekend is not out of the question, however...it just may be the most hard-fought four points you'll see for a while.

So, this weekend's games in full...(Elite League unless stated)


Saturday

Hull v Edinburgh (Challenge Cup)

Basingstoke v Newcastle

Belfast v Manchester (in Dundalk Ice Arena)

Sheffield v Cardiff

Nottingham v Coventry (Challenge Cup)

Sunday

Manchester v Sheffield

Coventry v Hull

Cardiff v Newcastle

Edinburgh v Basingstoke

Drop the puck, and let's play hockey...

Music Matters...

This post starts with an apology-due to Internet connection woes you may have noticed that I missed a day or two, and indeed this post is slightly later. But before Round the Rinks I must mention the comments I got from the last post on music, especially the one from Matt, who says that in Altrincham at least the whole hockey/rock marriage is still going along nicely-Metallica and Rammstein and Megadeth and Iron Maiden in sequence? Excellent...and yet another reason for me to make a visit up there to see the Phoenix's new rink (aside from the hockey, obviously) Sadly, I can't claim credit for his comments about the excellent Skydome music in 03/04-that was the year before I did my stint on the decks (September 04 until September 05, when Germany called...)

Another comment mentions that perhaps hip-hop would sound good-and after being a bit sceptical at first I thought...hang on a minute-if it works for American football and basketball, then why not hockey? Just so long as it's "proper" hip-hop and not the R-and-B lite love songs that currently pass for hip-hop...This got me to thinking of ten tracks that every rink in the UK should have on their playlist, and after some consideration, here's my first draft of "the list"

Lamb of God: Redneck
Ooooohhh, yes. This one rumbles along with an unholy scream for vocals and THE most aggressive challenge in the chorus...perfect for a fight-song. Although it may need a slight edit for the "this is a motherf-ing invitation!" line...

Fort Minor: Remember the Name
First hip-hop entry-this one just can't fail to get you up for it...and the chorus is mesmerising. Plus, it's a great song to play if you're leading...If it works for football, it works for hockey..
"This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill..."

Rammstein: Feuer Frei
The best wake-up call ever...and the title (Fire at Will, in English) is perfect for the powerplay.

Cypress Hill: Superstar
Just because.

Kanye West: Jesus Walks
All together now..."bom, bom, bom, ba-bom bom, bom, bom...". Makes no sense unless you download it...but if you want the odd bit of new school hip-hopiness, then put this on. Plus, if you're so inclined you can clap along with the bass. And the lyrics ain't bad either...

Metallica: Master of Puppets
Let's face it, you could stick pretty much any Metallica track in here and there's part of it that'll fit a hockey game. But this, in the warm-up, is eight-and-a-half-minutes of metal heaven. Just for the intro and guitar solo alone-the Trivium version isn't bad either if you want a more modern cover...

Megadeth: Crush 'Em
Yes, the lyrics may sound like a high school fight song, but come on-play this just as the lights go down and it sets the hostile mood beauifully. And not a swearword in sight...

M.O.P: Cold as Ice
See above. Unfortunately there's probably a bit too much swearing in this for it to be safely played at games. In which case, this is just the wild-card entry...

New Found Glory: Dressed to Kill
Just because it's happy...not all rock has to be screaming and crunching guitars. Although I like that sort of thing, this is the one for girls to bounce around to...

Dragonforce: Valley of the Damned
One I played at the Skydome and which still gets used to this day in the gap between the anthem and face-off, this is a hockey song par-excellence. And then you have the lyrics which could be made for the British hockey season...

"on a cold dark winter night, lit by the stormy light, battle rages for the right to what we'll become..."

LL Cool J: Mama Said Knock You Out
When this starts, you know that a fight ain't far away...

And finally-my personal favourite...
Arch Enemy: We Will Rise
The scariest woman's voice on the planet. Angela Gossow's menacing growl fits the guitars perfectly. And then you have the lyrics themselves-which scream a challenge...

"...tear down the walls, wake up the world, ignorance is not....bliss...fed up with the second best. Our time....is here....NOW!"

Let's keep this running-I of course am aware that there are probably readers thumping the keyboard in frustration that I've missed out an obvious song-so leave a comment and we'll see just how many hockey songs we can get on here. And then hope to hear them thumping out of the speakers at your local rink some time soon...

Keep keeping your eye on the puck...