Snakes Bitten...

Well, first blood in the Challenge Cup semis goes to the Panthers-the game between Nottingham and Newcastle has just ended, with the home side actually proving one of my predictions right by coming out on top in a 9-goal thriller, thanks to Johan Molin scoring the winner in the 57th minute. Game details are here.

It does look a bit of a tasty game, doesn't it-not least because of this hug-fest fight between Andre Payette and Ryan Shmyr...although you have to wonder about the strength of Panther's goaltending, given that Rastislav Rovnianek managed to let in four goals on 22 shots while Ryan MacDonald let in only one more on nearly double the number of shots. Vipers will definitely fancy their chances in the return leg, particularly as the Slovakian between the pipes for Nottingham is looking more and more like their major Achilles heel-it's probably unfair to say that a large part of his signing this season was due to his shootout heroics in Panthers' playoff victory last time out, but that is looking more and more the case based on this season's form. At 38 he's no spring chicken either.

This tie is still very much in the balance heading up to the Metro Radio Arena-that is the only certainty we can draw from tonight's events...

Tomorrow I am working for most of the day, so there will likely not be an update until around 7pm...

Keep keeping your eye on the puck in the meantime...

IceTunes: What's rocking the rinks this week?

This is fast becoming traditional in my one-man campaign for real music at British rinks...which many of you will doubtless skip over...But once again, a few tunes which should be on everyone's playlist (now with links if I can find them on youtube...:))

Before we get to the songs themselves, though, there has been an interesting debate going on over at The Hockey Forum over the past week or so, questioning whether the traditional atmosphere at rinks in the UK is being diluted as owners go for the mass market. Regular readers of this space will already know my views on the subject, but it appears they are shared by others, with comments such as (about the rink in Nottingham) "The NIC is so PC and family orientated now its become a cheese fest, we hardly play any music...the music is poor and is about as far away from hockey music as you can get...Its sometimes feels like sod the true hockey fans lets get Mr Smith his wife and his 2 kids in tonight and make it feel like a kids christmas show!!" or "My own point of view is that the game has become a financial event rather than a GAME to be enjoyed"

Interestingly, my "other" team, Cologne Sharks, can be said to be very much more commercially oriented-there are far more sponsors and commercial activities going on on matchnights at the Koelnarena, and the entertainment is often little more than a barrage of adverts in the period-breaks. However, the difference between them and UK teams is that the emphasis is definitely on a "traditional" hockey atmosphere rather than attracting people-the arena is always rocking (try standing in the terraced areas behind the goal if you ever go there), the music is LOUD and nothing but rock, and there is genuine pride in the "otherness" of hockey. And does this "niche" strategy turn fans and families off? Does it hell...the Sharks have one of the highest attendances in Europe. And I refuse to accept the whole "but hockey is more popular in Germany" argument. Like the UK, football is the German national sport, closely followed by skiing, cycling and other winter sports...I would think it occupies a similar position in terms of relative popularity.

Anyway-enough ranting...on to the songs (be warned, some of these might have a rude word or two in them)...

Kittie: Brackish: Yes, it's a girl singing...and yes, it might scare little kids if they get a burst of it with no warning. But come on...can you not see that as a fight song? It's one of the ones I listen to before playing hockey, anyway.
And they're Canadian, so even if some of the crowd haven't heard of 'em, the imports will have done. :)

Linkin Park: Don't Stay: But you need this version for the introduction alone...play it when the lights go black, time the kicking-in for the opposition coming onto the ice, and enjoy...

Wolfmother: Woman: Led Zeppelin's spiritual heirs...This song is an energy song par excellence. Although it always seems to leave me with a sore neck, or borderline whiplash. You can't help nodding your head to it...

Only a few today...but you do get the bonus of this to make you smile-I can't work out whether the funniest part is Sydney Crosby over-acting or Joe Thornton nicking food. Or Marty Turco with a creamed face...:)

Keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Tuesday Morning Skate...

Welcome to another November day in the hockey world. On we go with the daily round-up, including more NHL dirtyness, a prospective Panther, a potential new arrival in Hull and one more new arena in London...

Panthers looking at another returnee: Brandin Cote, who was a huge hit for the Panthers three seasons ago, is the latest Panthers rumoured target to replace PC Drouin after the Canadian was reported yesterday as leaving SG Cortina in Italy. The gritty centre would be an ideal fit on this years roster, and with Mike Ellis appearing to prefer players who have worn Panthers shirts before over newbies in his recruiting this season, he could be a very likely option if not wishing to return to North America...

Stingrays looking for inspiration: Hull are another team looking to inject some new blood into their lineup, with one likely candidate being ex-London Racer Trevor Baker, who spent last year in the Central Hockey League. Firstly, though, the Stingers need to release an import...

Banzai-Swedish style!: Another week, another controversy in the NHL. This time it's the Vancouver Canucks Mattias Ohlund, who channels his inner samurai in this vicious slash on the Minnesota Wild's Mikko Koivu, which has left the Finn with a broken leg. Ohlund earned himself...four games, or about a week's suspension. Hardly a deterrent, really.

Sixty Second Preview: Challenge Cup Semi Final First Leg (tonight)
Why the Panthers will win: Sean McAslan. If Johan Molin or indeed any other Panthers player can feed him, the Panthers captain will score for fun-particularly as this weekend Ryan MacDonald has finally been shown to be mortal in conceding twelve goals. Vipers are coming into this game while not in the best of form, so if Panthers get at them early and force penalty trouble, the high-powered forward line can win it on the powerplay.

Why the Vipers will win: Nottingham, in the words of Corporal Jones, "don't like it up 'em". And up 'em is just where the Vipers like to play, throwing hits around like confetti, snarling and spitting on the forecheck, and bullying their way into the ascendancy. The Vipers also have a fairly strong back line (when it's on form) so denying the fast-skating Panthers the space to play will also be a priority.

Prediction: I'm absolutely awful at predicting scores, and indeed have made a running joke this season out of just how bad I've been. However, I can see the Panthers nicking this in front of their home crowd, but the tie will still be very much alive either way at the end of the first sixty minutes.

And still on the Vipers...: After my weekend review yesterday, "greenfox" commented "A nightmare for Newcastle who need to turn up for big games against the Blaze. It was a poor show this weekend and we were out played in every aspect of the game. Sunday saw another very sorry looking Vipers team playing the dump and chase style hockey."
This does surprise me-in the times I've seen the Vips this season they've played anything but dump-and-chase, preferring to carry it across the blue-line and then put all sorts of pressure on the nettie with people in front of him. It's interesting also as an indication the different reactions shown by different fan-bases, though-this was a very reasoned criticism, whereas Blaze's weekend last week was met with comments like "what's the point of (insert player here)" or "shocking show-not a single player turned up". This after winning 16 of seventeen? Some people are just never satisfied-maybe those who criticise the Blaze should take a leaf out of the North East's book...

London's new home-in Croydon?: Plans have been announced for a new 12,500-seat arena in Croydon, and as usual there is the wondering whether a new hockey team can be set up to resuscitate the London EIHL franchise. However, with work not even having begun on the site, this is very much a work in progress.

And that's you up to date this Tuesday...more tomorrow, and keep keeping your eye on the puck...