Thursday Thoughts...

Another day, another lazy skate around the events and opinions currently floating around in Brit-hockey world...

One Minute Preview: Belfast Giants v Sheffield Steelers (tonight)
You know a midweek game could be an important one when it merits one of these, and this game could have an impact on the title-race. Steelers win and they go within two points of the Blaze, although with two games more played. Giants win and they still have a shot at second place-so both teams will be going hard at the Odyssey...
Why Belfast will win: This game looks like it could turn into a shootout between two of the top offenses in the league, but don't forget that the Giants have a fair bit of grit too in Carlyle Lewis and (to a lesser extent) Paul Moran (agitator par excellence)-hassle the Steelers D early and park the big Canadian in front of Jody Lehman's net and it could create a little more space and time for players like Mark Dutiaume and Peter Campbell to work their creative and goalscoring spells respectively-especially with the Steelers more of an "agitation" type of team rather than one with an out-and-out physical presence when it comes to the rough-stuff...Physical defence from players like Trevor Johnson (if he turns up) and the nous of Roman Gavalier will also ensure that the Steelers forwards, good though they are, may be bullied out of the game-especially creative hub Dan Tessier. If they can force Rod Sarich to abandon or scale down his usual creative game in order to help Steve Munn and Mark Thomas deal with the physical questions posed by Lewis, George Awada et al, then the offense of the Steelers loses another weapon, and you can only lose so many, even in a team as loaded as Sheffield...
Why Sheffield will win: They arguably have more to play for. Plus, the Steelers are on a streak and have the best creative player in the league in the aforementioned Tessier, as well as one of the most lethal scorers in Joey Talbot. And that's before you mention Ashley Tait and Ryan Finnerty, both of whom are no slouches goalscoring-wise...The D is mobile enough to cope with the fast-skating Giants if they're all on a good night, and in Rod Sarich and Ian Manzano have the players to drive the offense forward. If Mark Thomas and Steve Munn can deal with the physical threat posed by Carlyle Lewis and at the same time keep their cool, then the Steelers will be free to let their creative players play and, on the big ice of the Odyssey, Tessier, Sarich and co will relish the opportunity to run-and-gun...

Verdict: I can see the Steelers winning this one. Just. However, the margin is going to be close either way...and it's definitely worth catching the webcast if you have a hankering for some hockey this evening...

Next they'll be telling us how white our ice has to be: After my post yesterday about how allowing trades could improve the EIHL, it was commented that the North American system could actually be illegal in Europe thanks to European employment laws. Does this mean that two-way contracts are also illegal, as they also are a form of movement between two teams and appear to be pretty well-entrenched in the British system now...I have no legal training whatsoever so am unaware of the ins and outs, but I can't see how a player changing employer (effectively) mid-season could cause such problems under EU laws...unless it's considered a "consensual firing and re-hiring" or some such.

It's not going to happen-but in a perfect world...Continuing with the trade theme begun yesterday, I can see it being made to fit into the system of import restrictions with only a few minor tweaks to the current rules...the ten-import-at-one-time could still be held to, but teams could be allowed an unlimited number of ITC cards throughout the season...this leads to further intrigue because you could have the situation of "surplus imports" who would then have to be traded for Brits in order to keep within the rules or cut. Certainly it would stimulate player movement within the league, which could perhaps level the playing field somewhat-if a "top" team wants a "lower" team's top import or Brit then they'd have to give something of equal value in return.
Trouble is, I suppose that money would be the major factor getting in the way here, even if there are legal loopholes, and that's why news stories like "Panthers and Steelers in blockbuster trade" will only ever appear in the realms of fantasy...

Another step in the journey, at least...The GB team are taking on Sweden before travelling to Austria for the World Championships. Not the full team, before all you NHL fans get excited, but the under-20's, who will still provide a serious test, being one of the top teams in the world with every player drafted to the NHL or considered as a prospect. After my ramblings earlier on this month about the GB team needing to play quality opponents in order to progress, it's fair to say that the powers-that-be in GB hockey have continued, after the participation in the Mont Blanc Tournament, to make progress in breaking the habits the national team has fallen into in recent years and are now actively looking for ways to bring British ice hockey forward. This is excellent preparation and, not only that, a measure of the positive reception by the European community-the Swedes are also using this as preparation for their own u20 Worlds which run at almost the same time as the senior team. This, more than anything recently, will be a measure of just how far the GB programme needs to go in order to compete with the top hockey nations of the world, as well as giving British fans the chance to see some of the top players in the world at their level-a win-win situation if you ask me...

Sheffield will try anything to get around the import limit...but this tactic, while not working in favour of the Steelers' import quota, will benefit British hockey hugely as it consists of Jody Lehman (that well known Canadian goalie) taking a British passport and becoming eligible to play for Great Britain in the near future after playing in the UK for six years...the Steeler has come out and asked Paul Thompson for the chance to be considered as soon as the formalities are completed. While not exactly a spring chicken at 32, there's no denying Lehman's quality, and if nothing else it'll give the current settled three (Lyle, Murphy and Watkins) a reason to step up their play even further now they're competing against one of the best goalies of the EIHL era. However, he'll still be counted as an import for league purposes, given that he was trained in Canada. Now-if we can just convince Adam Calder and Joe Tallari to do the same...

And finally...It's Andre Payette's new instructional video part one...how to check. Enjoy...

That's your Thursday Thoughts...check back tomorrow for Round the Rinks, and, as always...keep your eye on the puck...