Midweek Musings...

This time round, in something of a short post thanks to being in the midweek news doldrums, we simply consider a few more rumours and watch a lot of flying teddy bears...

Rumour time again...
The rumour mill hasn't yet got into high gear (although I shall be keeping my ears open now that I'm going to the playoff weekend after all) but there are still a few curious ones floating around, with one of the hottest topics for speculation just who the Blaze are targeting to replace Neal Martin...

Ben Storey to Coventry: This is yet another Martin-related rumour-the 6'0 200lb Canadian, who won Player of the Week for his performance in the playoff quarterfinals yesterday, is the latest player linked with Martin's vacant "offensive defenceman" slot on the Blaze blue-line.

Sean Blanchard to Coventry: This is getting silly. The ex-London Knight is another who has been linked with the Blaze, as well as his ex-Knight team-mate (and Dan Carlson's linemate at Munich) Rich Bronilla-both are fine offensive d-men who would equal if not better Martin's ability at this level...of the two I'd probably prefer Blanchard because he's three years younger (and indeed round about the same age Martin was when he joined) and has an absolute cannon of a slapshot...

Steve Thornton to Belfast: Despite rumbles from Bisonland that he wants to stay down south, there are persistent mutters linking Thornton with the vacant coaches' job at the Giants left by Ed Courtenay's departure. As someone who played at the Odyssey already in his time in the ISL (although his one season in Belfast, like the previous season in London, was cut short by injury after becoming he became a legend in Cardiff in the preceding seasons)...He's the right age to maybe consider a move into coaching, and Belfast isn't a bad opportunity...

Todd Jackson and Colin Shields to Belfast: Two of the Vipers' best players to make the trip across the Irish Sea? Well, Shields has won a title there before...

Jeff Hutchins to Edinburgh: Four teams in four years since coming to Britain? It could happen, as Hutchins is apparently good friends with Caps coach Doug Christensen, and would make a decent second-line forward to complement the skill of some of the young Scots...

Scott Basiuk to Sheffield: A rumour floating around the Phoenix forum and indeed picked up upon on Steeltalk...Basiuk appears to have split the Phoenix faithful in his year as captain, judging by the forums, with some rating him a must-sign for next season and others ambivalent as to whether he stays or goes. He's also yet another one linked with Coventry...

That's the best of the ones floating around today (at least those that are believable)...

And finally...

Heads up!...There's not really any words I can append to this video clip apart to simply say...in the field of being tossers, there is no way any fans of the EIHL can compete with those in Calgary...(and yes, I include the Blaze in that*)

(*view copyright rest of the EIHL, 2005)

Tomorrow we prepare for the playoff weekend with the ultimate hockey music CD (well, at least one of my many versions of it) and have a look at whether development of the few or enjoyment of the many is more important in junior hockey...

Keep keeping your eye on the puck...