Given that the number of times this post has been re-written precludes any meaningful discussion of Tuesday's action in the EIHL, we'll simply consider the good and bad of each team's season up until the halfway point, see if any predictions have changed from the pre-season preview, and do it in the time-honoured Breakaway fashion of assigning either a song lyric or a quote to each team to sum their season, past and future, up based on the evidence thus far...and when you're done here why not have a look at the Angry Budgie, the Pyre and, given that it's that time of year, see what Becky over at Five Minute Major has assigned as resolutions for each team going into the new season. This would have been up much earlier but for my computer deciding it would start the New Year early by refusing to turn itself on...after digging out a machine that appears to be the prototype that was rejected back when Charles Babbage was around (look him up on Wikipedia) here we go...
"Life is a bad quarter of an hour, populated by exquisite moments" (Oscar Wilde)
There have been a few truly great moments in Bisonland so far this season, mostly to do with Kevin Reiter. His 66-shot, 65-save performance at the Skydome will live long in the memory, and when he's on form, helped by the little ball of energy known as Brent Hughes, the silky skill
of Danny Stewart and the goal-potting ability of Greg Chambers, the Bison can beat any team. Trouble is, the books haven't been balancing again, and with players going in and out quicker than a rabbit in a carrot patch, the season has lurched from one crisis or blow to another so far down south, with the Bison's league position reflecting this. However, a semi-final place in the KO Cup means, amazingly, that silverware is still very much within reach.
Most Valuable Player: Danny Stewart. Kevin Reiter is the obvious choice, Brent Hughes may have scored more points, but the speedy Prince Edward Islander (amazingly for such a small place, there are two natives of Charlottetown in the EIHL, Evan Cheverie being the other) is the heartbeat of the Bison offence. Lose him, and the goals suddenly become a lot harder to come by...
Belfast Giants:
"Just leave it all in the past..
It's gonna happen so fast
You won't even feel it"
Damone: "Get Up and Go"
The Giants were everyone's pick for the title this season, but so far they just haven't quite hit the devastating form opponents feared they would-players like Bobby Robins, Andrew Martin and Paul Deniset can be lethal but injuries have niggled at the Northern Irish side just enough so that they've never really settled into a groove. Trouble is, when they do hit it, they're virtually unstoppable going forward, and pretty exciting to watch while doing so with honest, hard-working players like Malcolm MacMillan and George Awada providing the steel behind the high-profile top-line of Robins, Deniset and Martin. However, there are major defensive niggles which are masked as long as the goals are going in (they haven't been as often recently) and unless these get sorted and the team tighten up, particularly against their nearest rivals, they could equally fade into the mid-table pack. On the positive side, the top line are slowly beginning to fire again, and despite tonight's loss to Sheffield, the lyrics are apt-if and when the Giants finally hit top gear and hold it, very few teams in the league, if any, are going to be able to keep up with their charge back up to the top...
Team MVP: Bobby Robins: The ex-Binghampton Senator is simply awesome when he gets going-he can hit, fight and will use his last dying twitch to provide a pass to a team-mate in space to shoot and score if necessary-plus, his blog, the Robins Nest, is superb...
Cardiff Devils
"Made a spark that
Lit the dark
Let me SHINE!
Machinehead: "From This Day"
The Devils have started to show their good side recently after all the negative, Steeler-driven publicity at the start of it, with a suffocating defence unfortunately being let down by a combination of injuries to forwards and lack of quality in front of goal from those remaining (Jason Silverthorn excepted). Mike Prpich is a huge loss at the moment-he's been by far the Devils standout player this season and wins Most Valuable Player, with only the franchise player Brad Voth running him close. The Devils need their injuries to clear up, fast-if they do, then they could start making rapid progress back into the upper reaches-if their luck continues as it has done, then a mid-table finish may be the best they can hope for.
Most Valuable Player: Mike Prpich: Hard to spell, easy to spot-he's the one scoring most of the Devils goals and generally being the heart of anything good when he's on the ice. Unfortunately for the Welsh fans, this has been an all too rare sight...
Coventry Blaze:
"I never knew you (don't give up on me),
I never knew you (don't give up on me)
I never knew you (don't give up on me)
I never knew you threw so hard!"
Hellogoodbye: Touch Down, Turn Around (Don't Give Up on Me)
Something isn't right in Coventry this season. Maybe it's the defece, maybe it's the fact that three of the most valuable players in last season's team (Koenig, Cloutier and Martin) are gone, maybe it's the fact that someone there underestimated just how much the other teams would improve, but the Blaze look a shadow of their former selves. Personnel issues, defensive lapses and some performances that have stunk worse than the most rancid meat in the Fish Market bins just down the road have all combined to puncture the aura of invincibility Blaze fans had grown so comfortable with. Constant niggling whispers that the Blaze are desperate to squeeze every penny they can as the coffers empty faster than they can be filled haven't helped the atmosphere at the Dome...maybe the blissful trophy-filled days of the past two seassons are finally disappearing into the haze over the Ring Road. Certainly, the recent placing of the much-hyped (for his skating at least) Corey Leclair on notice and the struggles of Scott Kelman are causing whispers of discontent in some quarters of the Blaze fanbase. Even so, the arrival on Jon Coleman and the fact that despite all the above, Blaze are still up there with the title challengers, still means that the New Year won't be as bleak-looking in Coventry as elsewhere...
Most Valuable Player: Sylvain Deschatelets: The cog that makes the offence tick now that teams seek to shut down Dan Carlson and Adam Calder. Some have criticised his workrate but the Quebecer can thread a pass through the eye of a needle. He's not bad in front of the net himself, either.
Edinburgh Capitals
"All I've got is what I bare in these arms,
The saddest part is that is not enough"
Youmeatsix: "Call That A Comeback?"
The Capitals are the team everyone likes. The plucky losers who always guarantee they'll try hard but, for some reason, always lack that missing piece. Another team who are suffering thanks to the credit cruccb, the Scots have some gems in Mark Hurtubise and Taylor Christie, but just never seem to get themselves close to anything approaching a threat to anything other than the bottom three places. Eigth for them, like Hull, is considered a success...although a comeback win against fellow strugglers Basingstoke in front of a big crowd by Caps standards (1500 people) means that, at least, hope still burns
Most Valuable Player: Mark Hurtubise: By far the best player on the roster, the Canadian centre just needs a scorer to feed to really show his worth to the team...something which he hasn't exactly managed to avoid doing already this season...
Hull Stingrays
"Is it worth it, can you even hear me?"
The Used: "The Taste of Ink"
The Stingrays are an irrelevance. That's not my view-in fact I happen to believe that there may be better times ahead for the Humbersiders (but they need to get rid of the dead weight known as Rick Strachan on the bench for these to happen), but if you're a fan of another Elite League team, just think for a second-can you honestly say you look forward to Hull coming to town at the moment, or is it just something to be endured rather than enjoyed (however well the game goes). It's a shame, as the Stingrays are a good coach away from having hockey return to the glory days on Humberside-Hull is a hockey town of long standing and needs a successful Elite team...
Please, Pack family, for the sake of hockey in Hull, put aside personal friendships and move Rick Strachan to another role. Let someone with a bit of flair get their hands on the team, and things might well start to look up...
Most Valuable Player: Matt Reynolds: At times he and Steve Slonina have been the only flashes of colour in the wash of beige that is the Stingrays roster with their scoring and playmaking skills...surely he'll be off to greener pastures next season?
The fight has only just begun
Can't you see us coming?"
Creed: "Freedom Fighter"
The Phoenix haven't faded away. They haven't collapsed when David Beauregard has been off form. And in Josh Garbutt and Kenton Smith, they have two of the best d-men in the league that still, no-one talks about. On top of that, they have one of the most lethal snipers ever to play in modern British hockey, who has scored over thirty goals already and, in his own words, hasn't warmed up yet, fed by a veteran who is arguably still the best creative player currently playing in British hockey.
Ye gods.
No wonder everyone's still too scared to talk about the Phoenix as title challengers. But I stand by my prediction in the pre-season preview back in September...there will be a trophy in Manchester by the end of this season.
Most Valuable Player: Any one of four could have won this award. But it's hard to argue with the top points scorer in the league, even though it is predictable. Take a bow, David Beauregard.
We're taking over this town"
Pantera: "Cowboys from Hell"
Most Valuable Player: Johan Molin: Just count the number of MOM's he's won this season. Pure, pint-sized class. It almost makes those ridiculous skates of his justifiable...
Metallica: "Battery"
Finally, the Steelers. Despite a hiccup against Belfast, they still stand proud at the top, and appear to have the means to stay there thans to the best offensive d-man in the league (Rod Sarich) combined with the talismanic Steve Munn to give Jody Lehman the protection he needs, and an equal mix of flair and muscle up front. Plus, they have the league's premier agitator by far in Ryan Finnerty. The destiny of the title will be decided by how consistent the Steelers are for the remainder of the season. If 2009 starts the way 2008 finished, then the Sheffield faithful can begin to dream of yet another league-winning party at the Hallam...
Most Valuable Player: Jody Lehman: Back to his imperious best, reminding everyone of his pinnacle in Coventry during 2004/05 and providing the Steelers with the confidence to play their hard-charging, forward-looking brand of hockey to the full, Lehman is possibly the best at his position in the country right now...
And there you go...one half term report, just in time for the end of the year. Naturally, I shall be out this evening, and I wish every reader, my fellow fans, (and fellow blog writers) and everyone else in the Briotish hockey universe a happy new year...let's hope 2009 brings more great hockey...
Keep keeping your eye on the puck...
Something isn't right in Coventry this season. Maybe it's the defece, maybe it's the fact that three of the most valuable players in last season's team (Koenig, Cloutier and Martin) are gone, maybe it's the fact that someone there underestimated just how much the other teams would improve, but the Blaze look a shadow of their former selves. Personnel issues, defensive lapses and some performances that have stunk worse than the most rancid meat in the Fish Market bins just down the road have all combined to puncture the aura of invincibility Blaze fans had grown so comfortable with. Constant niggling whispers that the Blaze are desperate to squeeze every penny they can as the coffers empty faster than they can be filled haven't helped the atmosphere at the Dome...maybe the blissful trophy-filled days of the past two seassons are finally disappearing into the haze over the Ring Road. Certainly, the recent placing of the much-hyped (for his skating at least) Corey Leclair on notice and the struggles of Scott Kelman are causing whispers of discontent in some quarters of the Blaze fanbase. Even so, the arrival on Jon Coleman and the fact that despite all the above, Blaze are still up there with the title challengers, still means that the New Year won't be as bleak-looking in Coventry as elsewhere...
Most Valuable Player: Sylvain Deschatelets: The cog that makes the offence tick now that teams seek to shut down Dan Carlson and Adam Calder. Some have criticised his workrate but the Quebecer can thread a pass through the eye of a needle. He's not bad in front of the net himself, either.
Edinburgh Capitals
"All I've got is what I bare in these arms,
The saddest part is that is not enough"
Youmeatsix: "Call That A Comeback?"
The Capitals are the team everyone likes. The plucky losers who always guarantee they'll try hard but, for some reason, always lack that missing piece. Another team who are suffering thanks to the credit cruccb, the Scots have some gems in Mark Hurtubise and Taylor Christie, but just never seem to get themselves close to anything approaching a threat to anything other than the bottom three places. Eigth for them, like Hull, is considered a success...although a comeback win against fellow strugglers Basingstoke in front of a big crowd by Caps standards (1500 people) means that, at least, hope still burns
Most Valuable Player: Mark Hurtubise: By far the best player on the roster, the Canadian centre just needs a scorer to feed to really show his worth to the team...something which he hasn't exactly managed to avoid doing already this season...
Hull Stingrays
"Is it worth it, can you even hear me?"
The Used: "The Taste of Ink"
The Stingrays are an irrelevance. That's not my view-in fact I happen to believe that there may be better times ahead for the Humbersiders (but they need to get rid of the dead weight known as Rick Strachan on the bench for these to happen), but if you're a fan of another Elite League team, just think for a second-can you honestly say you look forward to Hull coming to town at the moment, or is it just something to be endured rather than enjoyed (however well the game goes). It's a shame, as the Stingrays are a good coach away from having hockey return to the glory days on Humberside-Hull is a hockey town of long standing and needs a successful Elite team...
Please, Pack family, for the sake of hockey in Hull, put aside personal friendships and move Rick Strachan to another role. Let someone with a bit of flair get their hands on the team, and things might well start to look up...
Most Valuable Player: Matt Reynolds: At times he and Steve Slonina have been the only flashes of colour in the wash of beige that is the Stingrays roster with their scoring and playmaking skills...surely he'll be off to greener pastures next season?
Manchester Phoenix:
"Can't you hear us coming?
The fight has only just begun
Can't you see us coming?"
Creed: "Freedom Fighter"
The Phoenix haven't faded away. They haven't collapsed when David Beauregard has been off form. And in Josh Garbutt and Kenton Smith, they have two of the best d-men in the league that still, no-one talks about. On top of that, they have one of the most lethal snipers ever to play in modern British hockey, who has scored over thirty goals already and, in his own words, hasn't warmed up yet, fed by a veteran who is arguably still the best creative player currently playing in British hockey.
Ye gods.
No wonder everyone's still too scared to talk about the Phoenix as title challengers. But I stand by my prediction in the pre-season preview back in September...there will be a trophy in Manchester by the end of this season.
Most Valuable Player: Any one of four could have won this award. But it's hard to argue with the top points scorer in the league, even though it is predictable. Take a bow, David Beauregard.
Newcastle Vipers:
"This is a mother..... invitation
The only one you could ever need
This is a mother...... invitation
Come try me!"
Lamb of God: "Redneck"
We know what we're getting with the Vipers by now, and they haven't disappointed. Apart from Ed Courtenay and David Longstaff, and the cat-like reflexes of Andrew Verner in net, the Vipers have continued to crash and bang their way around the rinks of the Elite League. However, it seems that all that crashing and banging, as always, is so much sound and fury...they're still sat in mid-table, Tyler Willis was one of the disappointments of the season, and the Vipers desperately need a shift from brawn to brains if they're going to get anywhere near the top three...
Most Valuable player: Ed Courtenay: Yes, he came late, but he's added something more of an end product to a team who don't really have any out-and-out goalscorers. Or didn't, anyway. He shares this award with Andrew Verner, who is the only reason the Viper's lack of discipline hasn't cost them more dearly...
Nottingham Panthers
"You see us comin', and you all together run for cover"This is a mother..... invitation
The only one you could ever need
This is a mother...... invitation
Come try me!"
Lamb of God: "Redneck"
We know what we're getting with the Vipers by now, and they haven't disappointed. Apart from Ed Courtenay and David Longstaff, and the cat-like reflexes of Andrew Verner in net, the Vipers have continued to crash and bang their way around the rinks of the Elite League. However, it seems that all that crashing and banging, as always, is so much sound and fury...they're still sat in mid-table, Tyler Willis was one of the disappointments of the season, and the Vipers desperately need a shift from brawn to brains if they're going to get anywhere near the top three...
Most Valuable player: Ed Courtenay: Yes, he came late, but he's added something more of an end product to a team who don't really have any out-and-out goalscorers. Or didn't, anyway. He shares this award with Andrew Verner, who is the only reason the Viper's lack of discipline hasn't cost them more dearly...
Nottingham Panthers
We're taking over this town"
Pantera: "Cowboys from Hell"
Finally, the Panthers are showing signs of being the team they promise to be every season, helped by the modern-day miracle of the Michel Robinson Redemption in net and the stellar play of Johan Molin up front, complimented by the steady Nick Toneys behind himand the ever-improving Jade Galbraith. Another comfortable win against Newcastle tonight shows that the Panthers are, thus far, avoiding the Christmas slump they always seem to suffer. With Coventry stuttering, they'll be hard on the heels of the Blaze and, further ahead, Sheffield as they try to come from way back in the second half of the season. Consistency, as ever, is the big question-mark at the NIC...
Most Valuable Player: Johan Molin: Just count the number of MOM's he's won this season. Pure, pint-sized class. It almost makes those ridiculous skates of his justifiable...
Sheffield Steelers:
"Hypnotizing power, crushing all that cower..."Metallica: "Battery"
Finally, the Steelers. Despite a hiccup against Belfast, they still stand proud at the top, and appear to have the means to stay there thans to the best offensive d-man in the league (Rod Sarich) combined with the talismanic Steve Munn to give Jody Lehman the protection he needs, and an equal mix of flair and muscle up front. Plus, they have the league's premier agitator by far in Ryan Finnerty. The destiny of the title will be decided by how consistent the Steelers are for the remainder of the season. If 2009 starts the way 2008 finished, then the Sheffield faithful can begin to dream of yet another league-winning party at the Hallam...
Most Valuable Player: Jody Lehman: Back to his imperious best, reminding everyone of his pinnacle in Coventry during 2004/05 and providing the Steelers with the confidence to play their hard-charging, forward-looking brand of hockey to the full, Lehman is possibly the best at his position in the country right now...
And there you go...one half term report, just in time for the end of the year. Naturally, I shall be out this evening, and I wish every reader, my fellow fans, (and fellow blog writers) and everyone else in the Briotish hockey universe a happy new year...let's hope 2009 brings more great hockey...
Keep keeping your eye on the puck...
2 comments:
We already have some silverware!
Did nobody mention the Tyneside cup or whatever it was someone made up to make our xmas games a little more interesting? Don't worry, they didn't mention it to Andy Costigan either, so we didn't know about it till we won it!!
We won the cup! We won the cup! :D
Oh, and I actually quite look forward to playing Hull this year.
That may or may not have something to do with Curtis Cruickshank... :D
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