(picture courtesy of Mark Tredgold, www.tredders.com)Game over. Coventry are now Elite League Champions after a four-point weekend ensured that, even if Sheffield match them on points, there's no way they can go above them, thanks to the Elite League's system for separating teams on equal points. The picture above is the one that sums up the on-ice action-Curtis Huppe celebrating the game- (and league-)winning goal, which incidentally he scored against his former club, who he left somewhat acrimoniously over the summer...I reckon you could say he's enjoying the moment...:)
Anyway...despite what the odd success-drunk Blaze fan would have you believe, there are nine other clubs in the league, and there are still issues remaining to be settled at the bottom end of the playoff race, so on we go for the other teams...
Basingstoke: A loss to Cardiff isn't the greatest preparation for the KO Cup final this week, not least because it puts Edinburgh in the driving seat for the last playoff spot despite the two teams being on level on points. With the squad still decimated by injuries, the playoffs will take something special now-although Dave Simms' comments in Powerplay this week about the team short-changing the rest of the league by turning up and playing despite being down to the bare bones will no doubt provide some serious motivation...
Belfast: Another team who are simply marking time until the playoffs, the Giants started the weekend on the wrong foot with a 6-3 loss to Nottingham, before being spectators at the Blaze's party on Sunday. With two more weekends to go, the onus is now on Ed Courtenay to gee up his squad with the fight for third place still on between them and Nottingham...
Cardiff: The Devils have now won four on the bounce as they show something of what might have been but for the crippling injuries suffered earlier in the season. Manchester are still chasing them for sixth place, so the Welsh side can't let up just yet-especially with a playoff meeting with either Belfast or Nottingham on the horizon...
Coventry: The Blaze clinched the league title this weekend...there's not much more successful a weekend than that...
Edinburgh: Meanwhile, down at the other end of the table, the Capitals drive for the playoffs hit a bump on Saturday with a surprising loss to the Hull Stingrays on Humberside...however, they got back on form on returning to Murrayfield, beating Manchester in a tight game to go two points ahead of Basingstoke. It seems the Caps are now beginning to believe that they can extend their season for at least another two games...
Hull: ...meanwhile, despite their fine win on Saturday, the Stingrays' season is all over bar the shouting, with only three games left of their nightmare season. With crowds falling and a general feeling of apathy towards the team, judging by the forums at least, that 180 minutes of hockey can't pass quickly enough. Don't expect to see many of the current Hull team back on Humberside next season...
Manchester: The Phoenix lose twice in a damp squib of a weekend. However, with playoff qualification all but sealed, the remaining Phoenix games are all about deciding who the Altrincham side will play in the playoffs, as they still have an outside chance of catching Cardiff for sixth place...
Newcastle: Losing to Sheffield and beating Hull is an average weekend for the Vipers-with 5th place all but secured, the Vipers may just be marking time as they prepare for a meeting with either Belfast or Nottingham in the playoffs...
Nottingham: The Panthers, meanwhile, can still take third place from Belfast before the season's out, which will mean they face Cardiff as opposed to Newcastle. However, compared to the playoff race it's a fairly minor issue, although one place higher in the league may go some way to pacify Neil Black when it comes to retaining his coach...
Sheffield: The Steelers did their part, winning twice over the weekend in order to leave themselves in with a chance if the Blaze slipped up. Unfortunately for the Yorkshire side, they didn't. Still, second place is no disgrace...and there's always the playoffs...
That's your weekend review over and done with-check back tomorrow for a preview of Nottingham-Basingstoke, as well as your usual bunch of thoughts, ramblings and observations...
