"So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye...": It's been a week for player departures in the EIHL, with Marek Ivan leaving Newcastle today (wow-we never saw that one coming), and Joe White and Curtiss Patrick leaving Basingstoke (clearly, the financial problems haven't finished biting down south...
"God, I'm glad that's over...": That's an actual quote from a member of the crowd after his team (Coventry) had just won 6-1 against Hull, and should tell you all you need to know about the game, really. So I'll leave it there.
"There's still hope!": Meanwhile, in Nottingham, the good Panthers turned up to beat Cardiff 4-1, knocking them out of the CC cup in the process. Amazingly, though, Hull can still qualify...and I'm sure we're all rooting for that to happen...
Reply and Musical Interlude:
"And all I (all I) Need to know (need to know) Is that I'm something you'll be missing"
Taking Back Sunday: "You're So Last Summer"
Perhaps this is worth a post on its own, but my all-Underrated team has raised a little comment, with Neil and Sally both commenting that perhaps Deschatelets is only under-rated because he plays on a team with Adam Calder and Dan Carlson. They may have a point-as at this level you could probably put a trained monkey (or, as it's known in the EIHL, "Andre Payette") on a line with those two and they'll put up good numbers.
However, I counter with the fact that, if you ask the average EIHL-watcher (ie those who just follow their teams, without watching the league as a whole, which is probably most of them, certainly in Coventry) to make a list of the top players in this league, Deschatelets would be way down it, undeservedly. After the two Dans (Carlson and Tessier) he's probably the best creator in this league, but is just never mentioned as being vital to a team-even in Cardiff he played in the shadow of Brad Voth and Jason Silverthorn.
The man is pure, grade A quality. And for some reason, he just never seems to get the coverage or praise for doing pretty much exactly the same as the "superstars" do night-in, night out. Whereas even Curtis Huppe was known throughout the league as a goalscorer...
To me, he is proof that "good on a bad team" is not the only definition of "underrated". Sometimes, being one of the crucial links on a great team but not getting praised for it is just as bad.
And on that note-on to the weekend preview. Let's go north-to-south by arena and back again this week...
SATURDAY:
We start on Humberside, where Hull face Cardiff in a game the Devils should win-both teams need to bounce back from midweek losses against tricky opposition, but I get the sense this game will not exactly be the most hotly-anticipated of the weekend...
Moving down to South Yorkshire, we have a game that just might have a few people looking forward to it...first plays second at the Hallam Arena as Sheffield take on Coventry. This is the kind of game even Dave Simms can't complain about-it's sure to have two teams at the top of their game facing each other with neither willing to give an inch. Fire up the hype machine...
...and kick it into overdrive as we travel just down the M1 to the NIC. In any other weekend Nottingham v Belfast would be a huge draw. Two of the best-skating teams in the league meet in a battle to gain some ground on the leading pair while at the same time stamp on the other team's fingers as they climb the ladder towards the top spot. This game will be worth watching. There is simply no question of it not being a good game in my eyes, and if this were next weekend, I'd likely consider making the trip to the NIC to watch it with the Blaze in Bolzano...
Finally, we end up in Hampshire for Basingstoke v Edinburgh. Although, unless you're Bison or a Capitals fan, you probably won't have travelled this far south on our hypothetical journey by choice...a state of affairs which is perhaps a little harsh on these two teams, but undeniable fact when you compare this game to the two big ones on offer...this one may pass in relative obscurity, but it could still provide some entertainment if you're down that way...
SUNDAY
On our journey back up north along the EIHL game trail this Sunday, we stop off first in South Wales for the interesting prospect of Cardiff v Sheffield, a game which has the potential for fireworks of both the goalscoring and glove-dropping varieties. Two teams who have a equal mix of skill and speed should provide a feast of fun at the Big Blue Tent...
...a prospect which, sadly, can't be said of our next stop-the Skydome. Coventry and Basingstoke meet in a game which, given the current relative status of the two clubs, will be seen by some as almost a warm-down after the Blaze's exertions in Sheffield the previous night. However, if you've ever seen a nature programme you'll know that Bison, when cornered, sometimes stop being easy prey for the lions and spring a shock or two themselves. And that's why the Blaze team and fans, like the lions, have learned to be cautious of the wounded Bison...
Travelling further north, we come to Altrincham, for the tantalising fixture that is Manchester v Belfast. This is the game of the night by some distance-with the Phoenix having, yet again, the chance to prove they belong among the top teams and the Giants looking to keep breathing down the necks of Coventry and Sheffield. The offensive talent on show, coupled with the battle between the two top British goalies, means that there are enough storylines in this game to keep even the best soap-opera jealous...
We then travel on to Tyneside, where Newcastle face Nottingham in a game chiefly notable for being Ed Courtenay's Vipers debut. Apart from that, there's not much you can say...it's certainly not the biggest draw this Sunday night, and even the star-power of the EIHL's Bergerac returning can't make it so...
Finally, we end up in the Scottish capital, for Edinburgh v Hull. It's fair to say that, once again, the last stop on our trip will have the least people staying with us for it...however, the few hardy souls that do shouldn't feel too bad-there's vital points in the basement to be won, and that means the game should be full-blooded if nothing else....And there you go-that's the weekend previewed, once again, to within an inch of its life...
