Thursday Thoughts

Morning all,

Apologies for the lack of updates so far this week-the credit crunch has hit home at Breakaway HQ, as I've just been made redundant, so have been engaged in sorting myself out a new job as soon as possible. However, I have been keeping an eye on British hockey happenings and so here's a quick reflection, including something of a rant about face-cages....

More new blood? Talk about ringing the changes for the New Year: With Johan Molin concussed, Nottingham have move quickly to cover his absence, bringing in Slovenian international utility player Jurij Golicic from Jesenice, who weirdly, play in the Austrian league. Notable for his fairly impressive stats thus far, as well as being possibly one of the highest-scoring Elite League player names in Scrabble terms ever) he joins ex-Blaze d-man Corey Leclair on the revamped Panthers blueline. Both players made their debut tonight in Nottingham's 7-3 win against Basingstoke, with Leclair scoring and both getting cautiously optimistic reviews on the Cage Forum. Speculation is now rie on who will be cut to make way once Molin is fit, with Rumun Ndur and Brendan Cook the consensus picks...

Speaking of being in the firing line: There are rumours floating around in Coventry that JF Perras is being eased out of the door at the Skydome due to "not being as good as hoped"-he's coming in for some stick from the home crowd despite having one of the best save-percentages in the league. This is one I just can't work out...Perras has been one of the better imports in Coventry this season, but is automatically getting blamed by many for letting in "soft" goals. Have they forgotten defence is a team effort?

It's just one seamless link after another today...: And, speaking of that Blaze defence, it will shortly have a new member, according to an announcement on BBC CWR's Face-Off show tonight. Jon Coleman has taken up a contract offer in Europe and will be off in mid-January...no clues as yet to his replacement, although a nasty rumour says it could be Rumun Ndur. Thanks, but...no, just, no. Great guy and all, but...no. This game will of course be available for your viewing pleasure at www.giantslive.tv should you wish-click on the link for all the details...


A philosophical question for a Thursday: "Players with cages are untouchable. Discuss"
A debate has been raging recently on THF about whether youngsters playing in cages should be treated with kid gloves in the EIHL, following an incident in Basingstoke at the weekend in which Ben Davies was hit hard but cleanly by Kurt Reynolds, sparking a melee. It seems to be the case often that face-cage players are protected far more diligently by their team-mates when it comes to being hit, with retribution often being sought for what, were it on an "older" player would just be shrugged off.

This is wrong. I accept that there is always the danger of some 16-year-old being drilled and injured by the opposition's monster import forward, but, on the other hand, if they can't take the hits in the first place, or will expect to be treated differently or hit less hard than their team-mates due to age, should they really be on the ice with the big-boys in the first place? Your thoughts, please...

Thirty Second Preview: Belfast v Cardiff:

his game will of course be available for your viewing pleasure at www.giantslive.tv should you wish-click on the link for all the details...

And an intriguing watch it will be. With the Devils now almost back to full strength and the Giants needing to build some momentum for a late charge, both teams will want the points badly. After the Giants winning by the odd goal in Cardiff on Sunday, there is clearly very little between the two sides at the moment...this, more than most, is a game in which the top players will need support from their less-spectacular team-mates in order to take away the win. I reckon the Giants will just about have enough to beat their Welsh rivals, but it will be nerve-shreddingly close...

And that's your Thursday Thoughts...