"I'm not sure, starting over It's a different situation A different situation..." Tegan and Sara: "Burn Your Life Down"
The EIHL season is now officially over, although there is still a fair bit of hockey to play in Britain with the EPL, ENL and women's leagues still running until the end of April, and in the case of the women, early May. However, this is the time of year when players begin to move around, we say goodbye to the first departures from the EIHL and begin to look back on the season just gone. Tomorrow, we shall focus on all things EPL (a league which I'm conscious I probably don't write enough about) as we preview the final weekend taking place just down the road from me in the Coventry Skydome, and early next week will see the final post-mortem of the EIHL season as we consider the efforts of each team individually, but today's post is all about the first movements in the EIHL...
Jody Lehman to Aalborg: Ouch. The first move of the off-season is a big one, as the league loses its best goalie to the Danish league. With Sheffield rumoured to have lost out on Andrew Verner to Europe, and Lehman also supposedly turning down a "blank cheque" offer to return to Coventry, the EIHL champions have big skates to fill already...
Bruce Richardson returns to Nottingham for another season: Damn, damn, damn. Much as opposition fans may despise the chippy centre, few can argue he was the Panthers' version of Ryan Finnerty this season-an agitator par excellence who reminded me of no-one so much as Sylvain Cloutier with his drive, will to win and ability to grab his team by the scruff of the neck and drag it along with him...the Panthers have re-signed the heartbeat of their team to start the off-season...
Sylvain Cloutier becomes Hull player/coach: Stingrays fans, you really won't realise just what a gem you've got there until you see him play in your team's shirt for the first time. Cloutier is arguably one of the best players, of any team, in the EIHL era-he will simply not allow his team to lose, or slack off, while there is still a chance to gain two points-and if this means him throwing his body where very few people will ever throw a stick, and getting himself injured doing so, then so be it. The Stingrays have a hell of a start to their off-season, right there...
And now to the first rumours...
Peter Hirsch to Coventry: Supposedly this was going to happen in January, but with the off-season now looming and Jody Lehman having gone to Hirsch's team Aalborg, this rumour just won't go away...
Dylan Gyori to Cardiff: That's their first line centre sorted if true...
Sebastien Thinel to Coventry: A goalscoring winger? Yes please. Particularly if he brings his twin brother Marc-Andre with him...
Greg Chambers to Coventry: Supposedly already a done deal...
Mark Hurtubise to Manchester: Hurtubise and Beauregard on the same line, leaving Tony Hand spare for a second line pairing? Is it just me who thinks that any non-Manchester fan is going to be seriously worried at that prospect?
Johan Molin to Coventry: I appreciate that this section is very Blaze-centric, but obviously hanging around the Skydome, these are the ones I'm most likely to here. As a replacement for Sylvain Deschatelets, the little Swede will do very, very nicely indeed.
Ryan Finnerty to Nottingham: Wishful thinking from a Panthers fan, I think...:)
There you go-that's the rumours for now...check back tomorrow for a preview of the EPL finals, and keep keeping your eye on the puck...
We fly a flag in some foreign earth We sailed away like our fathers before These colours don't run..." Iron Maiden: "These Colours Don't Run"
I appreciate that this is a little late, but with all the Elite League issues over the past few days, they've obviously taken precedence over any other news, for example the announcement of the final GB squad and their two games against Finland U23's before their trip to Poland for the World Championships. Last night in Ice Sheffield, the British team went down 6-2 to the Finns in their first warm-up game, and now face them again this evening at the Coventry Skydome, a game which you can follow live on the Breakaway's Twitter feed from 7:30 pm or so...please do me a favour and let me know what you think of it either via a comment on here or by email...
Just in case you're not aware of the GB squad, here it is, direct from the EIHL site:
Netminders
Jody Lehman (Sheffield Steelers)
Stevie Lyle (Belfast Giants)
Defencemen
Shane Johnson (Belfast Giants)
Danny Meyers (Nottingham Panthers)
Ben O’Connor (Coventry Blaze)
David Phillips (Belfast Giants)
Mark Thomas (Sheffield Steelers)
Forwards
Greg Chambers (Basingstoke Bison)
David Clarke (Nottingham Panthers)
Russell Cowley (Coventry Blaze)
Robert Dowd (Sheffield Steelers)
Jason Hewitt (Sheffield Steelers)
David Longstaff (Newcastle Vipers) – Assistant Captain
So far, so similar...Phil Hill has replaced original pick Jonathan Phillips due to injury, and Mark Thomas has returned to the international squad...which in my eyes is a return that should perhaps have happened a year or so earlier as a replacement for Leigh Jamieson, but that's probably why I'm just a fan and not the GB coach...Shane Johnson, Greg Chambers and Jody Lehman are the only dual-nationals in the squad, with Lehman expected to be the starter, and Stephen Murphy and Stevie Lyle fighting it out for the backup slot, with Lyle slightly ahead at the moment...
That's the GB team disposed of fairly quickly...let's look at the opponents...
NETHERLANDS: The Dutch are one of the weaker teams in the group, with players based mainly domestically (goalie Phil Groeneveld and forward Jamie Schaafsma play in Italy, and defenceman Chad Euverman plays in France). They also have players ranging from eighteen to thirty-five, and a name that may be familiar to longer-term British hockey fans in forward Doug Stienstra, who played for Bracknell Bees in the 2001/02 ISL season. However, the Dutch are not seriously considered to be among the medal threats-and usually sit just above the relegation zone...
UKRAINE The team from the far east of Europe are, along with Poland, possibly the most unknown quantity in the group. There is one name which may be familiar to British hockey fans...Vyacheslav Timchenko played one season for Hull Stingrays in 2003/04-however, the team now play exclusive in the Russian or Ukrainian leagues. They're the team with the oldest average age in the tournament-the youngest player is 25-year-old Andri Mikhnov. The Ukrainians are arguably one of the stronger teams in the group, as well as GB's first opponents on Friday...
POLAND/ROMANIA We'll take the two Eastern European teams together. The Poles will be familiar opponents to this GB team, having beaten them on penalty shots last time the two met in Olympic qualifying, while the Romanians are one of the lower teams in the group, and will simply be hoping for a medal. The Poles, along with GB, Italy and Ukraine, will all fancy their chances of gold and will be the ones fighting for top spot-a result against them is going to be tricky to get, particularly with the Eastern European home advantage, but is crucial if GB are to progress...
ITALY The Italians are perhaps the team the British players will find most familiar, particularly the Blaze contingent as they face six of the Bolzano squad who narrowly beat them in the Continental cup-speedy little American-Italian centre Jonathan Pittis being perhaps the most dangerous. I've also seen forward Mike Souza play when he spent a brief period in the DEL with Cologne a few seasons ago-and he will be one that the GB defence need to keep an eye on... However, even if you're not a Blaze fan, the Italian squad still contains several names that should be easily recognisable to those who've followed British hockey for more than a season or two:, ex-Dundee Star Cristiano Borgatello, ex-Blaze and Newcastle Vipers forward Steve Gallace, and ex-Cardiff Devils forward John Parco are all in the squad for the games in Torun, as well as Trevor Johnson, who I believed was the same one who played for Belfast but, I am informed by Mattski, is not, hence this post being slightly changed. They also contain the tallest player in the tournament in 6'8, 203lb Bolzano captain Roland Ramoser. The Italians, having already played at the Olympics in Turin, rival Ukraine as the strongest team at the tournament, and will certainly be one of, if not the toughest opponent GB will face this week.
There you go-that's all the info on GB's trip to Poland you'll need...if you're not coming to Coventry this evening, don't forget the Twitter update feed, and keep keeping your eye on the puck.
"you live in an incestuous world where your conscience holds no weight you sold us down the river like rats..." The Enemy: "You're Not Alone"
Or, alternatively...given that I was torn between a positive and negative opening to this post (Hull should perhaps take note of the title of the Gallows song, though, given their connections with Nottingham):
"The crowd go wild And they signal applause Well done for getting this far" Gallows: "Just Because You Sleep Next To Me, Doesn't Mean You're Safe"
Well, the decision has been made. After all the thunder and lightning, sound and fury and arguments of the playoffs, the Elite League will stay pretty much as-you-were for next season. Rather than run through all the changes (well, all three of them) let's simply take the official Elite League press release, which can be found here, paragraph by paragraph...
Following pro-active negotiations at a meeting of the nine clubs on Monday, the Elite League are delighted to announce that a new format involving all the clubs has been reached.
So far, so PR fluff. Although whether "proactive" is Elite League-speak for "the majority tell the minority to fall in line or fall apart" or actually means that Phoenix, Vipers and Capitals were actively involved in the discussions, we'll likely never know-just as we'll never know whether Scott Neil's public statement that he would not be funding Elite League hockey in 2009/10 was genuine or just a very brave bluff indeed...
Chairman Eamon Convery confirmed, “we’ve just enjoyed a memorable Playoff Finals weekend, bringing the curtain down on the 2008-09 season and following today’s meeting all the clubs are looking forward to the 2009-10 campaign.”
The clubs may be, but whether or not their fans are so sure, given that the last season of the ISL began with similar positive noises after off-season rumours of trouble, remains to be seen. Certainly it seems very strange that such shrewd and switched-on businessmen as Neil Morris and Scott Neil can go from open rebellion to looking forward to carrying on based on one meeting-they may be continuing in the EIHL but this smacks of the EIHL quelling fan's fears to me rather than the absolute truth...
“Representatives of the Edinburgh Capitals, Manchester Phoenix and Newcastle Vipers joined with their counterparts from the Belfast Giants, Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze, Hull Stingrays, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers and it’s my pleasure to advise that all are committed to the future of the Elite League.”
Interesting that the "little three" are given prominence in mentioning that all the clubs were at the meeting...surely there'd be no need to do this if, as we're told, all teams are invited and able to attend all meetings?
“The weekend was a spectacular success with both days sold out and it’s that level of success that these clubs and their officials have worked hard for since the inception of the league and wish to continue to build and improve upon. When we see so many supporters from all the clubs from across the country intermingling and everyone having a great time, it’s a massive endorsement of the product we’re promoting and keen to improve upon wherever possible.”
It's a "spectacular success" in ticket sales and the "festival of hockey" aspect off the ice...but there could be so much more done both to endorse it AND promote the sport. On more than one occasion throughout the weekend there were cries of "why don't the Elite League actually try and make something of this event to those outside the sport, or even at least make it feel like more than just three games of hockey that a lot of people happen to have turned up for?" Even if someone on the roof of the NIC had taken some footage of the hockey-shirted multitudes from all over the country gathered in Bolero Square, it could be used to show just how much of a following hockey has...the number of times people in Nottingham asked me what all these people were doing here and why it seemed to be the same every April was staggering...surely a few banners or billboards up in Nottingham City Centre for the week before the playoffs can't cost that much given that the EIHL must be raking it in from the weekend...
“To that effect, the Elite League in 2009-10 will operate with some revisions to the previous formats.
Hello...this could be interesting...
The clubs have agreed to a new maximum of ten import (ITC) players per roster on any given game night.
Per game-night roster? So that presumably means that, if you wished, you could have another ten sitting in the stands waiting for the next game?
Oh, and another thing...where's mention of the wage-cap? Let's see if we get that further on in the article...
The regular League season will see all teams meet each other three times home and away for a 48-game season.
Interesting...three home and three away doesn't seem too bad. Still no mention of a wage-cap, though...
The Knockout Cup as we know it will cease
Only two seasons too late...but nice to see that the EIHL top brass have finally realised that NO-ONE CARES ABOUT THE KO CUP, given that it was generally accepted as a filler to keep the league going after London died a few seasons ago...
but a new revised Challenge Cup will be unveiled and work on the full format of the competition, leading to a one-game, neutral venue final has begun already.”
Interesting...although perhaps they should bear in mind that "revised" doesn't mean "change the groups around a bit so everyone only plays each other once instead of three times". More like "all the early-season games count only to the CC, rather than just trying to fit two group competitions into the beginning of a league season so no-one's quite sure what rules we're playing under or where the points are going from night to night"...
“ The Elite League is also keen to introduce a new early-season tournament weekend and again, work on an exciting new three-day festival has already begun. And then of course, the culmination of the season will be the post-season playoffs and the goal of every club to get through to the Playoff Finals weekend.”
So...two playoff-weekend style events? In a credit crunch? With the prices of the first one already borderline silly? Hm...I'll reserve judgement on this one. The idea is good, but many a promising idea has been well and truly messed up by poor execution...Of course, if you revive the "Autumn Cup" to replace the KO Cup and have the Challenge Cup as a straight knock-out competition (with weekends dedicated to it FA Cup style from January onwards) then that would make a lot of sense...you'd need to get EPL clubs involved for it to work like that, though...Forget equalising the games with import levels etc, though-after all, the FA Cup doesn't try and give the big teams drop to the level of the smaller teams, which gives giant-killing its lustre when it happens...
“We will confirm exact details of the revised Challenge Cup format and the early-season tournament as soon as possible. Everyone left the meeting in a positive frame of mind and determined to continue to work toward a bright and exciting future.”
PR fluff again...Oh, and in case you're keeping score, still no mention of the wage cap...
“The Elite League has a tremendous product and I am of the firm belief that the agreements reached today and the revised competition formats will energise the supporters for another spectacular season of top-flight ice hockey.”
...and still no wage-cap. According to the Steelers forum, it will remain the same...which presumably means that the complete lack of enforcement will also remain the same, given that Belfast were widely accepted as being £4000 a week over it this year...and Nottingham and Sheffield were also mentioned by several league owners as being so, with figures of £3000 and £1500 excess quoted by several sources...
After all the claims and counter-claims, it seems that the more powerful teams, by dint of either numbers or a bit of networking behind the scenes, have got their way, presenting it as a great compromise because they've not tried to forge ahead selfishly and leave several other clubs for dead.
I hope that all this means that all teams survive and the EIHL continues beyond next season, but I can't shake the nagging feeling that, in refusing to adapt to a world where there is less money floating around ice-hockey than there was in the ISL era, and trying as hard as they can to keep their vision of hockey intact, the bigger clubs have once again failed to take into account the gap between the haves and have-nots in the EIHL...and thus there is no guarantee we'll not be back here again next season. Certainly, the "bright future" alluded to in the PR seems more to be the muted glow of a twilight sun at best, rather than the searing brightness of mid-day that they'd have us believe...
And as everyone knows, at twilight, the darkness of the lights going out is never far away...
Tomorrow, we'll consider the GB team as they prepare for their trip to Poland...tomorrow evening will also see live Twitter updates on their game in Coventry against Finland under-23's on the Breakaway's feed at www.twitter.com/breakawayblog...
"Call out the instigator, Because there's something in the air We've got to get together sooner or later Because the revolution's here" Thunderclap Newman: ""Something in the Air"
If you've been following the Twitter feed (and have been able to make sense of it, given that I was working out how to use it best throughout Saturday and Sunday and over-ran on several occasions at least) you'll know that the events on the ice saw Sheffield and Nottingham (the Steelers 5-2 over a Cardiff who fought like...well, devils from puck-drop to final buzzer and the Panthers 6-2 over a Blaze team who quite simply seemed disinterested after a bad start saw them go 3-0 down quickly...from then on it just got worse with only brief moments of hope from Danny Stewart and Barrie Moore goals at 3-1 and 4-2 to brighten a dire day for those in blue and white) triumph and give the EIHL top brass their dream playoff final-which was duly won by Sheffield thanks to goals from Ryan Finnerty and Steve Munn. Off the ice, meanwhile, the Breakaway (well, me) had a highly enjoyable playoff weekend, spending much of it with Becky and Matt from Five Minute Major, as well as also meeting up with Mark from the Angry Budgie for a hockey chinwag...For a flavour of the kind of conversations you overheard at PO weekend, have a gander at their excellent "Overheard at the Playoffs"...A few (very) quick thoughts on the on-ice action...:
Blaze? There was barely a flicker...: In contrast to the first semi-final, which was fought out tooth-and-nail by two committed Steelers and Devils teams, the second semi saw possibly one of the most one-sided games in EIHL playoff history, as Nottingham cruised through against a Coventry team which seemed to be already on their summer holidays-in mind if not in body. However, there were a few exceptions...Danny Stewart and Barrie Moore being perhaps the most notable.
Playing skill? Undoubted. Morals? Hmm...: Ryan Finnerty...taunting a goalie you've just scored on followed by dropping a knee onto a player who's down after you've hit him cleanly? Not good, mate. Really not good. However, moral dubiousness aside, the Steelers number 10 was arguably the stand-out player of the weekend for me...
That's what happened on the ice-now to off it-the events here threatened to make the games themselves something of a sideshow...:
For someone who's supposedly secure, they can't take criticism very well: On Saturday, I ended up sat over next to the Newcastle fans, just in time to watch (and join in) with their "six team league, you're having a laugh" chant, which became the running theme of the weekend for many. It was interesting to note that Dave Simms, up above the Vipers fans doing commentary for Radio Sheffield and BBC Cov and Warks, looked decidedly uncomfortable at both the length and volume of the Vipers' protest...
If even the stewards are on their side, then you've got problems, EIHL: Interestingly, a few minutes into the fifteen minutes of constant chanting, a few NIC stewards came up to the block and stood watching...when asked what they were doing there they informed the Vipers that a complaint had been made (from someone in the boxes above) that there was a loud and abusive song being sung. After standing there for a minute or two they further informed the Vipers that all was perfectly well as far as they were concerned...
The rot is setting in for the "big four" also: The Phoenix fan who originally posted the news that a six-team league was in the pipeline also mentioned to many (in a conversation that quickly spread around the arena thanks to the Phoenix fans telling as many people as they could) that he had been contacted by the GM of one of the top-four clubs (Belfast and Nottingham depending on who you heard the rumour from) pleading with him to stop asking questions as the resultant uncertainty and fans' reaction had already cost his club several thousand pounds in season-ticket revenue for next season as fans waited to renew their season tickets, if they didn't say straight out "no thanks"...with fans I spoke to from Coventry, Hull, Belfast and Sheffield all saying that the season-ticket renewal forms would remain un-filled until there was certainty, and definitely so if the league dropped to six, it appears that people are already voting with their wallets.
Not that I'm saying anything, but...: it was also noticeable that the music volume went up late in the Panthers/Blaze semi, round about the time the protest was going on..given that at the time you had Vipers, Panthers, Phoenix, Devils, Bison, Blaze, Capitals AND Giants blocks all joing in (fairly raggedly, but there were people visibly clapping along in all these blocks)...it seemed a strange time to play music, which, it is genuinely agreed, kills atmosphere the louder it is...
So...travelling to Belfast is an issue, but (potentially) travelling to Belgium and Holland every few weeks isn't?: Interestingly, and seemingly somewhat randomly, the trophies on final day were presented by the presidents of the Belgian and Dutch hockey associations. That seems somewhat strange, to say the least...although rumours that teams from both countries are being courted by the EIHL to form some sort of Western European Elite League may explain just why they were there...it could also be a case of people adding two and two and making ten.
No comment from me...make your own mind up...: For those of you who are perhaps unaware, or maybe don't know too much about the Elite League organisation or what the issues are that have caused the splits in the EIHL hierarchy...this is essential reading. It's Edinburgh GM Scott Neil opening the doors wide to the inner workings of the EIHL over the past year or three, from an Caps perspective. It makes fairly grim reading...
Manic Monday: Today is D-day for the EIHL, as the teams meet to thrash out the structure for next season. All we can now do as fans is await the outcome...you can rest assured there will be reaction to it on here as soon as it breaks...
And finally, some good news: Possibly the highlight of the weekend was the presentation of a British Olympic Committee award for "outstanding courage and dedication to ice-hockey" to Kingston Diamonds player Beth Davies, who was injured by a check during a junior game last season so severely that it was feared she would never walk again (her neck was broken)-her recovery was followed by the British ice-hockey community with great interest and much hope that she would be at least able to return to normal life...barely a year later she is back playing ice hockey. The award was presented on ice just before the final, and Beth received it in person, as well as a standing ovation that went on for several minutes from the roughly 6,000 hockey fans in attendance. It was one of those all-too-rare moments that made you feel genuinely proud to be a fan of the sport in this country...
That's your thoughts on PO weekend...I'm sure, like me, you're awaiting the outcome of today's EIHL meeting with interest...
Later this week we'll have a preview of the GB team as they head off to the World Championships in Torun, Poland, as well as a look at the EPL finals...
First of all...you may have noticed that the page has changed slightly...this is due to the fact that the Breakaway has now joined the Twitter age...and will be live from Nottingham throughout the weekend, so keep checking back every few hours to follow just what I'm getting up to, as well as updates on the matches themselves, unedited and (almost) live...
Yes, I know that all the games take place in one place, but here we go, team-by-team, previewing the Nottingham weekend...straight into the Playoff Preview (the Sheffield section was written by Dave Chaston of Steelers TV)...
CARDIFF DEVILS
Gameplan:The Devils are a team for all seasons. Don’t let the size of players like Brad Voth and Doug MacIver fool you into thinking this team is all about brawn-granted they are built with a fair dose of grit and hard work, but there is also a deceptively high level of skill sprinkled into the mix which has seen the Devils surprise teams on many occasions this season as they switch styles mid-game. Built on solid, uncompromisingly physical defence and speed coupled with relentless pressure on the forecheck, their default gameplan is not a complicated one, and sometimes lacks the glamour of, say, a run-and-gun offence like their opponent in the semis, Sheffield’s. No-one, least of all the opposition, can deny that it’s very effective indeed when the parts of the Devils machine are all working in sync, however...the Devils are a nightmare to play against for those players who play best given a little time on the puck, like many of the Sheffield forwards...as their opponents in the quarter finals, Belfast, found out to their cost.
Three To Watch:
1)Brad Voth (forward): The 6’5 Albertan is a player you simply can’t miss when you watch the Devils-whether it be for his distinctive blond locks, his sheer size or the fact that he is usually in the middle of everything the Devils do. Add to that the notion that if you looked up the term “fan favourite” in the dictionary it would likely say “see: Brad Voth’s relationship with Cardiff” and you begin to get a sense of how important the big number 26 is to his adopted home town. Voth is one of the few players in the league who provokes the phrase “I hate him, but only because he’s not playing for my team” to pass the lips of many opposition fans…the heartbeat of his team and a player who can hit, score (usually at vital moments) and will never back away when needing to stand up and be counted, the Calgary native gives the impression that he’d willingly sacrifice a limb to give the Devils that vital advantage that will win a game…
2)Wes Jarvis (defence): A player having a career year is always worth watching, and with eighteen goals and eighteen assists from defence this season, this big, 29-year-old blueliner from Toronto, signed for his defensive capabilities, has become one of the Devils’ two offensive d-men, although when placed alongside Tyson Teplitsky his offensive capabilities remain relatively unnoticed by many. Not bad for a player who was cut by Basingstoke last season after scoring only one goal and three assists in 28 games…
However, Jarvis is not all about attack-the 6’4, 230-pounder can take care of business pretty effectively in his own end, being surprising mobile for his size-although size itself is a useful intimidation factor for the Devils, particularly as he’s often paired with the equally massive Doug MacIver in front of Peter Aubry. Don’t expect any end-to-end rushes from this guy, but if you like d-men who do the simple things, are always willing to stand up for their team (154 PiMs should be an indication that Jarvis can more than take care of himself if necessary) and have a booming shot, then you’ll like Jarvis a lot…
3)Mike Prpich (forward): This season, Prpich has shown the Cardiff faithful just how good a player they were denied by injury problems last season, becoming the main offensive producer alongside Jason Silverthorn. His work-ethic and hard-nosed approach have won him many friends in South Wales, while his eye for goal was seemingly the only thing that won the Devils points in the early part of the season as he was hotter than a sauna in the desert. He leads the Devils in scoring with 35 goals and 32 assists, nine ahead of Jay Latulippe in second place, and fifteen scores ahead of the much-more-heralded (at least based on his previous record) Jason Silverthorn. The 26-year-old native of Kenaston, Saskatchewan can fairly be considered the Devils’ main danger-man, and will be the main focus of the Giants defensive efforts along with fellow forward Latulippe…
COVENTRY BLAZE
GAMEPLAN The Blaze of this season, it is generally agreed, have not been the terrifying juggernaut built on the perfect proportion of grit to skill that they have become known for being over the past few years..despite this, they still play a forward-looking style of hockey looking to beat teams with eighty percent skill and twenty percent grit. Like all Paul Thompson teams, they rely on excellent organisation (which, sadly, has been lacking on the ice occasionally this season, to their coach's evident frustration) and the offensive skills of stars Sylvain Deschatelets, Dan Carlson and Adam Calder amongst others. Erik Hjalmarsson, Carlyle Lewis and Danny Stewart provide the grit, while Tom Watkins and Greg Wood will never, ever be outworked...although they were given a scare by Newcastle in the quarter-finals
THREE TO WATCH
1. Dan Carlson (centre): The speedy, smallish American centre from Edina, Minnesota is arguably the best two-way centre in the EIHL, and the player many Blaze fans would pick to build their team around. His partnership with fellow forward Adam Calder has won the Midlands side countless games in their time together, but his play at both ends of the ice is equally strong. As his play goes, so does that of the Blaze.
2.Sylvain Deschatelets (centre): The other half of the two-headed centre monster along with Carlson, the ex-Cardiff Devil from Blainville, Quebec is the Blaze's second-top point scorer this season behind Calder-which may surprise those Blaze fans who have criticised him for laziness this season. Deschatelets can drift in and out of games but there are few better passers in the league, and at 6'2 and 195lbs he has the size to create some problems in front of the net too where necessary...
3. Jonathan Weaver (defence): The Sunderland-born defenceman, who converted from forward during his time with Newcastle, is so crucial to the Blaze that he's spawned a running joke...the Blaze powerplay tactic is described by some fans as "take puck into zone, pass to "Weaves", shoot. Repeat until goal is scored". That is possibly overstating the case somewhat, but it cannot be denied that the GB captain is a crucial part of the Blaze both offensively (23+46 this season) and defensively...his smooth skating and ability to find a team-mate with a pass from anywhere to anywhere on the rink means that, like Dan Carlson, he'll be at the heart of everything Blaze do, at both ends of the ice...
NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS
GAMEPLAN
The Panthers are perennially a team who flatter to deceive-a team who many feel have earned the derisive “Team Hollywood” nickname pinned on them by Blaze coach Paul Thompson earlier this season. They are traditionally a fast-skating team who prefer to play with finesse over power, although this season they have reached the best balance of the two seen at the NIC for some years as Corey Neilson has finally begun to place his coaching stamp on the East Midlanders, assembling a team of small, skilful forwards like Johan Molin and Dan Tessier, some of which, like Bruce Richardson, have more than their fair share of attitude to go with it. The Panthers are most dangerous coming forward, with lingering question-marks over their defence and goalie Michel Robinson after the latter’s atrocious start to the season with Edinburgh. They are very similar to the team they beat in the quarters, Manchester Phoenix, in liking to pass the puck around and attack with speed and lots of movement, but are slightly less happy with getting involved in a physical battle, preferring to try and win with brains and intelligent play (even when indulging in more questionable practices off the puck) than outright brawn…
THREE TO WATCH
1. Johan Molin (centre): The little Swede, known as much around the league for his silver skates as his quicksilver skating, is a superb creative player, who burst onto the EIHL scene with Manchester two seasons ago and has won admirers around the league with his hawk-eyed vision, lightning-fast puck-handling and effortless skating, allowing him to blow by defensemen as if they weren’t there…along with Dan Tessier, he will definitely be looked to to create as many chances as possible for the Panthers this weekend against his former club…
2.Jade Galbraith (wing): Much-derided for looking like he often overindulges slightly in the fine restaurants (well, chip-shops) around the NIC, Galbraith is not the quickest of wingers but is deadly around the net, as he has shown more than once against the top teams this season, becoming one of the Panthers’ top five scorers in the process. Mainly, however, he’s been picked in this list because of his shot…if given time in front of the net, much like his linemate Brendan Cook, Galbraith will punish you…
3. Kevin Bergin (centre): The only genuine power-forward on the Panthers roster, the big Montreal-born forward can score goals, set them up, defend and, where necessary, drop the gloves, to surprisingly good effect (although one fight against Carlyle Lewis earlier this season could have gone a lot better for the Panther). One of the Panthers’ most important players, he, along with Molin, Brendan Cook, Galbraith and Dan Tessier, forms the core of the Panthers attack this season, with Dave Clarke flying the flag for the British…
h4>SHEFFIELD STEELERS
GAMEPLAN On the back of winning the league Sheffield have had a few weeks off, resting star agitator Ryan Finnerty (ribs) and giving Dan Green the nod in goal ahead of Jody Lehman for 3 out of 4 games. The last weekend of the season was officially the one that saw their rested players "get back into game-shape", but with all respect to a Bison team who lost heart around a dozen games into their record-breaking losing streak, there was only going to be one winner of that weekend...as was the case with the quarter-final after the Steelers built an 8-2 lead in the first leg...
The Steelers are a team built around some of the best players in the league, with Jody Lehman in goal, Rod Sarich and Steve Munn in front of him and Joey Talbot the leader among a host of forwards who can put the puck in the net. Able to play any style effectively, but arguably at their best when picking teams apart with speed and guile, the Steelers were deservedly league champions and have to be among the favourites for playoff glory and being the first team to repeat winning the playoffs in the EIHL era. Although this patient style has often seen the Steelers have accused of playing 'boring' hockey, usually by teams they've just beaten, no one can deny that Sarich and co's ability to neutralise a team's offense works wonders, even against such pairings as Hand/Beauregard and Calder/Carlson. Even should you manage to break through their defensive barrier, there's still the small matter of beating Lehman, who has had bad days better than some netminders' best...
THREE TO WATCH
Robert Dowd (centre): The 'Golden Child' has managed 49 points (24+25) so far in his first full season with Steelers, and can no doubt be expected to expand on that this weekend. Small and fast with an eye for the pass that'll set up an open team-mate for an easy tap in as well as a lethal shot himself, he brings to mind players of the calibre of Tony Hand with his outstanding natural ability. Although comparisons with British hockey's greatest ever homegrown player are perhaps a little overblown at this stage (after all, Dowd hasn't been drafted to the NHL and will likely not be due to the changes in the game since Hand's youth) it cannot be denied that he is the most exciting young player in British hockey by a clear margin...
Jody Lehman (netminder): Crucial to the Steelers EIHL title win, and in immaculate form for the majority of the season, setting a British Ice Hockey record in the process with no less than NINE shutouts, Lehman is almost universally acknowledged to be the best goalie in the EIHL. Last season saw him shut the door on his former club Coventry Blaze (with whom he won the Triple Crown of league, playoff and Challenge Cup title in 2004/05) to lead the Steelers to the playoff trophy, and the native of North Battleford, Saskatchewan could well be the key to ensuring the Steelers get that far again.
Brad Cruikshank (wing): Signed from the struggling Bison earlier this season, where he was captain, the 5'10, 180lb power forward from Kelowna, British Columbia has become a favourite of the Steelers fanbase for exactly the same reason he was so loved in Basingstoke-he plays the game like a mad-dog released in a junkyard, hunting down opposition defencemen, and is always willing to turn round and bite anyone who attempts to take liberties with either him or his team-mates. Players who are willing to do the dirty work in the corners and put their bodies where few would place a stick as well are immensely valuable at playoff time, and in Cruikshank the Steelers have arguably the most valuable such player in the league...he will play a big part in neutralising any efforts to throw the Steelers off their game this weekend...
So, that's your four teams...here's the matches...with Breakaway's predictions of who'll win in bold...
First semi: Coventry v Nottingham
Second semi: Sheffield v Cardiff...
Final: Sorry, Blaze fans...Sheffield do the double...
"Declare this an emergency Come on and spread a sense of urgency and pull us through... This is the end This is the end...of the world"
Muse: "Apocalypse Please"
"The horror...the horror..." Marlon Brando as Col. Kurtz in "Apocalypse Now"
For my day job, I currently work in a hospital, delivering supplies, portering and sometimes, cleaning up some very unpleasant messes (there's a reason that no-one ever wants to go into a mortuary through choice)...and during the day, being on the wards, I occasionally see and hear stuff that I'd probably rather not.
The other day, I was walking along a corridor on a ward when I passed a bed coming the other way with someone who had had a seriously bad time very recently on it. You could tell he'd had a bad time because both his legs were bandaged and bloody. They also ended in stumps just above the knee. Despite this, he was smiling and joking with the nurses, and something he said stayed with me that day...
"I'll be better off and have more fun now-they only ever caused me problems anyway"
With today's events in the EIHL (see here for Edinburgh's perspective, here for Manchester, or, in the interests of balance, here from the EIHL and here from Nottingham-the last two of which appears to be completely at odds with the first two and the NEP piece in particular so unbelievably optimistic and full of conjecture it gets to the point where you wonder whether they're living on the same planet as the one with a global recession and ice-hockey being a minority sport in the UK), that man seems to summarise the attitude in some areas of British hockey. However, rather than the original sense of admiration for the way this guy reacted to such an earthshattering event, that statemenr rings with an air of denial when applied to British hockey...mainly because the EIHL, by appearing to cut Manchester, Edinburgh and Newcastle out and running with a six team league this season, has, in my eyes,will slit its own throat, and possibly that of at least one club (Hull) within it.
That is if the "EIHL Six" are the ones at fault...because no-one really knows what's going on. But here's what we do know....
To summarise...the EIHL clubs have had many meetings, which may or may not have had input from all the teams (depending on which side you ask) and six teams (one of which, Hull, is generally believed by many to be more-than-slightly-influenced by Nottingham due, EIHL wisdom has it, to the relationship between Neil Black, Panthers' owner, and the Stingrays' continuing ability to fund top league hockey), to wit Sheffield, Nottingham, Cardiff, Coventry, and Hull, have agreed to continue hockey on its current path, or indeed bring it closer to the old ISL path of all-import hockey, at a time when many are drifting away from the sport due to the rising costs. They appear to believe that a six-team league on this model is sustainable in the current economic climate, and have frozen out any team that has argued otherwise, effectively leaving them to find their own path...
Or, the other three remaining EIHL teams (Manchester, Newcastle, and Edinburgh) have been behaving unreasonably despite being offered every chance to survive by the other six, and are now throwing their toys out of the pram.
All this, obviously, is written with no more knowledge of the inner workings of the EIHL than the above articles and posts on various forums.
I genuinely don't know what to believe.
The only thing I do know, however, is that this is the latest example of a situation where those who actually pay to go through the doors of a rink on a match night need to be united in telling the clubs.."for Christ's sake...can you please just cut the mud-slinging, bland-worded nothing-filled official league press releases appealing for calm or advising "information in due course", the spin, the petty quarrels over influence, and God only knows what else...and tell us pure and simply what is going on with the teams we invest time, money and emotion in to watch, without running them as your own personal warring factions?"
British hockey is a closed shop at the moment. If you're not an owner, you know nothing beyond the fact that the teams step onto the ice each week, until one day, eventually, they do not, with very little explanation as to why beyond "money".
If the league is going to be a six-team league next year because three teams can no longer afford to commit to it, say so. If it's going to be a six-team league because there was a terminal disagreement between owners on how to run the league, say that too. But don't blame each other or try to one-up each other in the process while using the fans as a captive audience...because that just makes people think you don't care about them. And if those running the teams don't care about those who pour their soul into supporting them, then why should we care about the teams at all?
The next instalment of this saga will see a statement released by Manchester at 7am tomorrow...
Until then, the EIHL sits at a crossroads. And its fans hold their breath to see what comes next...
By now you'll all be aware of the fact that the EIHL, not to put too fine a point on it, could be in serious trouble. I've already written one post on this and then re-written it because I went off on one and ended up repeating everything I'd hinted at when reacting to the news of Basingstoke leaving the league during Monday's Double Overtime...
So, the re-written post should be up at some point this evening...hopefully around seven as usual. In the meantime, have a gander at the "recommended reading" panel for the reactions of the F Block Blog, the Cat's Whiskers and the Pyre amongst others...and see you again later today...
A quick correction to yesterday's post first of all...as Yotes points out, Newcastle were the only team beginning with "N" to be present at last years playoff finals...Nottingham didn't make it. That was something I should have caught in the re-read if not the original type...it's duly been edited, with thanks to Yotes for pointing it out in such a polite fashion (as a Panthers fan, a slightly sarky comment would have been more than justified :)) and apologies to both Vipers and Panthers...
Onwards...as promised yesterday, the Breakaway is continuing its playoff link with Five Minute Major, this time round creating the ultimate playoff playlist. The way this works is simple...I do ten over here, and then Becky and Matt over at FMM do their ten, and between us we create the ultimate soundtrack CD to playoff weekend...(well, an alternative one, obviously-being the NIC we're likely to get the ruddy Clap Clap Song, Chelsea Dagger, or, if we're really unlucky, Sandstorm on repeat, given that most British hockey music has to either be family-friendly clappiness or bad techno nowadays, it seems. Or, if you're lucky, a few of the same rock songs that get played in the NHL, such as Sweet Child O'Mine...
Anyway...a quick caveat before my ten...
Most of them are going to be alternative/rock, and fairly heavy at that (with one notable exception). This is because rock music is the only one that really fits hockey properly, in my opinion.
They're intended to excite anticipation in the hockey to come, or put you in the mood. If you can imagine a montage of hits, goals and fights to it, there's a good chance I considered it...
And, obviously, this is not a definitive list, feel free to suggest what you'll be firing up on the iPod on the way to Nottingham, and we'll see about building a "Now That's What I Call British Hockey!" if by some fluke there are more than one or two comments...
These songs will probably work best in the order they're given...
The reasons given are mine and mine alone, and there'll be one for each track, just to keep you interested...or otherwise...
Through the magic of youtube, there's a link to the best version of each song I could find, also.
Anyway...on we go. Crank that stereo up and let's drop the puck!
1. Gustav Holst: "Mars, the Bringer of War" (from "The Planets"): Yes, it's classical. But a piece originally written intended to reflect the coming of mechanised warfare, the rattle of machine guns and the roar of exploding bombs is possibly the ideal, if somewhat left-field way to open this CD...the ebb and flow of the music and the pounding, menacing thump of the main theme is almost as unsettling as the snarl of Brett Clouthier dropping the gloves or the sight of two heavyweights circling each other like a pair of fighting grizzlies....but the high point of the whole thing occurs around 4 minutes in, as the music builds to a crescendo, higher and higher, before the main theme kicks back in with the sound and fury that even a packed Panthers/Steelers playoff final can only dream of...if hockey is legalised war on ice, then this is its soundtrack...
David Bowie: "Heroes": Yes, it's a fairly obvious choice what with the themes of heroism and game-winners that come ready-made with semi-finals, finals, winning and losing...But that isn't the reason it fits hockey so well. This is...and this is what I think of whenever I hear Bowie's voice...Bill Clement's commentary and all. For some, the greatest moment of this marriage of sublime hockey commentary and great music is right at the beginning, as skates are tied and players glide in slow motion through the mist. For others it's "GRRRRRREEEEAAAAT SAVE JOS-EPH!". For still others, it might be Bowie's distinctive voice soaring over the image of a leaping Matthew Barnaby as Clement yells that most hallowed of hockey phrases to mark the moment Barnaby "shoots....and SCORES!" Either way, it's one minute of hockey heaven-and that's why the song that goes with it makes this list.
Garbage: "Push It": Like "Heroes" this one perhaps makes it in more by association with hockey imagery rather than with the game itself. However, while "Heroes" and the images with it are notable for showcasing the grace and beauty that can be found in all aspects of hockey, this song, and the images it was used with (from the first NHL game I actually owned) are all about the intensity and power. The fact that I happen to find Shirley Manson's drawl among the sexiest singing voices on the planet doesn't hinder the song much either. From the puck dropping in the empty rink, to the animated player taking a burning stick from on high as the song builds, to the game footage (including the awesome "slide-along-the-bench" check (watch the video to see which I mean) means that hearing this song always, always fires me up for some hockey...it makes the violence of hockey look beautiful...
Prodigy: "Smack My Bitch Up: Self-explanatory, this song...it's just an absolutely awesome hockey tune to thump out loud on the way to a game. If, like me, you like to imagine it as some sort of audio ode to Dan Tessier getting a kicking from Rob Dowd, Jay Latulippe pointing out the error of Ryan Finnerty's ways, or the same Finnerty dealing with Bruce Richardson once and twice in the way every non-Panthers player would have probably liked to at some point this season, then that's just extra.
The whole philosophy of how to win in playoff hockey, summed up in a song title. The song itself isn't bad either in a kind of slightly-too-earnest way...the repeated chant of "by any means necessary" should be a mantra ringing in your team's head by now...
Judas Priest: "Painkiller" "Faster than a bullet-terrifying scream. Enraged and full of anger, he's half man and half machine". Believe it or not, this song wasn't written about an angry Brad Voth, nor for Steve Munn when he's on the warpath. What it was written for is unashamed hell-for-leather (and being Judas Priest, leather was never in short supply) headbanging. Breakneck speed, Rob Halford's barely-human scream and more potential for making angry faces while singing along than you can shake a Rbk 9k stick at...it's just pure bloody fun to have on on the way to a hockey game...
Turisas: "Battle Metal": ...as is this, from Finland...granted, Viking Metal may not be to everyone's taste but the clue's in the title, really...sing along, yell your fan war-cries out of the window if you're on the motorway and generally have a whale of a time pretending to be rampaging barbarians invading the wilds of Nottingham, aiming to drink the Castle dry and roar your team to victory in the company of your warrior brethren as they quest for British hockey's Holy Grail (well, one of them)..."BAT-TLE! BAT-TLE! MET-AL!"
Korn: "Here To Stay: ...This, meanwhile, is music to make pure, unadulterated war by. Like "Mars" which opened this ten, it's uncompromisingly aggressive and all business...this is the brutality of playoff hockey summed up in aural form.
There had to be one "traditional" one in here, and which one better than the greatest ever ode to the game of hockey, slightly reworked for the modern era? Stompin'Tom Connors' iconic original is given a punk-rock rework...why a team hasn't incorporated a fan singalong of this timeless classic into their build-up as a tradition, God only knows. Come on, Coventry (or indeed any team)-you know it makes sense...
Picked more for the afterglow of victory and the ride home than the ride to Nottingham, some of you may only know this song either because you're already a fan of Shane MacGowan and co, or from the somewhat cheesy chick-flick of 2008, PS, I Love You. And thus you may be wondering what it's doing here. Unless you've seen the ending of Mystery, Alaska. In which case you'll know exactly what it's doing here. Two words as to why this song and the very last little bit of this film makes such an impact..."pond hockey".
There you go...that's the Breakaway's half of the Playoff Playlist...nip over to Five Minute Major to check out Matt and Becky's half, add your own in comments if you wish, and keep keeping your eye on the puck...
Now, far be it from me to pour, if not cold water, than at least lukewarm water on British ice-hockey's premier even at the start of the build-up, but I can't shake the feeling that this is...well, somewhat of a let-down for many, particularly fans of, say, Manchester. Obviously, the fans of the four teams present at the weekend are happy, the EIHL are happy because the arena is likely to be the most full it was going to be with both Nottingham and Sheffield present, but looking at the line-up, are the four most exciting (not best, you'll notice) or even the four most deserving teams there?
Sheffield we can instantly discount from this conversation...they have clearly been the best team in the league this season by some distance, as shown by their somewhat relaxed stroll to the title. Cardiff, traditionally stronger in the latter part of the season, have once again demonstrated their knack of hitting their stride at just the right moment...plus they provide the compelling storyline of "will the traditional bridesmaids finally shake their playoff curse this year"?
You can make convincing arguments for both Coventry and Nottingham-the Blaze have battled confidence issues in certain areas this season (and, arguably, have rode their luck like a rented donkey in order to get through to the final, down to the point where Newcastle were the width of JF Perras' left butt-cheek from equalising and forcing overtime on Sunday night after being the better side for five out of the six periods) but are still a team built of hard-working, skilful players who have battled criticism from all sides (including their own fans), signings that didn't turn out and still finished second in the league. As for Nottingham-when they're on form they're one of the most exciting teams in the league to watch-trouble is they very rarely turn on the skill they can, particularly when it comes to PO time...
Look at who's missing-Belfast (dynamos going forward-even if they've resorted more and more to rough-housing at times recently, meaning that Cardiff were heavily supported by neutrals in the quarter finals) and Manchester, who have had the kind of luck recently that can only be caused by smashing a mirror over the head of a black cat while walking under a ladder, as well as a horrific schedule, not all of which was due to poor planning on their part. Then we have Edinburgh, who had the misfortune to meet an imperious Steelers when you'd have at least put a couple of quid on them against any other side in the league.
I reckon that what I'm trying to say is that, even though the league has been the most-evenly matched for some seasons (well, behind Sheffield) and there was genuine hope that any one of the eight teams could have made it to Nottingham and provided the "biggest spectacle of European hockey" with something new and genuinely exciting to watch in a time when British hockey really needs something new both on and off the ice to restore many fans' faith, it's ended up being a case of "same old, same old".
To sum up-this year's EIHL playoff experience will, at least for some, be like winning the lottery and buying a new VW Golf GTi when you could have a Bugatti Veyron...you know you'll still get a lot of enjoyment out of it, but there'll always be this little thought that it could be so much better...
And now for the second burst of song as we move off-ice...
"I always say how I don't need you But it's always gonna come right back to this Please don't leave me"
Pink: "Please Don't Leave Me"
With Basingstoke already an EPL team as announced last week, Newcastle rumoured to be in trouble (this press release implies that the decision over whether or not they'll be around next season is still not complete with the talk of needing "further commitment from fans and partners") and Manchester also rumoured to be considering jumping ship from the EIHL in order to ensure the long-term survival of hockey in the North West (owner Neil Morris has said in an interview with the Phoenix podcast that they are looking at "all options") the EIHL is fast reaching a crisis point in its history. Much has been made by those who follow the sport of the perceived "arrogance" of the "Big Four" (Sheffield, Nottingham, Belfast, and Coventry) with claims and counter-claims flying back and forth over who holds sway in decisions about the league's future-the latest discussion is once again over import limits, as some teams argue for a drop to the BNL days of eight imports and others reportedly resist. Depending on who you talk to, it's the "Big Four" resisting change from the smaller teams in order to protect their dominance of the league or the other six doing their best to undermine whatever strides the other teams attempt to make by refusing to compromise.
All that, to me, is immaterial-there are two truths, and only two, staring us in the face here:
Unless something changes, then the EIHL will lose, at a minimum, two more teams.
If that happens, the league is screwed.
All the arguments about who or what is responsible for the situation need to stop. Right now.
The EIHL has been a brave experiment in its current format, but it's failed. It's gone as far as it can go with 10-import hockey. The fact that one team is already gone and two more are having to consider dropping a level just to survive, because they can't compete, must show something to the "big four". The ticket prices are too high-driven by the arena teams needing to pay the best players, success automatically being considered a licence to print money, and the change at some clubs (even in these credit crunch times) seemingly deciding to openly exploit and make as much money as those coming into the building as possible without realising that this will drive fans away (and the prices will be ridiculously too high to attract newbies to what is still a relatively small-time sport-people will simply not pay them for an unknown quantity, and free tickets don't equal automatic returns). And, as is always the case, it's the smaller teams, who are forced to spend far more of their budget just to compete with, never mind beat, the big teams who suffer first.
And yet it seems, from rumblings I've heard about the treatment of certain of these smaller clubs at EIHL board meetings, that the "big" teams care little as long as they survive themselves, and indeed are doing everything they can to keep control of the league in their own image. The head-in-the-sand mentality of some fans on both sides is breathtaking, as every club in the league depends on every other...and if Manchester and Newcastle decide that the EIHL is no longer workable, then change will no longer be an option to considered and be dismissed by those few clubs making a decent fist of things as they are now...it'll be a necessity in order to survive.
And on that sobering thought, we'll finish for today Tomorrow, the Breakaway joins up with Five Minute Major to begin the countdown to Nottingham by creating the ultimate Playoff Playlist CD...ideal for listening to in your cars/trains or buses (or, in one epic Sheffieldian's case, taxi followed by plane followed by train on the way to the NIC this weekend...or even just to get you in the mood...check back tomorrow evening...
"I believe that there's hope, buried beneath it all and Hiding beneath it all, and growing beneath it all And... This is how we'll dance When they try to take us down" Paramore: "Let The Flames Begin"
Right then...as mentioned yesterday, the Breakaway is sharing the playoff preview duties with Five Minute Major, and will be swapping posts back and forth throughout the next week or so in the build-up to the playoffs, as a kind of precursor to the big meet/booze-up of British hockey fans that is the Elite League weekend. Click the link above to see them discuss the reasons for optimism if you're a fan of Manchester, Cardiff, Newcastle or Sheffield, or read on as we pick 5 reasons each why Coventry, Belfast, Nottingham or Edinburgh can win the playoffs...
In alphabetical order, here we go, in short and pithy fashion:
BELFAST GIANTS
"FIRE IN THE HOLE!":: The Giants attack is lethal. With players like Paul Deniset, Colin Shields and Mike Burgoyne driving their team forward, the Northern Irish side will always be difficult to stop going forward. And when you score more goals than the opposition, you win games, more often than not...
THAT WINNING FEELING: Belfast have two trophies already this season...and have the taste of success in their mouths. And once you've sampled sweetness like that, you only want more.
ROLEPLAYERS RULE!: In Malcolm MacMillan, Graeme Walton, Paul Sample and friends, the Giants have a very good supporting cast indeed to back up the much-heralded stars of the top line-their play may be questionable at times but there's no denying it's horrendously effective at throwing other teams off their game...
"NOT THIS TIME!": The Giants, in the Elite League era, have traditionally been a team who've disappeared when the chips are down in playoff time. With the Odyssey crowd having seen already this season that this incarnation can hang with the best (and fight back from seemingly desperate positions to win), the players will believe that no situation is insurmountable right now...and that mental toughness is what wins playoff titles...
COVENTRY BLAZE
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: The Blaze squad contains several who've won everything there is to win in British hockey already with them, including players like Barrie Moore, Tom Watkins, and Russ Cowley. Not only that, but players like Jon Weaver and Leigh Jamieson have won trophies with other teams-the Blaze team is full of individuals who know what it takes to win come playoff time...
DEADLY DUO: Not only that, but two of those individuals are also arguably the most lethal duo in the the league. Dan Carlson and Adam Calder first played together in the treble-winning year of 2004/05, and from their first game you could see a beautiful friendship had been born. When these two are firing, a goal is always on the horizon unless your goalie is pretty damn special...
POINTS MEAN PRIZES: Continuing on the attacking theme, the Blaze have five players who have broken the fifty-point barrier in the league this season, and two of the top-ten. The offensive power is there for all to see.
CULTURE SHOCK: Paul Thompson is a coach who will accept nothing less than the best from his players. Any who don't give every last sinew to the cause will be held accountable, both by their coaches and their team-mates. And there's nothing like fear of disappointing your friends in big games to drive players on...
SECOND STINGS: Last season the Blaze made it all the way to the playoff finals, but failed to defend their title as they were shut out in the final by Sheffield. After losing out in the league chase this season, the Blaze will be wounded, knowing that ending a season silverware-less is a state of affairs that has only happened twice since 2002 in Coventry...they intend to keep the next time as far away in the future as they can, or for one more year at least...
NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS
HOME ICE ADVANTAGE: The playoffs are being held at the Panthers' home rink, in front of a large number of their own fans. Not being there is simply not an option-anything less then getting there and winning it will still be considered a failure...a powerful motivational tool, the disappointment of your home crowd...
THESE CATS HAVE CLAWS: One thing about the Panthers...for a team considered to rely on finesse rather than power, they're not afraid of the odd ruck. Rumun Ndur, Bruce Richardson and Kevin Bergin are all more than willing to dish out some punches where required, and a team that fights together, wins together...
CLARKE HAS CLOUT: David Clarke has been lost somewhat this season among the trumpeted feats of his team-mates, but that'll suit him just fine...with opposition players fixating on Johan Molin and friends, this Brit forward is perfectly placed and skilful enough to come to the fore...
CREATIVITY CONQUERS ALL: You may think Dan Tessier is a money-grabbing, diving toe-rag (copyright Sheffield Steelers) or you may believe he's the second coming of Wayne Gretzky (copyright certain sections of the NIC crowd). Either way, you can't deny he is arguably the best playmaker in the EIHL...if he and fellow artist Johan Molin can unlock defences, then others on the Panthers roster will profit...and he could be all the difference in a tight game...
BRIT PACK: The Panthers have several of the best British players around...we've already mentioned Dave Clarke but the defensive skills of Danny Meyers and the never-say-die attitude of Matt Myers and Marc Levers will also play a big part if the trophy comes to Nottingham-few teams in the league have a better crop of home-grown talent, with the exception, perhaps, of Coventry and Sheffield...
EDINBURGH CAPITALS
UNDER THE RADAR: The Scots are coming into this tournament with no expectation resting on them whatsoever...and teams with the freedom to simply go out and play without any fears of letting anyone down are the ones who often come from nowhere...it's why "giant-killing" is seen so often in sport.
DRIVEN BY YOU: Doug Christiansen is a perfectionist-if his team are losing then he will lead by example on the ice as well as from the bench. That's the kind of coach and player that becomes a playoff legend. Or makes a few of his own.
SKILL TO BURN: You can never overlook a team which contains a player who's the second-top point-scorer in the EIHL...and given that we've raved about the creative talents of Dan Tessier as a reason to be optimistic for Nottingham, we couldn't leave the seen-by-some-as-even-better Mark Hurtubise out...
THE LITTLE TEAM THAT COULD: The Capitals have faced an epic fight just to be here-and have been playing playoff hockey since late January, effectively, in their battle with Hull, pulling off some impressive results along the way. If any team has momentum going into the playoffs apart from Belfast, it's them...
EVERYONE LOVES CINDERELLA STORIES: Finally, the Capitals start their playoff campaign against reigning champions Sheffield, with few giving them any chance of progressing, but many hoping they will. Sometimes, even the hockey gods enjoy giving Cinderella teams their chance to go to the ball...maybe, this time round, it's just the Capitals' turn...
Apologies for the lack of activity this week, but have been rather busy elsewhere...and the blog has slipped below sleep in my priorities as I'm not getting that much of it. Tomorrow will see the Breakaway share playoff preview duties with Five Minute Major, as the two blogs attempt to find five reasons why each team will win the playoffs. Why? Well, because it's better when everyone feels optimistic going into a competition...:)
My half of the draw, featuring Coventry, Belfast, Nottingham and Edinburgh, will appear round about 7pm on Friday evening...until then, keep keeping your eye on the puck...
"If flesh could crawl My skin would fall, from Off my bones and run away from here..." Garbage: "As Heaven Is Wide""
That weekend was something of a let-down, wasn't it? At least on the ice...off it the Breakaway and Five Minute Major finally met in person, and myself, Matt and Becky spent most of the Coventry-Belfast game conversing on all things hockey...some of the fruits of which you can read in this week's editions...let's get on with the last league Double Overtime of 2008/09...
Could it have been the first game that saw both teams trying to lose?: After Saturday's games, there was a text floating around, allegedly from a fairly senior Hull player with a famous father to a Blaze official, suggesting that the Stingrays were easing off against Edinburgh on Sunday (Edinburgh's win on Saturday against Manchester having ended Hull's season and taken away the potential showdown for eighth place) in order to allow the Caps to win and leapfrog Newcastle into seventh, thus gaining them a match-up against Coventry in the playoffs rather than Sheffield. However, the Vipers had allegedly agreed to this in advance, due to believing they had more chance of beating the Steelers with their style of play.
Meanwhile, Coventry, allegedly, would have preferred to play Newcastle as the Blaze seem to have the Vipers' number somewhat this season, whereas they've struggled recently against the Capitals. And, coincidentally, Blaze and Vipers faced each other on Sunday night.
As it happened, a Vipers win means that the Blaze will be the happiest-however, the very fact that people are openly talking about such "arrangements" in order that teams can effectively pick and choose their playoff matches, however valid the reasons and whether they happen or not (which is something that we'll never know for sure), leaves a little bit of an alarm bell ringing in my mind.
Speaking of alarm bells: Sunday night in Manchester saw the Phoenix finish the game with one fit defenceman after a rash of injuries, many of them caused by hits that it would probably be best to call "questionab;e" from Belfast. Interestingly, the Giants were similarly gritty on Saturday against Coventry, with a VERY questionable check from Dave Phillips (head-high from behind on Dan Carlson-luckily the Blaze forward was unhurt but severely unimpressed) being just one of many borderline plays from the Giants...by all accounts things were far worse up north in a game which doubled as cup-final first leg (with the 3-3 score in regulation counting) and league fixture (which the Phoenix took 4-3 in OT).
Surely there are less disreputable ways to soften up an opposition team in a cup final?
Is it getting warm in here?:...because, with the playoffs looming, Cardiff have suddenly caught fire. A 3-0 win against Nottingham following a 7-1 thumping of Hull was just the latest weekend in a lengthening run of victories and means that the Devils go into the playoffs in top form...the 123 PIM's shared out against Nottingham on Sunday proves that they are not afraid to defend each other either-a quality sorely needed at this time of year...Given their history of being perennial bridesmaids at playoff weekend time, all of South Wales' hockey fraternity will be hoping that this is the year that the Devils finally turn promise into fruition...
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye...: to Basingstoke and Hull, who are now done for the season and have no matters more pressing than planning their team end-of-season lash-up to occupy their hockey consciousnesses until the off-season transfers begin. Basingstoke's season died as, for the most part, it had lived-in penury and being outclassed by superior opponents. When you're playing Sheffield on the final weekend of the season, and have lost 25 on the bounce, then you know it's been a bad season...the Bison extending their record to 27 was almost inevitable. At least Hull made a fight of it...
I appreciate this is a very short post, but with Saturday's results ensuring that there would be no final-day showdown for a playoff spot but simply teams playing out their fixtures (with, of course, the notable exception of Manchester and Belfast's cup final)...it ends like the league season itself..."not with a bang, but a whimper"
Double Overtime will be up, as is becoming usual, late this afternoon. Ideally, it'll be around 4 or 5pm, just in time for you when you come home from work, like the written version of a piping-hot hotpot...
However, if not, then it will definitely appear by 7pm at the latest...
"So here I go is my shot. Feet fail me not Cause may be the only opportunity that I got" Eminem: "Lose Yourself"
This Round the Rinks, the last of the regular season, will be somewhat shorter than normal. This isn't meant as disrespect to the other teams playing, or because I'm lazy. It's because that, with the league over and the playoff quarters all but decided (Belfast, Nottingham and Coventry are still scrapping for second place but, unless Nottingham lose and the other two teams both win both their games (which is impossible as Coventry and Belfast play each other), the positions at the start of the weekend will be the positions at the end of it in the EIHL-and so the vast majority of games have little more riding on them than pride, and quite frankly I feel that both you and I would be bored by reading pretty much the same preview with only the team-names changed for six of the nine games this weekend...
However, there are three games (Hull v Cardiff and Edinburgh and Edinburgh v Manchester on Saturday) which are far from meaningless...they will decide which team out of the Caps and Stingrays goes into the playoffs.
The situation is simple. Hull have to win both games in regulation and hope that Edinburgh lose on Saturday in order to qualify outright. If Edinburgh beat Manchester tomorrow, or even, potentially, lose in OT, they're playing on this season. If Hull lose to Cardiff, they go home.
Assuming Hull beat Cardiff and Edinburgh lose to Manchester in regulation, the Crazy Eighth race will come down to a "cup final" between the two teams on Sunday night in Hull. A regulation win for either side means that team are in the playoffs. An OT win for Edinburgh means they're in. An OT win for Hull may still not be enough. However, it'll mean that both teams have won three of their meetings with each other this season, which means that the EIHL then go to some hidden formula which changes every year (I believe it's wins in total this year, in which case the Caps qualify-just).
If you assume that Hull need a four-point weekend, you can't go wrong.
However, all attention is already turning to Sunday on Humberside, which may be the best game in the EIHL this year if results on Saturday give it the chance to be...if things happen to do so on Saturday then I for one will be keeping a close eye on Sunday night's events...if you're in the area, then go. You can be almost certain you won't regret it...
Aged 23, and bitten by the hockey bug when the Blaze moved to Coventry from Solihull in 2000, I now watch and play my hockey at the Skydome, (although I'll travel all over the UK to follow it-and have visited every rink in the EIHL apart from the new one in Manchester, and most of the EPL ones (missing Romford, IoW, and Slough) Watched hockey unbroken since 2000, with a year's break from the British league while living in Germany (and watching DEL hockey in Cologne). Teams are Coventry Blaze, Cologne Sharks, GB, Germany and Pittsburgh Penguins. You can usually find me at the North End of the Skydome on match-nights, usually passing comment on something. Come and say hi-there's pics of me on facebook if you're wondering just what I look like...
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