Sound and Fury

"...for what are these, except tales
Told by an idiot. Full of sound and fury
Yet signifying nothing"

William Shakespeare: Macbeth

He was a prescient bloke, was William Shakespeare. Sure, the doomed Scottish king quoted above may have been talking about life in all its glory rather than the world of hockey forums, but those four-hundred-and-something year-old words could just as easily apply to the average day on THF or any fan forum on the internet as to the last musings on life of a king haunted by the lies of three witches...

Let me explain before I lose you completely. And possibly defend myself a little, before we sink so far into literary allusions and metaphors that this post literally disappears up its own five-hole.

Hockey forums are the bane of my life-yet at the same time they're some of the most compelling places to spend some time. All hockey-fan life is here, from the cynical lifelong fans to the club apologists (and my God, have you seen some of those if you've ever hung around a Blaze forum) to the people who will flog a dead horse (usually Brit-quota related) until the bones of their argument have literally crumbled to dust, to the people who think that they're hockey sages just because they once stood next to the kitman's wife in a pub.

Seriously-just have a read through them sometime. Stuff that you would laugh out loud at if someone said it in a rink is dissected as fact, arguments flare like wildfire, and just occasionally you get someone connected with a club sticking their oar in and either fanning the flames or coming over all haughty whenever that amazing new signing is hinted at thanks to sources which range from the player themselves to a drunken bloke in the chip-shop opposite the rink.

Sounds laughable, doesn't it? And yet hockey forums are truly wonderful things. They provide one of the few places on the planet where British hockey fans can talk about their sport with other British hockey fans, form friendships, laugh, cry, and air their views with almost no fear of repercussion (unless you're stupid enough to use your own name, as I can attest to). Players can be torn to shreds by some 13-year-old kid who's only seen one game in his life, they can be built up purely on the basis on one moment, and as for the mob-mentality you get from these things-Andrew Sharp will get a job in British hockey based almost solely on how notorious he has become on these virtual soapbox derbies (come on, Romford fans-surely you're not telling me it's based on ability)...

And yet, essentially, every single word on a hockey forum is unimportant. It's an opinion. And this is something that appears to have been forgotten as the status of hockey in the UK has grown from utterly un-noticed to "do they play that here?", peaked briefly in the early to mid 90's and then dropped away again, with some people getting more than unnecessarily het up by either their status on a forum or even quoting an opinion post on them as a reliable source. Hockey forums, or at least some of the people who frequent them, just might be taking themselves a little too seriously and spending more time reading about this beautiful game of ours and trying to build up street-cred on them then actually watching the game they're talking about in the first place. Examples from the past season...

Every time Andrew Sharp sneezed, there seemed to be an eight-page thread on a forum somewhere split between those who loved him and those who thought he was the Antichrist. Same with Brad Voth. It's a game, people...if you spent more time watching it then pontificating about how you thought it should be played then maybe your posts would be worth reading.

I fully except that I may be shooting myself in the foot in the eyes of some people-especially as I'm using a blog to tell you this-and most of the stuff written on here is purely my own opinion. The difference between me and some of the people who are making forums such a drag nowadays is: I don't expect you, the reader, to agree with me. It would be nice if you did, but if you don't, and you let me know, then so be it. And that is the attitude which seems to be slowly disappearing among hockey fans today, manifested by the change in Internet forums. And so now we come to the point of my post...

Hockey fans are a great bunch of people, in the main. I've become acquainted with many in my time watching, either in person or as a name on a forum or an email thanks to this blog. Sadly, there is a growing element at some teams who hold the attitude I've criticised early in this column-and that attitude is harming all of us. There's been much discussion recently about how clubs can move forward and promote the sport, and I've written at length on here about the need for clubs to constantly listen to what their fanbases are actually saying, get them involved and cease simply talking the talk about being "family clubs" as some are doing at the moment while jacking up ticket prices and adopting an attitude of "rake in the money and sod the experience". Trouble is, the attitude of some on the forums (and indeed some of the rubbish poseted) is ginving them a loophole to use-if asked why they don't listen to the fans, they can simply say "well, look at the forums-no-one knows anything but they'll still shout away".

What the sport needs is more people who are knowledgeable about the game, knowledgeable about their team, passionate about it, but willing to listen to other's opinions (and I include myself in that, so feel free to disagree with anything in this post via the comment button or the email address on the right, and I'll happily debate it with you). Judging by the forums and the spreading number of British hockey blogs out there (all of which are of very high quality indeed, particularly Five Minute Major, the F Block Blog, and the longest running of them (and the original inspiration for this one) Check to the Head, as well as the Firestorm Blog in the EPL as a promising addition), there are enough people ou there to really foster the spirit of debate on forums-hopefully this will spread and sifting through places such as the Elite Forum will become a pleasure again rather than a chore. But either way, forums are still great entertainment...

Moving on now-I've decided that rather than document teams signing by signing, the next post on here will be a team-by-team breakdown of ins and outs, together with a word or two on how each team looks to be shaping up as we reach the midpoint of the off-season (yep, it's been almost two months since the end of the season already, folks). Given that I am away this weekend, that may take a few days to appear. In keeping with the one-a-week timescale I've set myself for the summer, it should be on sometime next week. Until then, keep keepign your eye on the puck...

Something about Stephen?

Apologies for the long wait between posts-there's been a lot on recently, including a little football tournament in Austria some of you might be interested in also...but we're back now.

This post was just going to be a quick catch-up, much along the lines of all the other postings you see throughout the summer-but quite frankly there have been so many signings throughout the league in the past week or two, and comment has been made on so many other forums, which I assume the majority of you wonderful people also read, that there's not really much point doing so, so instead I'll concentrate on just one-the Manchester Phoenix signing Stephen Murphy.

Before we begin, let's get something straight. I have enormous respect for anyone who plays between the pipes. As someone who spends the majority of his time while playing hockey on the other end of a shot (ie trying to ping one in at them) I have some idea of how to play hockey. And given that I try and spend time screening them and have delivered more than a slash or two to a legpad in search of a loose puck in my time, I can imagine that it takes some real skill to play goalie successfully at any level. My only experience of playing the position is messing about at the end of practice and completely failing to stop any shot. I prefer to try and score goals rather than stop them. But even so, I have a little idea of what makes a good goalie-they stop pucks consistently.

Which is why the success of Stephen Murphy and the fact that he's so highly rated in Britain baffles me. When he first burst onto the scene with Fife and Dundee in the BNL, the hype (relatively) was massive-here was a young British goalie who was consistently performing at a level which seemed ridiculously good to those watching-and admittedly the fact that he was only 18 just added to it. And then, in the 02/03 season, the first signs that the young Scot was mortal appeared-put pressure on him, score an early goal, and the wall began to crumble.

Despite this, he earned himself a contract in Sweden. Here was a chance to better himself at a higher level-the great Continental adventure was on. One season in the Swedish second league, eight games at Bracknell in the BNL and back to Edinburgh in the starting goalie slot with much fanfare as "the best British goalie"-all this while consistently appearing in the GB squad behind Stevie Lyle, before going back to Scandinavia and then onto Manchester.

My question, though, is simple. What is the big thing about Stephen Murphy? My argument is simple-he's British.

Hear me out here. With the import limits, any advantage that coaches think they can get, they will take. And because of the ridiculous import limits in the EIHL (that's a whole other post, but put simply, my view is "get rid of 'em") a Brit goalie who can start and do a decent job is considered an asset because it gives you an extra import outskater. And they believe Murphy is.

But, what use is that when you're conceding an extra goal or two a game? Murphy's defenders say that he never gives out rebounds-that's because the puck is in the net more often than not. With stats that have a large amount to do with playing on some of the best teams in the league (playing for Fife and Dundee, he was consistently around 92%, before playing for Edinburgh, where he had a save percentage of 88% having supposedly reached a new level. Stevie Lyle, in a better league, earned himself a save % of 90 in Italy before going to 89 in Britain.

In my view, you're better off going with an import goalie than a Brit every single time, particularly in Murphy's case-I don't think I've seen him have a truly dominating goalie performance since about 2003. I just hope Manchester have a great d lined up...

Russ Cowley leaves Coventry:..speaking of overpaid Brits, here we have one whose club think he was, and have thus let him go and already started the justification in the press (today's Evening Telegraph quotes Paul Thompson as saying that the winger was asking for more than he was worth, while sources close to the player claim that the Blaze have treated him shabbily and Adam Calder is also less than impressed with his club over the issue). You'd have thought with every single fan having to pay an extra couple of quid a ticket this season with a price of fifteen quid, as well as the sell-sell-sell dynamic which appears to dominate the clubs dealing with the fans at the Skydome bearing some fruit (so we're told), there was room for some negotiation, but apparently not).

Later this weekend, hopefully Sunday, we'll be returning to the business of keeping up with the summer comings-and-goings and more rumours, but until then, keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Friday Frolics and Big Screen Hockey..

Happy Friday! Right-rumours out of the way first of all...

For Whom The Godiva Bell Tolls: Colin Hemingway is, unsurprisingly, a big, big target this off season. Until Adam Calder decided that he'd rather stay in Coventry than chase the evil euro, he was the Blaze's new first line winger, with pen hovering above paper. With Calder back, though, he won't be....

...but maybe he'll just drop a line instead. How does Stewart/Kelman/Hemingway sound as a second line, Blaze fans?

Dan Tessier to Belfast: Here is someone, on the other hand, who would play rec if you paid him a few hundred more than anyone else was prepared to-and the Giants, unlike the Steelers, are...

Dwight Parrish back to Manchester: So much for retiring...from coaching Bracknell to signing (confirmed on the EIHL website). Parrish gives his nous and veteran presence (yet again) on the Phoenix blue-line. It seems you can take Parrish away from Manchester hockey, but you can't take his love for the place away.

Rumours that this takes the average age of the Phoenix roster this season to about 373 are unconfirmed as yet, though. :)

Rich Bronilla to Coventry: ah, that old chestnut, based on no more than being Neal Martin's mate. David Cullen is still the number-one target by all accounts, but Bronilla is a hell of a fall-back...


Shaun Sutter to Hull:...to replace Rob Rankin (see below). Nottingham to Sheffield to Belfast to Hull...poor old Shaun is coming down in the world. However, if he doesn't have it coached out of him by Rick Strachan, the Stingrays might have a genuine offensive threat...


And confirmed...


Rob Rankin to Newcastle: The Hull exodus continues, with their top scorer now moving across the Tees and Tyne after being chased for a while by Rob Wilson...hot off the presses, this one...

Nathan Craze to Belfast: An old one, this, but I've just caught up with it now. Steve Thornton has the best back-up in the EIHL (unless someone signs Mark Lee). If, unlike Ed Courtenay last season, he can get the starting netminder right the Giants will start to look very strong indeed.

So there you go...

Now onto the frolics for a Friday...as we look at the top ten moments for hockey on the big-screen (well, my personal ten, anyway)...


Hockey movies are a bit thin on the ground compared to the rest of American sports-everybody knows Slapshot and the Mighty Ducks but Youngblood, Mystery Alaska and "Rocket" are a bit more "niche" for the vast majority of casual hockey fans. However, given that they're a part of hockey culture and any hockey fan or player worth his salt should be able to drop a reference such as "Hanrahan...your wife's a lesbian! A LESBIAN!", here's a quick guide to the best moments of hockey on celluloid. These clips can all be found on youtube somewhere (I couldn't add the links thanks to blog software being a bit tempramental)...and may have a naughty word or two to appear in the list (just in case you're easily offended)...



10: Little Richard sings the National Anthem (Mystery, Alaska): Possibly the longest version of The Star-Spangled Banner ever committed to film-it's worth it just to see the NY Rangers shivering.



9: "Ya wanna go, pretty boy?" (Youngblood): Funny just to see Rob Lowe (possibly the least-convincing hockey player ever) win a stick-fight against someone twice his size. The fact he's avenging an injured Patrick Swayze and also scores the winning goal makes it even funnier...



8: "Hanrahan! Suzanne sucks pussy! I know! I know!" (Slapshot): Paul Newman-inspiration for pests and trash-talkers ever since...



7: "Like a mother walrus! Thwap! Thwap! Thwap!" (Mystery, Alaska): The comeuppance for this less-than-chivalrous description of one of the Mystery players' conquests in bed is a punch in the face with a shovel and a VERY painful naked skate-and-slide...hilarious to watch, though.


6: "Blow it out your ass!" (Mystery, Alaska): In one line Burt Reynolds (possibly the best fictional hockey coach ever) sums up what everyone has ever wanted to say to a referee. Disgust, anger, contempt...it's all there in those five words.



5: Steve Hanson shuts up a referee with one sentence (Slapshot): Yes, everyone rhapsodises about the Hanson brothers. Of their many golden moments, few are funnier than the referee who tries to warn them before the game as the anthem plays and is simply ignored as, without even bothering to look at him, Steve Hanson scares him off with the immortal line "I'm listening to the FUCKING SONG!"

4. The Triple Deke (Mighty Ducks): Clearly thought up by someone who'd never played hockey, as if you actually try this move at the speed Joshua Jackson does, you usually get nailed pretty quickly. But the last penalty shot against the Hawks is funny purely for the way you wonder just how bad the supposed "best goalie in pee-wee hockey" has to be to be beaten by the slowest deke in recorded history.

3. The Cat's penalty save (Mighty Ducks II): Not least because, when you're twelve, Julie Gaffney is possibly the best-looking hockey player on the team. Add the comedy of her being brought in just to face a penalty shot from the boy she's fallen secretly in love with (who is also the best player on the evil team) and the ridiculous slow-mo, and it just gets funnier. Add the fact that the villains are Iceland (Iceland?!) and the believability goes right out of the window. But "The Cat" is still a cool nickname.

2: Any moment in "Miracle" that involves a choice, motivational speeches or the USSR game: Because Kurt Russell is great as Herb Brooks, the hockey scenes are actually convincing and don't just concentrate on improbably skilful play by the stars (yes, I'm talking to you, Mighty Ducks)-and the over-acting of the "emotional" parts is funny in itself. Then, of course, there's "do you believe in miracles? YES!"

1: Any fight/Hanson brothers appearance in Slapshot: Just because. Honourable mention to the Ned Braden taking-his-clothes-off homage in Mighty Ducks (where the Bash Brothers go for it in the box). Slapshot is possibly the original and best hockey film-even if it is more than 40 years old. What other film lets people instantly know you're a hockey fan when you quote a line-and has lines for any purpose? I can't think of any...

That's your Friday Frolics over with...feel free to share your favourite hockey film moments, and keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Back and Forth...

The player movement carousel is starting to spin faster now...





Brett Clouthier returns to Phoenix: Damn. Way under-rated ability, size and the heartbeat of Manchester ever since he joined them as a surplus Steeler in his first season in the UK. If Tony Hand can find the forwards with the same amount of skill as Clouts has pure energy, Manchester would walk the league. It also puts the "Ryan Shmyr to Manchester" rumours to rest. I doubt you'll find a single Phoenix fan unhappy with this one.





Mark Garside back in Edinburgh: The Caps start rebuilding their roster well, with one of the best young Brits and an Auld Reekie native. Great things could be ahead for Garside if his development continues at the pace it has been.





JF Perras confirmed in Coventry: Mentioned as a rumour on this blog two weeks ago and now confirmed, the Capitals goalie, blighted in many Blaze fans' eyes (obviously those who never saw him play because they couldn't be bothered to go to a Caps' game) by a relatively poor save percentage, heads south. This guy is proof statistics can lie...he's a hell of a goalie who can lead a team to a title as long as he has a half-decent d in front of him. Trevor Koenig was just the same, and people in Coventry seemed to think the sun shone from his behind (a belief possibly held by the man himself by all accounts). On that basis, expect JF to become a fan favourite fairly quickly. Unless Blaze lose a game or two, then he'll be the sacrificial lamb for many. Unfairly so.





Nick Toneys to Panthers: Silly name, strange signing considering he appears to be very similar to Rumun Ndur working on stats...although cheaper thanks to playing at a lower level...





Mike Prpich and Jason Silverthorn back in Cardiff: Excellent-maybe I'll actually get to see Prpich play now after his injury-shortened (well, destroyed) time last season....As for Silverthorn...well, he can score, I'll say that for him.



Lee Cowmeadow to Devils (fact):...and unlike 2001, he doesn't have to worry about being utterly destroyed by Steve Carpenter. "Wily veteran" are the two words that come to mind here-he'll do a job on the third line and nurture the exciting talent of Ben Davies...





Now for the rumours.





Steve Pelletier to Coventry: Don't laugh...apparently this one is at an advanced stage. Hopefully it doesn't go much further, or you can pity his d-partner for all the two-on-ones they'll be left with...




Greg Wood to Coventry: A little birdie (or should that be calf) from Basingstoke and at least two people from Coventry (both who have been right on many occasions before, including Perras and the as-yet-unannounced-but-open-secret that is Carlyle Lewis) emailed me this one...as Russ Cowley has been pricing himself right out of the market and Wood is younger, hungrier and possibly better...



Colt King to Hull: It's the Hull Vipers! Just search for the guy on youtube to realise he isn't going to be the goalscoring forward (or top d-man or stonewall goalie or player who can tell Rick Strachan his system stifles the hell out of their team and doesn't work that well) that Hull have been praying for. Well, he might fit the last one if he throws a punch or two on the bench, which is eminently possible judging by the fact he looks like an utter fruit-loop...

There you go-a swift round-up updated in the breaks at work. On Friday we'll be looking at the best moments of hockey on the big screen, as well as any other news that may come along...

Keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Taking a Leak and Summertime Songs...

A quick hit or two on a Friday afternoon...

Poor old Panthers. They produce a big song and dance about a "major announcement" taking place today, and then the nasty old BBC and the plainly incompetent NEP go and ruin it for them with a leak or two for their triple signing...so here they are (all now officially released, by the way)...

Jade Galbraith: If you're a Panthers fan, then right about now you're thinking "heeeelllllo...". Despite sounding like he should be a 13-year-old puck bunny in the Coventry crowd (come on, could you get many more stereotypically chavvy girls' names then Jade?) this guy is 14 stone, 5'10 and quite good at sticking a goal or two in. And he was mentioned on this page as far back as late April as a possible Panther. Beat that, Snow Plough...:) Could be pretty impressive...

David Clarke: So much for his amazing European adventure-the arguably premier British forward (as in arguably the best, not arguably good) returns to Nottingham yet again. Fans of other teams around the league immediately start whispering the words "wage cap?" under their breaths. However, there is no doubt Clarke's quality-he should be up among the top points scorers again this season.

Rumun Ndur: Hm. Obviously it's written into the constitution of the Panthers that they have to have one d-man with the turning circle of the Jahre Viking on their blue-line (and about the same stopping distance), so we can assume Robert Stancok is gone...This is a brave signing for the Panthers-no-one quite knows how it'll turn out after his injury-hit time with the Blaze.

Stingrays new rumour: And here he is...Nick Deschenes...Looks like a big, serviceable lad, doesn't he, judging by stats alone...

Summertime IceTunes!: You can tell it's a bit of a quiet summer thus far, although I did think it was about time for some slightly more sun-drenched summer music to sustain you hockey fans through summer, so here we are...

The Ting Tings: That's Not My Name: I mentioned this one in April. Three weeks later, it gets released and goes to number one in its first week. Thank you very much...:) Although there are even better from Jules and Katie...

The Ting Tings: Shut Up and Let Me Go:...and this is one. I can't really say much more than "listen. and enjoy".

Metro Station: Shake It: Remember hellogoodbye last summer? This is like them, only not that bad. It's guaranteed to put you in a good mood...

Scouting For Girls: Heartbeat: As is this. With a chorus more infectious than the Ebola virus, this will be the soundtrack song to every teenage love affair this summer.

Pendulum: Slam!: Yes, everyone likes Propane Nightmares, and yes, they're probably only going to be truly popular for a year or so. Get in on some of their earlier stuff, though, like this (their best song to date, in my opinion) and you'll look a bit cooler down the rock/drum n'bass club...

Nelly and Fergie: Party People: "What up, Berkshire?! Where my party people at?!" Completely silly rap for wannabe gangstas from the Home Counties, but it somehow gets inside your head nevertheless on a summer evening...

Allanah Myles: Black Velvet: Oh yes. Perfect for dancing when you think no-one's looking or you're alone in the house on a hot summer weekend afternoon. Best combined with a cold drink (ice-tea for the proper Southern US thing, but a beer works just as well)...

There you go...happy Friday, and keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Summer Tuesday Thoughts-Bolshy Brits and more...

As promised, here comes another post. There's been a few more signings in the past few days, not least the return of Dan Carlson to Coventry (universally welcomed by Blaze fans) and Peter Campbell leaving Belfast to sign in Denmark (universally welcomed by defencemen and goalies on the nine other EIHL teams). For once, however, we're going to move away from the formulaic "this player has signed here" nonsense which forms the backbone of summer hockey news, and consider one of the thorniest issues in British hockey. Yes, it's Brits v Imports, Part 973.

Don't switch off just yet, though...this will not be an EIHL-fan rant of "imports are cool cause they play better and we want to watch good hockey, which we can't do in the EPL cause it's rubbish", nor will it be an EPL-fan one of "you greedy EIHL fans are killing development in this country and you're all going to go bust eventually anyway, so ha!".

Especially as it's the EPL who are the ones with the money problems with at least two clubs (Bracknell and Chelmsford, anyone?). So much for the "at least we know all the teams are going to playing each season in the EPL" arguments...

Anyway, returning back to the original question. There was a thread on THF recently questioning which Brits were overpaid-to which the first reply was "all of them!". While somewhat radical, let's think about this for a second...

British hockey has an (artificially imposed) limit on the number of non-British players in the system (in the EIHL it's 106 spread over ten teams, in the EPL it's 4 per team). This allows for a maximum of ten/eleven per team. However, hockey rosters typically contain eighteen, nineteen or twenty players. Automatically, there are spaces created for eighty British players in the EIHL and double that number in the EPL. Without these players, you simply can't have a team.

Follow me here. The need for these players is artificially created-we saw in the ISL days that Brits were not necessary to form a team when there was no import limit around-admittedly that league failed thanks to overspending and a ridiculously high wagecap-but there is nothing to say that the same blueprit couldn't work nowadays. The only reason it's not being put into place is because of British players being perceived as "not being given a fair chance".
Given that most British players are of just acceptable level at EIHL standard, particularly the young ones, an open league would likely mean they'd be competing with young Canadian/American/European players, who would be asking the same money but likely be of a higher standard. So British players have to ask for less money in order to make themselves attractive. However, given that the BNL had an import limit, most British players thought "sod that" and said "we'll come play for your BNL team, but since we think we're ISL standard, you can pay us a ton more". And it worked.

So, we're now in a situation where British players are essential parts of a team-get the wrong ones and you're screwed, get the right ones (or those who mean you can use an import somewhere where they're more needed) and you're golden. Trouble is, there aren't all that many good (as in top two line) British players around-and the third-liners vary widely in quality from young inexperienced to old-and-nearly-past-it-looking-for-one-last-payday.

Either way, you can't afford not to actively chase British players. And they know this. They also know that the EPL, with no wage-cap and even more need for Brits, is going to offer them a decent amount of money and allow them to be part-time. This is why players like Gary Clarke, Adam Carr and Lee Richardson (who could easily do a job on a EIHL third line), and Leigh Jamieson and Paul Moran (who aren't exactly superstars but have convinced many they're good enough to do an adequate job) are likely to be able to ask silly money relative to their talents-and why some stay in the EPL to be a big fish in a small pond rather than try and better themselves.

The problem gets even more pronounced at the top level. Jonathan Weaver, for example. A very good player but probably able to add two or three hundred quid to his salary compared with an import of similar quality, just because he can turn round and say "well, I'm British". Compare his ECHL stats and you can see that players like him are ten-a-penny in North America or in Europe...trouble is they can't come in because of an artificially-imposed rule that makes Brits valuable and so clubs have to spend 2-300 more a week on them-which only a few can do. Trouble is, as soon as they start doing this for one player, all the other EIHL Brits go "right, I'm having some of that"...and then clubs who can't afford to waste a ton of money chasing a top Brit and have to spend similar on players of lesser quality suffer, both in the standings and in the cash vaults.

I don't have a solution to this, aside from the dreaded "chop the import limit" idea. In fact, if you've stuck with the rambling this far I'm impressed, as it's essentially a rant on how stupid it is that people should be paid considerably more simply based on their nationality thanks to a ruddy stupid rule which isn't even doing what it was intended to do (get more Brits playing at the top level, for the top clubs, all the time). Most teams go with two lines of imports to do all the major stuff and then throw out a third line of youngsters just to give the stars a rest one shift in every four...and that isn't worth spending a few hundred a week for, nor is it helping the quality a huge amount. British players complain about how hard life is in the EIHL. Frankly, they should listen to Supermac (no, not Sean McAslan but ex PM Harold Macmillan) with his famous words "You've never had it so good".

enough of the rambling, anyway. Apologies if you find this post somewhat disjointed...however, I would appreciate your views on whether the import limit is in fact harming the very game it was meant to save after the ISL years, as I believe.

Keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Signing Round-ups...

You'll have to excuse me-the sunny weather over the past week or two, coupled with news dribbling in rather than flooding, has somewhat nixed the daily postings. However, there's now finally some movement starting to happen, so let's plunge into the merry-go-round...



Panthers re-sign several: The Nottingham Brit Pack is taking shape, with James Ferrara, Geoff Woolhouse and Marc Levers all back for another season at the NIC. One very talented youngster, a back-up goalie and a very effective second/third line grinder aren't a bad three signings to join Brendan Cook and Matt Myers, especially as none of them will be on big money and all are British assets...


Paul Sample to Giants: Belfast have already completed their Brit-pack, with news light on the new signing front thus far. Shane Johnson is of course another one on the roster joining the retuning Graham Walton, Mark Morrison and Stevie Lyle and new signing Dave Phillips.

Running themes thus far in the off-season involve Brits being snapped up quickly and few new players coming in just yet-Sheffield are the only team thus far to really make some signings on the import front, but they're following the Blaze template for success in the past few seasons by retaining as much of their squad as they can, with Doug Sheppard, Jeff Legue, Steve Munn, Randy Dagenais and Ryan Finnerty already taking up five of the import slots. Meanwhile, Manchester, Cardiff and Newcastle are also consolidating by re-signing (or, in the case of Phil Hamer at Manchester, rewarding through promotion) their young talent, Jez Lundin and Carl Graham chief among them. The big changes thus far have come at Basingstoke and Coventry, with Basingstoke losing Greg Owen and Derek Campbell and Coventry losing Rumun Ndur (not really a surprise), Neal Martin (ditto) and Trevor Koenig.

Perhaps the biggest single loss to a team (and indeed the league) thus far is Sean McAslan, who has left Nottingham for Denmark (a popular destination this season)-arguably the best forward in the league, the Panthers captain will be extremely difficult to replace...

That's enough of the outs and Brit ins...-what about the import movements?

Scott Kelman to Coventry: I nearly had a heart attack when someone texted me saying simply "Kelman has signed"...I thought they meant Todd from Belfast. However, Scott Kelman is 6'3 and 215lbs of power-forward from the ECHL. A former first-round draft-pick, he's a replacement for Curtis Huppe and looks quite useful, if nothing hugely special. However, stick him on a line with Carlyle Lewis (yes, I know the Snow Plough hasn't said he's signed yet and thus it can't be true, but my sources say it is) and Sylvain Cloutier and that is an intimidating threesome for any defensive pairing...(on a side note, thanks to the person who let me know about Kelman's signing just before he did-I just wish I'd checked the email a day earlier...)

JF Perras to Coventry: With Koenig gone, the same source as above tells me that Paul Thompson is talking to the Edinburgh stopper about a possible move south after the young Canadian showed flashes of brilliance at Murrayfield last season-this will be a signing which may divide people but I'm all for it-the Quebecois is a superb young goalie who will only get better. But then, Maxime Ouellet has also been mentioned, so who knows? Personally, I'd rather have a young hungry stopper than a failed 1st round draft-pick who can't seem to stay anywhere for long, but so be it.

Russ Cowley to Belfast: Fair enough. Although it makes little sense for either side of the deal-Belfast will be spending more money on someone who is at best a second-liner when they could likely get a comparable quality import more cheaply...quids would appear to be the main motivator for the move away from Coventry...

And moving away from rumours...

Go Pens!: The NHL is fun again, especially if you're a Pittsburgh fan. A Philadelphia-Pittsburgh conference final in the east, and Detroit vs Dallas in the west-four teams who can't half play entertaining hockey when they put their mind to it-watching them on 5 is far more fun than sleeping of a Wednesday evening ...In fact, in Britain at least, there's your advertising slogan....The Stanley Cup Finals. Sleep is Over-Rated...

And on that random tangent, we end another round-up post. Promise you won't have to wait quite so long for the next one, as we look at whether Brits could be pricing themselves too highly for hockey in Britain to survive...

Keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Summer Signing Fun...

No preamble this time...does exactly what it says on the tin...

Jamieson joins Coventry...Well, so it is then. If this is the season that Jamieson finally plays as well as he (by all accounts) thinks he can and already has, then so be it-after all, I was a little dubious about KC Timmons signing last year and was forced to eat a large portion of humble pie when he fast became one of my favourite players-and in this case I won't complain at a second helping. If, on the other hand, we get the error-strewn d performances that saw the Giants all but forced to move him to forward, then I won't need to push the point...watch the notoriously unforgiving Coventry crowd (especially when there's a reportedly large ego-another thing the Midlands crowd don't like in their players, involved into the bargain) turn on him by November. Except the young females, of course...
This has now led to speculation about Tom Watkins' future at Coventry. Hopefully the #20'll be back-although a wild rumour has him linked with Telford of all places...


Steelers re-sign Mark Thomas, Steve Munn and Randy Dagenais: That's the d in Sheffield looking very good indeed thus far, particularly with the return of Steve Munn, who is a definite Breakaway favourite. Mark Thomas would be my pick were I looking to sign a big Brit d-man for my team, a country mile ahead of Jamieson, and Dagenais is just one of those players who does his thing, and does it well. If you're scoring at home, that means the Steelers already have two of their top four d and a heartbeat for their forward lines in Ryan Finnerty, and the temperature hasn't even hit the high teens yet. The Steelers are coming...

Hull to rebuild...Is it possible? Well, according to the Hull Daily Mail it is...apparently just the "inability to score goals, a never-ending injury list and some opponents breaking the wage cap." were to do with last season's debacle. Of course, starting a rebuild with the same coach who caused at least one of those problems and was a contributor to the other unmentioned problems thanks to his chosen style of play being "his team seemingly being told only to cross the blue-line in exceptional circumstances with written permission in triplicate from the coach, and GOD HELP YOU IF YOU SHOOT MORE THAN ONCE A PERIOD!" is like starting a Channel swim wrapped in an anchor. And hogtied. But bless the Humbersiders, they're going to try it anyway. The two remaining fans who believe in Strachan await the changes with bated breath...

Speaking of Hull...all hell apparently broke loose at the Conference junior finals this weekend, with a bunch of youngsters brawling...there is supposedly footage on youtube but I haven't found it yet. I am still looking, though.

Brandin Cote linked with Nottingham: That "YES PLEASE!" you just heard was every Panther fan having the same thought at once on hearing this rumour. But, sorry, people-he's a natural centre. And he's gritty and hard-nosed too. Wouldn't fit in your team at all if you follow the template of the previous two years. But Cote vs Bergin? There's no contest in my eyes-it would make the Panthers games a must-see for me if the littlish centre was to make a comeback...

Phoenix re-sign Carl Graham: Not a bad start-by all accounts Graham impressed up north, although I must confess to not noticing him much when I saw the Angry Budgies. However, retaining your youngsters is never a bad thing...and Tony Hand does seem to have a knack for finding talent in the strangest places as a coach (we'll let him off Omar Ennafatti) :)

There you go...a whirlwind tour through the EIHL for this Tuesday evening. More to come on Friday or thereabouts...sooner if something big happens. Until then, keep keeping your eye on the puck...

First New Arrival and some more rumour talk...

It's officially the new transfer season now that there's a foreigner new to the league around...and can't you just see how excited I am?

Brendan Cook (good god-Richard Hammond plays hockey?!) is the first new import to come to the UK this off season, joining the Panthers after a few underwhelming seasons in the ECHL and one good season with the Austin Ice Bats (CHL) in which he scored 35+29 in 63 games. The 5'9, 184lb Manitoban native looks like more of a Brandin Cote player than a Kevin Bergin, and while a decent standard is hardly setting the Panthers fans alight with anticipation. However, he does compare himself to Joe Tallari and Corey Neilson (who, by the way should not be the Panthers coach because Mike Ellis should still be there, but that's another post) likes him a fair bit. Plus, he's purely listed as "forward" under position, so might actually be a natural centre! Hold yourselves back, Panther fans....

Derek Campbell officially signs for Cardiff: A good start for the Devils-teams always need a player who'll get his nose dirty as well as do the fancy stuff, and Cardiff have always been a team who value those sorts of players, so this isn't a huge surprise. Although I'd personally have backed a stay in Basingstoke because he seemed a good fit there-as can be seen by the sorrowful goodbyes posted by Bison fans on the forums...

Meanwhile, back in Belfast: There appears to be rumblings that the much-hyped oracle known as the Snow Plough has until now missed (for the record, it's not a bad blog-just a bit Leigh Jamieson-people seem to think it's much better than it actually is)...and sniffing the wind here, it involves a fan favourite. Carlyle Lewis has been linked with several teams this off-season, but until now Coventry haven't even been mentioned and surely it's inconceivable that Lewis could go from Belfast to their most hated rivals anyway?
Don't be so sure. Reading between the lines of some texts sent to me today from someone who knows far more than they ever tell me (he managed to pull out the Reid Simonton signing a good month before it got announced in his biggest coup thus far, but there's been a myriad of others he's been right on), it seems the big Belfast bruiser could be on his way across to the Skydome this time round. And this would definitely not be a bad thing. What's more, it fits, thanks to the Blaze's current tough-guy in Rumun Ndur being very unlucky with injuries the past two seasons, and Blaze appearing to need a new forward or two now that Curtis Huppe has retired...

Leigh Jamieson to Coventry: I can sum up my thoughts on this rumour in three words..."Please", "God", and "No!". At the moment,if I may use a pop culture reference, this signing is at the "Annie Leibovitz telling Miley Cyrus that those pictures will be "artistic" and everyone'll see it" stage-with the Blaze fans as Miley-they're an ace from doing the hockey-fan equivalent of dirtying up the hair, wrapping themselves in the towel and getting excited for seeing Belfast's makeshift third-line forward in a Blaze shirt playing d as they talk themselves into something that just seems a bit...well...not right. And we all know how that turned out for Hannah Montana, don't we?

I know it's a fairly short post this evening...but that's the trouble with the summer...you don't really have any games to talk about. Maybe I should start paying more attention to the NHL. :)

Aye well...keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Careful What You Wish For...

Typical EIHL. I slag them off for not providing anything to talk about and suddenly there's an absolute raft of new news for us to consider. Let's look at the happenings hot (well, slightly warm) off the presses first, before a bit of a plug for a kindred spirit...

Giants sign even more: Yes, they're all returnees and possibly not quite as exciting as new signings, but the three players announced today by Belfast are all vital pieces of the jigsaw in Northern Ireland. Stevie Lyle returns in goal, which isn't a bad move because a) he's the GB number 1 and b) it means that there'll be ten imports in front of him, and one of them won't be Ed Courtenay, which is an advantage all round for the Giants defence. Shane Johnson returns for yet another season at the Odyssey after making his Giants debut round about the time dinosaurs still roamed outside the rink, while, towards the other end of the age spectrum, Graeme Walton joins him on d for another season. Walton is the best of these three signings in my opinion-a big, steady, British d-man who doesn't score many points and is thus far under-rated by many, but is key to his unit, as he can easily step into a number 4 d-man role and allow the Giants to go with two imports on d should they so wish, thanks to the signing of Dave Phillips to join the Brit contingent...this is of course assuming that Steve Thornton believes Phillips is ready to become a top-tier d-man at the age of 21-his form for Hull would suggest so...

Steelers re-sign Finnerty: Damn. It appears the Steelers (or more specifically Dave Matsos) has broken the habit of many Elite League coaches and put players who are key to his team over simply signing the top ones back first-Ryan Finnerty is one of Sheffield's unsung heroes. Tessier, Talbot and Tait get all the press for the goals they score-however, there are few players in the league loved more by their home crowd (except when he takes the odd stupid penalty) and hated by the opposition than the feisty Albertan centre, who is the glue that holds the Steelers' second line together. He'd walk into any team in the league, and after being one of the players who were crucial in the Yorkshire club's playoff victory this season, he's a huge early capture for Matsos and his team...

Rules Rumpus Revisited: Well, it's nice to see that someone is happy with the new Elite Rules...the thing that worries me is that a) it's the owner of the club who were simply awful at times last season, finished bottom, and are one of the clubs gaining an advantage, so they're hardly going to be unhappy, and b) the main foundation of his happiness is the supposed "15 point penalty" which will be imposed on those breaking the cap. So, let's use a hypothetical example (this is not an accusation of wrongdoing up until this point, by the way)...

Nottingham (whose owner has already publicly stated that the cap is worthless) break the higher wagecap. Dock them 15 points? On the surface, easy decision. However, suddenly the Panthers turn round and go "Yeah, but Sheffield are doing it too, and so are Coventry, look!" Now you have the three most powerful members of the EIHL board being accused of breaking their own rules. Are you really going to tell me that the owners are then going to go "alright, fair cop-chop our points and we'll fall down the table"?. Or cut a player to get underneath it?

Are they fudge. There'll be a long drawn-out discussion of "this is under the cap, this isn't." "But we didn't agree that at the start of the season...you're just out to get us." "Ah, but you're paying one player 2,500 quid a week!" "Yes, but his wife works for us too, and you never said that counted"...Suddenly the league dissolves in in-fighting as those non-lawbreakers either band against the dodgy teams or keep their heads down to avoid causing a split. Or, in the worst case, the teams branded as cheats say "fine, we'll go and play somewhere else" and we have a situation much like that created by the demise of the old Superleague.

At the moment, all my cynical soul can see from these new rules is creative accounting suddenly becoming as important to a league title as the team on the ice, because with the league being the way it is and few daring to challenge the big four, breaking the wage-cap is not as much a crime as being seen to break the cap. And as we all know, there are a myriad ways to get around it if all that the cap is considering is the wages placed on the balance sheet...especially if the cap is nothing more than a "gentleman's agreement". The only way forward is to chop the cap completely (which could lead to teams folding in an ISL-style situation) or make it unbreakable by sticking EVERYTHING underneath it-perhaps saying "teams can only offer players a set number of uni places before they start being counted under the cap" or "bonuses are counted within a weekly wage". In fact, reforming the wage-cap is a whole other topic.

And finally, a shameless plug...But not for anything to do with me. Regular readers of this blog will have read (and doubtless enjoyed) the comments of Matt and Becky, particularly on all things Phoenix-related. Well, they've not started up their own blog, and having read the first few posts, it's looking like a good one. Five Minute Major is its name, and I'm already considering lobbying to turn the Greater Manchester Hockey League into a nationwide one...it's an excellent addition to the slowly-growing sphere of British hockey blogs..They're inviting people to take part as well...so feel free :)

That's all for this Tuesday...keep keeping your eye on the puck, now...

Rule-Change Rumpus and a little more

Sorry. When I said the Breakaway would go from daily to a few times a week, I didn't expect it to go six days without a post...however, there's simply not been that much to talk about. However, it seems you can always rely on the Elite League to do something worthy of comment, and this time they've really surpassed themselves by changing the rules again...





I'm now quoting from this page...





"The bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League 2007-08 season finished with the stunning playoff finals at the start of April. September will see the next competitive game and already plans are well under way for clubs to enhance the competition and deliver even greater entertainment for the fans."





Stunning playoff finals? Those would be the ones that were generally agreed to be a bit of a let-down as far as the standard of the games went, then? The spin machine is already firing...





"However always wanting to improve the offering to fans, sponsors and the clubs, the league have adopted a new plan which should see the competition within league games even closer when the 2008-09 season gets under way"





You could start by actually sticking to the rules you make in the first place if you want to improve the offering. But failing that, you've done the next best thing and make up new ones...to whit...





Therefore, the teams that finished in the top four places in 2007-08, namely Coventry, Sheffield, Nottingham and Belfast, will continue to ice with a maximum of ten International Transfer Card (ITC) players on their respective rosters in season 2008-09. The teams that finished outside the top four in the 2007-08 regular season will have the option to ice an eleventh ITC player to provide additional depth to their rosters for 2008-09.





Fair enough. However, just how many of the teams outside the top four (the richest teams in the league, by the way) are going to have the money to sign this eleventh import-and just what do you do if they have to go with ten for budgetary reasons? The top Brits still get chased by the top four (even more so in fact as they'll be perceived as a must in order to offset the potential advantage of an extra import for the other four). Then, of course, you have the problem of continuity. Say that this season one of the four mentioned above have a bad year and finish outside the top four despite spending their money on top imports and Brits, and next season earn themselves an extra import. Then they use this advantage and well and truly blitz the league the following season. Just how is that making things more competitive-you could have a situation where teams are yo-yoing up and down the league from season to season based on whether they have an extra import or not, which might enable the PR people to say the league is more competitive as anyone can win it, but doesn't exactly make for consistency in terms of fans' expectations, does it? Nor does it help that certain teams (ie this year's top four) are already getting in the "it's not a true title win if you win it because of an extra import" excuses.



Plus, the system has a loophole-and I'm going to use one of the top players of last year to demonstrate it...Joe Tallari.



Look at his stats. They're not bad, but not great up until his move to Manchester-comparable to the vast majority of imports who come over fairly cheaply and often end up joining the mid-budget teams after being shunned by the big-spenders or, more likely, simply overlooked. If the rules had been in effect this season, the Phoenix would have been allowed an eleventh import (let's assume for a moment that the monetary means would have been there to use that opportunity). Suddenly, thanks to being a far better player than his stats (and thus wage-demands) would have suggested, he's by far one of the best players in the league. However, thanks to the rules the Phoenix have an extra import on their roster (say, KC Timmons-not flashy, but develops into a key player for his team nevertheless). Suddenly, there's a massive advantage-and off go the complaints.



Then, of course, you have the issue of manipulation of results becoming even more attractive at the end of the season. Say your team is in fourth place with nothing to play for, but it's still mathematically possible for your nearest rival in fifth to catch you. Given that the matchup is decided anyway, doesn't easing off a little in the final few games and being overtaken seem attractive for the advantage it'll give you the following season, particularly if you're a team like Nottingham, who have the budget spare? Morally, you'd take some flak, but moral scruples of your own fans will disappear pretty quickly when you turn around and say "Extra import next year, people".

Finally, is it just me who thinks that giving a league whose owners have the morals of a pack of sewer rats when it comes to getting one over on the competition yet another potential loophole for the bigger teams to exploit is a very bad idea?

Now, on to some rumours and signing news...

Derek Campbell from Basingstoke to Cardiff: Given that this was posted by the player's dad, we can safely assume it's credible...

Ben O'Connor signs for Blaze: While this could see the end of James Pease's time at the Blaze, signing arguably the best young d-man in Britain (OHL experience and all) is not an opportunity most coaches would pass up. Especially on a multi-year contract...

Jade Galbraith to Nottingham:...and he looks quite good...although maybe the natural centre the Panthers have been crying out for since Dan Tessier left will have to wait a little longer.

Hopefully the next update will be on Wednesday, but as you've seen, things get a lot more ad-hoc in the summer. There will be one soon though, so until then, keep keeping your eye on the puck..

Scenes from a Season part II...

I know. It's not Saturday afternoon. But I did warn you that we were going onto a summer schedule. I apologise profusely, though. Be warned that from now on the blog may not be updated until mid/late evening on days there is a post, thanks to me being back in the working world full time as opposed to part-time. Anyway-on we go, playing catch-up...

Lyrically blessed...First of all, let's finish off the EIHL season review with the other five teams...

Hull Stingrays:
"Just remember the first step in forgetting Is destroying all the evidence."
Alexisonfire: ".44 Calibre Love Letter"
This season was a nightmare from start to finish for the Humbersiders-Rick Strachan's style of play was vilified by home and away fans alike throughout the league, there were rumours it was causing unrest in the dressing room (given credence by Paul Cabana's departure despite being top-scorer for the team at the time) and watching them became a hockey version of the Chinese Water Torture as the Stingrays slipped to the bottom of the EIHL ocean and then began to dig themselves into the sand. The low point was probably a 10-1 thumping from Sheffield just a week after Rick Strachan had called for his troops to show more battling spirit, but there were plenty more in a season the Stingray's faithful will want to forget pretty quickly. That's if they return at all, judging by alarmingly low season-ticket sales thus far...


Manchester Phoenix:
"Don’t hold me up now,I can stand my own ground,I don’t need your help now..."
Rise Against: "Prayer of the Refugee"
The Phoenix proved they belong in this league this season before finishing with an epic playoff quarter-final in which they just lost out to Sheffield, thanks to the evergreen Tony Hand, the quietly effective Brian Passmore (who a Manchester fan described as having luck so bad in front of goal that he "must have been an axe-murderer in a previous life" when explaining the lopsided stats of the American) and Jeff MacMillan, the simple grit of Brett Clouthier, and the mercurial Joe Tallari. With Tallari gone to Italy, the Phoenix faithful will need to find goals from somewhere else next season, but Hand has a habit of pulling rough diamonds out of his hat (Luke Stauffacher, anyone?). The future is rosy in Altrincham...

Newcastle Vipers
"I hope to be the biggest disappointment"
From Autumn to Ashes: "The Funny Thing About Being Pistol-Whipped Is..."
Poor old Vipers. Top for a week, then Rob Wilson de-rails their season with one ill-placed quote that angered the hockey gods and condemned them to a season of mediocrity, as well as making a rod for his own back that many people happily beat him with the moment the Vipers began to fall. Despite being the only team to have a 100% record at the Skydome (a fact which should make the fans of the league pause for thought when they say the Tynesiders are nothing but a goon team) there's no better way of summing up the season than that quote...one more time, Mr Wilson...
"We (Newcastle) deserve to be where we are"...
Looking at this season, I couldn't have summed it up better myself.

Nottingham Panthers
"She looks like the real thing...She tastes like the real thing...It wears me out..."
Radiohead: "Fake Plastic Trees"
Another season, another Panthers team which flattered to deceive. Despite Tom Askey finally giving the Cats the solid netminder they've needed for the past three seasons, the Challenge Cup victory in Sheffield masked another season in which the expensively-assembled Midlanders went out of the playoffs before the weekend at their home rink and finished nowhere in the league. Mike Ellis has shown that he can get the Panthers going where it's needed, but surely the curse of 1956 will have to be lifted soon, otherwise they might as well call themselves the Nottingham Cubs...

Sheffield Steelers:
"Climbing on the way up, Sizing up the competition, Waiting for the right time..."
From Autumn To Ashes: "Lilacs and Lolita"
The Steelers are a scary team. You can dominate them once, you can gain a lead on them, but they just keep plugging away, and the moment you ease off, they strike. A game-plan which saw them cement second in the league this season before taking a deserved playoff win, sparked by Dan Tessier and the awesome Steve Munn-a trophy is well-earned in Steelerland this season. Next season, however, they'll want the league as well...

Fourth will do:...but it could have been so much better. GB did the easy bit, beating Holland by eight goals to one on Friday, but couldn't beat Kazakhstan on Saturday, going down three-one in a potential silver-medal game. As it happened, the medal would have been bronze instead due to other results, but fourth place with a young team is no disgrace for the Lions. With another season in the EIHL under their belts next time round, there's many a reason to be optimistic about Britain's chances in a World Championship for the first time in a long while by the time 2009 comes around...all the Lions need is for the defence to tighten up and hope that the forwards sharpen up their finishing next time round...with a lot of shots on GB to not a lot on the opposition being the general form of games, that trend is clearly one which needs to be reversed if there is to be progression to the next level...

Rumourwatch: Not that many new (credible) ones floating around apart from "Ben O'Connor to replace James Pease at Coventry" which is believed to be being announced this week as a done deal-it's been around the Blaze forums for a few weeks. In the EPL there's plenty, but most of them are re-signings rather than actual moves, although Dwayne Newman is upping sticks and landing in beautiful Chelmsford, which is a pleasant rumour simply for the fact that it appears to support the Chieftains actually existing at EPL level next season after some uncertainty recently....

That's your update for today...next one to come midweek (likely Wednesday night)-as I am taking part in the Beth Davis Festival of Hockey at the Skydome tomorrow night-all Coventry teams are represented and the fun starts at 6:30 pm...

Until next time, keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Scenes from a Season

Yes, that's a very pretentious title, and yes, this is very late on Thursday evening...but the Breakaway, like the British leagues, is now going onto its summer schedule thanks to other stuff (like earning money) grabbing its four-month window to be more important than hockey with both hands-don't despair though. You'll still be getting the same Breakaway you've come to know and (in probably no cases) love-the difference is you'll now only be getting two or three doses a week as opposed to one a day-at least until the run-up to the new season-and the postings may be somewhat shorter at times, starting with this somewhat rushed one- And, naturally, we shall finish the daily posts with a two-part look back at the season that was, team by team-using my signature style of carefully-chosen song-lyrics for each one...

Basingstoke Bison:
"The worst is over...You can have the best of me"
The Starting Line: "Best Of Me"
After a season which started so badly and nearly ended with a trophy, you can forgive the Bison fans for needing an off-season break. Money troubles nearly killed the Herd in September, before Tomas Enerston rode in on his white horse and saved the day. Real progress has been made both on and off the ice in Hampshire this season, with the heroics of the famous Bison Ten going down in British hockey lore, and crowds going up and up ever since Christmas. Now, with Ryan Aldridge, top scorer Greg Chambers and club captain Brad Cruikshank already signed for the new season (Chambers turning down Coventry among others in order to do so) the summer can be a restful one for fans of hockey down south, as they look forward to a promising autumn...

Belfast Giants
"Everythings all right up here...When I come down...Ill be coming home next year"
Foo Fighters: "Next Year"
It could be said the Giants took a year off this season, as their roster promised so much but ultimately fell short when the pressure was really on. Losing top player and their coach in the same man (Ed Courtenay) won't have helped, but already new coach Steve Thornton has made a splash in the transfer market, re-signing Colin Shields and tempting Dave Phillips away from his hometown Hull team to ensure that whatever happens, the Odyssey will have two of the top British players calling it home ice. The Giants, as the song lyric suggests, will be back...

Cardiff Devils
"I could've been a contender I could've been a someone...I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world..."
Reverend and the Makers: "Heavyweight Champion of the World"
But for injuries, the Devils would have won several trophies this season. That's something I firmly believe-their 16-game winning streak before the injuries hit shows that they had the quality. And so the 2007/08 season can be summed up in two words for the South Wales side, and they are, as you might have expected, "what if....?"

Coventry Blaze
"Summertime...and the living is easy..."
Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald: "Summertime" (from "Porgy and Bess")
Two trophies will take the sting out of losing a third. Not that much-but they will. And, let's be honest, the Blaze never really looked like losing the title from around about the time they returned from the Continental Cup. Hiccups in the Challenge Cup were brushed aside as they romped to the league title and ensured another lazy, contented summer for Warwickshire hockey fans. However, with the squad rumoured to be decimated this off-season, and linchpin of the team Neal Martin already gone, both Blaze fans and the opposition alike will be watching Paul Thompson hard this off-season to see whether he can work his magic yet again...

Edinburgh Capitals
"Just when I thought our chance had passed...You go and save the best for last"
Vanessa Williams: "Save the Best For Last"
A cheesy song, yes, but it sums up the Caps' season beautifully. After bumping along in ninth place for the majority of the season, pulling off a shock result here and there but never sustaining form long enough to mount a serious charge up the table, the Scots, led by the mercurial Colin Hemingway, sneaked into the playoffs by the back door with a beautifully-timed run of form which caught the Basingstoke Bison just as they lost theirs at the end of a tiring season. Pushing the Blaze all the way in the playoff quarters is an indication that top-flight hockey at Murrayfield is well and truly back under Scott Neil and Doug Christiansen, and fans north of the border will be getting just a scent of the old Racers' glory days in their nostrils as they hope the Caps can improve over this off-season...

There you go. I know it's short, but with my time being well and truly at a premium at the moment I'm grateful I could get that much on. Part II will be coming on Saturday afternoon, as well as a look at the GB-Netherlands game, which will be taking place on Friday evening with the British Lions still in the hunt for at least a silver medal...

Keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Midweek Musings...

Right-decided. Tomorrow (probably mid-evening as I may well be out all day) you get the EIHL review. I know I've been promising it all week but it's actually a lot harder than I thought to sum up ten different seasons in a punchy, interesting way. Besides, this column will contain a bit of a rant anyway...you have been warned.

People Like Us: It seems the fashion for blogging UK hockey has begun to spread, as while browsing on the Hockey Forum last night I found the F-Block Blog, which now means that two teams in the EIHL have their own specific blogs, in Check To The Head (Edinburgh) and now Hull-the blog is named after the notorious (well, in Hull Arena at least) F Block. It's just starting out by the looks of things, but looks promising...

GB v Korea update: As I write, GB are 3-1 up with nine minutes or so to go, and look like they're on their way to their first win in the competition, which would put them on four points thanks to the somewhat strange scoring system used (3 for a regulation win, 2 for OT win, 1 for OT loss)-which is a decent mid-table position (fourth) with two games to play...the game has now finished 4-1, which isn't a bad result but is only really what's expected against the team just-promoted from Div II

Lee Mitchell returns to Hull:...much to the relief of Stingrays fans, who were convinced he was heading north to Newcastle. One of the best young Brits in the league returning to one of last season's worst teams-who says we need a draft? :)

Wage Cap Wonder: You know that rant I warned you about? Here it comes...

According to those who attended the Cardiff fans' forum held this week, all the EIHL clubs recently held a meeting in order to sort out the plans for next season, agree on the wage-cap etc. However, two teams did not attend the meeting in Sheffield, both citing travel issues. Care to guess which two?...
Yep, one was Edinburgh-this is fair enough.


Got the other one yet?


Nope, not Belfast....


Not them either....


It was Nottingham. Yes, that's the same Nottingham that, according to the AA, is all of 43 miles away-less than an hour's travel. I accept that Neil Black himself may have been busy on that day, but surely there's someone in the Panthers' organisation that can stand in his stead when it's the future of the league his team play in that's being decided. Although, given that Black has publcly stated that the wage cap means nothing to him, perhaps it's no surprise that no-one from the Cats could trouble themselves to actually take part in discussions...

Some may see this condemnation of the Panthers as somewhat hypocritical, given that "my" team are good for saying one thing and doing another (as seen when publicly stating they wouldn't appeal against the sanctions levelled at Belfast for playing an ineligible player and then doing so a few weeks later, followed up by a snipe or two in the local press as seen here-particularly that end comment, which just smacks of victim syndrome) but anyway-the point does remain that the Panthers are among the most vociferous of complainants when they think a wrong has been committed against them. Clearly, however, deciding not to take part in discussions which are supposed to be for the good of the league doesn't really count as a wrong when you're one of the biggest teams and your venue is host to the showpiece weekend of the season.

The good news for league parity, though, appears to be that the wage cap has actually dropped slightly for next season, which means no more throwing money at players in order to monopolise the best Brits-not if you want a decent roster as a whole, anyway. Given that the Devils were apparently only the fifth highest spenders in the league with their (pretty expensive-looking) roster, it'll be interesting to see just what effect this so-called tightening-up has on the really big spenders...

There's your Midweek Musings for another week...keep keeping your eye on the puck...

International Tuesday Thoughts

The EIHL season review is taking far longer than I thought it would, thanks to me having lots of other stuff on, so today we will confine ourselves to international matters in a fairly short post...

Let's just say that it's fairly hard to find positives after being beaten by 10 goals to five by Austria last night, even though the home nation is arguably the best team in the group. Thanks to the wonders of the Internet I watched some streaming coverage of the game, and the gulf in class was very noticeable indeed. It's not even as if you can blame the gap purely on experience, either, as comparably the Austrian roster is of a similar average age to the current GB one. Nor can you claim that Thomas Vanek was the difference for the Austrians, as he didn't score all ten goals nor did he assist on all of them. There were three major areas which seemed to win the game:

Skating/Fitness: We'll take these together, since one has an impact on the other. The Austrians were quicker, kept going at a high pace for longer, and looked far surer on their skates than the GB squad...whether this is due to the fact that the vast majority play at a higher level or just pure conditioning, it still needs to be rectified if the Brits are to keep up at this level...

Passing: Another area which saw the Austrians streets ahead. Hairiest moment of the night was Jonny Weaver deciding to pass the puck out in front of his own net without looking after (presumably) hearing a shout for it-straight onto the stick of a lurking Thomas Vanek. Thankfully the Sabre fanned on his shot (presumably out of surprise) but the number of giveaways, if you compared them, would probably be something like two to one in the direction of GB.

Defence: Austria fire in 56 shots, GB muster 18. It doesn't take a genius to work out that there's far more likelihood of conceding a goal the more shots you allow...especially when you then give the forwards a second or even third bite at the cherry by not clearing the puck...

All teams now have a rest day before GB take on Korea on Wednesday-this game is coming at probably the best time for the Brits as they can go for their first morale-boosting victory against arguably the weakest team in the group...

That's your Tuesday thoughts for today...keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Double Double Overtime...

This weekend saw a hive of activity in British hockey both at home and abroad, as the EPL finals took place in Coventry and GB went into action at the World Championships...and so, without further ado, let's review them, along with some other comings and goings...

J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets!: Shamelessly nicking one of the most famous chants in American football fandom, we commemorate me being completely wrong in my EPL playoff predictions on Friday as Slough win the EPL finals 4-1 over Bracknell...at least I picked one of the finalists right-and was right about the Slough-Guildford semi being too close to call as it ended 4-3 with a Jets goal in the final few minutes. It must be said, though, that all the EPL defenders' arguments that their league isn't dictated by money like the EIHL supposedly is don't really hold water when you bear in mind that the Jets, Flames and Bees are three of the top-budget sides in the league and the "other" side, Sheffield, although they battled hard, were never really expected to do more than make up the numbers. By all accounts the best game of the weekend (although perhaps the worst-reffed) was the ENL final between Whitley and Peterborough, which the Northern side took to take at least one trophy in British hockey north of Nottingham this season...

Paying the Polish Penalty: Meanwhile, in Innsbruck, the GB squad opened their World Championships with a penalty-shot loss to Poland, thanks to not being able to score when it mattered (indeed, the sole GB goal was scored by Greg Chambers, a transplanted Canadian). However, one point is better than none against one of their major rivals in the group, and means that the team can go into tonight's game against Austria (Thomas Vanek and all) with some hope, even after the Austrians opened their account with an 8-0 victory over Korea last night, while in the other game yesterday Kazakhstan beat Holland by 6 goals to three. Currently today Poland have beaten the Netherlands 6-4, the Kazakhs are 3-0 up against Korea in the second period, and GB play Austria live on the BBC around 7.30 pm British time this evening-go to bbc.co.uk/coventryandwarwickshire for the links...

Auf geht's Haie: Staying in Europe briefly before returning to domestic news, my Cologne team are in the DEL finals against Berlin having beaten Frankfurt in a five-game series-this is one finals I'll have to follow from afar because there's no way I can afford it at short notice-however, you can follow the series (and games when they're on thanks to the liveticker service) at www.del.org or www.haie.de.

Transfer news: Meanwhile, some rumours have already been quickly scotched with early-off-season player movements in the UK...Joe Tallari has jumped ship on the Phoenix to go and play in Italy (which seems to be a popular destination recently for UK-based players when they do leave-in the last few years Steve O'Brien, Dave Clarke, Tallari and several others have headed to Southern Europe on the backs of good seasons in the UK. In somewhat more surprising news, Romford Raiders are raiding the EIHL for next season, with Jeff Hutchins rumoured to be stepping down a league from the Newcastle Vipers to go and play at Rom Valley Way. The big story of the week so far, though, is...

Shields signs for Belfast: Not bad work from Steve Thornton thus far-not content with snapping up arguably the best young British defenceman in Dave Phillips (from Hull) he's convinced Colin Shields (arguably the best British forward) to return to the Odyssey after two seasons away (one in the ECHL and the last one in Newcastle) on a two-year contract...things aren't looking too bad for the Northern Irish fans at this very early stage of the off-season...

Forget the men-GB women are the hockey team to watch: Congratulations to the GB women's squad, who this weekend did what the men have failed to do for far too long and win an international competition. Not only that, but it was their division of the World Championships, beating Slovenia on penalties in the final and thus being promoted up to the next level, with Solihull and ex-Coventry player Katie Henry (who I've had the pleasure of watching when I used to announce for the Phoenix) being a key part of the squad. With an average age of late-teens, the GB women are certainly on the up and are doing their bit to put hockey on the map in this country-well done, ladies...

And linking seamlessly...Given that I'm not exactly a fount of information when it comes to women's hockey, I have found someone who is in order to cater for the readers of this blog who may be interested in the fairer sex's exploits in British hockey-the Women's Hockey Blog is a very good read indeed, and well worth checking if you want to keep up with all aspects of the sport in this country...

Finally, shameless plug time: Next Tuesday in Coventry sees the Beth Davis Festival of Hockey taking place at the Skydome, in aid of a Kingston player (both in junior and senior women's hockey) who suffered a broken neck during a game between Coventry and Kingston a few months ago. All the Coventry teams will be taking part, including the team I play for in the Coventry Chaos (and yes, before you ask, I will be icing), from U10's to members of the senior Blaze squad-that means that you'll be able to see seventeen different teams on ice during the evening...

Coventry Blaze
Blaze ENL
Coventry Phoenix (women's Div I)
Recreational and uni teams)
Coventry Chaos (The original Coventry rec team)
Coventry Chargers
Warwick Panthers (Warwick Uni)
Coventry Uni Eagles

Mercian Menace (all squads)
Coventry Blaze Juniors (all squads)

Apparently each team will play in four ten minute games-entrance is free but you'll likely be asked to make a donation to the fund, and the fun starts around 6:30 pm...if you're in the Coventry area that night, then come and see just how big a sport hockey in Coventry is...

That's your lot for today-tomorrow we reflect on GB v Austria and (finally) review the EIHL season...until then, keep keeping your eye on the puck...

International Review and EPL Preview Part 2...

I know, I know...this looks a bit strange. Basically I'm going to be out at work until around 6pm tomorrow so thought I'd get this on early on Friday, as by tomorrow evening a lot of EPL people will be on their way to Coventry already. First of all, though...

Reasons to be cheerful:...I've just got back from the GB/Sweden U20 game at the Skydome. As you'd expect of friendly games, it lacked a little in intensity but this was more than made up for by the sheer skill of the Swedes...you forgot pretty much instantly that most of these players were barely old enough to drink the MoM beer legally, never mind play senior hockey. Some of the speed and stick-handling exhibited by the youngsters, particularly Niclas Backlund and player-of-the-game Marcus Persson, was well above even that which would earn rave reviews at EIHL level. And as for the skating...Neal Martin would have to work hard to keep up with them...

However, despite this, the expected tanking never really materialised-the Swedes did spend long periods in the GB zone and tested both Stevie Lyle and Stephen Murphy (who played 30 mins each) on many occasions, but when the home side played as a unit, it looked to be more than equal to the task of keeping up with their more illustrious opponents. It was nice to see David Clarke back on British ice and his goal for 2-2 was beautifully taken as he reacted quickest to poke home a rebound from an acute angle-Stephen Murphy will want the first Swedish goal back though as a shot from the point dribbled through his five-hole.

All in all a performance from which GB fans can take heart from-they may have been pulled this way and that at times by the fast Swedish passing but held thier shape well and didn't play too many sloppy passes themselves. Drawing 2-2 with one of the top hockey countries in the world, even if it is their U20 side, is an achievement in itself for a Div 1 nation, so let's hope the squad can build on this in Innsbruck...

Meanwhile, back in domestic competition...
It's time for the second half of our EPL playoff preview, with Slough and Guildford coming under the microscope...(Bracknell and Sheffield were covered in Thursday's post)

Slough Jets
The richest side in the EPL are stuffed with EIHL-quality players-Steve Moria is still producing the goods at age 48, Jan Krajicek is by far one of the best defencemen in Britain, never mind his own league, and Blaz Emersic and Joe Cicarello round out an intimidatingly strong import corps. On d there's also Paddy Ward, who is carving out a very good career indeed at EPL level, and on forward watch out for Michael Bowman, who's made a strong return from a long injury layoff this season. The major obstacle to Slough winning the playoff weekend outright is the first they face, and we'll look at them now...

Guildford Flames
The EPL champions will come to Coventry confident that their powerful forward line, containing Lukas Smital (arguably the best forward outside the EIHL), along with Jozef Kohut, Milos Melicherik, the goals of Taras Foremsky and the grit and agitating ability of utility player Vaclav Zavoral will carry them to victory just as it did in the league season, even if one of the players has to sit out due to import rules. On defence, the cool heads of Paul Dixon and Neil Liddiard, the raw talent of young David Savage and the steady performances of Joe Watkins in net are the factors that have done the same. Bear in mind, though, that the Flames have several young Brits who can step in when needed, chief among them Ollie Bronnimann, who surely has an Elite contract in his future. If they can beat Slough, it's hard to look past the Flames as the safe bet for champions...

Predictions
First semi: Bracknell will just have too much for Sheffield, especially if Peter Slamiar's injury means he misses the game...
Second semi: Now this is a tough one to call. I'm going with Guildford, though-simply because, as a team, I think they're slightly better than Slough-a fact whic has been proven in the league season. Plus, having seen Lukas Smital and Taras Foremsky play, those two are game-winners by themselves when they're in the mood, as they certainly will be come playoff time...

Final: This'll be a titanic battle-Bees vs Flames, Kanka v Smital, Watkins v Rockman. Once again, I think the Flames just edge it, possibly in overtime, thanks to Smital and Foremsky being slightly better than Kanka and Peter Jasik when it comes to outwitting their respective defensive opponents. It really could go either way, though...

There's your Coventry preview-I may well pop along to at least the Sunday if I'm lucky enough can find the money...look for the tall, handsome (OK, maybe that's pushing it :)) guy in a Cologne Sharks or Blaze shirt settled in at the Zamboni end, or maybe, if I'm really lucky, the Windmill pub between games...

Good luck to all the teams at the weekend, and keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Thursday Thoughts: Two Team Teaser & Tunes...

Wow. That's the last time I try an alliterative title...:)

Anyway...today we'll look at the first two teams taking part in this weekend's EPL playoffs-Sheffield and Bracknell, before having a gander at the two powerhouses (Guildford and Slough) tomorrow. And of course there's your fix of IceTunes...

But first, a few items of news...

Dave Phillips signs for Belfast: ...and so the exodus from Hull begins. One of the better Brits in the league (and still only twenty) the big Stingray has finally left the club where he's spent his whole career to date to become Steve Thornton's first signing. Not a bad opening to the off-season for Giants-Phillips is big enough and fast enough to play and contribute in this league, and has experience in all situations thanks to the Stingrays throwing him into just about every situation you can have in a hockey game and expecting him to sink or swim...a very good first capture for Steve Thornton-it does, however, raise questions about Paul Moran's future in Northern Ireland-third-line forward or surplus defenceman?

Jonathan Phillips returns to Steelers: No relation to Dave, but a slightly better Brit, Jonathan Phillips will captain Sheffield for another year. This season he's finally made the leap from "great developing player" to "elite Brit" and reached a level as good as if not better than Ash Tait and Jonathan Weaver-I would love to have seen Phillips on my squad. There should be nothing but pleasure in Sheffield at this signing...

GB on the BBC: BBC Coventry will be providing live Internet commentary on all of the games involving GB at the World Championships-the link can be found here along with times. They'll also be covering tonights GB-Sweden game (which annoyingly I'll miss thanks to work) on the same link...

That's the news dealt with...now onto the teaser part with a look at the first two teams in Coventry this weekend...

Sheffield Scimitars
By far the underdogs in this group of four, the "other" Sheffield hockey club have made it to Coventry on the back of Peter Slamiar's and Stephen Wallace's goals and the heroics of Paul Jones and Pasi Raitanen in net, having topped Group A in the qualifying after finishing fifth in the league. This was something of a poisoned chalice as far as the Coventry weekend goes, however, as, thanks to their playoff groupings it now means that their supposed "easier" game is against Bracknell, who finished three places above them. With Slamiar (44+40 last time I checked) potentially missing Coventry, though, all the weight will fall upon the Scim's British talent (Robert Dowd and Stephen Wallace being the most important) if they're to have any chance of beating the Bees, and whoever plays in net will need two stellar games for the Scims to pull off a shock and win it...

Bracknell Bees
One of the powerhouses of the EPL despite their well-documented money troubles earlier in the season, the Berkshire side have the league's top import scorer in Michal Kanka, as well as a crop of very good Brits (many, like Tom Carlon and Matt Foord, with EIHL experience) to back him up and experienced EPL campaigner Greg Rockman in net. Their defence is anchored by Dwight Parrish, a long-time British hockey stalwart who's spent most of his career at the top levels in Britain, and the offensive force is provided by Jan Melichar, who can find the net as well as any forward when he needs to. The Bees will want revenge on their local rivals Guildford and Slough, either of whom they could meet in the final, and so you can guarantee they'll be going all out to avoid being the victims of a shock...

I know that these previews are a little shorter and less detailed than the ones for the Elite teams-this is the problem I have when you mainly watch EIHL hockey...if there are any mistakes in the above, feel free to correct me. Guildford and Slough previews appear tomorrow...

For all you EPL fans who are going to the Coventry weekend, by the way, the Old Windmill Pub on Spon Street usually runs offers for fans in hockey shirts during Blaze games-I believe they're continuing them for the EPL weekend, so nip in and have a pint or two...

And finally, a brief bit of IceTunes: There's only a couple of songs in there today, what with the playoff CD being created last week, and both of them are a bit more poppy than usual, but given that they've been rocking around my head all week I'll hopefully at least be able to share them and know I'm not the only one who has "earworm fever"...

Ashlee Simpson: Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya): I defy you not to have the chorus running round your head after one listen...or sit there and not get an urge to bob your head back and forth as soon as the beat kicks in...And this coming from someone who usually likes his music a lot heavier...Plus, she's by far the better-looking Simpson sister...

The Ting Tings: That's Not My Name: See above...apart from the Simpson part. :)

Tomorrow we review the GB v Sweden game and look at the other two teams taking part in the Coventry weekend...until then, keep keeping your eye on the puck...

Midweek Musings...

The trouble with writing a daily blog in the (almost) off-season is that you have to try and avoid repeating yourself-hockey news has almost gone into a kind of limbo despite the Stanley Cup playoffs starting tonight-I did consider doing a preview of them but it's one of those things you can find all but everywhere else with a few seconds' searching (and done far better than I could), so I scotched that idea. However, there are some interesting tidbits floating around the British hockey world....

Scottish rinks in trouble...: According to this BBC News article, the state of hockey in Scotland (currently with only one top-flight team in Edinburgh and a league which is well and truly disconnected from the rest of the UK as far as coverage in prestige goes) could get even worse thanks to the threatened closure of even more rinks. The article states that the vast majority of rinks in Scotland are making a loss, and this situation could only get worse thanks to the need to replace the refrigeration plants in order to comply with EU regulations coming in in the near future. The good news is that Murrayfield has apparently already done so...however, with almost nothing now heard of Fife and Dundee (once great hockey towns) outside of a few diehards who keep an eye on the Scottish league, reports of a collapse in the Scottish league and no chance of the "big" sides returning to the EIHL any time soon, these aren't great times for hockey-fans north of the border...

Devils chasing Mark Smith: According to the South Wales Echo, Cardiff are targeting a return of their top centre (and one of the best of the EIHL era, in my opinion) Mark Smith for next season. The Canadian, who's spent this season in Italy after scoring 35+57 for the Devils in 06/07, is believed to be interested in a return to the Welsh capital-the Devils faithful will be hoping this will rekindle his partnership with Max Birbraer in order to provide a top line which can compete with any in the league, including the famed AC/DC partnership in Coventry...

More Blaze rumours: Although this time Curtis Huppe is the player being replaced, as the ex-Giant is rumoured to be retiring this off-season. Lance Galbraith is a name that's been mentioned as a target-as a fairly prolific scorer in the ECHL he would more than slot in on the top two lines of any EIHL side...

More Wagecap questions: An idea from the Phoenix forum to sort out the clear problems with the current wagecap...make all contracts the responsibility of the EIHL rather than the teams themselves, with the teams paying the wage money into a central account which is then distributed to the players according to the terms of their contract. Not a bad idea at all, this-it would make the cap a hell of a lot harder to break if the people running the league knew what everyone else was being paid-and since all contracts are central, it would allow for trades between teams without breaking the EU employment laws, since players would still be working for the same employer, but just "transferred" to a different department under the same contract...But I'm sure there'll be some reason why this couldn't be applied to UK hockey, so once again we return to the problem of the people running the league also being the people who effectively ignore their own rules in the first place...

There you go-there's the Midweek Musings for this week...tomorrow we will take an in-depth look at the first two teams in the EPL playoff weekend and begin the build-up to Coventry as well as round-up any new rumours...

Keep keeping your eye on the puck...