Keeley's Korner - Hockey Hotties for the Ladies in the UK

The response on my first two columns has been amazing.  I am all over this hockey hotties things and the shout outs from the readers really got me thinking.

While the NHL is all well and good for hockey hotties, there is no harm in looking elsewhere too – particularly in the Elite Hockey League, way over in the UK. After all, there’s nothing quite like a hot guy with an accent.

Here are some of the best looking lads to play the beautiful game across the pond.

Name: Craig Peacock

DOB: 8^th August 1988
Team: Belfast Giants

Why?: A standout player on the Giants, it’s hard not to notice Peacock – especially without all his uniform and equipment on. It’s unfortunate that there’s not nearly enough photos to show this (no shirtless shots, boo! L), but let’s face it – Peacock doesn’t really need them. With his gorgeous blue-grey eyes and curly dark hair, there’s no doubt that he falls into the hottie category. Even more unfortunate? It seems he’s off the market. But hey, maybe twitter’s not that reliable of a source… a girl can only hope.

Name: Tim Burrows

DOB: 22^nd March 1990
Team: Cardiff Devils

Why?: Again – it’s unfortunate that there’s no shirtless pictures. Maybe it’s an NHL thing? But oh well, it doesn’t really matter – the photos that are around are more then enough proof for why he’s on the list. The fact is, Burrows is just amazing. There’s no doubt that he’s talented – afterall, that’s why the Devils have kept him for so long – but with his not-quite-hockey hair and dimpled grin, it’s easy to see why he’s made the list. Plus, he watches ‘Take Me Out’ – perfect, or what?

Name: Josh Batch

DOB: 15^th January 1991
Team: Cardiff Devils

Why?: Of the three guys on the list, Batch is the baby of the group, yet has played the farthest away from home – and if the Devils brought him back from the US specifically to play, it’s really no question that he’s talented. Just like how with his blonde hair, blue eyes and nice smile, there’s no question that he’s just completely gorgeous. As a bonus, for those who like a guy with tattoos – I know I do - Batch’s got a shoulder piece on his right arm, which only adds to his hottness.

Anyways ladies, have to dash out now for some food.  Stay in touch and let me know what you think of my boys I think you will love them.  I know I did.

- Keeley Ryan

Sheffield Steelers and Belfast Giants Crush Opponents (UK Round Up 26th February)

With the title race well and truly on in the EIHL there were crucial games to be played across the country.

Edinburgh Capitals 0 Sheffield Steelers 7

The Steelers coach Ryan Finnerty had said that his side needed to be more potent in front of the goal following two less than convincing games in Scotland. Finnerty also gambled by resting John De Caro to be replaced by British goalie Geoff Woolhouse.

The gamble paid off as the Steelers’ dominated the game from start to finish. A brace from Finnerty was backed up by goals from King, Huttel, Birnstill and Legue whilst Woolhouse stayed strong in front of some spirited Capitals attacks.

It was a vitalising victory for the Steelers who needed a boost after two shaky performances.

Belfast Giants 5 Coventry Blaze 0

Coventry returned to the rink looking for some points after their pointless weekend less time out. However Belfast were on again a hot streak.

The Giants picked up a 4-point lead with 13 goals scored and non conceded.

Braehead Clan 5 Dundee Stars 6 (APS)

The Stars – Clan game was the game of the round with the Stars looking to take advantage of the Capitals poor run and the Clan on some good form.

The Stars took the lead twice early only to find themselves 3 goals behind going into the last ten minutes. It was Kolanos, Maclean and McIntosh who netted within a minute of each other to level the scores and send the game to overtime.

No overtime winner was found and it fell to Chris Whitely to save from the usually reliable Jade Galbraith to win the game for the home team.

Nottingham Panthers 4 Fife Flyers 3

The Flyers were missing 3 players in their match up but again the Kirkcaldy side made it difficult for the visitors. But it was the visitors who showed the skill and took an advantage through Benedict and Francis.

It was a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish but a third period double from Gunn meant that the Panthers couldn’t relax.

Hull Stingrays 3 Cardiff Devils 5

The Devils maintained their good run of form to remain in contention for a top 4 finish with a controlling display against the Stingrays.

However it was the Stingrays that took the lead through former Devil Jason Silverthorn but a double from Matzka and 1 from Gerard Adams meant the Devils were in control of the tie.

Hull remained in contention with a Sylvan Cloutier strike but 2 in a minute from Pierce and Scott Matzka (for his hat trick) put the game beyond doubt even though Osman came in with consolation for the Stingrays.

English Premier League

There were just 3 games in the EPL on Sunday night and with Guildford not in action it was a chance for the Manchester Phoenix to close the gap. The Phoenix were missing Slava Koulikov to an injury picked up in the tie at Bracknell on Saturday night but looked to have done enough to beat the Berkshire outfit for the second night in a row. But with 90 seconds to go the Bees found an equaliser that appeared to be taking the game to overtime until James Archer netted his second of the game with 18 seconds left on the clock to win it for the Manchester Phoenix.

The 3^rd and 4^th placed sides also meant at Ice Sheffield with both sides having lost the night before. The Jets took the lead but it was Sheffield who came away with the spoils and leapfrog their opponents into third spot.

The final game of the night was in Peterborough where the Phantoms were involved in another high scoring match up this time against the Milton Keynes Lightning. This time though it was the Lightning who did the majority of the scoring to beat the Phantoms who remain outside of the playoffs but tied on points with the Bracknell Bees.

Scores

Sunday 26^th February

EIHL

Hull Stingrays 3 Cardiff Devils 5

Edinburgh Capitals 0 Sheffield Steelers 7

Belfast Giants 5 Coventry Blaze 0

Nottingham Panthers 4 Fife Flyers 3

Braehead Clan 5 Dundee Stars 6 (APS)

EPL

Bracknell Bees 2 Manchester Phoenix 3

Milton Keynes Lightning 9 Peterborough Phantoms 3

Slough Jets 3 Sheffield Steeldogs 5

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

UK Round Up 14th February – Tendler Suspended and No Valentines Love Between the Steelers and the Panthers

It was an important day for the Elite League and British hockey as there were two big news stories in the EIHL today both coming out of Yorkshire.

Firstly in Hull the Stingrays have announced they will be without top scorer Jerome Tendler for some time as the forward has failed a drugs test.

Tendler has been missing from the Stingrays line up for 4 games since being informed of the news that he had tested positive after a game against the Coventry Blaze on January 15^th. The actual substance the Canadian was found to have taken has not been released yet but was described by the organisation as a ‘specified substance,’ which according to the World Anti Doping Authority, WADA, is one that is ‘more susceptible to a credible, non-doping explanation.’

Tendler will remain suspended from playing duties until his case is heard by the UK Anti Doping Agency however if found guilty Tendler could face a punishment of anything from a warning to a 2 year ban. The EIHL has not announced whether or not it plans to take its own disciplinary measures against the player or not.

It is a huge blow for the Stingrays who currently lie 7^th in the table and are looking to secure their playoff spot.

On the other side of Yorkshire there was no Valentines Day love to be shown at the Motorpoint Arena as the Sheffield Steelers faced their biggest rivals the Nottingham Panthers. Eleven years after a mass brawl on the ice in the NIC between the two sides there has been little love ever since.

Tonight’s meeting was important for both sides, as both need a win to keep the pressure up on Belfast at the top of the table. The tone was set early as David Clarke put the Panthers ahead after just over a minute only for Colt King to reply for home side less than a minute later.

The second period followed a similar pattern as Birnstill this time put the Steeler’s in front before Robert Lachowicz replied for the Panthers. The deadlock was finally broken in the third period as the Panthers penalty troubles caught up with them with Steelers player coach Ryan Finnerty notching the gaming-winning goal after fighting with Brock Wilson earlier in the game.

Jonathan Philips netted with just over a minute remain to seal the victory, move the Steelers 3 points clear of the Panthers in second place and 2 points closer to the Giants but also seals a first win in 5 attempts so far this season against their arch rivals.

Results

Elite League

Tuesday 14^th February

Nottingham Panthers 2 Sheffield Steelers 4

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

Montreal Canadiens Madness Continues

You have to give it to boys in Montreal.  They sure know how to kick up a firestorm.  This New Year is going to be a great time to be Habs fan.  We smell a turnaround.

http://www.getrealhockey.blogspot.com/2012/01/habs-are-looking-for-turn-around-post.html

The rumour mill is on high alert with all sorts of talk about Patrick Roy and his possible involvement as a GM for the Habs. Roy is a hockey god in La Belle Province and he would be the perfect candidate for all Canadiens fans ; both French and English. He was a winner in the NHL and he has continued to be a winner in junior hockey with the Quebec Remparts.

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/01/30/could-legendary-goalie-patrick-roy-be-an-nhl-gm-in-waiting/

The trade rumours in Montreal also have PK Subban being traded.  We agree with Mike Boone of the Gazette that this would be crazy. 

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/01/26/the-habs-trade-subban-sheer-madness-writes-gazette-columnist-boone/

Subban may be young by NHL standards and sometimes he is to aggressive but the Habs will need that spark once they embrace a more offensive style of hockey.  We clearly saw that the Habs can play offense , last week.  The thrashing of the Detroit Red Wings is a sign of promise and Montreal will surely choose to continue to follow that path in the coming months and years. 

http://www.faceoff.com/hockey/teams/montreal-canadiens/Breakdown+Habs+clinic/6052453/story.html

The days of defensive hockey for the Habs are behind them.  Go Habs Go !!!!

Bruins Love the Habs ?

The heated rivalry between the Bruins and Habs is the stuff of legends.  Cashman , O'Reilly, Lafleur and Robinson represented that rivalry for the modern hockey fan and guys like Chara and Subban have kept up that tradition to this day.

That was true until January 27th, 2012.

Last night was the official thawing of tensions between the two power houses.  In front of a packed house; Zdeno Chara picked Carey Price for his squad in this year's All-Star game.  This pick was the highlight of the NHL's 2012 love fest (All-Star game).

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/carey-price-near-spit-nhl-star-draft-handshake-022514343.html

It seems official now that the Bruins love the Habs. This seismic shift in hockey etiquette and tradition caught Carey Price by surprise and shocked the daylights out of the Habs and Bruins faithful.  The dark black line has officially been crossed and the question is where do we go from here.   Is the hand holding at this year's All-Star going to lead to an easing of tensions between Montreal and Boston ?  What's next ?

How about Subban and Horton going for a coffee ?

Maybe Tyler Seguin and Zdeno Chara can have streets named after them in downtown Montreal ?

This move by Chara was a downer for everyone who lives for rivalries in the NHL.  An Original Six rivalry is the backbone of the NHL.  It is good for fans and good for the NHL.

Hopefully, things will get back to normal and these foes will get back to "hating".  Sugar and spice and everything nice has no place in the HL.  Not even at the love fest which is the NHL All-Star game.

EPL Gears Up for the Stretch

As the Steeldogs boarded the bus for the Thursday night trip over the Pennines to Manchester they welcomed a new face. Raivis Kurnigins joins the Steeldogs for the remainder of the season from Latvian league side JLSS Zemgele where he had scored 17 times this season.

Kurnigins joins the team with fellow Latvian sniper Janis Ozolins a fan favourite at Ice Sheffield already. The Steeldogs also announced the signing for academy player and Great Britain Under 18 player Shaun Wild who will also be in the side in time for the clash with the Phoenix.

The Steeldogs signings mark the start of the end for the EPL season and this season it is closer than ever. Going into Thursday game between the Manchester Phoenix and the Sheffield Steelers the top 5 were separated by 6 points with about 20 of the 54 game season remaining.

The Guildford Flames still top the league and remain slight favourites for the title following Sundays win against the unbeaten in 9 Manchester Phoenix. The Phoenix’s run over the new period, which included wins over fellow title chasers Milton Keynes, Guildford, Sheffield and Slough had lifted them back into contention. However in a tight chasing pack the Manchester Phoenix currently lie 4^th one spot ahead of tonight’s opponents Sheffield but level on points with the Slough Jets.

Slough’s rink problems over last weekend had led to the postponement of their scheduled home game which meant that the third place Jets slip 4 points behind the Flames but with a game in hand over their Surrey rivals. Milton Keynes on the other hand lies 2^nd in the table level on games played with the Flames but 3 points behind and with a new signing of their own in the team.

This situation makes it all to play for and the Steeldogs moves in the transfer market make it clear they mean business heading down the stretch. Whether it will make the difference for the Yorkshire club is a difficult question. A set of legs on the bench will freshen the team up but if they don’t gel together quickly (and Kurnigins doesn’t speak English) things could go wrong.

Momentum will be key for the eventual 2012 champions. Manchester’s 10 game winning streak proves that any team out side of the top two this year can make some ground to challenge the top. However they will need to keep it going whilst those at the top now will know they cannot afford to drop points.

Crucially Slough’s rink problem last weekend could proof to be the difference.

With a game in hand they can move up the standings quickly but it is an extra game to fit in.  All eyes in the EPL playoff race will be on the last three weeks when Manchester face Guildford, Sheffield and Slough. Whilst the last weekends fixtures sees Guildford hosting the Steeldogs and a home and home series between the Milton Keynes Lightning and the Slough Jets.

The game in Manchester was a typical feisty war of roses match up. There were penalties a plenty but the break through game in the third period when Duggan, Cingel and Koulikov netted to give the Phoenix a 3 – 0 win.

That moves the Manchester outfit up to 2^nd in the table now 2 points behind the Guildford Flames who have 2 games in hand.

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

The Get Real Guide to the Nottingham Panthers

Home: NIC (National Ice Center) Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Founded: 1946

Colours: Gold, Black, White

The Nottingham Panthers are probably the most famous name in English ice hockey. They have completed at the top level English and British Leagues since their inception in 1946 however it has not always been a straightforward affair.

Even going back to the very beginning of ice hockey in Nottingham it almost did not start. The original Ice Stadium in Nottingham was finished in 1939 just in time for a team to be formed in time for the 1939 season only for it to be cancelled due to World War 2. The Panthers though did finally make their debut on 22^nd November 1946 beating the Wembley Monarchs.

The Panthers first success came in 1951 when they won the English League title before repeating that in 1954. Following the merger of the English and Scottish leagues in 1954 the Panthers became members of the new British league and went from strength to strength and in the 1955 – 56 season won the Autumn Cup and the league title.

However that league title has so far proven to be the Panthers last league title. This was in part due to the collapse of the British League in 1960 that put the team in hiatus until 1980.

In 1980 the team did return after the relocation of the Sheffield Lancers and took their place in the English League. Then in 1983 the Nottingham Panthers took their place as a major player by being a founder member of the new British League and in 1986 won their first trophy in 30 years by beating the Fife Flyers to lift the Norwich Union Trophy.

Over the next 10 years the Panthers remained a force in the British League and prominent name of it. In 1996 once again the Panthers were at the fore again off the ice by being a founder member of the Superleague. The Superleague removed all wage and import caps and saw massive spending in the sport. However the Panthers could not keep up and in 1997 the team was sold to Neil Black whose tight fiscal policies saved the Panthers but that did not lead to much success. However in 2000 the Panthers moved the short distance from the Ice Stadium to the new National Ice Center.

When the Superleague collapsed in 2003 the Panthers became a founder member of the EIHL. The Elite League era has seen an upsurge in their fortunes winning the Challenge Cup in 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2011 as well as the playoff title in 2007 and 2011. However the elusive league title is still missing from the trophy cabinet.

This season has again seen the Nottingham Panthers be a front-runner in the EIHL league table and have made the Challenge Cup Final. However there is little doubt that the title they and their fans really want is the league title. As one fan put it recently for the Nottingham Panthers winning the league title will be like the New York Rangers winning the Stanley Cup in 1994.

Honours

League Championships 1950–51, 1953–54, 1955–56

Playoff Championships 1988–89, 2006–07, 2010–11

Autumn Cups 1955–56, 1986–87, 1991–92, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1998–99

Challenge Cups 2003–04, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11

Website

http://www.panthers.co.uk/ - Nottingham Panthers website

http://tcwfanzine.wordpress.com/ - The Cats Whiskers Fans Fanzine

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

Follow Up: Bristol Ice Rink (EIHL & EPL)

A few weeks ago it was announced that Bristol Ice Rink will close its doors and be redeveloped into student accommodation and that it still unsure whether a replacement rink will go ahead. There has been started an online petition to Bristol Council and to the central government to show that there is support for a rink.

Bristol is an important rink for ice hockey in the UK houses a successful English National League South side as well development teams of all ages. If this rink was to close it be a round trip of 160 miles in order for the youngsters in those teams to play the sport.

The petition can be signed here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-the-ice-rink/

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com