Nottingham Panthers Lay Down the Law (UK Round Up - 19th February)

What an exciting end of the week in the EIHL and EPL !!!

Nottingham Panthers 9 Edinburgh Capitals 0

With the top two not in action the Nottingham Panthers had a golden chance to move back into second place.

After a controlling the game through the first two periods the floodgates opened up. The Panthers scoring 6 times in the final period including 3 goals in the last 2 minutes.

That victory lifts the Panthers over the Steelers into second place. Whereas the loss means the Capitals are winless now in their last 11 games in danger of slipping out of the play offs.

Cardiff Devils 5 Hull Stingrays 3

The Hull Stingrays recent good run of form had seen them lifted higher into the playoffs and out of immediate danger of missing the end of season showdown. However the Devils put paid to that as a brace from Macrae meant the Stingrays would leave the weekend without a point.

Jason Silverthorn’s 57^th minute goal though did offer give the home side a chance in what was other wise a dominating display from the Cardiff Devils.

Braehead Clan 6 Coventry Blaze 4

In a rematch from Saturday night the Clan went to the Skydome. The hometown Blaze had been beaten in Glasgow in that match and another defeat tonight would lift the Clan above them into fifth place.

For such a challenge there is only one man in the Elite League who can step up, Jade Galbraith. In a tight, end to game the Canadian proved to be the difference as his hat trick lifted the visitors to a 4-point weekend and fifth place in the EIHL.

English Premier League

All EPL teams were back in action tonight as after 20 minutes the Guildford Flames gave the Manchester Phoenix and Slough Jets a glimmer of hope in the title race. The Flames were tied at 0 – 0 with the Swindon Wildcats but that glimmer was extinguished in the second as the Flames went on to win 9 -1 and remain in control in the title race.

The Phoenix and the Jets though both kept up the pressure tho with wins over the Milton Keynes Lightning and Telford Tigers. The Sheffield Steeldogs also picked up a valuable win in overtime over the Bracknell Bees who were also grateful for a point. In a tight race playoff race the Bees point may prove important the chasing Peterborough Phantoms also picked up a point in their shootout lose at the Basingstoke Bison. 

Results

Elite League

Nottingham Panthers 9 Edinburgh Capitals 0

Cardiff Devils 5 Hull Stingrays 3

Braehead Clan 6 Coventry 4

English Premier League

Swindon Wildcats 1 Guildford Flames 9

Milton Keynes Lightning 2 Manchester Phoenix 5

Peterborough Phantoms 6 Basingstoke Bison 7 (APS)

Sheffield Steeldogs 3 Bracknell Bees 2 (AOT)

Telford Tigers 1 Slough Jets 5

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

Cardiff Devils @ the Center of UK Hockey News ( UK Round Up 3rd – 5th February)

The big news of the ice in the UK was literally big as the Cardiff Devil’s forward and character and tough guy Brad Voth hung up his skates for the last time. The 6ft5 forward from Calgary has been out with a nerve injury since late December and has decided that in order to protect his future health he could not continue his playing career.

It is a big blow for the Cardiff Devils who now cannot sign another import player due to the end of the IIHF transfer window and a big blow for the sport. Voth had a proven record for the physical play and had provided plenty of talking points both good and bad during his time in the Welsh Capital.

There was more positive news however as the Edinburgh Capitals captured the signing of their free scoring forward Rene Jarolin for next season.

Elite League

Friday 3^rd January

Hull and Coventry started the weekends on ice action at the Hull Arena. It turned out to be a very bad start for the Hull Stingrays as the Blaze turned on the style. Goals from Owen, Fussey and new signing Nylander ended the game as a contest by the end of the first period.

Fussey completed his hat trick and Nylander and Kralj added a brace to complete the rout before the game was over. Cloutier and MacKinney did add 2 consolation goals but it was poor night at the office for the Stingrays.

Saturday 4^th January

The weekend then got worse for the Stingrays as they faced the Steelers in the Yorkshire derby at the Motorpoint. Despite putting up some good shot numbers the Stingrays could not make a break through. The Steelers however without the suspended spare import Neil Clark did take their chances and goals from Stephenson, Legue and Fulgham ensured the 2 points stayed in Sheffield.

Coventry on the other hand showed no signs of fatigue from their game the night before as they continued their free scoring in Fife. However the Blaze had to come from behind as Hartmanis put the Flyers ahead. It was goals from Cowley and Weaver who put the Blaze back in front before Owen Fussey added another 2 to his tally for the weekend to seal the win.

The Flyers though remain above the Stars at the foot of the table as the Stars lost in the NIC. The Panthers found their game legs early and the back of the net, as they did not look back. A David Clarke hat trick was the highlight of the game.

The nights other game was at the Odyssey as the Giants and the Devils faced off in the league and Challenge Cup second leg. The Devils had enjoyed a one-goal lead in the cup tie and that was doubled inside the first minute as MacRae put the Devils one up. However that was as good as it got for the Welsh side. The Giants were ahead on the night and level on aggregate by the end of the first period thanks to former Devils forward Jon Pelle and Craig Peacok. Dowd and Aaron Clarke added to that lead as the Giants progress to face the Panthers in the final and take 2 more league points.

Sunday 5^th February

The weather caused some chaos to start times in the EIHL and to the Belfast Giants in particular. The Giants arrived late for their top of table clash with the champions and their bus legs showed as the Steelers took a first period lead.

Former Steeler Robert Dowd then levelled the scores in the second before King put the Steelers ahead again. The Giants then got into their stride as Mason levelled the scores going into the third before Pelle and new signing Hoffman sealed an important victory for the Giants.

At the bottom of table the Stars leap frogged the Flyers as the two sides faced off in Dundee. 2 goals in the first minute but the Stars up but a brace from former Stars player coach Dan Ceman kept the Flyers in the tie. However it was a brace from Ceman’s successor in Dundee Brent Hughes and goals from Kolanos and McIntosh that sealed a key 2 points for the Stars.

Cardiff and Braehead met in the nights final game and the Devils difficult trip home from Belfast seemed to have hurt them as the Clan took a first period 3 goal lead. A second period goal from Pierce gave the Devils hope however and 3 third period goals from the Devils seemed to sealed the victory but Jade Galbraith completed his hat trick with 30 seconds left to take the game to overtime.

There were no goals in the extra period but the Clan salvaged the win on penalties.

English Premier League

Saturday 4^th February

It was a big weekend of action in the EPL as the top-sides face off against each other. On Saturday night the joint second placed Manchester Phoenix travelled to Milton Keynes and got one up on the Lightning to leave the hosts adrift of the rest of the title chasers in fifth place. Slough had the opportunity to close the gap at the top but the Flames stole the game in overtime to move another point ahead of the Jets.

Fellow title contenders Sheffield had easer game against the Phantoms as they ran out 3 – 0 winners to move level on points with the Jets. Whilst Bracknell moved 2 points further ahead of the Phantoms in the playoff race with 1 – 0 victory over Telford.

Sunday 5^th February

On Sunday the title race probably ended for the Lightning as they lost to the Flames at the Spectrum. Manchester kept up their challenge though as they beat the Wildcats in an icey Altrincham. The Jets also kept their title hopes alive with a 3 goal win over Basingstoke. Whilst Peterborough took the 2 points in a 15 goal thriller at Telford to move within 4 points of the playoffs.

Scores

Friday 4^th February

Elite League

Coventry Blaze 8 Hull Stingrays 2

Saturday 5^th February

Elite League

Dundee Stars 2 Nottingham Panthers 6

Hull Stingrays 0 Sheffield Steelers 3

Coventry Blaze 5 Fife Flyers 1

Elite League/ Challenge Cup

Cardiff Devils (3) 1 Belfast Giants 4 (5)

EPL

Manchester Phoenix 3 Milton Keynes Lightning 1

Guildford Flames 5 Slough Jets 4 (AOT)

Swindon Wildcats 4 Basingstoke 5

Telford Tigers 0 Bracknell Bees 1

Peterborough Phantoms 0 Sheffield Steeldogs 3

Sunday 5^th February

Elite League

Breahead Clan 5 Cardiff Devils 4 (APS)

Belfast Giants 4 Sheffield Steelers 2

Fife Flyers 2 Dundee Stars 6

EPL

Swindon Wildcats 3 Manchester Phoenix 6

Milton Keynes Lightning 2 Guildford Flames 4

Basingstoke Bison 0 Slough Jets 3

Peterborough Phantoms 6 Telford Tigers 8

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

UK Weekend Round Up 13th – 15th January 2012 (EIHL and EPL)

The weekend began with the annual playoff announcement from the EIHL. In a change from tradition the playoff weekend will not be contain the Under 19 England – Scotland game but fans will instead be able to go to the end of season awards on the Sunday. There was also a new price, which raised a few eyebrows.

When tickets are released on general sale on March 9^th a weekend pass will be £80. That has caused a few moans of disgruntlement around the fan clubs as the price is around £35 more expensive than watching 3 regular season games.

Elite League

On the ice the action got underway on Friday night with two games. Coventry were in Belfast for back to back games with the Giants knowing a win could put them back in the title hunt. It wasn’t to be however as the Giants edged the game thanks in part to Robert Dowd’s 200^th Elite League point and Adam Keefe’s empty netter for a 5-3 finish.

Cardiff were also in action as they made the longest trip in British ice hockey to play the Dundee Stars. There was large Devils contingent in attendance however as the Devil’s took control of the game early through Phil Hill and regained it in the second through MacRae and Smith for a comfortable 3 -1 victory to move above the Braehead Clan into 5^th place.

Saturday’s EIHL highlight came from Braehead. The Clan’s largest ever crowd were on hand for the sides Challenge Cup semi final against Nottingham. It was to a frustrating night for the Panthers as the former favourite Jade Galbraith took charge of the game giving the clan a 3 – 2 victory and a narrow 1 goal lead going into Sunday’s match up. The game was followed by an incident involving Nottingham player coach Corey Neilsen who accidently shot a puck into the crowd after taking a slapshot following the final hooter.

The other big game was in Belfast as the Blaze and the Giants once again faced each other. It was another tight game that saw 6 goals inside 10 minutes during the first period to send the teams in even at the first intermission. The deadlock was broken in the third as Aaron Clarke beat Peter Hirsch to give the Giants the 2 points. The loss for the Blaze however sums up their season of almost but not quite and it looks like they are now out of the title race.

Cardiff made the trip down the Scottish coast to Fife to play their second game of the weekend. Goals from MacRae, Matzka and Dobben lifting them to another 2 points whilst the night’s final game was in Hull. The Stingrays though took their chances to beat the Capitals in an even battle on the ice if not on the scoreboard.

Sunday’s games saw Cardiff complete their Scottish road trip with another win. The Devils took the 2 points thanks to a Scot Matzka overtime winner. The Capitals will be pleased to get a point out this game but did go 0 for 15 on the powerplay over their 2 games this weekend.

Coventry too were playing their third game of the weekend as they arrived home to face the Hull Stingrays. A third period triple from Owen, Guthrie and Fussey proved to be the difference as the Blaze dominated the game 5 -2.

Meanwhile at the NIC the Panthers hosted the Clan in the second leg of their semi final. Despite the Clan controlling the play for large periods a first period double from Jordan Fox and a second period goal from Benoit Benedict was enough to put the Panthers through to the Challenge Cup Final. The other semi final between the Giants and Devils starts on the 4^th February.

With the Giants not in action and the Panthers playing in the Cup it was the Steelers who were looking to make up some ground in the title chase. A brace from Luke Fulgham was enough to lift the Steelers above the Stars who had goaltender Chris Whitley to thank that the score was only 3 -1. That win however does move the Sheffield side 2 points behind the Nottingham Panthers but still with 6 games in hand.

English Premier League

On Saturday night the EPL top two met at Planet Ice in Milton Keynes. The Lightning had crept up the standings using their games in hand but it was the league leaders who came out top by an odd goal in 11 and extend their lead to 5 points. Elsewhere it was a night of big wins.

Slough Jets put 11 past Telford, Swindon scored 7 against Peterborough and the Steeldogs hit the Bracknell Bees for 6. Meanwhile it was a seventh straight win for the Manchester Phoenix at Basingstoke.

On Sunday it was Slough’s turn to get back in the title race as they went to the Spectrum to face the leaders Guildford. It was another tight game for the Flames but this time it was the Jets who game out on top 4 – 3.

Second place also played fourth place as the Phoenix and the Lightning squared off in Manchester. It was the hot form of the Phoenix that proved too much as they made it 8 straight wins and remain unbeaten in 2011. With that victory the defending champion moved to win 6 points of the leaders and perhaps are back in the EPL title race.

Peterborough also recorded a win against the Steeldogs to move a small step closer to the playoffs but they were not helped by Bracknell’s win.

Results

Friday 13^th January

Elite League

Coventry Blaze 3 Belfast Giants 5

Cardiff Devils 3 Dundee Stars 1

Saturday 14^th January

Elite League

Coventry Blaze 3 Belfast Giants 4

Cardiff Devils 3 Fife Flyers 1

Edinburgh Capitals 0 Hull Stingrays 3

Elite League Challenge Cup

Nottingham Panthers 2 Braehead Clan 3

English Premier League

Manchester Phoenix 5 Basingstoke Bison 0

Guildford Flames 6 Milton Keynes Lightning 5

Telford Tigers 2 Slough Jets 11

Peterborough Phantoms 2 Swindon Wildcats 7

Bracknell Bees 1 Sheffield Steeldogs 6

Sunday 15^th January

Elite League

Dundee Stars 1 Sheffield Steelers 3

Hull Stingrays 2 Coventry Blaze 5

Edinburgh Capitals 1 Cardiff Devils 2 (AOT)

Elite League Challenge Cup

Nottingham Panthers 3 (5) Braehead Clan 0 (3)

English Premier League

Milton Keynes Lightning 3 Manchester Phoenix 6

Slough Jets 4 Guildford Flames 3

Swindon Wildcats 2 Bracknell Bees 3

Basingstoke Bison 3 Telford Tigers 1

Sheffield Steeldogs 2 Peterborough Phantoms 5

- Neil Tucker

Bluelinehockeyblog.blogspot.com

Sheffield Steelers Come Out on Top Again

Friday night saw a rare televised game over here in the UK as the Sheffield Steelers visited the Blaze at the Sky Dome Arena in Coventry.

An entertaining 1^st period saw Coventry have the better of the early exchanges but it was Sheffield who took the lead as ex Blaze forward Luke Fulgham pounced on a puck after good pressure from Phillips and Finnerty,  deked around Hirsch in the Coventry net and finished from a wide angle.

Sheffield had to then kill off their first 2 minutes of the night as Jason Hewitt sat for tripping but Coventry couldn’t force an equaliser as they pressured the Steelers net.

Infact it was Ramsay who made it 2-0 for Sheffield at 8.37. Jeff Legue led from the red line on a 2 on 1 and his pass to Ramsay was just about directed towards net and the puck seemed to squirm up and over Hirsch on his stick side.

It was soon 3-0 as Jason Hewitt picked up a rebound off a Matt Stephenson shot at 10.05 as Paul Thompson called a time out from the Coventry bench.

This stemmed the flow of goals from Sheffield who in all honesty were lucky to be leading by 3 so early. The game had been pretty even with the Steelers seeming to be getting the bounce of the puck as well as being clinical with their chances.

The first minute of the third period saw Birnstall and Hewitt in the box for Sheffield whilst Farmer went for Coventry which gave the Blaze another powerplay opportunity that they couldn’t capitalize on.

Coventry would come to rue some bad powerplay time as the game went on as Sheffield made it 4-0 at 10.45 of the 2^nd. It was Mike Ramsay’s 2^nd of the game on a Steelers powerplay as Ashley Tait found the inform wingman all alone and he buried the puck low past Hirsch.

Robert Farmer then decided he would try and get the Blaze team going after a little skirmish infront of the Steelers net. He dropped his gloves in anticipation Mark Thomas was going to dance with him but his ex team mate declined. Amazingly Farmer wasn’t called for his actions and only Jason Hewitt was called for  his 3^rd 2 minute penalty of the night, this time for a hook in the build up before the fracas. However, Coventry still couldn’t get anything going to get back into the game.

They did finally manage to get on the board with 6.30 left on the period as Bryan Jurynec tucked the puck in quickly after a big rebound was given out by John DeCaro off a Jeremie Domish blast from distance.

There was an immediate chance for a 2^nd as Mike Ramsay gave up a puck infront of his netminder but this time DeCaro made a great glove save to deny the Blaze. DeCaro then made his 2^nd great stop of the period as he got a piece of one shot with his glove and as it went over his shoulder he manged to get back down to deny the Blaze forwards crashing the net trying to force home the loose puck.

There was certainly a momentum change after the Blaze goal as Coventry tried but failed to get a 2^nd before the end of the period.

Coventry would however come out for the 3^rd period with around 1 minute 20 left on a powerplay opportunity but yet again they couldn’t click on this as the period had an extremely scrappy start to it.

The Blaze would then have 4 consecutive powerplays from 7 minutes into the period without managing to create too many great chances on them.

Mike McLean had the best chance of all but he somehow managed to hit the post with the cage wide open infront of him.

The Steelers saw out the remainder of the game and despite being outshot 33-25 and taking 20 PIMS to the Blaze 8 they held on to that 4-1 scoreline and the 2 points were heading back to Sheffield.

The Steelers now head to Kirkcaldy for a Saturday night game against the Fife Flyers and then over to Edinburgh on Sunday to finish off 3 games in 3 nights with a tough tie against the ever improving Capitals.

- Adam Yates

Sheffield Steelers Hit Coventry Blaze For 6.

More GB hockey action for our readers !!

The only Elite League game to be played on New Years Day saw the Sheffield Steelers regain 4^th spot in the Elite League with a fine 6-3 win over the Coventry Blaze.

Coventry started the opening 2 minutes looking menacing but a defensive lapse saw Colt King give Sheffield the lead at 2.33. He fired the puck high over the net but it took a funny bounce to come straight back infront of the net and with the Blaze defence asleep King stole in to fire the puck past Hirsch.

The Blaze levelled at 8.34 as Barry Jurynec was the beneficiary from a Matt Stephenson mistake as the puck found him open infront of the net and he fired past John De Caro. Stephenson was less than impressed with himself, smashing his stick on the crossbar as he realised he should have controlled and cleared the puck.

Sheffield were to take a 2-1 lead into the 2^nd period though as ex Blaze star Luke Fulgham got on the score sheet with a clinical finish at 17.46.

2 quick goals at the start of the 2^nd period saw Sheffield take a commanding 4-1 lead as Fulgham scored his 2^nd of the game at 21.48 and Jeff Legue fired  a one timer in off the bar as Colt King fed him the perfect pass on a 2-1 breakaway.

It then turned into the Peter Hirsch show as the Blaze netminder started to stand on his head to keep the score down. He pulled off some jaw dropping saves from Legue, King and Finnerty – the latter the most upset as he slammed his stick into the plexi after being denied on his chance.

The Blaze did pull a goal back in the midst of all these Steelers chances as Owen Fussey scored a powerplay goal at 5.53.

Hirsch was still on top form at the start of the 3^rd period as he again denied Finnerty a certain goal but he was finally beaten for a 5^th time as Matt Stephenson atoned for his earlier error and managed to force the puck in behind the Blaze netminder.

Coventry weren’t finished yet though and brought the game back to within 2 as Greg Owen scored at 9.32 of the third, firing the puck in off De Caro’s skates from just behind the goal line.

However, Mike Ramsay finished off the scoring at 11.45 of the period as he was put clean in on Hirsch and this time the netminder couldn’t pull off the big save as Ramsay deked round him and fired it into the net.

A superb game from both teams but Sheffield proved they are a force on home ice and got back to winning ways after 2 disappointing games over Christmas.

My man of the match awards go to Peter Hirsch in the Blaze goal who certainly stopped the Steelers scoring 10 in this game. There were at least 5 / 6 one on ones where he pulled of miraculous stops and he kept his team in the game in the 2^nd period.

For Sheffield, Colt King really impressed me. Having a reputation as more of an enforcer type of player he is certainly a lot more than that. A great power forward display and his passing was excellent throughout the game. 1 + 1 on the board and was one of the ones that Hirsch stoned otherwise would have scored more.

- Adam Yates

Hull Douses the Blaze

Coventry Blaze 2 Hull Stingrays 3

There was just one game in the Elite League as the Stingrays and the Blaze swapped favours and headed to Hull for the return leg from last night. Tonight that it was the home side Stingrays that held on for the win.

Goals from Silverthorn and a brace from Tendler put the Stingrays in charge after Coventry had gotten the scoring underway. A late onslaught on the Hull net by Coventry though only produced the one goal and the home side went home the happier.

It is a vital win for the Stingrays as the 2 points raised them above the Stars into the last playoff spot.

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

Panthers Owner’s Ideas Highlight the Need for EIHL Leadership

All the talk this week in the EIHL and UK ice hockey has been about the Nottingham Panthers owner and his comments over the week in the Nottingham Post.

Owner Neil Black spoke out about the financial crises in the sport at the moment but insisted that it was the teams’ fault and that they shouldn’t be spending money they don’t have. This is true but what Black did not touch upon is that other teams have spent more money than they should have because they are keeping up with his sides spending.

Nor did Black mention about the rumoured strict salary cap that would stop teams spending more money. Instead the cost cutting measure that he proposed was for a two-conference system. In his proposal there would one ‘southern’ conference with Nottingham, Cardiff, Coventry, Sheffield and Belfast in and a ‘northern’ conference with Hull, Edinburgh, Dundee, Fife and Braehead.

It is an interesting idea but does have some flaws. Black suggests that under this systems teams play more times against teams in their own conference than in the other. Black argues this would cut costs, as it would mean shorter journeys for teams. However it does not cut costs for either Belfast or Hull. In Belfast’s case they will need to fly more to England instead of catching the boat to Scotland. Hull on the other hand would need to make the 618 mile round trip to Dundee four times and their nearest geographical neighbour in their conference would be Edinburgh which is 506 mile round trip. Whilst there nearest geographical rival Sheffield (120 mile round trip) would only be visited twice.

This could be solved by swapping Belfast and Hull around. However Black sees this system as increasing competitive games and conference title races and if Hull and Belfast were to trade places Hull would be massively disadvantaged by being financially less powerful than their conference rivals. On the other hand Belfast would be the overwhelming favourite for their conference given their superior finances and facilities. This would also have a bad effect on their fan base as Belfast General Manager Todd Kelman said ‘it is easier to sell tickets for tight game than a rout.’

Sticking with the competiveness issue. Black thinks that this system will lead to a more meaningful playoff series and this too will be more competitive. Whilst the playoff series would be more meaningful, as the winners would be classed as the Elite League champions, it will be less competitive as the final will be between the winner of the stronger ‘southern’ conference and the winner of the weaker ‘northern’ conference. Thus leading to a one sided, damp squid of a final.

Black also argues that this system would increase away fan travel. This may be true in the ‘southern’ conference but with increased air travel for Belfast fans this doesn’t seem true for them. Nor with the distances seen for the Hull Stingrays does this seem likely for them. In fact Hull’s away fan attendance’s are likely to fall dramatically as fans of the Scottish teams are more likely to save their money for games more locally.

Away from the conference system, Black also spoke about the hot topic of import players. Black’s argument that teams are paying a premium for top GB Internationals is fair. Coventry’s top earners are GB Internationals David Phillips and Jonathan Weaver. However by getting rid of the import quota will have a negative effect on the national side because less young British talent will come through. For example would Robert Lachowicz as a young British forward have been signed by the Nottingham Panthers when they could have brought in a proven goal scorer from North America?

Black’s words concerning teams spending more money than they have however are more than apt. Teams in Sheffield and Cardiff have been driven to succeed at all costs and by trying to keep up with the Nottingham’s and Belfast’s who have the cash to spend. Black did not mention this in the articles but his reluctance to talk about a salary cap combined with his wanted conference structure sum up what is wrong with the EIHL.

All of Black’s ideas whilst a good talking point and a good introduction into making strong changes actually really benefit one club, his. Nottingham have one of the best financial structures in place and so can afford to pay players a lot more than other clubs, Nottingham is geographically close to all the teams in their proposed conference and would benefit from increased away fan gate receipts. In addition the Nottingham Panthers have not had any league success since the 1950’s but have been playoff champions and the new system would reward playoff success immensely.

This is why the Elite League needs to find a replacement for the now departed chairman Eammon Convey quickly and be releasing ideas such as Black has done on a more regular basis.

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com