The British Hockey Thread 2013-2014

[nino33]

But is legs ever used without it being aggregate? I've only heard it used when it's been total goals...

I've never heard it used for total goals before

aggregate = total goals (they're the same thing!)

[MWE]

But is legs ever used without it being aggregate? I've only heard it used when it's been total goals...

I've never heard it used for total goals before

aggregate = total goals (they're the same thing!)

Sorry I thought you meant legs

[archibalduk]

Yeah I guess aggregate is always used for legs. But I think that's because both things are British terms and we don't have any tournaments with best of 3/5/7 series.

[batdad]

Well time to start playing hockey then and have a Best of 3,5, 7 series. This other stuff legs, aggregate, and pansy boys in skirts is silly.

[archibalduk]

Is anybody planning on going to the EIHL Playoffs weekend in April? The tickets went on sale today. It's a bit frustrating because a great deal of precedence is being given to the Panthers. They get the best seats in the arena and the tickets went on sale at the arena 2 hours before you could buy over the phone and online. I know it's their arena, but it is supposed to be a neutral venue for the playoffs.

I didn't manage to get as good seats as last season, but they're not too bad. I'll be sat in the corner with the Coventry fans.

[batdad]

Yeah...I am first in line!111 WAHOOOOOOOO. Go .....goooo team

[philou21]

LMAO batdad

[archibalduk]

Yeah...I am first in line!111 WAHOOOOOOOO. Go .....goooo team

Lol I thought as much. Believe it or not, some fans camped overnight to be first in line this morning.

[batdad]

Yeah, well people camp out for tickets to Katy Perry shows and Daft Punk as well.

[Garethw87]

The finals should be held at the Phones4u Arena (M.E.N Manchester) or the O2 London. Aim big! Nottingham, Sheffield and Belfast get between 4-6,000 per game it seems, it would work!

[archibalduk]

The finals should be held at the Phones4u Arena (M.E.N Manchester) or the O2 London. Aim big! Nottingham, Sheffield and Belfast get between 4-6,000 per game it seems, it would work!

I would guess the choice of Nottingham's arena is four-fold: 1) They have a rink already set up and so it is presumably cheaper than getting the MEN/O2 and getting a rink temporarily installed. 2) The Playoffs don't tend to quite sell out and so there's probably little gained from using a larger arena. 3) The O2 would be an unpopular choice given that most teams are up north. And 4) as with EIHL things, it's probably politics too!

Btw, will you be heading to the Playoffs weekend?

[Garethw87]

The finals should be held at the Phones4u Arena (M.E.N Manchester) or the O2 London. Aim big! Nottingham, Sheffield and Belfast get between 4-6,000 per game it seems, it would work!

I would guess the choice of Nottingham's arena is four-fold: 1) They have a rink already set up and so it is presumably cheaper than getting the MEN/O2 and getting a rink temporarily installed. 2) The Playoffs don't tend to quite sell out and so there's probably little gained from using a larger arena. 3) The O2 would be an unpopular choice given that most teams are up north. And 4) as with EIHL things, it's probably politics too!

Btw, will you be heading to the Playoffs weekend?

Just summed it up perfectly haha! I didn't want to say the O2, as you say most teams are Northern but I though I can't be racist now I don't have any real issue with it being at Nottingham, it's a nice arena and size for UK hockey it is just odd how its where that team plays too!

I won't be making the playoffs now, I keep telling myself I'll go and never get round to sorting stuff out. I am/have planned a trip to Bremen, GER to see the Wesrstars Bremen play in the Regionalliga Nord! Just need to pay for it!

[archibalduk]

I am/have planned a trip to Bremen, GER to see the Wesrstars Bremen play in the Regionalliga Nord! Just need to pay for it!

Nice! That's a pretty random league to go see! I'm guessing that's around EPL level more or less?

[Garethw87]

I am/have planned a trip to Bremen, GER to see the Wesrstars Bremen play in the Regionalliga Nord! Just need to pay for it!

Nice! That's a pretty random league to go see! I'm guessing that's around EPL level more or less?

Well it should have been Geneva in Feb but that isn't possible now so next best is Bremen in March (thanks to Ryanair)! Yeah the level seems about EPL, they have this guy http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=75920 who played for Wightlink NIHL last season, it also stats they have a player from Ecuador?? Im sure he'll be a German born Ecuadoran, if not, they need to market him!

[archibalduk]

Yeah the level seems about EPL, they have this guy http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=75920 who played for Wightlink NIHL last season

It's interesting because I expected Vizzari to make a bigger impact in the NIHL this season given how we was in Germany last year. I'd put it down to struggling to adapt to the country, but he adapted to Germany pretty darn well.

[Garethw87]

You would think, posting 40+ points in the Germany3 he'd dominate in the NIHL. As you say it mustn't have worked out for him.

[MWE]

Steelers just beat Coventry 5-1 to end a run of 3 games without a win

[archibalduk]

A pretty interesting weekend in the Elite League! Belfast are champions (crikey that's an early win!), Dave Whistle is confirmed as permanent head coach for Cardiff and Christiansen is sacked from Sheffield. I feel for Christiansen. I thought he'd done well thus far. Allegedly the reason for his departure is because the owner is rumoured to find the hockey insufficiently exciting.

No such excitement in the EPL. Guildford are continuing their slump. It's not much fun to watch right now. I think they need to bring in some fresh faces over the off season and ideally some players under the age of 30.

Invicta had a great result against Chelmsford at the weekend. There's still a chance they could win the title. It's great to see they're uploading highlights videos once again (Chelmsford highlights below). I really miss watching Invicta week in week out. Some of the most exciting games I've seen have been at their pad.

[archibalduk]

Finally! Another win at home! It wasn't the best performance, but it's 2 points nonetheless.

[Kopi]

Two Slovenians in EIHL... then you know how Pronger situation in Slovenian club hockey is with one pro team...

Nejc Berlisk http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=18533 will play for Coventry Blaze and Ziga Svete http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=17423 already play in Cardiff Devils.

[MWE]

I'm abit on the fence about the sacking of Christiansen we've had some good results and few bad ones this season. All in all though we have just looked average and we are lucky to be 2nd in the league at this moment in time.

I do think he should have been given until the end of the season though just to see if things picked up for the better having said that we did beat Coventry 7-1 without him in charge.

[archibalduk]

There have been a couple of interesting incidents over the past couple of weekends at Guildford. First with Lascek of the MK Lightning allegedly tripping the ref (I only saw it out of the corner of my eye, but the referee was furious). Then secondly last weekend when Andrew Sharp (Guildford's goon) flattened the goalie. He's had a vendetta against Kieras of the Slough Jets since the first game of the season when Kieras hit him from the bench whilst Sharpe was tied up in a scrap with another player. Sharpe has been trying to get his own back each time the two teams have met each season (last weekend was the last time the teams were due to meet this season). He was trying to skate after Kieras but Sharpe's skating is dreadful and so he didn't stand a chance. To provoke Kieras, Sharpe checked the goalie into the goal. It was completely away from the play and the goalie didn't see it coming. The goalie hit the crossbar pretty hard and collapsed on the ice. After all of that, it didn't provoke Kieras to drop the gloves (although of course Sharpe dropped his).

Hopefully that's Sharpe's last game with the Flames (his team mates seemed unimpressed with what he'd done; as did the fans). He adds nothing to the team other than the fact that he's arguably the best fighter in the league.

[MWE]

The Steelers had a teddy bear toss last night for charity they didn't score until the 55th minute

[archibalduk]

Haha! That's cutting it very fine!

[MWE]

The draw for the first round of the play-offs have been made

Belfast Giants Vs. Hull Stingrays
Dundee Stars Vs. Fife Flyers
Sheffield Steelers Vs. Coventry Blaze
Nottingham Panthers Vs. Braehead Clan

I reckon it will be Belfast, Dundee, Steelers and Panthers into the next round.