Last game you've seen live?

Post by **Calv** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:46 am

In the top league, the EIHL the average attendances are (accurate of a few weeks ago I think):

BELFAST: 4,742
BRAEHEAD: 3,029
CARDIFF: 2,018
COVENTRY : 2,104
DUNDEE: 1,045
EDINBURGH: 835
FIFE: 2,195
HULL: No data (but probably 800-1000, at a guess)
NOTTINGHAM : 5,300
SHEFFIELD : 3,846

Sheffield arena average 4,852 - Sheffield play about 7 games in a 1,500 capacity rink and the rest of the games in a 9,000+ capacity arena (pictured above). The smaller games bring their average down.

Attendances are on the rise, this is probably mainly because the league was split in to 2 conferences a few years ago. The Erhardt conference contains the traditionally larger/more successful clubs of Belfast, Cardiff, Coventry, Nottingham & Sheffield. The Gardiner conference contains Braehead, Dundee, Edinburgh, Fife & Hull. These are 4 Scottish clubs and the most northerly English club (Hull). Each team plays their conference opponents 4 x home & 4 x away and teams in the other conference 2 x home & 2 x away.

This means that the Erhardt conference teams get more games against their local rivals, who traditionally bring more away fans. For example, Cardiff & Coventry have a good rivalry and tend to fill each others rinks. Nottingham v Sheffield games also tend to get close to a sell out, this season Nottingham sold out their arena (7,130) for a game against Sheffield and Sheffield got an attendance of 8,864 for a game against Nottingham.

For the Gardiner teams, there has been a similar effect. Fife bring quite a large away following to Dundee & Edinburgh, as do Braehead. Another factor is that travelling is now vastly reduced. The 4 Scottish teams are very close together so it is cheap for the teams to get to games.

There are a couple of anomalies. Braehead are a new club and have been excellently marketed and their crowds have been increasing phenomenally. Their first season saw averages of 800-1,000. I think this is their 4th season now and they are quite frequently getting sellouts (3,500 capacity arena). They're getting a new arena in a few years apparently, it will be around 8,000 capacity which is probably a bit high for their needs, but it will predominantly be a concert arena.

Cardiff are the other anomaly. They previously had an owner that sucked the life out of the club and attendances were way down. At the beginning of this season they were bought up by a Canadian consortium, headed by a very rich investment banker from Calgary. Because of the new optimism, there have been several sell outs in their current rink (2,300 capacity). Their current rink is a temporary facility that is long overdue being knocked down. Their new rink (3,500 capacity) is currently under construction and should be finished at some point during next season (there's been some delays). There is currently talks of Cardiffs owners buying the new rink.

So some of the clubs are on the rise, however clubs such as Edinburgh are struggling along with 800 spectators in a very old rink which is cold and uncomfortable to sit in. Apparently it is a listed building so doing any renovations is difficult.

As the attendances suggest there is a quite a big gap from top to bottom. The Elite League has a very high import limit. Teams are allowed a maximum of 12 non-British trained players, and most clubs have 12 (some carry spares for injury cover). The real difference between the clubs comes with the British players. Although there may only be 5/6/7 in each club, the top clubs e.g. Nottingham, Sheffield, Belfast carry GB international players who will play on the top lines. Clubs such as Edinburgh, Fife carry local players who probably don't get paid that much and work full time elsewhere, or study.

So, on one hand, you could say that British hockey (or the Elite League at least) is on the rise. We will also have 2 clubs in the CHL next year, which will hopefully increase exposure.

On the other hand, the structure of British hockey is terrible and has been for some time. There is very little communication and cooperation between the different leagues. For example, Sheffield has one of the best hockey set ups in the country. They have a team in the top league (Elite League), a team in the second league (Premier League) and teams in the 3rd and 4th levels (National Leagues). However, the Elite & Premier teams have a terrible relationship. There are no players on two-way contracts, there is no clear development path from juniors up to the Elite.

The gap between the Elite and the Premier is also quite large, so not many players are capable of making the step up. Rather than try to improve the structure, the Elite league has decided to increase the number of foreign players allowed next season (it will be 13).

There has been a recent movement to try and improve the structure, however since the clubs pretty much run at a loss or break even the majority of their decisions are based on finances rather than hockey, and therefore it is difficult to see whether the structure will improve at any point.

Post by **Tasku** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:57 am

Interesting. Thanks for that little essay, Calv.

Some of those teams seem to be doing pretty good attendance wise. But of course having such a large gap between teams in the same league is not healthy, makes the league less balanced and more predictable -- one would assume at least. Then again I suppose those are all quite large cities (in Nordic standards), so in that sense the following is still lacking, but compared to the Nordic leagues, just by attendance, the top teams seem quite well off.

Post by **Calv** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:47 am

The different schedules for each conference, mean the table is closer than the teams actually are ability-wise. This has caused problems because Braehead have started to outgrow their conference. Braehead are currently at the top of the league, mainly because they have an excellent record against the Gardiner conference teams but they have a pretty average record against the Erhardt teams. If they switched conference, they would probably not be so high in table. For example:

Braehead have 67 points from 48 games in the league. 4 games to go. Against Gardiner teams they have 47 points from 28 (1.68 points per game), against Erhardt teams they have 20 points from 20 games (1.00 points per game).

Cardiff have 64 points from 46 games in the league, 6 games left. Against Gardiner teams they have 30 points from 18 games (1.67 points per game), against Erhardt teams they have 34 points from 28 games (1.21 points per game).

Because of the schedules, Braehead play Edinburgh (9th in the league) twice, Hull (8th in the league) and Fife (7th in the league), however Cardiff play Sheffield (2nd in the league) 3 times, Hull (7th in the league), Edinburgh (9th in the league), and Nottingham (4th in the league).

Despite having a better record against the top teams and a comparable record against the bottom teams, Cardiff could finish below Braehead. In the UK, the big prize is the League title not the playoffs, so there is quite a lot of complaining about this imbalance. Financially it makes sense, but hockey-wise it doesn't work so well.

With the attendances, teams like Sheffield and Nottingham will have to rent their arena the same as, for example, a concert. To make any money on a game they may need >2,000 supporters. This is why Sheffield sometimes play out of a smaller rink, they actually make more money getting 1,500 supporters in there than they would if they played the game in the arena.

Teams like Cardiff, Edinburgh, Fife, etc probably pay nothing for ice time (or very little) but also probably lose out on sponsorship etc.

UK hockey is a compromise between different levels of teams within the league. There aren't enough teams of a similar standard/size to have a truly competitive league. There are talks of a couple of new clubs joining, one in Wembley arena which has a capacity of 10,000 or so and another one in Liverpool. I am not sure if this move will increase the league size to 12 or squeeze a couple of the smaller teams out of the bottom.

Post by **Tasku** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 11:39 am

I'd probably rather go with smaller, more balanced league. We have a well balanced league atm. Two games to go until the end of regular season. It's been an exciting season, and I'm eagerly awaiting for the playoffs. But I guess the issue with teams having easier opponents due to conferences and such is a universal thing. Look at NHL for example. Granted, the gap isn't as wide between the NHL teams. Finland also has a sort of conference system, but it's only in the background, it's not really acknowledged that much, and it only effects who teams play against, not the standings. Teams closer to each other play more often than more distant teams. (Or at least it was like so last time I looked at the rules online.) I guess the fact that you play for a win in the regular season, rather than the playoffs, makes it more of a hot potato for some teams.

Post by **archibalduk** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 5:22 pm

Well I'm off to see Guildford play Manchester in a few minutes. Tony Hand has confirmed that he's retiring at the end of this season so today is the final time I will see him play before he hangs up his skates.

34 seasons, over 4,250 points and the first British-born and trained player to be drafted in the NHL. Not too bad! He probably has a few more seasons left in him, but he wants to make room for younger players (he has scored 49 points in 38 games so far this season).

Post by **archibalduk** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 7:23 pm

Sadly he's behind the bench this game. On the plus side, we're 4-2 up after 2 periods!

Post by **batdad** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 9:54 pm

Still wondering why these Brits post that they have recently been to a game if they have not left their country. NO way no how have they seen hockey.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Fri Mar 27, 2015 3:24 am

Haven't been to a game since the 2014 WJC Final in Malmö.

Hopefully I'll catch a game or two in Montreal at some point next season though!

ehmfans · Post by **ehmfans** » Fri Mar 27, 2015 4:47 pm

Last game was Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lighthing at the Bell Center a few weeks back. I'm going to see the Olympiques (QMJHL, Canada) first home playoff game next week.

ForNever · Post by **ForNever** » Fri Mar 27, 2015 4:59 pm

It was a sad show in Lappeenranta yesterday. SaiPa led Kärpät 2 to 1 after a dreadingly long review of the goal ultimately ending up as a good goal in the third period. Shortly after this, SaiPa's hard-shooting (170 km/h recorded slapshot) defenceman Sam Lofquist gets injured and is lead off ice. After this Kärpät gets a lucky bounce off of a defenceman's skate over SaiPa's goalie and the score is 2-2. SaiPa's fourth-liner idiotically tackles an opponent from behind and another defenceman sends the puck right into the crowd so SaiPa is playing shorthanded 5 on 3: Joonas Donskoi scores another one for Kärpät. Then SaiPa plays carelessly in their own zone and leaves Donskoi alone in front of their goal so he scores his second of the night. SaiPa tried to score without a goalie nearly four minutes before the end of regulation but to no avail. Kärpät ultimately scores in the empty net eight seconds before the end to make it 5-2.

The most disappointing aspect of the game was that SaiPa pretty much ruined its own chances of winning the game. This team hasn't seen a medal since the 60'es and doesn't seem to get a one now either as the quarterfinal series is 3-1 for Kärpät.

Post by **archibalduk** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 8:52 pm

Last night was game 2 in the EPIHL playoff quarter finals between Guildford and Milton Keynes. We were 2-3 down on aggregate and so we needed to beat Milton Keynes to force Game 2 to OT or beat them by more than 1 goal to go through to the semis. It was a classic playoff match - very physical and exciting end to end action. We were 3-2 up in the third period but Milton Keynes gained the momentum and tied it up. We pulled our goalie and then they scored an empty netter with 10 seconds to go.

When MK scored the empty netter, one of their players (Milan Kostourek) skated over to Guildford's bench and celebrated in front of them. It wasn't a very sporting thing to do and unsurprisingly it resulted in a bench clearing brawl. The final 10 seconds were abandoned. I managed to capture a couple of pics on my phone:

MontySteelers · Post by **MontySteelers** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 9:40 am

I went to Sheffield Arena to watch Steelers v Fife Flyers the other day, it ended in a 3-3 draw, which sent us through to the semi-finals of the Playoffs after winning 3-2 in Fife the night before, which I went to. Fife is a great old rink, when the home team score the noise is insane.

I last went to a game in Finland in February, saw Blues v Karpat and Blues v Assat, Blues won both!

Blues have now qualified for next years CHL, would love it if Steelers ended in the same group.

mpronger · Post by **mpronger** » Tue Mar 31, 2015 11:44 am

MontySteelers wrote:I went to Sheffield Arena to watch Steelers v Fife Flyers the other day, it ended in a 3-3 draw, which sent us through to the semi-finals of the Playoffs after winning 3-2 in Fife the night before, which I went to. Fife is a great old rink, when the home team score the noise is insane.

I last went to a game in Finland in February, saw Blues v Karpat and Blues v Assat, Blues won both! Blues have now qualified for next years CHL, would love it if Steelers ended in the same group.

My last live hockey game was the last home game of the 1995-1996 season for the Sheffield Steelers at the then named Sheffield Arena. I moved back home after the 96 season, no ice hockey here just inline, so at least I get to play the game in a form.

Post by **archibalduk** » Mon Apr 06, 2015 6:16 pm

My brother and I made our usual trip to the EIHL Playoff Weekend yesterday/Saturday. The final was one of the best I've seen - very physical, plenty of good chances and a bit of controversy too - not the usual cautious final like previous years. It was nice to see Coventry win - makes a change from Belfast/Nottingham/Sheffield.

We had some great seats - right on the front row. The people sat next to us foolishly balanced their drinks on the inner part of the boards. There was a thunderous check right in front of us against the boards and the drink went all over them!

We were sat with the Coventry fans and so the team came and celebrated right in front of us when they scored and when they won the game. It was a lot of fun being right in the action like that - and I high-fived Ryan O'Marra when the game was over! I can legitimately say I've high-fived a first round draft pick and former NHL'er - ok, he's only played 33 NHL games, but still not bad!

Post by **batdad** » Mon Apr 06, 2015 7:49 pm

Heh archi....too cool. Now go wash your hands

Post by **archibalduk** » Mon Apr 06, 2015 8:47 pm

batdad wrote:Heh archi....too cool. Now go wash your hands

Haha! No chance!

Post by **batdad** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 12:00 am

Why does the lady want Ryan's smell all over her too? LOL

stone169 · Post by **stone169** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 12:40 am

Sarnia Sting vs Guelph back in march. Next season I'm hoping to make it to a couple of Sens games in Detroit, now that I live in Sarnia.

InaneRambler · Post by **InaneRambler** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 1:36 pm

Off to NIHL 1 playoff weekend on Saturday as a linesman all the way up in Dumfries, Scotland.

Semi finals are played on the Saturday, Blackburn Hawks vs Sheffield Spartans at 13 00 and then Billingham Stars vs Solway Sharks at 17 00 (which I'm on

). And then the final will be played on the Sunday, guessing it might be Blackburn vs Solway but anything can happen! (It is playoffs after all!)

Post by **archibalduk** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 8:34 pm

Best of luck! I hear they pull in some pretty decent crowds up in Dumfries.

MontySteelers · Post by **MontySteelers** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 11:50 am

Psh is all I can say to you Archi, Psh.

Post by **Calv** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 6:42 pm

archibalduk wrote:My brother and I made our usual trip to the EIHL Playoff Weekend yesterday/Saturday. The final was one of the best I've seen - very physical, plenty of good chances and a bit of controversy too - not the usual cautious final like previous years. It was nice to see Coventry win - makes a change from Belfast/Nottingham/Sheffield.

We had some great seats - right on the front row. The people sat next to us foolishly balanced their drinks on the inner part of the boards. There was a thunderous check right in front of us against the boards and the drink went all over them! We were sat with the Coventry fans and so the team came and celebrated right in front of us when they scored and when they won the game. It was a lot of fun being right in the action like that - and I high-fived Ryan O'Marra when the game was over! I can legitimately say I've high-fived a first round draft pick and former NHL'er - ok, he's only played 33 NHL games, but still not bad!

After you left they came over and sprayed (fake) champagne over the fans as well, I went home smelling like an alcoholic!

Post by **Tasku** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 6:50 pm

Calv wrote: I went home smelling like an alcoholic!

That's what happens to me every time I go to a game!

Post by **batdad** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 7:35 pm

Tasku wrote:
Calv wrote: I went home smelling like TASKU and in general all Finns!
That's what happens to me every time I go to a game!

CAlv post editied for accuracy.

Post by **archibalduk** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 8:07 pm

Haha

I'm kind of glad I missed that. I wouldn't want my car to smell like that!

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