The British Hockey Thread 2015-2016

[marksbros6]

Saw MK beat Telford at home last night. Our 'backup' net-minder Jordan Marr, who no-one had heard of when he signed seems to have the nod as our #1 at the moment and he looks thoroughly deserving having started the last 3 games.

Vs Telford we didn't pick up any penalties till the final seconds of the second period when we were two goals up. That carried over into the third and Telford pulled one back immediately on the PP. Lightning went 3-1 up, Telford took it to 3-2, called a time out pulled their goalie and scored with 50 seconds on the clock.

Looking like overtime Lightning score in the dying seconds to make it 4-3! Was the best hockey game I've seen, was there with my Dad for his birthday and both my brothers (it was their first time and what a game to come to)!

[Calv]

Tigers lose again last night. They're really missing Silverthorn & Weaver

[MWE]

Another 2 win weekend for the Steelers beat Dundee 6-5 then beat the Storm 3-1

[Calv]

A new addition to the NIHL/EPL? http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... -1-7494063

[archibalduk]

It has been a rumour for what feels like years now! Nice to see plans are a bit more certain regarding the rink.

[Calv]

I'm at Milton Keynes watching Lightning - Phantoms. 2-1 to Phantoms after 2.

So far Auzins has come out of his net to play the puck numerous times, on two occasions he's played the puck and then checked the oncoming Lightning player! He's crackers

[marksbros6]

I'm at Milton Keynes watching Lightning - Phantoms. 2-1 to Phantoms after 2.

So far Auzins has come out of his net to play the puck numerous times, on two occasions he's played the puck and then checked the oncoming Lightning player! He's crackers

I've been following on the MK Ice Hockey Forum.

Sounds like it was a dramatic game. What did you think of our goalie Jordan Marr?

[Calv]

He has somewhat of a scrambly technique, ever looks 100% comfortable but seems to make the saves. Likes to get low down. He spent 2 periods at the opposite end of the ice to me (I was standing down by the goal that Lightning attack twice) and he was a spectator for quite a large part of the second period as Lightning were on top. Looked a bit nervous, particularly at times when I thought he should come out and play the puck he looked reluctant to.

Lightning looked a lot stronger than the Phantoms, and I felt they dominated long periods of the game, however they always seemed to be one good pass short of scoring. Luomala has some great hands and was skating rings round the Phantoms at one point. Hook looked very good too, he should definitely make the step up to the Elite League next season. They didn't look quite so solid at the back though.

For the Phantoms, I've now seen them 3 times, once home against Storm in an exhibition game, once on the webcast and tonight. I cannot think of one skater that has stood out for me. They don't look great this season. Craig Scott was the exception, showing some great hands setting up the first but he only showed brief flashes of quality

[Calv]

Good to see Braehead struggling this season, I expected them to walk the league, although from the early form it looks like Nottingham or Sheffield are the strongest so far.

Also good to see Telford struggle as well. Looks like no one is going to run away with the leagues this season

Also MK is a really nice rink after the refurb, I wish more were like that.

[marksbros6]

Cheers Calv.

'Scrambly but makes the saves' isn't a bad description. Was curious as to what someone else from the board would think of Jordan as he's come out of nowhere to seemingly be our #1 guy. I thought when we signed Dean Skinns that he'd be out main netminder this season.

We have got a good rink, only been a regular there since the refurb, but I can remember it opening in the '90's and skating there with the school, and it's amazing what they've done with the place.

[Calv]

Auzins will want the second goal back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9YwAn9rLzM and possibly the GWG as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnZpaxnVx9Y

[archibalduk]

For the Phantoms, I've now seen them 3 times, once home against Storm in an exhibition game, once on the webcast and tonight. I cannot think of one skater that has stood out for me. They don't look great this season. Craig Scott was the exception, showing some great hands setting up the first but he only showed brief flashes of quality

That was exactly my impression when I saw the Phantoms a couple of weeks back. Maybe they're still getting into gear, but they didn't look like the same team as last season. Auzins and Scott really kept them in the game against the Flames.

[marksbros6]

For the Phantoms, I've now seen them 3 times, once home against Storm in an exhibition game, once on the webcast and tonight. I cannot think of one skater that has stood out for me. They don't look great this season. Craig Scott was the exception, showing some great hands setting up the first but he only showed brief flashes of quality

That was exactly my impression when I saw the Phantoms a couple of weeks back. Maybe they're still getting into gear, but they didn't look like the same team as last season. Auzins and Scott really kept them in the game against the Flames.

You watching Guildford tonight Arch?

[archibalduk]

Sadly not. There are no late night flights back home so I'm stuck with going to Saturday games only. I'll be at the Telford and Manchester games this month though.

Should be a really good game tonight. I think both teams are stronger than last season.

[Calv]

I'm at Coventry - Braehead tonight. Lasted 6.43 before it all kicked off! Bad check from behind from Clan, Blaze guy waits for the whistle before checking the perpetrator from behind sending him to the ice, Blaze guy is sent to the ice by another Clan guy. Then Valabik of the Blaze sprints half the length of the ice and starts raining in punches on a Clan player starting a pile up on the ice!

Two guys got game penalties, one player got 2+10 and another player got 2 I think.

[marksbros6]

Sadly not. There are no late night flights back home so I'm stuck with going to Saturday games only. I'll be at the Telford and Manchester games this month though.

Should be a really good game tonight. I think both teams are stronger than last season.

That's a shame mate. I remember you sayin earlier in the thread though.

I'll be going to MK/Phoenix mid-week and Bison/MK next weekend.

Can't wait to play with this new team on EHM once the update comes out!

[Calv]

Well I picked a game this evening between 2 teams who have been struggling to score goals but have great netminding. Unsurprisingly it went to OT with Braehead securing the extra point with a goal from Ric Jackman. Holt looks like a great netminder, barely gave up any rebounds, and when he did they were controlled to the corners.

Stewart is crazycrazy, and makes Auzins look like a timid netminder. He is very aggressive and loves to come out and close the angle down on the shootershooter. Not quite as controlled with his rebounds however.

Both teams looked pretty poor, and no one really stood out

[MWE]

Another 4 point weekend for the Steelers

[marksbros6]

Off to Lightning vs Phoenix tonight, love a mid-week game (though they always seem a bit half-empty compared to the weekend).

Interested to see how Phoenix look after all their troubles in the summer.

[Calv]

Off to Lightning vs Phoenix tonight, love a mid-week game (though they always seem a bit half-empty compared to the weekend).

Interested to see how Phoenix look after all their troubles in the summer.

How was the game?

[Calv]

Some cracking games in the Elite League at the minute. Storm & Caps having a bit of a rivalry last weekend and getting 2 & 3 points, respectively. Blaze - Giants finishing 1-1 on Saturday followed by 8 - 10 on sunday! And tonight Caps beat the Steelers away, with the Caps missing 4 imports! Looks like it's going to be tight at the top and the bottom.

[marksbros6]

Some cracking games in the Elite League at the minute. Storm & Caps having a bit of a rivalry last weekend and getting 2 & 3 points, respectively. Blaze - Giants finishing 1-1 on Saturday followed by 8 - 10 on sunday! And tonight Caps beat the Steelers away, with the Caps missing 4 imports! Looks like it's going to be tight at the top and the bottom.

I need to get into the Elite League more, bit hard with the closest team for me being Coventry though, it's still a trek!

Lightning/Phoenix was a good game from the Lightning perspective, took a while to break Phoenix down but always looked like us scoring first. We practically always had a 2-goal lead after going ahead and it was a comfortable performance from Lightning, as opposed to a full-on 100% one.

Basingstoke Bison last weekend was entirely different! I know as a Lightning fan our big rivalry is Peterborough, but really hate the Bison!

EDIT: OK, saw us beat Bison last night at our barn and on that performance wonder why we can't ever seem to pick up the points at their place. 8-2 scoreline, a fight, and some unhappy faces on the Bison players for a change!

[marksbros6]

So anyone seen any good games lately? (HINT: I saw 2...2 (!) brilliant and assured MKL performances this weekend)

[Calv]

Went to Guildford - Phoenix on Saturday (with Archi). No idea how the Flames threw it away in the third period after scoring 4 unanswered goals to go 4-2 up. Phoenix took it to a SO and lost, but it's definitely a point gained by them. Saying that, Phoenix seem to have a very well drilled system, solid defending kept the Flames on the outside, even when they were under immense pressure (some of the game felt like a constant PP for the Flames), and then they had a fast break out that saw lots of odd man rushes. Flames got caught a number of times with a defenceman pinching in.

Gron looks a fantastic player, and is currently at over 2 PPG. They have absolutely no depth though, their third line is pretty weak (although Hope did get a goal). If teams can shut down the Gron line, then I think they'll struggle to score many.

[marksbros6]

MKL vs Basingstoke was a brilliant win 8-2 and it annoys me they can't play like that away from home at Basingstoke! 8 goals, a fight, my man Dean Skinns keeping net for the win, Basingstoke getting the 'hook' out for their import netminder after the 6 or 7th goal...

Then the following night away to Basingstoke (sadly/thankfully without Milan Kostourek for the night) went behind early doors, but a fantastically taken hat-trick by Blaz Emersic got us the win. Skinns in nets again. Pete Russell mixed up the lines a bit on the night (aside from the Hook/Blaz/Cownie line which should be a lock) but it paid off.

Chuffed with MK, we've got 2 good goalies (where last season neither Wall or Hedley looked convincing week in week out, though Wal-y turned it on towards the end of the season). Good imports (just got to keep them all fit) some promising youth in Chambelain and Billing. There are goals throughout the side as well, and we've got a coach who will change things up and has strong ideas about how his team should play.

I think the only problem is going to be if we get injuries to key players like last season, or if we get difficult games while Russell is away with Team GB (I think there are Olympic Qualifiers this year, that was mentioned pre-season).

What did you guys think of Guildford? How is Steve Wall getting on for you guys?