The British Hockey Thread 2015-2016

[archibalduk]

I've only been to three games, but those I've seen Wall in (along with Youtube highlights of other games), he has generally been very good. He made some stellar saves in one game I saw (IIRC it was against Telford). Personally, I prefer Rockman. That said, Rockman had a howler against Bracknell (conceded 3 in the opening 15 minutes).

Guildford have been a bit hit and miss at the moment. They started off extremely well and looked pretty formidable. However, things have tailed off particularly since Kristoffersson's suspension (he went nuts in the Bracknell game and injured an off-ice official). As with last season, we are wasting a lot of time trying to make pretty plays and we seem unable to last the full three periods. In the last three games, we have thrown away three 2 or 3 goal leads to end up losing one game and scraping two on penalty shots.

Nonetheless, I think we're generally playing better than last season and I think our squad is stronger too. I'm really pleased to hear today we've signed Melachrino. I've always been impressed when I've seen him play. A very solid third/second line player. Hopefully once we have Quiney and Kristoffersson back we'll by firing on all cylinders again.

[marksbros6]

Stevie Lyle has left Swindon Wildcats???

Jordan Hedley is going to be playing more games I suppose? But wow? I always liked Lyle and respected him as a netminder (Even when he was frustrating MK forwards)!

Must be some 'off-ice' issue, Swindon weren't doing that badly?

EDIT: conjecture on the MK forum is that it's due to Hoog being re-signed when Lyle was happy to let him go in the summer!

[archibalduk]

Hoog seems to come and go every season. Lots of rumours going around about what happened. Some saying Lyle wanted Hoog back and others that Hoog was forced upon him. Who knows! Regardless, Swindon have been pretty poor this season so far.

[Calv]

It's a weird situation, and if you believe Steve Nell's version (Lyle chose to release Rhynanen and sign Hoog, which in itself is odd because Rhynanen has so many points) there doesn't appear to be a clear reason for Lyle to leave - the only thing I could think of is that it was too much work for him trying to play coach and commute from far away.

[marksbros6]

Always thought he was local to Swindon?

Wonder where he'll turn up next. Too much to hope he'll join Oxford City Stars?

Guildford is local(ish) but you've already got two decent netminders?

I think he'd be an upgrade on the goalies that Bracknell have got?

I doubt he' go to a team with an import netminder. And Hull and Phoenix or any of the elite teams are farther North (unless that's where he's been commuting from)?

[archibalduk]

Lyle was planning to retire last season in any event (and in fact the year before that, IIRC). I think it's unlikely he'll play again (but of course this is British hockey so who knows!).

[Calv]

I think he was commuting from Cardiff? Some talk of him owning a business there (although on companies house that business was dissolved some time ago). Hopefully he sticks around as a goalie coach in Cardiff. Him & Bowns coaching the juniors would be a good combo

[marksbros6]

Crikey mate that's a long trek, even with the motorway!

Maybe if he sticks around in Cardiff he can get on the coaching ladder there?

[Calv]

Went to London Raiders - Bracknell Hornets this afternoon. London looked pretty good, but lack depth particularly at the back. Chong is one my favourite players, he definitely could be playing in the EPL (his job stops him from doing so).

Bracknell looked pretty bad, they lost a few players to the Bees and other epl teams this summer

[marksbros6]

Chong's always looked good when I've seen him play for Raiders vs Oxford, he's ex-Phoenix isn't he?

MKL beat Hull 11-0, only followed it on the Forum, couldn't go live yesterday, feel a bit sorry for Hull really? Glad we got te big win (and a rare shut-out at this level) but Hull have done us all a favour coming into this league and it's a shame they just seem to be making-up the numbers. Apparently they pulled their Import Nettie at 5-0 down and the owners son came on and the goals kept flowing in?

Telford tonight at their 'barn' will be a different prospect!

[MWE]

Brad day saved 52 shots last night for the Steelers in their 4-1 win over Manchester

[Calv]

I went to Coventry - Manchester last night (in Coventry). Storm looked pretty solid, however struggle to put the puck in the net. They must've missed about 3 open net chances, with a couple of players looking like they were playing with a 9 iron instead of a hockey stick. The line of Salazar - Sisca - Caria is fantastic and looks dangerous whenever it's on the ice. Defensively the team was solid and Kalemba looked pretty good, but in truth he never really had to make any special saves.

Blaze looked terrible, very little offensive threat and I think they went 0 for 7 on the pp. They only looked dangerous at the end when they pulled the netminder. Lots of despondent looking players after the match.

[marksbros6]

0/7 on the PP? Sounds like MK Lightning numbers.

I'm sure Basingstoke take needless penalties when we play them on their turf because they no we cant score PPG's...

Watched MKL vs Swindon Wildcats/Stevie Lyle last weekend, how he wasn't their Man of the Match I don't know, he's still got it.

Might go watch MK/Guildford in MK on Saturday, and going to try to go to Oxford on the Sunday too.

[marksbros6]

Arch: your boys looked good on Saturday. Had forgotten just how big a physical presence in nets Stevie Wall is and he was switched-on that night at least.

Scoreline flattered you a bit I thought (empty-netters always do) but we weren't at the races with our passing and Power-play (again) and can't give your boys easy opportunities. Bizzarly we seem to be playing better away from home at the moment? Still picking up points though (hoping we've done enough to qualify for the cup as well. A draw against Flames would have seen us in the Semi's outright).

Oxford/MK Thunder was a good game. Didn't see MK's new Import netminder though, he must still be away with Estonia. Spencer Caminsky kept nets with Mark Woolf as backup. Oxford ran out 4-2 winners. Was particularly impressed with Alan Green, very skillful Brit at this level. Unfortunalty Ondrej Peckarik didn't play for much, must have been injured (doesn't bode well, he has been out injured for 18 months). Was hoping to get some scouting done on him for the database, but will have to make do with what I noted on his first couple of shifts.

Was a good game, but hard to follow things and take notes at the same time!

[marksbros6]

So TERRIBLE weekend for the MK Lightning

If we could actually score of a 3rd(?) of our powerplay opportunities we'd be leading the table by a big way, whenever we go a man-up it's just

Anyway Arch your boys seem to have our number so to speak, though we got a point in the 'rematch' last weekend we weren't good enough.

And I was at Bracknell the following night...disaster 3-0 down in the first, 5-1 down in the second, finish 7-2. Dean Skinns (who I really rate from watching him frustrate Lightning over the last 2 years whenever we played the Bison) was hung-out to dry and got replaced after the 5th goal on him. Just a horrible game.

Incidentally: how ruined is the ice at Bracknell? They had a game postponed a few weeks back I hear and there were running-repairs being done all night long on Sunday. I like the rink (it's close to Oxford, and is a good arena to watch) and rubbish ice is going to affect both teams, but it's not great. There were also two big hits that sent people flying through the rink doors on different sides of the ice!

Anyway, the upshot is that we've released Rene Jarolin (who just wasn't putting up the goals for some reason) so anxiously awaiting news on who will replace him?

[marksbros6]

So, losing track of the ins and outs at MK and Bracknell at the moment...

[archibalduk]

MK and Basingstoke seem to be doing well out of it!

But I fear Bracknell won't last the season or, if they do, it'll be their final season in the EPL.

[Calv]

Bracknell not icing Bakrlik (mk), Fowler (rumoured to be somewhere), Savage, Towalski, and Annetts tonight against Peterborough.

Sad times. The owners seem to be very optimistic if they think they're going to be back to making money in the new year, especially if the team performs poorly and crowds drop.

[marksbros6]

Didn't the press-release talk about the end goal to be taking the team back to the elite league?

I'm sure I've mentioned my affection for Bracknell before (as well as my loathing of the Bison).

Hope Bracknell don't go under but maybe they were over-ambitious bringing in Kostourek, Bakrlik and the like when they should have consolidated after last season? It doesn't seem to have left them with any cash in the bank at all to cover the unforseen circumstances they've been dealing with (or maybe they could have forseen it with the rink being in such poor repair)?

[Calv]

I think there is a certain amount of over ambition by the owners, probably not helped by the fact that attendances and raffle tickets are also down. Think it'll be a long time before they make the step up to the Elite League.

I'm off to MK tomorrow to watch the Phoenix game

[Calv]

Esders to Flames makes them a bit stronger!

[archibalduk]

I think there is a certain amount of over ambition by the owners, probably not helped by the fact that attendances and raffle tickets are also down. Think it'll be a long time before they make the step up to the Elite League.

Yeah it seems they took a leaf out of the Manchester Phoenix book on PR there!

I was speaking to the chairman of the Bees last weekend and he mentioned their "own and loan" jerseys would be on offer today. Unfortunately nothing has been published yet, but I've got my eye on a Bakrlik jersey if it's still available. My only worry is that if the team falls apart before the end of the season then I'll have lost my money...

As for the Flames - that's a pretty decent signing in Esders. He hasn't had the best of seasons with the Clan thus far, but hopefully the drop down will help. However, I'm sure it'll take him some time for him to find his feet given his recent slump. I hope the Flames give him a decent chance as I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't start firing on all cylinders until the end of the regular season.

[Calv]

All one way in the first of the Lightning game, Phoenix lucky to be only 2 down. Definitely missing Gron

[Calv]

8-4 to Lightning in the end.

[Calv]

I was speaking to the chairman of the Bees last weekend and he mentioned their "own and loan" jerseys would be on offer today. Unfortunately nothing has been published yet, but I've got my eye on a Bakrlik jersey if it's still available. My only worry is that if the team falls apart before the end of the season then I'll have lost my money...

I'll go halves with you if you're still interested in getting one(you can keep the jersey)