The Official British Hockey Thread

Post by **archibalduk** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 4:03 pm

I went to the Phoenix - Panthers game yesterday. It was a thoroughly entertaining game and we were very unlucky not to have at least gotten the game into overtime, having gone 2-3 early into the third (a shorthanded goal

) and then an empty-netter at the end.

Campbell was my man of the match - he fought hard all game and showed great speed to get past the Panthers' defenceman to assist the first goal

I can't wait for my next trip to the (half-finished) Altrincham Ice Dome!

Post by **batdad** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 4:55 pm

man of the Match? Heh. I was right with my hockey commentary from the LA Kings in England thread. They do the same old soccer stuff for hockey over there. Was there a guy yelling: GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!! ?

Post by **Calv** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:25 pm

Check out some rather (blurry) photos taken by my mate here - http://ncalvretuk.tripod.com/ice_hockey/

Post by **archibalduk** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:34 pm

Calv wrote:Check out some rather (blurry) photos taken by my mate here - http://ncalvretuk.tripod.com/ice_hockey/

A couple of pointers:
1) A faster shutter speed will eliminate some blurriness when trying zoom in.
2) Resting the camera on something steady will also reduce blur.
3) The white balance of the camera should be changed so the ice appears white rather than yellowish

Oh, and how come your site's URL has your surname incorrectly spelt?!

Post by **Calv** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:38 pm

Because I misspelt it when typing in my username

I always type the ert too fast cos they're next to each other

crosby87 · Post by **crosby87** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:53 pm

batdad wrote:man of the Match? Heh. I was right with my hockey commentary from the LA Kings in England thread. They do the same old soccer stuff for hockey over there. Was there a guy yelling: GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!! ?

That's only in South America that!

You see because 99% of the British public, and I'd say at least 25% of people at games, know nothing about hockey they have to use terms they'll understand, it's pathetic but that's how it is here

Post by **batdad** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 8:09 pm

Oh I know. Just funning with you.

Post by **archibalduk** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:02 am

Manchester Phoenix have de-registered Czech forward Ales Parez due to injury concerns. The 25-year old forward sustained a shoulder injury late in the 6-5 road victory over the Basingstoke Bison on February 3rd. Since then, the player has received physiotherapy to help correct the injury, but the response has been slower than originally anticipated.

So by "de-register" they mean they've released him from his contract?!

Anyway, they've brought in Anthony Battaglia from Columbia Inferno to replace him.

Edit: Maybe Parez is still with the team - he just can't play for the rest of the season

Post by **Calv** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:31 pm

Battaglia had 45 points in 47 games for Columbia, also played with Jason Wolfe & Scott Basiuk so should fit in well. I'm quite excited, we've had a few injuries recently and he seems like a good player as well. Everyone in Columbia appears to be unhappy by his departure I hoep he's not a trouble maker! http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sp ... 841223.htm

Manchester are hoping to get his registration done in time for tonight's game, lets hope he starts well cos it's the semi final of the cup and we're 4-1 down from the first leg

Post by **Calv** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:11 pm

Also he's Bates Battaglia's brother

Post by **archibalduk** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:17 pm

I was wondering with a surname like that whether he was of any relation!

I see what you mean about him possibly being a trouble-maker. His sudden departure does suggest that he'd be one to go AWOL if he gets annoyed with people. That aside, he sounds like a pretty darn good acquisition.

Well we're out of the cup; we lost 3-5 to the Blaze. There doesn't appear to be a match report yet, but I'm guessing the final goal was an EN.

Post by **Calv** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:00 pm

Phoenix make the playoffs with a 6-1 victory last night against bottom of the League Edinburgh!

Phoenix ease past Capitals

Thursday, 15th March 2007

Phoenix 6 - 1 Capitals

Manchester Phoenix cruised past a sickness affected Edinburgh Capitals side on Wednesday night with a performance that was efficient if not spectacular.

Edinburgh arrived in Manchester with just eleven players including injured Dino Bauba and bolstered their squad by drafting in three players, Alan Hough, Mark Lovell and Richard Hughes from the Flintshire Freeze of the English National League.

After a bright start by the Capitals, Phoenix soon got the scoreboard moving as KC Timmons shot them in front in the sixth minute. Adam Walker with a sweet finish off a Matt Rich feed made in two-nil in the eighth minute and just past the midway point of the period, Anthony Battaglia steered home a third. Edinburgh were in danger of being over-run, but Phoenix didn't press home their superiority and no further scores ensued before the first break.

Edinburgh battled as best they could with their depleted line-up and stunned the home fans by pegging a goal back in the 29th minute as Pavel Kowalczyk completed a good move with a deft finish. The goal though, merely stung the Phoenix into moving up a gear and Timmons on a powerplay and Simon Mangos stretched the Phoenix lead to 5-1 at the second interval.

Phoenix seemed reluctant to keep the goal-scoring going in the final period and it wasn't until the 58th minute that the home crowd roared their approval of another blueline blast from David Vychodil that completed a one-sided score line.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand commented, "That wasn't one of better performances as it's sometimes difficult to get going when you know the opposition is weakened. But, we got the job done, got the two points and we'll look to improve the manner of the performance on Thursday."

Hand closed saying, "Thursday will see us give Matt Compton the start in goal. He's been very patient all season long and deserves his chance to play. He'll get the whole game on Thursday so we hope the fans will get right behind him while Wolfie has a night off."

Matt Compton starts for Phoenix tonight

Thursday, 15th March 2007

Manchester Phoenix will give a start in goal to back-up netminder Matt Compton on Thursday night as they again take on the Edinburgh Capitals at the Altrincham Ice Dome.

Except for a brief three-minutes at the end of a game in Edinburgh back on November 11th, 24-year old Compton has waited patiently in the wings as Jason Wolfe has started every game for the Phoenix this season.

Player coach Tony Hand commented, "Matt deserves his chance to start a game and so he'll play on Thursday against the Capitals. He knew at the start of the season that he might have a long wait and he hasn't complained once. Now that we're safely in the playoffs, he deserves his chance to show what he can do and at the same time, give Wolfie a bit of a rest. All the players are hoping the fans get behind him and cheer him on."

Might be going to a St.Patrick's day game against Belfast which should be cool

Post by **Calv** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:04 pm

also check out the special playoff jerseys, they all look pretty bad with the exception of maybe Vipers
http://auctions.eliteleague.co.uk/

crosby87 · Post by **crosby87** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:58 pm

Why do they all have to look the same?

Post by **batdad** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:40 pm

The style of every jersey is the same! Cut and paste logos, and change colors. Although I like the GMB ones...Panthers? Where are they from? I have no clue about Brit hockey. Cept now I know battaglia's brother plays there. How is he doing anyway?

Post by **Calv** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:24 pm

Basically every team has to wear the 'special playoff' jersey designed by the league.

Battaglia got an assist in his first match in the UK, literally hours after he got off the plane. He's got 2 goals, 1 assist in 5 matches. Hopefully once he gels with his new team mates more he'll start racking up the points

crosby87 · Post by **crosby87** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:49 pm

batdad wrote:The style of every jersey is the same! Cut and paste logos, and change colors. Although I like the GMB ones...Panthers? Where are they from? I have no clue about Brit hockey. Cept now I know battaglia's brother plays there. How is he doing anyway?

Play the UK league on EHM!

Panthers are from Nottingham, and are the oldest team in the country being formed in the 1930's.

Post by **Calv** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:56 pm

Battaglia played in tonights game against Edinburgh, which Manchester won 10-3. He managed 2 goals and 1 assist.

Big problems with an injury crisis in Edinburgh, they've let in 33 goals in their last 4 games!

grazza · Post by **grazza** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:36 am

Congrats to Coventry Blaze for winning the regular season league title which in UK hockey is arguably the most prestigious trophy.

The Hutch · Post by **The Hutch** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:24 am

I've yet to watch any British hockey action, but I did find a crazy video of Eric Cairns going completely nuts in a Coventry/London game that just so happened to have Wade Belak dressed for the opposition.

Post by **Calv** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:39 am

Manchester secured 6th place last night with a win over 2nd place Belfast! Very good game apparently Campbell had a fight in the 2nd minute, Clouthier had 2. After the 2nd one the other guy threw his glove at Clouthier whilst they were both in the penalty box and things kicked off again! So they were both given misconducts. Going to the last league game today against Coventry who are league champions this year. Hopefully a good game but I doubt it'll be as good as last night's sounded. Also waiting to see whether we play Cardiff or Sheffield(our big rivals) in the playoff quarter finals

Post by **Calv** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:15 pm

We got Cardiff in the playoff quarters, should be going next sunday for the home leg.
Went last night against Coventry and we won 8-5! Both teams rested their no.1 netminders and it looked like a bit of a training game for a few bits, but it was a really good match and the whole crowd got behind the team.
I think I'd be happy if we could get into the semi's of the playoffs, but realistically I don't think we're good enough to win them.
Also Johan Molin was 5th highest points scorer, and 2nd highest goals scorer, Tony Hand was 6th highest points scorer, 2nd highest assist scorer and highest British points scorer(not bad for a 39yr old!) and Derek Campbell was 7th highest points scorer and had the 5th highest PIM in the league. Not bad for a completely new team without a stadium for most of the season

Code: Select all

 	 Team  	      GP    W  	WOT  L  	LOT  Pts
1 	Coventry 	   54 	31 	5 	15 	3 	75
2 	Belfast 	    54 	27 	7 	17 	3 	71
3 	Cardiff 	    54 	22 	10   17 	5 	69
4 	Sheffield 	  54 	26 	4 	16 	8 	68
5 	Nottingham 	 54 	25 	4 	17 	8 	66
6 	Manchester 	 54 	21 	5 	22 	6 	58
7 	Basingstoke 	54 	21 	2 	25 	6 	52
8 	Newcastle 	  54 	22 	2 	29 	1 	49
9 	Hull 	       54 	15 	3 	33 	3 	39
10   Edinburgh 	  54 	14 	4 	33 	3 	39

oxenhoper · Post by **oxenhoper** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:40 pm

How many assists did Mr Hand actually score............... for years he has been claiming assists even when he wasn't on the ice.

Post by **Calv** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:32 pm

Whenever I've been Hand has always been instrumental in most goals

Code: Select all

Player   	      Team   	   Pld  G    A    Pts  PP  SH  PIM
Daniel Tessier	 Sheffield	 59	22	72	94	9	1	149
Mark Smith	     Cardiff	   56	35	52	87	5	2	94
Adam Calder	    Coventry	  62	35	51	86	10  5	107
Dan Carlson	    Coventry	  62	30	55	85	10  1	96
Johan Molin	    Manchester	58	40	43	83	8	7	36
Tony Hand	      Manchester	55	18	58	76	6	3	60
Derek Campbell	 Manchester	57	25	45	70	4	3	224
Sean McAslan	   Nottingham	50	42	27	69	9	2	77
Jeff Hutchins	  Belfast	   56	36	33	69	12  2	174
Jonathan Weaver	Newcastle	 56	21	48	69	10  1	83

oxenhoper · Post by **oxenhoper** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:52 pm

You could say that he had a hand in the goals...........

I was only ribbing you......... although it is true that he claimed assists when he wasn't on the ice. But having said that he has been britains greatest player, and he is also a decent bloke. Remember being in the hilton hotel after the wembley weekend drinking with tony and his brother paul.