The Offical British Ice Hockey Thread

Post by **Calv** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:40 pm

Results Sunday 28th December 2008:
bmibaby Elite League:
Hull Stingrays 3 Belfast Giants 4(After OT)

Results Tuesday 30th December 2008:
bmibaby Elite League:
Belfast Giants 2 Sheffield Steelers 3
Edinburgh Capitals 4 Basingstoke Bison 2
Notingham Panthers 3 Newcastle Vipers 0

Post by **Calv** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:26 pm

Newcastle netminder Andrew Verner saved 57 shots tonight

They would be a lot lower if it weren't for him in net...

Post by **Calv** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:08 am

More bad news for Basingstoke as netminder Kevin Reiter was injured last night and there's talk of him being out for the rest of the season.

matt44 · Post by **matt44** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:10 pm

Wouldnt surprise me if both Verner and Reiter were at bigger teams in the EIH next season. I can see Sheffied, Coventry and Belfast being in for Reiter. Possibly the panthers too, but Robinson is playing so well they may stick with him if this form continues.

Post by **Calv** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:42 pm

Interesting article: http://www.britishicehockey.co.uk/news-000052.php

Post by **Calv** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:54 pm

Sheffield Scimitars of the EPL sign Iain Bowie from Edinburgh(shame as he's a good player, would've liked him in Manchester) in search of more ice time.

Corey Leclair signs for Nottingham from Coventry, which will probably see Rumun Ndur released from Nottingham

matt44 · Post by **matt44** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 12:25 am

Yeah I imagine so. LeClair may give us the mobility we need at the back.

Post by **Calv** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:33 pm

Todd Griffiths has been released by the Vipers and he moves back to NA, apparently there's rumours that some Vipers players haven't been paid, gotta love the EIHL...

matt44 · Post by **matt44** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:40 pm

I wouldnt be surprised if there isnt a league next season.

Post by **Calv** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:30 pm

the EIHL are definitely in need of a rethink, having 4 teams making money and 6 teams struggling isn't feasible in the long term. Basingstoke, Hull, Edinburgh, Newcastle are all struggling financially Manchester's owner Neil Morris is propping them up and Cardiff are lucky to have a rich owner who is willing to do the same. Time for a decrease in costs I think, even if that includes dropping the import limit, I'd rather have 8 import hockey than EPL hockey with 4 imports.

Maybe split the league up into a north and south conference with teams from each conference playing more often than teams from different conferences so it's cheaper for fans to see away matches.
Would also like to see a few EPL teams move up and have an independent body in control of the league but neither of those are going to happen soon...

matt44 · Post by **matt44** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:19 pm

I think they should knock to 8 imports, drop ticket prices. Try to get 2 or 3 teams from the EPL up and like you say, split it into north and south.

The thing is though?
A) they wont drop ticket prices
B) will Hull, Edinburgh & Basingstoke be in the league next season? I doubt it.

Post by **Calv** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:47 pm

Haven't posted in here for a while...

Steelers are still way out in front and it's definitely there's to lose now, Manchester are in 5th, 4 points ahead of Cardiff who have played 1 game less. Phoenix are also in the Semi final of the Challenge Cup and the quarter final of the Knockout cup. The treble is definitely on!!!

We're 4-0 up in the first leg of the Knockout cup against Hull with the 2nd leg away on Saturday, and then on Sunday it's the 2nd leg of the Challenge Cup semi against Basingstoke where we have a 5-2 lead. If we get through both of these we'll face Newcastle in the semis of the K/O cup and Belfast in the final of the Challenge Cup. Going on sunday to the semi and definitely going to the final if we get through!

Code: Select all

    Team	       GP	W	WOT  L	LOT  Pts
1	Sheffield	  43	28	5	3	 7	73
2	Nottingham	 42	26	4	10	2	62
3	Coventry	   40	26	3	9	 2	60
4	Belfast	    41	24	5	10	2	60
5	Manchester	 41	17	4	17	3	45
6	Cardiff	    40	12	6	17	5	41
7	Newcastle	  41	11	5	21	4	36
8	Hull	       43	10	2	26	5	29
9	Edinburgh	  41	10	1	25	5	27
10  Basingstoke   42	5	 3	31	3	19

Post by **Calv** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:53 pm

Phoenix finally beat Coventry on saturday meaning we've now beaten every team in the league at least once. Good goal in OT after Tony Hand made a fool of one of the Coventry players with a deke( - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0DTwnRa ... annel_page - about 3.45 minutes in

Post by **batdad** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:08 pm

Wow! Tony is a god! Wow! No really, that was a beaut. But man this is slow. I could play in that league!!

Anyway, keep checking for the Tony Hand retirement ceremony. Got to be soon,

Post by **Calv** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:19 am

Phoenix beat Hull 4-3 to win 8-3 on aggregate and we're through to the Knockout cup semi final, first leg is this week away to Newcastle. It's the 2nd leg of the semi final of the Challenge cup today, we've got Basingstoke at home and we're 5-2 up from the first leg. Hopefully we'll be in 2 cup finals this season

Post by **batdad** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:48 pm

He's still not retired? Who is he Chris Chelios? I know I will come in here one day to see about 10 Brits talking about committing mass suicide, because their only link to watching real hockey players has decided to pack it in. Should be soon...

Post by **Calv** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:03 pm

There's always talk of him retiring but he's still putting up the numbers so I reckon he could stick around for another year

Phoenix won tonight 6-1 against the Bison so we've got our first ever cup final

We made it look pretty easy tonight as Basingstoke could only muster 20 shots on target. A hattrick for Beauregard who makes scoring goals looks so easy it's unbelievable. Also nice to see Summerfield get a run out in net for the last 10 minutes or so, he's played in both games this weekend which is good experience for him. Tony Hand and Brett Clouthier also spoke to me after the game when I was skating....

Elsewhere Sheffield extend their lead to 13 points now and there's not much chance of anyone catching them up now.

Post by **batdad** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:24 am

And I know exactly what they said Calv.

Brett: Hey Tony, check out that guy over there. We should see if he needs help.

Tony: Yeah. I know what to do.

Tony to Calv: Hey you with the Phoenix jersey, hat, socks, underwear, t-shirt, jacket and thongs. First of all, thanks very much for actually allowing me to keep playing this sport by buying all that worthless rubbish with my name on it. Now...buy some of Clouth's stuff, and we will call the ambulance for you.

Brett: Hey, what the hell are those on your feet sir? Skates with two blades? And you still canoot stand up? Bloody hell. You silly old piece of poo. Get off the ice.

calv: Yes sir, yes sir. Mr. Gret......oops Mr Hand, may I please please please have your autograph on my....as.........piece of paper? I love you! I love you!

Tony: um....Hey Brett, I think this codswapllop hurt his head when he fell. I tell yah the trickiest thing is that step down from the gates. Sir....next time, use the ramp kay.

Post by **Calv** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:23 pm

They were marvelling at my impression of Bambi on ice

It's only the 3rd time i've ever been skating....(insert falling over skating smiley here....)

Post by **Calv** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:29 pm

Phoenix could be in another cup final!

They beat Newcastle away last night in the first leg of the semi final 4-1 and the home leg is next thursday, can't wait!

Edinburgh also got a valuable point against Cardiff last night which moves them back into the final playoff spot, 1 point ahead of Hull

Reynaldo28 · Post by **Reynaldo28** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:49 pm

Newcastle threw it away

We can't rely on Verner every game. Also great night last night at Rob Wilson's testimonial.

Post by **getzlaf15** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:16 am

Basingstoke failed to show to their game with Phoenix because their team bus broke down on the way.

Also, i heard a funny story about Tony Hand in my teams changing room, i don't know it's a myth or something, but someone said that Tony Hand doesn't wear a box because he is too big for one.

Maybe Calv has heard this one too.

Reynaldo28 · Post by **Reynaldo28** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:31 am

Vipers lost to Cardiff 4-1. But at least McAllister sorted out MacIver.

Post by **Calv** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:20 pm

getzlaf15 wrote:Basingstoke failed to show to their game with Phoenix because their team bus broke down on the way.

Also, i heard a funny story about Tony Hand in my teams changing room, i don't know it's a myth or something, but someone said that Tony Hand doesn't wear a box because he is too big for one. Maybe Calv has heard this one too.

Haha not heard that one!!!

Bumped into the whole of the Phoenix team last night in a bar in manchester!

Post by **archibalduk** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 2:21 pm

Haha it just goes to show that Tony Hand is actually more God-like than we thought!

Nick - I hope you didn't drunkenly embarrass yourself in front of the whole team