The British Hockey Thread 2016-17

[marksbros6]

I'll be checking it out. It's hockey on free TV, can't complain?

And I'll struggle to see as much of MKL next season in the Elite League anyway.

[Calv]

I'll be checking it out. It's hockey on free TV, can't complain?

And I'll struggle to see as much of MKL next season in the Elite League anyway.

The highlights are all online by Monday or Tuesday anyway, I imagine the highlights show will just be a condensed version of them. The Elite League does a highlights reel every week: http://eliteleague.co.uk/the-highlights-reel-11/

[A9L3E]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTmHLIFQyeI
Slovenia U20 - Great Britain U20 will start in 45 minutes. You can watch it here, in case you are interested.
(I suppose YouTube is considered as a legal streaming site.)

[Calv]

An ot loss for GB, although it seems that they did not play so well. I missed the game as I went to the Storm-Giants game, where Chris Higgins decided to spear one of the Storm players in a delicate area... He got a Match penalty, and fortunately Harding was okay

[Calv]

Well, it doesn't look like a new rink within walking distance of my flat anytime soon. No idea what the future holds for the Phoenix whether they can survive the season in Blackpool and, if so, what happens next year. Do they move permanently to Blackpool? Do they try and build another rink? It's clear that building rinks in this country takes a long time, Cardiff was delayed, Leeds is currently being delayed, so I'd be surprised if they could get something sorted for next season

[Calv]

Over 9,300 in Sheffield today, very impressive attendance

[marksbros6]

How did the Storm (presume you were watching them) get on Calv?

Watched a frustrating 2-3 loss to Peterborough in MK this evening

[Calv]

How did the Storm (presume you were watching them) get on Calv?

Watched a frustrating 2-3 loss to Peterborough in MK this evening

Unfortunately couldn't make it as i'm at my parents' place, but they beat Dundee easily 4-1 with Clemente losing his shutout with only 3 seconds left A tough 3 games coming up though, Belfast tomorrow followed by a double against Sheffield means I don't think Storm will still be sitting in 5th by new years.

[MWE]

Over 9,300 in Sheffield today, very impressive attendance

Always well attended on boxing day.

Didn't manage to go myself as I was off to see family.

[archibalduk]

So Manchester Phoenix have released all of their imports in order to cut costs. Jacob Corson-Heron has posted on Twitter to say none of the imports knew of it until the press release. He has also posted on Facebook to say much of what Neil Morris has been saying over the years about a new rink is untrue (so basically what many people had suspected anyhow).

[marksbros6]

You mean 'THF' (*snide snide*) was actually right and all the Phoenix 'spokespersons' were wrong?

Shambles. Will actually be glad to see my team kiss goodbye to this league. Really disenchanted with the lack of governance from the EIHA and the way certain teams are allowed to run/have been run. It's not even 'cheque-book' hockey it's 'credit-card' hockey.

It's one thing for Guildford to have a 'sugar-daddy' owner (your lot do get plenty of pelters from fans of other clubs Arch) but at least he's actually underwriting the expenses. Phoenix have obviously had winning teams financed 'on credit' before the wheels came off and Telford the same.

Hopefully this will see SilverBlades take over running the team and it can be run properly from here on out?

[Calv]

[marksbros6]

Certainly bad PR and what lots of people have suspected all along from J. Corson-Heron's comments on Twitter!

[Calv]

Robin Kovar saying he had no notice and is owed £2,200 https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8 ... e=59214DB4

[archibalduk]

Will actually be glad to see my team kiss goodbye to this league.

My interest in the league is waning too. It doesn't help not being able to go to many games per season, but it's nonetheless really depressing to see so many issues with teams in this league. I really hope the EIHA succeed in joining with the IHUK to restructure the leagues in the UK.

[Calv]

No more Neil Morris in Phoenix, and a group trying to save the club for the rest of the season: https://www.manchesterphoenix.co.uk/news/2850/end-era

[archibalduk]

Thank goodness for that. Though I see it's everybody else's fault but his!

[Calv]

I thought the same thing.... I was thinking of getting to a game in Widnes when the Storm are away. I guess we'll see if they're still around then!

[marksbros6]

He has just run that team into the ground to the point where there is no 'name value' to the brand anymore. Suppose a fan's trust or fan-led consortium is the only way forward, and I doubt in the EPL (or equivalent) next season.

[Calv]

Lots of stuff about farewell posted by Phoenix, the future doesn't look good.

It sounds as though they've been given Widnes basically rent-free (£100 a week). Rumours going round Altrincham this evening was that Kovar is being paid more than all of the Storm players, except 1. Not sure I totally believe this, but crazy if true

[archibalduk]

Wasn't it Kovar who was owed £2,200 (two weeks' wages)? (IIRC it was he that posted it on social media). That does seem a lot and, if true, an insane amount to pay a player when in such financial difficulty.

I'm betting Phoenix fold at the end of the season and we see Widnes or perhaps Blackburn in their place. On top of that, we have Telford and Bracknell struggling and apparently an unnamed team who are in even bigger trouble (according to BIH/Dan Breen IIRC). I feel the EPL's future is in the balance.

[Calv]

Yes, it's definitely a turning point for the EPL changes are clearly needed. The Glasgow evening times mentioned that there is a possibility of Guildford joining the Elite League next season

[archibalduk]

I kind of hope they don't. I struggle to justify the cost of my season ticket at the moment as I only make it to four games per season. Given they have some of the cheapest ticket prices in the league, I imagine the move to the EIHL would result in season ticket prices roughly doubling in order to contribute to running costs.

The season ticket currently works out at about £6.50 per game (IIRC a single ticket is £9 per game).

[marksbros6]

Sounds like Phoenix are gone as of tonight.

Jordan Marr been let go by Hull as well, with Fone rumoured to be joining them.

[Calv]

Guildford have applied to join the Elite League. That solves the problem of 11 teams in the league next season. I think it also helps to reduce the arms race in the EPL (or whatever it becomes next season)