The British Hockey Thread 2016-17

[marksbros6]

I'm blaming Arch 'losing interest' in the EPL for this decision!

Interesting times for MKL and Guildford!

[MWE]

Would be great to see Guildford in the EIHL.

[archibalduk]

It seems like a sensible decision given how unstable much of the EPL has become. It'll be interesting to see how deep Hepburn's pockets are because he's going to need a lot of cash to put together a team with enough depth and imports to compete - and whether this will be sustainable in the long run. It's good timing with the recent proposal to re-build the Spectrum - perhaps if all goes well then they'll consider building a bigger rink. I guess the team we'll see next season will be very different with few of the existing team playing next season.

My biggest worry is the cost of a season ticket. The Flames sent an email round to all season ticket holders earlier and they confirmed the rationale behind the application. They also confirmed that the cost of season tickets will go up - but they'll do their best to keep it as good value as possible. I'm not sure I'll really be able to justify the cost seeing as I only make it to about four games per season now.

This must surely be the start of a restructure of the EPL and NIHL - with or without IHUK's involvement. Assuming there isn't enough time for the EIHA and IHUK to work together, I wonder if we'll see some sort of promotion and relegation between the NIHL and whatever remains of the EPL. It'd probably be optional like it is between the NIHL-1 and NIHL-2 so teams can decide whether to take the plunge. This would no doubt require a reduction in the number of imports given the huge gulf in skill and financial resources between the best NIHL teams and the EPL.

This is of course on the assumption that the EIHL teams vote to allow the Flames' application.

[Calv]

I see no reason that the EIHL would reject the application, it makes sense to have 12 teams.

The next IHUK-EIHA meeting is 25th January I think, where basically the new 2nd tier will either go ahead or not. If it doesn't then I have no idea what the EPL will look like next season

[archibalduk]

The next IHUK-EIHA meeting is 25th January I think, where basically the new 2nd tier will either go ahead or not.

That would be remarkably quick given how recently the proposal was announced and how slowly British hockey moves! But I really do hope we get a joint second tier - I think it'd be a really positive thing for the sport.

[archibalduk]

And another thing - with two teams joining I'm really worried how hard it will be to get playoff tickets in the future!!!

[Calv]

I was thinking the same thing, I guess a few hundred fans of both teams would turn up. Hopefully they take the blocks from the Panthers and Steelers fans, rather than the smaller teams. Apparently there is temporary seating that can be pulled out and installed so this might help.

[archibalduk]

Maybe it's a good reason for me to keep my season ticket!

The cheerleader thing has always seemed a bit of a waste to me. It'd be good to see that area turned into seats.

[Calv]

Interesting decision by the EPL to not allow Telford (or Manchester) into the playoffs this season

[Calv]

Also, no EPL clubs are attending the IHUK meeting on the 25th. Bonkers! http://guildfordflames.com/league_meeti ... ?vi=194578

[archibalduk]

I guess they're not happy with the IHUK and are taking a stance against that. I think that's probably fair enough - if push comes to shove then they can figure out a new league structure with the NIHL if they consider a 7/8 team EPL is insufficient. But it can't be all that great for the long term security of the league.

To retrospectively ban Manchester and Telford seems really wrong. I think having the rule in place going forward is a really good idea. But it's not fair punishing teams for something that was not against the rules at the time. What really gets me is that it has taken so long for them to come to this decision. The Manchester liquidation occurred ages ago now.

I feel like we are watching the EPL slowly implode.

P.s. THF has proven over the years to be a great source of information and rumours (many of which turn out to be true). But you don't half have to trawl through the know-it-alls and idiots to find the useful stuff!...

[marksbros6]

Proper WAR on THF at the moment! Lol

No point commenting on there with all the back-and-forth.

At the end of the day I think it's the right result...poorly executed.

Not fair on other teams (that haven't gone broke in-season) to miss out on the playoffs. Any title Tigers win this season will be a tainted one.

[archibalduk]

The circus continues: https://www.icehockeyuk.co.uk/2017/01/1 ... a-and-sih/

UK ice hockey’s governing bodies would like to reinforce their commitment to holding a meeting next week regarding a proposed new tier-two league.

IHUK, EIHA and SIH acknowledge that the EPL clubs discussed the current proposals at a recent EPL club meeting – the results of which appear to suggest a depreciating interest in the proposals developed to date.

We believe that change is critical at this level and IHUK, EIHA and SIH have responsibility to develop a fit-for-purpose tier-two model that is financially sustainable and provides equity of opportunity through a UK-wide conference model, with a focus on promoting increased opportunities for our talented British athletes to gain ice time at an appropriate competitive level.

We are keen to understand areas of concern and to work together to address issues to a positive conclusion. The meeting scheduled for 25th January will therefore go ahead as planned.

The expertise and support of all member clubs is critical in influencing the changes proposed and we sincerely hope that all clubs, who have an interest and desired involvement at the tier-two level from next season and beyond, will attend in order to contribute and shape change.

[Calv]

The thing I don't understand is why the EPL clubs are against the reforms. 3 clubs have basically gone bust over the past 9 months, it's very likely that one of them will go bust again (although there is possible interest in Phoenix from an unname businessman). Clearly the model isn't working, but there don't seem to be any suggestions of how to change the model. 1 club is definitely leaving next season, another has expressed an interest in leaving. That means the league could be down to 7, it just seems crazy that they wouldn't at least attend the meeting.

To me it almost seems as though the EPL teams have seen the way that the EIHL has been self-governing and improving crowds and standards through increased imports and have decided to copy them. The IHUK proposals obviously involve fewer imports and possibly fewer GB internationals, and the EPL clubs seemingly don't want to have an apparent reduction in the quality of the teams, and sees this as a threat to making money.

Unfortunately, the way I see it is that if the IHUK do not succeed with the new second tier proposals the EIHL will not get on board with the closer ties & better development of the GB players, as discussed in the interview with Richard Grieveson.

Also, yes THF is unfortunately 70% nonsense and bickering nowadays.

[Calv]

EIHA now looking into the decision to ban the Tigers & Phoenix.

[archibalduk]

This is crazy!

I wonder if the EIHA has the power to disband the EPL. If it has a bunch of errant clubs (i.e. the 8 EPL teams) and it wants to join with IHUK in a new second tier, then I can't see the attraction of keeping the EPL.

[Calv]

Never a dull day.... Eric Neilson has been thrown out against Fife for an altercation with a fan

[archibalduk]

It's not the first time this has happened in the EIHL...

Hull were thrashed 13-1 by the Phantoms tonight.

[Calv]

It's not the first time this has happened in the EIHL...

Hull were thrashed 13-1 by the Phantoms tonight.

The leagues are trying to outdo each other at the moment

[Calv]

On a positive note, Phoenix only lost 5-0 despite not having any imports and borrowing a lot of NIHL players. Not sure what lineup they'll be playing with next week (if they make it to next week)

[Calv]

So, Phoenix live for another weekend, all EPL clubs attended the Tier 2 meeting (except MK & Guildford), Telford are back in the playoffs (and it seems as though Bracknell were never in favour of the original decision), and it's only a 3 match ban for punching a fan (along with 6 game suspended ban & a £5k suspended fine). Just a normal few days for British Ice Hockey

[archibalduk]

My enthusiasm for British hockey has really diminished over the past couple of months for these very reasons...

[Calv]

Yes, its all got a bit silly recently. It's alright when you can go to games and enjoy the hockey, but when you can't then the rest of the nonsense gets bit too much!

[nino33]

Often the stuff I read in this thread reminds me of the WHA from the 1970s - never a dull moment!

[A9L3E]

Often the stuff I read in this thread reminds me of the WHA from the 1970s - never a dull moment!

Maybe you should move to Britain and re-live that era of ice hockey.