Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2017 2:23 pm
One of the refs just took abit of a blow in the Japan Estonia game splitting up a fight 
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The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
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Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 7:12 pm
Sounds as though 12 teams in the Elite League and 3 conferences of 4
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 7:14 pm
Cue much arguing about who goes in which conference... 
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 8:07 pm
Why can't they just have 1 league of 12 and play each other 4 times like in Switzerland ??
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 9:14 pm
The conference groupings make a lot of sense IMO. The only thing I haven't gotten my head around is the playoff qualification criteria - and I see it is already causing consternation on THF.
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 9:56 pm
The problem is that there is a huge disparity (in economic terms) between teams in the league. Teams like Edinburgh, Dundee, get average attendances of 800-900 whereas Nottingham get average attendances of 5,700 or so. In other leagues, there a number of normalising factors such as league-wide sponsorship/tv deals that reduce the effect of ticket income on the total budgets. As Hockey is such a minor sport in the UK, there isn't this effect and basically the big teams have larger attendances and more sponsors (and fair play on them for doing so well!). This leads to a very imbalanced league, the conferences were an attempt to reduce this gap by having more games against local teams who bring more away fans, etc.celislanders1 wrote:Why can't they just have 1 league of 12 and play each other 4 times like in Switzerland ??
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 9:57 pm
This coming season was the most excited I've been about the Elite League, with the introduction of 2 new teams, and this was the conference system I was hoping forarchibalduk wrote:The conference groupings make a lot of sense IMO. The only thing I haven't gotten my head around is the playoff qualification criteria - and I see it is already causing consternation on THF.
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 10:04 pm
Looking forward to it myself.
We'll all have teams in the same league now and be genuine rivals!
Might make editing difficult if we end up not talking to one-another after a big defeat!
We'll all have teams in the same league now and be genuine rivals!
Might make editing difficult if we end up not talking to one-another after a big defeat!
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 10:41 pm
I have some thoughts about the current Elite League players, I can probably do some in depth rating of the Storm players and some more general rating of the other teams players from this season. I haven't actually opened up EHM for a while tho...
I might try and get to an away game at MK this season, depending on the train times...
I might try and get to an away game at MK this season, depending on the train times...
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 12:23 pm
If you do mate then shoot me a PM. The rink is right by the train station.
Happy to help out with the Elite teams through to the NIHL teams. Think it's important to put our heads together so we're all singing from the same hymn sheet.
Also might need to consider finances, reputation and affiliations (especially with the league shake-up this year)
Know what you mean about not playing the game, I've not had a decent season out of it in ages (though there's always the long hockey-less months in the summer)
Happy to help out with the Elite teams through to the NIHL teams. Think it's important to put our heads together so we're all singing from the same hymn sheet.
Also might need to consider finances, reputation and affiliations (especially with the league shake-up this year)
Know what you mean about not playing the game, I've not had a decent season out of it in ages (though there's always the long hockey-less months in the summer)
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 3:34 pm
Thanks for the great reply. Is anyone going to try and use the editor to have the new set-up ??Calv wrote:The problem is that there is a huge disparity (in economic terms) between teams in the league. Teams like Edinburgh, Dundee, get average attendances of 800-900 whereas Nottingham get average attendances of 5,700 or so. In other leagues, there a number of normalising factors such as league-wide sponsorship/tv deals that reduce the effect of ticket income on the total budgets. As Hockey is such a minor sport in the UK, there isn't this effect and basically the big teams have larger attendances and more sponsors (and fair play on them for doing so well!). This leads to a very imbalanced league, the conferences were an attempt to reduce this gap by having more games against local teams who bring more away fans, etc.celislanders1 wrote:Why can't they just have 1 league of 12 and play each other 4 times like in Switzerland ??
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 7:35 am
I guess so, I've not played with the editor so unsure how easy/possible it would be.
Team GB beat Netherlands 14-0 last night to setup another final day showdown. They play Japan this evening to decide who gets the gold medal and promotion.
This might be useful for setting wages in EHM: http://jobs.eliteprospects.com
Team GB beat Netherlands 14-0 last night to setup another final day showdown. They play Japan this evening to decide who gets the gold medal and promotion.
This might be useful for setting wages in EHM: http://jobs.eliteprospects.com
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 12:56 pm
That's interesting. Bookmarked!Calv wrote:This might be useful for setting wages in EHM: http://jobs.eliteprospects.com
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 3:33 pm
I love how there is an unnamed EIHL team with a Northern Irish flag on the EP Jobs site. I wonder who that might be!
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2017 9:57 pm
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 1:58 pm
NIHL/EIHA announcement due at 8pm today according to the Invicta Facebook page.
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 8:04 pm
Seems reasonable enough!Following the NIHL South section meeting on Sunday 7 May, the EIHA is pleased to announce that the format for 17/18 season has been agreed after more than 6 hours of discussions.
The applications from former EPIHL sides Basingstoke Bison, Bracknell Bees, Peterborough Phantoms and Swindon Wildcats were accepted and they take the place in NIHL South 1 next season.
In total there will be 12 teams in Division 1, split into two conferences of six teams.
Conference A
Basingstoke Bison
Bracknell Bees
Cardiff Fire
Milton Keynes Thunder
Oxford City Stars
Solent Devils
Conference B
Chelmsford Chieftains
Invicta Dynamos
London Raiders
Peterborough Phantoms
Streatham IHC
Swindon Wildcats
Teams will play others in the own conference twice home and away, and teams out of conference once home and once away.
There will also be an NIHL S1 Cup with two groups.
Group A
Chelmsford Chieftains
Invicta Dynamos
Streatham IHC
London Raiders
Group B
Basingstoke Bison
Bracknell Bees
Peterborough Phantoms
Swindon Wildcats
The initial stage of the Cup will have one home and one away against the others in their group.
NIHL South Division 2 reverts to a single division of 13 teams, playing one home and one away. Discussions on a NIHL S2 Cup will continue.
Basingstoke Buffalo
Bristol Pitbulls
Bracknell Hornets
Cardiff Fire 2
Chelmsford Warriors
Guildford Phoenix
Haringey
Invicta Mustangs
Lee Valley Lions
Oxford NIHL2
Peterborough Phantoms 2
Slough Jets
Swindon Wildcats 2
The meeting also agreed that all NIHL South games ending in a draw after 60 minutes will go to five minutes of 3 on 3 overtime and penalty shots if required.
The NIHL season will begin on weekend of 2/3 September and is scheduled to end 7/8 April.
The issue of post season play will be discussed wider following the NIHL North section meeting which is now scheduled for next weekend.
NIHL South League Manager Richard Carpenter said: "It was a long day, a difficult meeting but we've reached agreement on the way forward for next season and beyond.
"There are no perfect answers or deals to such a highly complicated situation but we would like to thank all teams involved for reaching a deal today to the betterment of British ice hockey.
"There are wider whole-NIHL issues which will be discussed after the North section next week, but we're pleased to have carried out this task of integrating the former EPIHL clubs into the NIHL Structure and agreed a format."
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 8:04 pm
Here we go:
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 8:06 pm
Yep seems like the best solution. Although I am a tad surprised with the Division 2. I thought the West/East split was saving money - but perhaps not to the extent to make it worth it...
EDIT: Also, it is a little odd to have Swindon in the B Conference from a geographical perspective.
EDIT: Also, it is a little odd to have Swindon in the B Conference from a geographical perspective.
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Sun May 07, 2017 8:12 pm
Conference B looks very competitive, I could imagine Conference A will be between MK & Basingstoke
edit: This assumes that a number of Lightning players drop down to the Thunder
edit: This assumes that a number of Lightning players drop down to the Thunder
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 9:34 pm
Big news coming out of Dundee is that they are up for sale and need to raise £50k (or find another owner). Team will play the coming season, but 18-19 doesn't sound too promising unless something drastic changes. £495 for a season ticket, covering 31 games. Lefevbre is back as coach though, which is good news.
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 9:56 pm
Reportedly, Ryan Finnerty is involved in buying Storm. I had heard he was interested in buying a club a while ago, I believe he has some family wealth. Hopefully this gets resolved soon
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 8:29 am
Good news if true for the Storm hope Dundee get sorted too
What will happen with Telford they are not in the NIHL?
What will happen with Telford they are not in the NIHL?
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 12:38 pm
They've applied to NIHL (N).
Bit later than most (I imagine they were waiting to see if the Southern teams were accepted, and now they have they know they're out on their own).
Think the 'North' League meeting is later this month.
Bit later than most (I imagine they were waiting to see if the Southern teams were accepted, and now they have they know they're out on their own).
Think the 'North' League meeting is later this month.
Re: The British Hockey Thread 2016-17
Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 7:29 pm
The North meeting is this Sunday.
It'll be interesting to see how the NIHL works say two years down the line. I feel like there will be a big gap opening up. On the one hand, fewer imports means better opportunities for the British players but on the other they're not going to face the quality the EPL imports brought. And will the former EPL teams still bring in the attendances they used to?
It'll be interesting to see how the NIHL works say two years down the line. I feel like there will be a big gap opening up. On the one hand, fewer imports means better opportunities for the British players but on the other they're not going to face the quality the EPL imports brought. And will the former EPL teams still bring in the attendances they used to?