European Leagues Thread

[batdad]

Adam Hall plays hockey? Really?

[Danny]

He's probably like Sid or Malkin amongst those guys

Uh, 11 goals but only 4 assists in 17 games... more like their Nash

[archibalduk]

I've moved our recent discussion about languages to here: http://www.ehmtheblueline.com/forums/vi ... 12&t=11191

[Doomski]

The Schwenninger Wild Wings are back in the DEL !

On one side I'm pretty happy because I grew up near this town, and like this team very much, on the other hand it's not really fair, because Hannover sold their licence to them instead of Bietigheim.

The Wild Wings won this because of money, it would have make more sense that the 2. Bundesliga champion, Bietigheim actually takes the license.

But I'm happy though, can't wait to go to see the Derby against the Adler Mannheim !

[Manimal]

The 2. Bundesliga has now been renamed DEL2 and will be working more closely with the DEL.
There actually has been a relegation-series between the two leagues before but the 2. bundesliga teams has refused to take part!
I haven't heard wether there will be promotion/relegation between the two leagues in the future

[Doomski]

Thanks for info, the last time I checked it wasn't official, most teams that left the 2.Bundesliga to form the unofficial DEL II were threatened to not be recognized.

I think it's a great step for German hockey, especially if the DEL and DEL II work closely.

[Manimal]

There are some news here:
http://www.esbg.de/

[Doomski]

Interesting, thanks !

[Manimal]

It has been around 30 degrees today but some teams have begun with their pre-season games!
Time to change the avatar. We want to be promoted this season!

[YZG]

'Bout time they do! I was shocked when they got relegated. It's one of those big teams that look too big to fail.

[Doomski]

I was too. I really thought that they would have been promoted last year. But I'm very happy to see Leksand back in the SHL !

[Manimal]

The KHL is crazy!
Three head coaches has been fired and the season is just two weeks old

[Garethw87]

The KHL is crazy!
Three head coaches has been fired and the season is just two weeks old

Yes but! I don't remember which the other 2 teams were but I know Atlant fired theres. Which is right I think. A team like Atlant shouldn't be losing the first 5 games and in the way they did was shocking !

[grazza]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83d8NAU_ ... hHexDJlmEg

Like these daily updates not too long so good way to keep up to date with KHL

[nino33]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83d8NAU_ ... hHexDJlmEg

Like these daily updates not too long so good way to keep up to date with KHL

Thanks for posting!
These updates are great!
Do you know much about them? Like what's the source? Are they done by the KHL? Will they continue all year?
In looking on youtube a bit it seems they were done last year too...

Anyways, thanks again for sharing!

[grazza]

I think the lockout really helped the KHL and particularly encourage interest from the English speaking world and some KHL games were broadcast in English. I imagine Kovalchuk's move will help keep a bit of interest and well Winter Olympics coming up in Russia so can see the KHL really trying to push themselves beyond their current markets.

[Garethw87]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83d8NAU_ ... hHexDJlmEg

Like these daily updates not too long so good way to keep up to date with KHL

Thanks for posting!
These updates are great!
Do you know much about them? Like what's the source? Are they done by the KHL? Will they continue all year?
In looking on youtube a bit it seems they were done last year too...

Anyways, thanks again for sharing!

The Daily KHL Updates are produced by the league yes, and they will continue every day until its over

The KHL has also finally launch its own 'KHL Gamecentre' that accepts non Russian Bank accounts. So you can now sub to watch all season, 1 team pass, 1 day pass ect! Works out about $2/€3 per game. I just bought my Dinamo Riga monthly pass which was €34! Only 'issue' some might find is only Russian commentary on the live broadcasts for now.

[grazza]

Would love to see an English weekly show put together covering the KHL and maybe have a pundit each week. The daily updates are great but don't really give enough time to put things into perspective and analyse the league table or team form. Would be great generally though if there could be an ice hockey version of football mundial (which has been on air continually since 1994)I get the hockey is not as global as football but pretty big enough that people in strong hockey markets might want to see a global perspective of the sport. So split the show into say 3 sections. 1 could be a relatively unknown hockey league or market, the other could talk to or about a past legend in the sport and the other maybe cover a particular tournament.

What sort of appetite is there for media coverage of top European leagues in north america. I get that it might not work in southern USA but towards the North and in Canada there are a lot of hockey mad people. Looking at football in Europe, Even though say in England their own premier league is the most watched there is still an appetite to show a lot of Spanish football and bit of Italian, French and German. I suppose these leagues are relatively close in standard where as historically the NHL has been far ahead though I think KHL is on the radar a bit but NHL still the place most players want to go. I know that football / soccer in USA more and more people are taking interest in European leagues and this is reflected by media coverage but perhaps helped b their own domestic league while growing not close to top leagues in world. Though I don't see this in other sports, American Football is pretty much dead outside North America, Basketball is pretty big in some parts of Europe and Baseball is very popular in Latin america and Japan, is there much coverage in terms of live games etc in North America through say regular or satellite channels and how much media coverage is there?

[nino33]

What sort of appetite is there for media coverage of top European leagues in north america. I get that it might not work in southern USA but towards the North and in Canada there are a lot of hockey mad people.

North American hockey is a niche sport in North America, with many other sports that are more popular (the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals had dozens of comedy/drama reruns garner higher ratings). While coverage is much greater in Canada and the northern US, it's NHL and/or local focused.

My experience is mainstream media coverage of the top European leagues is essentially non-existent in North America. Even with the NHL lockout last year there was no coverage. Given this, IMO it's not likely that mainstream North American media will be adding coverage of any overseas hockey leagues anytime soon.....

[archibalduk]

This Friday I'll be heading over to Switzerland for a mini-Euro hockey tour. I hadn't realised this until now, but we'll be watching half of the NLA teams - which isn't too bad for a single weekend! The games we'll be seeing are (their current league positions are in brackets):

Friday: Geneve-Servette (8) v (2) Lugano
Saturday: Lausanne (9) v (10) Zug
Sunday: Biel (11) v (3) Fribourg-Gotteron

Hopefully we'll get to see a few ex-NHLers: Matthew Lombardi (Geneve-Servette), Glen Metropolit (Lugano), Kaspars Daugavins (Geneve-Servette), Cristobal Huet (Lausanne), etc.

It should be a lot of fun!

[CJ]

It should be a lot of fun!

That sure does sound fun!

[philou21]

Sounds to me like a nice little trip. Have fun!!

[Garethw87]

Enjoy archi!

[MWE]

Have fun make sure you take lots of pictures

[batdad]

Going with the invisible Calv or the invisible lady?

Have fun ...hope you are able to keep up with the pace of the game with all that rubbish sludge hockey you watch at home. LOL Sit up in the higher seats so you do not lose track as easily.