EHM The Blue Line

EIHL playoff semis are:
Coventry v Cardiff
Nottingham v Belfast

EPL playoff quarters are:
mkl v Swindon
Slough v Sheffield
Manchester v Peterborough
Guildford v Basingstoke

Yeah, we have confirmed that, but hey, change happens

You've also got a new Chairman, a new coach soon & moving back to the MRA - I'm assuming you'll be in the EIHL for at least the next few years

Vipers aren't moving back to MRA - they're staying at Whitley Bay next season...

'nuff said

Rob has took 2 pay cheques from the club in the last 5 years, Jaimie hasn't had one this season.

- Arena rent = £8,500 .. Same as: Belfast, Coventry, Nottingham, Sheffield. Edinburgh, Cardiff & Hull pay next to nothing.

- New coach is more likely to be player coach, no rush to be announced.

- Whitley bay to be our rink for the season, due to the arena bailing out on us last minute.

- Whitley bay to be renovated .. new ice surface, interiors, lights etc.

- Season ticket applications / prices to still be decided after confirming whitley bay was our new rink.

- Idea of faceoff times .. 7pm Saturday, 4:30pm Sunday. Still not 100% confirmed.

- More meet the players for the kids etc etc.

Stolen from: http://www.neicehockey.co.uk/

This is such a dagger in the heart to be honest, I was really pleased about going back to the arena, decent ice. comfortable lighting, better crowds and traditional Vipers faceoff days and times.

It is apparently short term (1-2 years) while we get Gateshead the rink, and then move there (very long shot).

I really cannot imagine Whitley re surfacing their ice, it's bad for a number of years, with recent improvements to changing rooms, boards and the addition of benches. But despite this. It still feels like it's in the 50s (I wasn't alive, just going by word).

Really really most displeased.

Is it all in black and white there?

It's all black, no lines on the ice. Ice is also black with tire marks all over it due to the Zamboni. The place is a such a joke

Apparently the MRA had increased rent by 250% since the first time you started playing there

Hopefully Paddy O'Connor will spend a bit more money on marketing so that they can be more of a success this year - the Rock the Rink thingy was apparently a success so I hope they can follow it up with a few more next year.

There is some good news about though: http://www.eliteleague.co.uk/index.php? ... &Itemid=50

Well with crowds between 500-900 at Whitley Bay, the Vipers may not be a round too much longer. Saturday faceoffs, with Newcastle United back in the Premier League isn't going to go down to well. I know a ton of people who are not getting a season ticket due to this reason or because of all the games being at Whitley.

Bad times for the Vipers.

Reynaldo28 wrote:Well with crowds between 500-900 at Whitley Bay, the Vipers may not be a round too much longer. Saturday faceoffs, with Newcastle United back in the Premier League isn't going to go down to well. I know a ton of people who are not getting a season ticket due to this reason or because of all the games being at Whitley.

Bad times for the Vipers.

That's because Whitley's garbage... It's a total dump...

And it is not ideal for transport, people always put other commitments and football in front of hockey. But like you said, it's a dump. People do not want to have to make the awkward drive, to a place with no parking to sit in a cold shabby rink to watch the pile of rubbish that we watched this season.

Goodbye Vipers I think.

I think it would be a shame if the Vipers did disappear. British hockey needs all the teams it can get!

Yeah it does, but the problem is to, too few people care, it isn't going to change, which is really annoying and hard to take when something means so much to you.

Anywhoo, 'mon Coventry!

Cardiff are going to take the play-off this year.

Myself and Calv are at Nottingham for the EIHL playoffs weekend: Coventry were well and truely beaten today. They did close the gap at one point but Cardiff were too strong. The Belfast-Nottingham game was a tad dull but Belfast rightly won after a shoot-out. I think it'll be a good final tomorrow!

The Cardiff - Belfast games I went to were always eventful to say the least. As you said it should be a good final. I think I'm going to be watching it in the pub. I'm looking forward to it!!

Andyjayp wrote:The Cardiff - Belfast games I went to were always eventful to say the least. As you said it should be a good final. I think I'm going to be watching it in the pub. I'm looking forward to it!!

Maybe you'll see myself and Nick in the crowd! I'll be the one in the Ovechkin jersey and my bro is in either a Marleau or Luongo jersey

I didn't notice you!!

But Cardiff were unlucky not to win it!! I'm definitely going to go up next year!!

I would most definitely recommend going up for the playoffs weekend if you can make it next year. It was a great weekend of hockey. I'll certainly try and make it to Nottingham next year again. The only boring part of the weekend was probably the England U19s v Scotland U19s exhibition game.

It was a shame that Cardiff didn't win. I thought they were the strongest team both in the semis and the final itself.

They were. They pressured Belfast well, I thought. They did well to come from 2 goals down.

Are going going to go to Hockeyfest next year? I believe it's going to be held in Cardiff next season!

Is that the 20-20 tournament?

If it is I may go, it depends on how serious the players take it - take the allstar games for example, good idea but no one checks etc... And they end up very dull...

It's behind you Stevie!

Max Birbraer makes it 2-2 in the final

And 97 other photos!

Some of the penalty shot photos came out blurry as I was in the opposite corner to the goal for half of them!

Didn't take many photos of the final as I didn't want to miss any of the action