The Offical British Hockey Thread 2007-2008

laskey 16 · Post by **laskey 16** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 9:17 pm

Wow, till Christmas?! That must be a bad case of salmonella, I had it when I was younger and I was only out a week or two tops IIRC.

Post by **Calv** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 9:19 pm

not heard much about it officially, but it's on the Phoenix forums saying it could be up til christmas

Post by **Calv** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:42 pm

Phoenix have signed Sean Starke from Quad City Mallards in the UHL, looks like an OK and will probably centre the 2nd line with KC on the left and Cloots on the right.
Vipers have signed Ben Storey from Austria who looks like a very good offensive defenceman

laskey 16 · Post by **laskey 16** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:58 pm

Ben Storey is a quality signing, he has great stats for a d-man. However, I said the same about Corey Neilson who didn't play as well for the Panthers as I expected, so we'll have to see.

Post by **Calv** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 12:13 am

Phoenix have signed Nick Whyatt to replace Matt Rich whilst he is out injured

Post by **Calv** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:09 am

What a lovely pair of ..errmm...shirts!

Post by **batdad** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:43 pm

Hmmm...best looking home and road unis I have ever seen!

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:49 pm

I've got no clue about British hockey but... WOW!

Post by **Calv** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:22 pm

getting back to the hockey

the Capitals have signed Colin Hemingway who looks a very good player, and scored an awesome goal for his University team - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z3Yk99yrak

Edinburgh could cause a few upsets this year.

Post by **getzlaf15** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:37 pm

wow, bit of flair comeing to the league, i look forward to it, that's an awesome goal, which Uni did he play for?

i like the new tactic from the Panthers, they must not have sold many shirts last year, im definitley buying one now, just to see if i get the girl that comes with it!

Post by **Calv** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:49 pm

North Hampshire, he also set the record for Game winning goals whilst he was there

Post by **Calv** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 11:14 pm

they've got another big signing coming tomorrow as well

Post by **getzlaf15** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:35 am

Calv wrote:North Hampshire, he also set the record for Game winning goals whilst he was there

Wow, this guy must be awesome, so this guy is gonna be a game winner, cant wait for the game against phoenix

Edit: this was some 5 years ago, the guy might not quite be that good anymore, with stats from his University days like that, im surprised that the Blues, (who drafted him), didnt give him a shot in the NHL

Post by **Calv** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:39 pm

Capitals sign Mike Stutzel, who looks like another top signing. Played 9 games for the Coyotes under Gretzky and has played in the AHL and ECHL.

Post by **Calv** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:56 pm

As the season gets ever closer, teams are scrambling round for those last couple of signings that will decide whether their team is top or bottom. I'm expecting a really close league this season, with the exception of Hull maybe, who may fall of the bottom some what. Edinburgh look to be a massively improved team this year, and Basingstoke could be the Dark Horses this season. At the top I expect Coventry and Belfast and one of Cardiff,Nottingham & Sheffield. Phoenix will probably make the playoffs but will finish 5th-8th in my opinion, although a lot rests on who their final signing is(to be announced this sunday!).
A round-up of the signings made this week:
16th August:
Jim Shepherd(CAN) completes the Panthers' forward lines, moving from Newcastle
17th August:
Adam Stefishen(CAN) joins the Capitals as their enforcer, moving from Rocky Mountain Rage
Kyle Peto(CAN) joins Basingstoke's defensive lines from Idaho Steelheads
Danny Stewart(CAN) is a 4th round draft pick joining Basingstokes forwards, after playing with Sidney Crosby a few years ago.
21st August:
Omar Ennafatti(HUN) completes the Phoenix defensive lines, moving from Szekesfehervar Alba Volan in Hungary
Jake Riddle(USA) joins Hull Stingrays, and is another physical player
Rob Wilson(CAN) retires from Hockey, but stays on as Vipers' Head Coach/Co-Owner.
23rd August:
Petr Kratky(CZ) is the final import signing for Newcastle, joining from French side HC Briancon
Dean Melanson(CAN) joins Basingstoke, who now have only 1 import slot to fill.
Jason Wolfe(USA) joins Oklahoma City Blazers from the Phoenix.

mark_htfc · Post by **mark_htfc** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:23 pm

Hopefully this season Pheonix and Panthers will have a good one and make the play-offs.

When I get a job I think I will purchase myself a Hockey Jersey.

Post by **Calv** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:28 pm

you could just win a game-worn like me...

mark_htfc · Post by **mark_htfc** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:33 pm

How do I win one?

Post by **Calv** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:12 pm

there will be some more competitions during the season, just look out for them on the website

mark_htfc · Post by **mark_htfc** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:37 pm

Cheers, I will take a look out, will check it daily when the season starts anyhow.

Post by **Calv** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:11 pm

looks like Phoenix will be waiting a little bit longer for their final signing

Phoenix feel the draught

25/ 8/2007

PHOENIX have been left in the lurch after their final signing of the summer pulled out at the last minute.

Coach Tony Hand was all set to announce the capture of a top-class offensive forward when the player did a U-turn and decided to stay at home.

"Everything was done," said Hand. "The contract was signed, the passport details were in place and the work permit was approved and then he phoned me up and said he had decided to stay at home.

"I'm not going to name the guy but it has caused us a few problems. I had stopped looking and there were a few guys I had offers out to who have now got fixed up.

"But these things happen and I'm not too worried about it. In fact it is better that something like this happens now rather than halfway through the season like last year when we lost Ryan Watson.

"We have started looking again and have a few offers out."

The squad are arriving back this weekend and there is a Meet the Players night for fans at the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham tomorrow night (7pm).

The bmibaby Elite league season gets underway on September 8 when Phoenix travel to Nottingham.

Before then they have two warm-up games against Sheffield Steelers in Yorkshire next Saturday and in Altrincham the following night.

They probably won't have the paperwork for the new guy sorted out in time for the Steelers games

Post by **Calv** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:16 pm

nice article in the MEN

Hand makes case for defence
Chris Brierley
28/ 8/2007

SUCCESS for Manchester Phoenix will be based firmly on defence this season.

That's the view of player coach Tony Hand who showed off his new line-up to Phoenix fans at the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham on Sunday night.

"I wanted to improve in that area after last season and I think you will see the difference in the players I have signed this summer," said Hand.

"We will be stronger in that department this time round and that's no disrespect to last season's players."

To start with Hand retained the services of Scott Basiuk - confirmed as captain once again - and his defensive partner Simon Mangos to keep some continuity on the blueline.

Then he has added two players with a solid pedigree and experience in the world's top league, the NHL.

Netminder Scott Fankhouser was drafted by St Louis Blues and played 23 games for Atlanta Thrashers.

Tougness

Jeff MacMillan played four times in the NHL and will bring leadership and toughness to the blueline.

Omar Ennaffati has a Hungarian mother and a Morrocan father but was born and raised in Toronto and is another quality player who make the Phoenix defence a tough one to crack.

There is still some work to be done up front with Hand saying: "We thought we had our final forward place filled but the guy decided he wanted to stay at home.

"That caused us a few problems but hopefully we will have someone signed up in the next few days.

"Once we do have the guy signed up it will take a few days to bring him in but we will be OK."

The team will have a distinctly Canadian flavour this season with Brett Clouthier and KC Timmons returning from last season and Brian Passmore - a Minnesota Wild draft pick - and Sean Starke arriving at Altrincham.

Hand - who turned 40 this month - leads the six strong British contingent and is likely to be as influential as ever in what could be his last season as a player.

Strides

"This season could be my last," he confirmed. "We are a new club, only a year old really, and we are trying to develop British players. Hopefully we will be successful in that and then I can take a back-seat and concentrate more on the coaching side of things."

Young Scot Adam Walker also returns from last season hoping to improve on the massive strides he made last year. Matt Rich is also back but won't feature for a month or two after contracting salmonella poisoning while on holiday.

Local lad Aran Fox is the back-up netminder while Davey Graham will bolster the blue line. Rhys McWilliams and Nick Whyatt complete the line-up.

Phoenix also have a new name on their back-room team in former Army physical training instructor Stuart Ness as physiotherapist.

Stuart served in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq and specialises in back and spinal injuries.

Phoenix players have two weeks to get to know each other before the bmi baby Elite League faces off on September 8.

Before that Phoenix are in action twice against Sheffield Steelers next weekend - in Yorkshire on Saturday and Altrincham the following night.

"It's going to take a bit of time because you don't just hit the ground running," said Hand.

"But we are back a week before we were last season practising in our own rink so we will be much better prepared."

PHOENIX fans can watch their team on Channel M when the first of a weekly magazine programme starts next Tuesday.

Post by **Calv** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:38 am

Looks like the EIHL will be hitting TV screens across Britain with rumours of a TV show on Sky Sports, there's even a guide for it up here: http://library.digiguide.com/lib/progra ... ckey-85829
which looks promising, nothing has been officially announced however 1 match has been moved with the following news item

"The first clash of the season between the GMB Nottingham Panthers and arch-rivals Sheffield has been brought forward. The match scheduled for mid-November (17th) will now face off on the evening of Wednesday September 12th.

The reasons for the change will become clear over the next few days with an exciting announcement for all British ice hockey fans. Tickets for the game in Sheffield are going on sale straight away."

crosby87 · Post by **crosby87** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:18 pm

YES bring it on, like the good old days of the Superleague (well it was good on the ice anyway, and it had a tv deal with Sky).

Post by **Calv** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:10 pm

Ice Hockey returns to Sky

Thursday, 30th August 2007
The first programme on Thursday September 13th will feature a tasty opener to the new ice hockey schedule as the Liberata Sheffield Steelers will play host to their arch-rivals the GMB Nottingham Panthers. If you've got Sky then take your places on the settee at 5.00pm for the return of top-flight British Ice Hockey to television.

I'm so glad I have sky now

I will be working most sundays so I won't be attending many games and this is perfect, along with the weekly Phoenix show on Channel M. Hopefully this will sustain British Ice Hockey and hopefully everyone will have learnt from the ISL days and not get carried away and over extend on wages etc...