EHM The Blue Line

Northern exposure

The plans have not been finalized, but it looks like the first of the two stops on the Bruins’ European excursion in September will be Belfast, Northern Ireland.

They’re expected to hold several practices and then play an exhibition at the Odyssey Arena, home of the Belfast Giants of the Elite Ice Hockey League. The Bruins are expected to play a team from the top German league.

The rink, opened in 2000, holds just less than 10,000.

The B’s are expected to go from Belfast to Prague and remain there until the end of the trip.

If this happens I would definitely have to try and get myself there. It might be the only chance I will get to watch an NHL in action, Live.

Here's the original article from the Boston Herald: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/hock ... id=1241490 (its after the bit about Rask)

That's cool that they're going to visit an other country while they're off in Europe for the game in Prague. I wonder if they're going for the Boston - Ireland connection there?

Possibly. That would be my guess as to why they would be going to Ireland.

I was told earlier today be my mate that, the Millennium Stadium was thought of as a possible location for some NHL action in the future. Its a 74,500 capacity stadium, so I'm sure they could fit a fair few people in there.

Well hopefully the Bruins come to Ireland. It would be good to go and see some NHL action.

Shannon Hope mentioned the Millenium Stadium in a recent webcast. Not sure we could fill it really.

Am tempted by Belfast tbh - I think there is going to be a tournament involving Belfast, Edinburgh & 1 or 2 DEL teams - like the Gardiner Cup was in Edinburgh last year

Awesome. That would be pretty cool. Hmm... you're probably right, it would be hard to fill the Millennium Stadium.

Why is it Edinburgh and Belfast again? Surely some other teams would want to get in on the tournament action!

Calv wrote:Shannon Hope mentioned the Millenium Stadium in a recent webcast. Not sure we could fill it really.

Am tempted by Belfast tbh - I think there is going to be a tournament involving Belfast, Edinburgh & 1 or 2 DEL teams - like the Gardiner Cup was in Edinburgh last year

So you mean a tournament involving DEL teams as well as Boston coming over for an exhibition game? Looks like I'll be making two trips to Belfast in the not too distant future!

I'm not sure about the Millennium Stadium idea. It's not like when the NFL comes over to the UK. Although there would be interest in it, I don't think it'd be on the scale of the interest the UK has in the NFL games. A poor turn out at such a large stadium wouldn't really do much good for the UK's chances to hold further NHL games. But at a smaller stadium, a UK NHL winter classic would be great!

I assume they'd be incorporated into one weekend. Maybe one DEL team v Bruins & Edinburgh v Belfast - then the winner plays the DEL team. The rumour I had heard only mentioned 1 DEL team.

I think Edinburgh & Belfast agreed last season to hold 2 tournaments one in Edinburgh and 1 in Belfast

How about

Quarter final: Belfast v Edinburgh
Semi Final: Belfast/Edinburgh v DEL team
Final: Winner of Semi v Boston


As for a European Winter classic I think the best place to start is Germany its is the biggest country in Europe with 80 Million People and very central and accessable to the rest of Europe. Potentially a few outdoor games could work well. That said might be hard to convince NHL teams to come over other than at the start of the season.

Hmmm...the Bruins in Belfast. Wonder what the tie in is there?? Nolan may just sign with Boston for 10 years 20 mill now.

Shut up...don't give Chia ideas

Hmmm....

Confirmed today on the NHL website: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=532139

Will be looking out for tickets when they're released I think.

Unfortunately they're playing an EIHL select, which means it'll be very one sided - it would've been good to see a DEL team come over as rumoured.

Calv wrote:Unfortunately they're playing an EIHL select, which means it'll be very one sided - it would've been good to see a DEL team come over as rumoured.

Doh! Well at least we'll be able to watch the Bruins.

How cool for you..
But I'm gonna see the Wild vs. Hurricanes season opener in Helsinki

c-heat wrote:How cool for you..
But I'm gonna see the Wild vs. Hurricanes season opener in Helsinki

We tried to get tickets for the games at Stockholm but the darn website wouldn't accept credit cards outside or Scandinavia/Iceland.

c-heat wrote:How cool for you..
But I'm gonna see the Wild vs. Hurricanes season opener in Helsinki

Me too

A9L3E wrote:

c-heat wrote:How cool for you..
But I'm gonna see the Wild vs. Hurricanes season opener in Helsinki

Me too

Hehe you're rubbing it in too now

Netminders

Stephen Murphy
Craig Kowalski
Ervins Mustikovs

Defence

Jon Gleed
Jonathan Zion
Corey Neilson
Richard Seeley
Joanthan Weaver
Jerramie Domish
Tim Cook

Offence

Colin Shields
Josh Prudden
Mike Hoffman
Colin Hemingway
Rob Gloebke
Ben Simon
Jade Galbraith
Owen Fussey
Dan Carlson
Scott Matzka
Ashley Tait
David Beaureguard


Boston Bruins Squad

Netminders

Tuuka Rask
Tim Thomas

Defence

Johnny Boychuk
Zdeno Chara (C)
Andrew Ference
Matt Hunwick
Mark Stuart
Denis Seidenberg
Andrew Bodnarchuk


Offence

Patrice Bergeron (A)
Blake Wheeler
Mark Recchi (A)
Nathan Horton
Shawn Thornton
Daniel Paille
Michael Ryder
Tyler Seguin
Brad Marchand
Milan Lucic
David Krejci
Gregory Campbell

Looks pretty even to me....

Only a few days now, I'm pretty excited about it, even if it ends up one sided!

That Bruins roster might not be exactly that. There are a couple young players that are making a good case for sticking with the club. Ryan Spooner and Matt Bartkowski are really trying to make it difficult for the Bruins to cut them. There has been some speculation that Spooner could be kept with the club for up to 9 games (the most before it counts as a year on his contract) before being sent back to his junior club. Bartkowski would be sent to the Bruins' AHL affiliate in Providence.

Cool, It'll be good to see some of the youngsters play (if they do).

Here's a link to the NHL website which is running a story about the game: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=538545

A brief rundown on the Belfast team:

Netminders

Stephen Murphy - Belfast #1 netminder & also Team GB #1. Really stepped it up last season and is one of the best in the league. Gives off a few rebounds though.
Craig Kowalski - Nottingham netminder, not seen a massive amount of him but he looks like he could be OK; probably not as good as Murphy imo
Ervins Mustikovs - Sheffield netminder, young player, just come over from Latvia where he had a few games in the KHL (mainly played in the Jrs though). Seems quite unorthodox in his style and likes to get any part of his body behind the puck; will give up plenty of rebounds though.

Defence
The majority of the defence seem pretty attacking, Zion, Neilson, Weaver & Domish are mainly offensive defencemen. Gleed, Seeley and Cook are the more defensive defencemen; whilst Neilson also adds in some size at the back. Zion is the pick of the defencemen imo, good skater and good on the PP, Weaver is probably the best British player although he's injured at the minute so he may not play; he has a wicked shot from the blue line.

Offence
Goals will most likely come from Shields, Hemmingway, Fussey & Beauregaurd. Beauregaurd once had a shot at the NHL, until he lost an eye whilst on a breakaway (which he subsequently scored before going off injured). Shields & Tait are the only Brits to be picked (Shields was a late pick in the 2000 draft; whilst Tait was born in Canada but moved to England at an early age). Simon has the most NHL experience (~80 NHL games) and is a gritty two-way player; Rob Globke also has a few NHL games. Hoffman adds the size; whilst Galbraith, Carlson & Matzka will be the main playmakers. Prudden is a two-way forward with AHL experience

bruins72 wrote:That Bruins roster might not be exactly that. There are a couple young players that are making a good case for sticking with the club. Ryan Spooner and Matt Bartkowski are really trying to make it difficult for the Bruins to cut them. There has been some speculation that Spooner could be kept with the club for up to 9 games (the most before it counts as a year on his contract) before being sent back to his junior club. Bartkowski would be sent to the Bruins' AHL affiliate in Providence.

And NOlan Schafer is travelling with the team to Europe in case of injury/illness to a goalie

Well Spooner has been returned to his junior team, so he's not making the trip. Jordan Caron seems to be battling Brad Marchand for a spot on the roster though. So there are a couple of young players. Bartkowski is still battling to hold onto a spot too.

I am so stoked about this! Myself and Calv are flying out to Belfast tomorrow. Unfortunately at the time of booking we thought Nick would have to be in work on the Monday so we didn't buy tickets for the EIHL game on the Sunday (turns out he doesn't have to be in work afterall) - but so long as I get to see the Bs I'm happy!

I really hope Chara, Krejci and Lucic play as I'm big fans of all three of them.

I thought this was going to be a walkover for the Bs but I think actually there's some darn good players in the all star team (e.g. Steven Murphy, Fussey and Beauregard). Hopefully it'll be a great game.

Apparently it's a sell out too - so there should be about 10,000 fans there.

The Bruins arrived in Belfast yesterday. They were practicing within a few hours of landing. You should definitely see Chara, Krejci, and Lucic play. For the most part, they traveled with the roster they're going to take into the season. There are just a couple extra guys (a 3rd goalie, an extra couple forwards, a couple extra defensemen). You should have a real Bruins lineup to see.