Over the next 3 days Giants History will preview the 9 teams the Giants will come up against this season in their bid to retain the Elite League title.  Working in alphabetical format the first three teams to look at are Basingstoke, Cardiff and Coventry…

Basingstoke Bison

Players In:
Doug Sheppard, Head Coach (Basingstoke Bison); Duncan Dalmao, Ast Coach (Basingstoke Bison); Mark Galazzi, F (Basingstoke Bison); Kevin Bergin, F (Florida Everblades); Greg Wood, F (Sheffield Scrimitars); Gavin Farrand, F (Sheffield Steelers); Blair Manning, F (Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs); Brad Cruickshank, F (Basingstoke Bison); Greg Chambers, F (Basingstoke Bison); Greg Owen, F (Basingstoke Bison); Scott Spearing, F (Bracknell Bees); Mark DeSantis, D (Amarillo Gorillas); Eric Braff, D (Pensacola Ice Pilots); Luke Reynolds, D (Basingstoke Bison); Nick Boucher, G (Muskegon Fury); Dan Green, G (Basingstoke Bison).

Players Out:
Mark Bernard, Head Coach (Norfolk Admirals); Jerry Galway, D (ES Weibwasser); Jim Shepherd, F (Newcastle Vipers); Shawn Maltby, F (Sheffield Steelers); John Wheaton, F (Free Agency).

Previous 3 seasons:
03-04: 7th in Elite League with 20 wins and 31 defeats.
04-05: 7th in Elite League with 15 wins and 30 defeats.
05-06: 7th in Elite League with 10 wins and 30 defeats.

05-06 vs Giants (W-L-T): 1-5-0

What to expect:
Basingstoke are going into their forth season in the top level of British hockey and there is big expectations for the team that up until now have failed to produce.  With them three seasons of experience behind them an a new coach in place and a set of new players many believe the Bison could be a dark horse in this years championship race.  A top 4 finish and a playoff spot has got to be their goal and unlike anytime before people believe this is very possible.

KEY PLAYER:
Blair Manning: A new recruit to the EIHL Blair may be small but theres no doubting his skill.  Throughout his career Blair has been a premier playmaker and that will be no different in the Elite League.  An excellent passer of the puck his partnership with other Bison top forward Greg Chambers will be vital to the Bison’s success.  If the two link up then they will be hard for any Elite league defence to stop.
In 20 games against the Giants in their history the Bison have won just 7, lost 13, and tied 0.  They have scored 52 goals and let in 94.

Cardiff Devils

Players In:
Ed Patterson, Head Coach (Cardiff Devils); Nathan Rempel, F (Cardiff Devils); Neil Francis, F (Cardiff Devils); Paul Sample, F (Sheffield Steelers); Russ Cowley, F (Coventry Blaze); Lee Richardson, F (Coventry Blaze); Gerard Adams, F (Cardiff Devils); Brad Voth, F (Cardiff Devils); Mark Richards, F (Cardiff Devils); Tyson Tepitsky, D (Florida Everblades); Jason Stone, D (Cardiff Devils); Dion Darling, D (Nottingham Panthers); Phil Osaer, G (Rochester Americans).

Players Out:
Dave Matsos, Ast Coach (Sheffield Steelers); Regan Darby, D (Sheffield Steelers); Jonathan Phillips, F (Sheffield Steelers); Jeff Burgoyne, D (Tilburg Trappers); Rejean Stringer, F (Retired); Kirk DeWaele, F (Retired).

Previous 3 seasons:
03-04: 5th in Elite League with 23 wins and 27 defeats. Lost in playoff final.
04-05: 3rd in Elite League with 30 wins and 16 defeats. Lost in playoff semi-finals.
05-06: 5th in Elite League with 18 wins and 18 defeats. Lost in playoff semi-finals. Won challenge cup.

05-06 vs Giants (W-L-T): 4-3-1

What to expect:
Cardiff are a team that have always provided tough opposition for the Giants and a team that has always promised so much but fell just one step short of glory.  The past three seasons they have made the playoff final four weekend but never got their hands on the trophy.  After winning the challenge cup last season they will be hoping to go one or two better with the League and or playoffs.  A consistent playoff team don’t be suprised to see them back in the final 4 against next April.

KEY PLAYER:
Dion Darling: One of the leagues premier defencemen Dion joins the Devils from Nottingham where he spent a year after a couple of successful seasons in Sheffield.  A big hitter and excellent leader to beat the Devils you will have to go through him.
In 26 games against the Giants in their history the Devils have won 10, lost 12, and tied 4.  They have scored 65 goals and let in 68.
(Note: this does not include games played in the 2000-2001 season)

Coventry Blaze

Players In:
Paul Thompson, Head Coach (Coventry Blaze); Danny Stewart, F (Danbury Thrashers); Sylvain Cloutier, F (Adirondack Frostbite); Ashley Tait, F (Coventry Blaze); Adam Calder, F (Coventry Blaze); Tom Watkins, F (Coventry Blaze); Tom Carlon, F (Telford Tigers); Michael Wales, F (Milton Keynes Lightning); Rumun Ndur, D (Kalamazoo Wings); James Pease, D (Coventry Blaze); Reid Simonton, D (Herning Blue Fox); Trevor Koenig, G (Newcastle Vipers); Stephen Fone, G (Solihull Barons).

Players Out:
Martin Klempa, G (Free Agency); Jeff Hutchins, F (Belfast Giants); Russ Cowley, F (Cardiff Devils); Lee Richardson, F (Cardiff Devils); Dan Welch, F (HC Morzine-Avoriaz Penguins); Evan Cheverie, F (HC Morzine-Avoriaz Penguins); Joel Poirier, F (Retired); Pavol Mihalik, D (Newcastle Vipers).

Previous 3 seasons:
03-04: 3rd in Elite League with 29 wins and 20 defeats. Lost in playoff semi-finals.
04-05: 1st in Elite League with 33 wins and 11 defeats. Won playoffs and challenge cup.
05-06: 4th in Elite League with 23 wins and 15 defeats.

05-06 vs Giants (W-L-T): 4-4-2

What to expect:
Coventry are the only team to hold a significant winning record over the Giants.  Since their introduction to top flight hockey in 03-04 they have hit the ground running.  In just their second season they swept all before them winning the league, the playoffs and the challenge cup in a dominating season.  Last year they hit a bit of a glitch finishing just 4th in the league and missing out on the playoffs final 4 but expect them to bounce back.  Long standing coach Paul Thompson has put together a very strong team and will certainly be one of the favourites to win at least one of the big three trophies on offer.

KEY PLAYER:
Adam Calder: A product of the NCAA hockey system, Calder is going into his 3rd season with the Blaze.  He’s one of the leagues top forwards, averaging over a point per game in his first two years with the Blaze and has turned into a real sniper in front of goal.  In the 04-05 season Calder scored 38 goals in 60 games to win the Elite League goal scoring race.  For a little guy he knows how to play physical, his 225 PIMs that season says it all.
In 24 games against the Giants in their history the Blaze have won 17 (6 in OT), lost just 5, and tied 2.  They have scored 83 goals and let in 67.  They have by far the best record over the Giants than any other team.

Next up in the preview: Edinburgh Capitals, Fife Flyers and Manchester Phoenix.

Category: Elite League » |

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