So it’s two weeks on from version 1.0 of the G-H.com Elite league power rankings and it’s about time I brought out version 2.0

If you missed version 1 you can view it here, and read about how this works.  Simply put however, it’s the goal difference of each team divided by the amount of games played over a period of time.  It’s not perfect but it’s a decent enough measuring stick on how good or bad teams are of late, it just doesn’t factor in the quality of opposition a team plays in the two week period.

So without further ado, here’s a look at how the team’s rankings over the last two weeks of action:

1. (3) Belfast Giants: +6 / 3gp = 2.00
2. (6) Hull Stingrays: +4 / 2gp = 2.00
3. (2) Cardiff Devils: +1 / 1gp = 1.00
4. (10) Newcastle Vipers: +4 / 4gp = 1.00
5. (4) Coventry Blaze: +1 / 3gp = 0.33
6. (5) Manchester Phoenix: -1 / 3gp = -0.33
7. (9) Sheffield Steelers: -2 / 4gp = -0.50
8. (7) Edinburgh Capitals: -2 / 3gp = -0.67
9. (8) Basingstoke Bison: -4 / 4gp = -1.00
10. (1) Nottingham Panthers: -7 / 5gp = -1.40

Check back in two more weeks for the next update…

The Steelers where in town for the Elite League clash and it wasn’t a tame affair.  In fact, it was a classic.  It all kicked off right at the end of the first period, as the hooter went a small scuffle broke out.  Skiehar and Cloutier where coming out of their respective penalty boxes after serving matching minors and the fun began.  The rest, well you can see it all for yourself.

Most of the debate generated however was during the Skiehar - Cloutier fight, it was a close fight with both guys exchanging big punches when suddenly Brett Cloutier gouged at the left eye of Shawn Skiehar (see photo above) and then fish hooked him in the mouth.  The linesmen then came in to separate Cloutier and a stunned and disadvantaged Skiehar, but Cloutier continued throwing shots.  It was then Jason Ruff decided to help out and that snowballed into everyone getting involved.

Giants fans will tell you this is exactly what this team needed and It was a superb team bonding exercise, the fans loved it and the team rallied around each other to go on and win the game without Skiehar, Ruff or goalie Mike Minard who was also tossed from the game for tangling with Steelers nettie Jody Lehman.

No doubt the debate on this will continue to run.
Please can I encourage you to download the video clips and then view them.  I don’t have the bandwith for a huge amounts of downloads.
(right-click on PC, “save target as…”; hold the mouse button down on a Mac and choose “save target as…” or something similar).

For the video clip of the brawl, right click here.
For a quick four-second clip on the controversial gouging, right click here.

Giants 6, Steelers 3 

If you had asked any fan coming into the game tonight how they felt the Giants would do in a game against the Steelers without goalie Mike Minard and forwards Jason Ruff and Shawn Skiehar, you wouldn’t have got to many positive responses.  Well that was exactly the case after twenty minutes of play when all three got thrown out for their parts in a bench clearance brawl at the end of the first period with the Giants leading 2-1, but the Giants still managed to go on and win 6-3 in the game that racked up 191 penalty minutes.

For more on the brawl click here

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Here’s a quick look at what went down around the Elite League last night:

- Basingstoke get a much needed win over the Phoenix 4-3 after over time.  The Phoenix must have had tired legs having played in Belfast the night before to a win that sent them into the semi-finals of the challenge cup.

- Like the Bison, the Vipers too got a much-needed win when they beat an inconsistent Coventry side 4-2.  After making a number of personnel changes the last couple of weeks the Vipers are looking to get back to the form they had last season and get themselves off the foot of the table.

- Arguably the game of the season as the Steelers had the shoe on the other foot when it comes to come back games as they turned around a 4-1 deficit to the Panthers to win out 5-4 after the shootout.  The game had it all, fights, misconducts, goals, comebacks, penalty shots and a shootout.  The Panthers now have just one game in hand on the Giants that if won would still keep them a point back on the league leaders.

Ex-Giants star Shane Johnson who played in Belfast for 6 seasons has signed with rivals Sheffield Steelers.  Shane who was an original Giant was not re-signed by Courtenay this off season and so left Kelman as the last original Giant standing.  He joined the Slough Jets of the EPL at the start of this season but when Sheffield came calling with a chance to get back in the Elite League Shane jumped at the chance.  He’ll now be playing under coach Dave Matsos who was a team-mate of Shane’s for a couple of seasons in his Belfast days.

The milestones are coming thick and fast this month.   Off the back of Ruff taking the all time assists and points lead and the Giants recording their 200th franshise win, they have set a milestone that wont be to popular with the fans.  The third goal in the 3-1 defeat to the Manchester Phoenix marked the 1000th goal scored against the Giants in team history.  The goal was scored into the empty net by Johan Molin and assisted by ex-Giants player coach Tony Hand and Derek Campbell.

For more on the teams all-time record, click here

Giants 1, Phoenix 3

Last night the Giants crashed out of the challenge cup after a 3-1 defeat to the Manchester Phoenix.  It’s the first time the Phoenix has played in Belfast since coming back into the Elite League this season.  The Giants had an awful first 10 minutes of the game and found themselves 2-0 down before a strong second ten minutes that seen them get nothing in front of goal.  That was to be the way of it for the rest of the night and baring a second period Jason Ruff goal the Giants, for all the chances they created, could just not force the puck in.

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The Giants this morning announced a Giant piece of news in that current GM John Elliot will be stepping down at the end of the season and will be replaced by none other than the face of the Belfast Giants - Todd ‘Killer’ Kelman.

From the 1st November, Todd Kelman will work along side John, in order to learn the ropes before taking over full time next May.  Todd will continue in his playing role until that time when he will then hang up the skates for good on what has been a remarkable career, in which he will have spent 7 seasons as a Giant.

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It’s taken a while but the championship banner for winning the league last season is finally going up this Sunday night after the match against the Sheffield Steelers.  It’ll join the two other banners that hang from the rafters to mark the teams league success in 01-02 and playoff win in 02-03.  The banner has been a hot topic of late among fans as the team have been able to get the funds together for it but money collections by fans etc. have gone a long way to helping and finally the banner will be raised.  It should be fun.

Tonights win against Newcastle was the 200th win in the teams history.  It comes 6 seasons and 14 games into the 7th season in the teams history.  Goals from Ruff, Dutiaume and Huppe aided the Giants win with Dutiaume getting the game winning goal.  The 100th win in team history came on 6th April 2003 when the Giants beat the London Knights 5-3 to win their first and only playoff championship.

Going by them time scales the Giants should win their 300th game late in the 2008-2009 season or early in the 2009-2010 season.  Theres no guesses on who will score the winning goal in that game though who would put it past being Todd Kelman!

(Win’s do not include exehibition game or four void league games from the 2002-2003 season and 2005-2006).

Vipers 1, Giants 3

A powerplay goal by Dutiaume, an empty net goal by Ruff and a consolation empty net goal by Huppe was enough to help the Giants to a 3-1 victory over last seasons playoff champs the Newcastle Vipers.  The Giants top 3 point scorers so far this season where on fine form for a second night in a row as the Giants took all four points and seen rivals Nottingham gain only one from a possible four as the Giants extended their lead at the top of the Elite League.

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Steelers 5, Giants 6 

Mark Dutiaume turned on the style in a fantastic Giants comeback last night against the Steelers with two goals and three assists in a 6-5 over-time win.  The Giants who lead the game early on found themselves 4-2 down going into the final period but came firing back to lead 5-4 only for the Steelers to tie it up at 5-5 with a matter of seconds to go.  It was the Giants who grabbed the extra point however in OT when Curtis Huppe scored the winner.

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Belfast Telegraph — Belfast Giants general manager John Elliott last night spelt out the reasons why the team was playing in Belfast last weekend rather than Europe.

The Giants had first refusal on the Continental Cup place that is offered to the Elite League after winning the Championship last season, but it was the Nottingham Panthers who competed in the competition in France.

When the Giants last won the league back in 2002 it led them to the Super Final of the Continental Cup the following January, but that was in the days of Superleague and things are very different now.

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The Elite league today confirmed the dates for the 2007 playoff final four weekend.  It’ll take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 7th and 8th.  It’ll feature the same format as previous years and again take place in Nottingham.

Nottingham is without doubt the best venue for such a weekend and is always the best weekend of hockey in the year as fans from all teams travel to watch the final weekend of hockey in the season.  It always carries with it a party like atmosphere and everyone is in high spirits whether they win, lose or their team isn’t featuring.

The extra bonus is that this years playoff weekend ties in with the Easter weekend meaning those of you who usually book a days leave on the Monday shouldn’t have to and should have an extra few days to recover! 

Recover from a celebration that is…. We hope!

For ticket pricing info click below:

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The Giants hit the road this weekend in what is likely to be two tricky contests even if they are against the leagues two out of form teams.  In our recent power rankings the Steelers and Vipers ranked in 9th and 10th place with Newcastle especially starting the season in real poor fashion.

You got to think though this funk isn’t going to last for either team, Newcastle cannot just go from Playoff winners one season to bottom team the next, can then?  Well the new rules have been a problem for them but it’s not like the Giants have adapted over night either but we’ve at least managed to pick up the points.

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