Last year I done a season preview of each team but to be honest I just don’t have the time right now as well as the knowledge of each team. It has been such a busy summer that I have only really been able to follow the Giants progress and if other teams is anything like the Giants, their line-up’s will have changed so much that any honest assessment would be useless until I had seen them all play. Teams who finished bottom last year could well be near the top this time out and vise-versa. That is the beauty of ice hockey though. The standings are never easy to predict and especially with the Elite League where the majority of teams are on one-year contracts teams can change so much between seasons. So the following is just a flash guide to the season with just a little bit on each team and what you MIGHT expect to see from them. Of course in 7-months time you could read back on this and see it as nothing more than rambling gibberish. MORE »
One look at the standings will tell you that Coventry are now champions and the Giants are in a uninteresting battle for 3rd and 4th place with Nottingham. However if you cast your eyes further down you may be surprised to see the Edinburgh Capitals in 6th place. Its been quite a turn around for the team that for a long time in the season occupied the last place spot in the league. For so long it seemed Basingstoke were a lock for the 6th place spot but a new found team spirit in Edinburgh has turned the fortunes around and the Scottish team look on pace to claim a playoff spot. MORE »
I haven’t blogged in a while, I guess there has been little inspiration to do so considering how the team has been playing but if truth be told the real reason has been the trip over to London sample a different type of hockey - NHL hockey.
Below is a little taster of what we got in terms of the physical side of the game.
The Giants had been on a 6 game losing streak and were rooted to the foot of the Elite League table upon leaving for the trip the morning after the Giants went down 4-3 to Nottingham in a game that promised so much in terms of physical play but delivered so little. We had one fight between Lewis and Shmyr with the later very reluctant to fight thoughout the bout.
Heading to London for the opening two games of the new regular season we were a little more hopeful of some fast paced slick hockey with even a bout or two of fisty cuffs.
One thing that is for certain, Edinburgh are a much better team this year and will no longer be the leagues whipping boys. Giants hockey was back in action last night with the Giants managing a 2-1 win over their Scottish rivals. Goals by Scott Cameron and Mark Dutiaume was enough to hold off a strong Edinburgh team who for the first time ever brought a real physical edge to their game and even gave a good scrap when Adam Stefishen dropped the gloves with our new resident tough boy Carlyle Lewis. Lewis instantly won himself a new set of fans with a good performance in the fight. MORE »
It’s been a long summer, the weather has been pathetic and the Giants have made a smooth transition from one season to the next. For the first time possibly ever there was no talk of teams coming in or dropping out of the league, no problem with trying to hire a coach or sign players in time for the season and so very little at times to talk about. But it’s a good thing and plenty of new sponsors have came on boad along with seven new players to the Giants team. Tonight the off season officially ends and the 8th season of Giants hockey gets underway. MORE »
This summer may already feel like winter but it’s not quite hockey time yet. However, with the season only a few weeks one week away and without knowing how much blogging time I will have I guess it’s about time to look into the season and preview each of the teams with as much knowledge as I actually have of them anyway! Next up it’s the Caps: MORE »
