What next for Panthers and British Ice Hockey

1 April 2009
By Mick HollandBRITISH ice hockey is set to take a major step towards winning a share of the 10m euro pot up for grabs in the new European Champions League.

And it may mean the cash-strapped teams in the Elite League will be cast aside before next season.

As we prepare for the grand showpiece of our game, the play-off finals at the National Ice Centre this weekend, I understand that Nottingham Panthers will be increasing their number of imports to 11, along with the other big teams – Belfast, Sheffield and Coventry, who were all restricted to ten this season.

That decision will spell doom for the lesser teams who want to cut the number of imports in order to survive and are not in a position to raise the standard of the game in this country.

With Basingstoke already gone, where that will leave the likes of Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle – who have all apparently been propped up by the league in various ways – remains to be seen.

With some of these teams crying out for costs to be cut to allow them to stay in business, they will no doubt fall by the wayside if the ambitious plan gets the green light, as I believe it will.

There is no possibility at all that the standard will drop as some supporters have feared, but in fact, the quality of import may be even higher.

If the league has to reduce in size, from ten to six or eight viable teams, in order to grow as a solid unit, bringing a better, more exciting brand of hockey to attract bigger crowds, then there is no alternative solution.

And when hockey fans say they will be bored watching the same teams too often over a season, I have always pointed out that the NHL – the greatest league in the world – existed as a six-team league for 25 seasons before starting an expansion programme in 1967.

I understand that prospective teams in other cities across the UK have already expressed an interest in joining the Elite League, perhaps even as early as 2010-11.

And who would Nottingham supporters rather see for a season, four or five high-quality games against Sheffield, Coventry, Cardiff and Belfast?

Or the likes of Edinburgh and Newcastle, who go from game to game, needing a home fixture each week to pay the bills?

Variety is surely only relevant when the product is good.
Newcastle, unfortunately, are an arena-based club, with arena-based expenses but second-tier attendances.

The solution of these teams is apparently to hold the others back. But a league is only as strong as its weakest team and that scenario cannot be allowed to continue.

How can Sheffield, for instance, contemplate carrying on with plans for their new arena while having their ambitions thwarted by the struggling few?

The ultimate goal, of course, is to turn a minority UK sport into a major crowd-puller and with it, have teams capable of competing in Europe and challenging for the massive stakes on offer in the Champions League, starting with Sheffield Steelers next season.

For not only will the clubs and the players benefit, but the league and the UK governing body will also receive a share of the booty as the team progresses.

That cannot be achieved with the begging-bowl, hand-to-mouth outfits holding back those with a solid business platform, good fan base and an ambition to move onwards and upwards.

There will have to be one or two of the smaller teams involved, with Hull already taking steps to prove their aspirations by announcing fresh plans in the pipeline for next season.

Despite the current economic climate, there are genuine sponsors out there willing to back a genuine product. And we haven’t got it at the moment.

The league has to look forward. There may be a few tears and hiccups along what may be a rocky road, but if UK ice hockey and the Great Britain team is to be taken seriously both here and abroad, this has to be the only way.

And a follow-up by the EIHL suits, trying to calm the storm.

Time for Cool heads and Calm responses

1 April 2009
By EIHLOver the past months there has been considerable consultations and meetings between the elite league clubs regarding a plan going forward.

All clubs in one way or another have had to consider how best to adapt to the economic climate in order to ensure progress for their club.

The process culminated in a meeting on Monday 30th March of those clubs who were, with out conditions, committed to participation in the 2009/10 season.

The clubs not present, but fully aware of the meeting being held, had consistently throughout earlier meetings and correspondence put forward a number of points which they required to be considered or adopted by the league.

Immediately following the meeting all clubs were advised of the out come, which is to continue effectively under the same playing conditions as was the case in 2008/2009 and the league presently awaits the remaining clubs to formally confirm if they are continuing their involvement in the league.

2008/09 has been a thrilling year of ice hockey and both fans and sponsors can look forward to the fantastic playoff weekend and standards being maintained in the Elite ice hockey league for the 2009/10 season.

And here is a little more speculating on the future of the Manchester Phoenix. It really looks like this is set to run and run with more and more rumors as the days and weeks go on.

Controversy as Phoenix face league ‘snub’

1 April 2009
By Nigel McFarlane

JUST days before its flagship closing weekend, the Elite Ice Hockey League has been plunged into controversy after accusations that three clubs were being ‘managed out’ of the League.

Fans of Manchester Phoenix, Edinburgh Capitals and Newcastle Vipers have flooded fan forums with comments after rumours started to circulate about a meeting on Monday to which the three clubs were not invited.

The meeting – held by representatives of Sheffield Steelers, Belfast Giants, Nottingham Panthers, Cardiff Devils, Coventry Blaze and Hull Stingrays, has allegedly culminated in a proposal to run a six-team League for the 2009-10 season, if Edinburgh, Manchester and Newcastle are unable to agree to new operating criteria.

The League has operated with 10 teams so far, but Basingstoke Bison resigned from the league last week having successfully applied to join the English Premier League.

The Bolton News understands that concerns were raised by the three clubs in line with the tightening economic outlook and that some assurances were sought going forward to help protect their businesses.

It would seem that those concerns were not accepted nor recognised as valid, and the subsequent meeting was held at which it was suggested that the current top level salary cap would be adhered to and that just the six teams would participate.

If the move is ratified, it is expected that the Elite League in its current form would be dissolved, and a new organisation formed with the six members.

Fan forums such as The Hockey Forum have been inundated with comments from fans of all EIHL sides, with some announcing planned protests at this weekend’s Playoff Finals at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham.

There has been no official reaction yet from Edinburgh, but management at Newcastle Vipers are said to be ‘furious’ about the developments.

Manchester Phoenix – a founder member of the Elite League – confirmed the meeting had taken place, and that its representatives had not been invited.

The club’s General manager Andy Costigan released a statement which said: “Until such time as either Neil Morris and/or myself receive due notification in writing of the outcome of Monday’s meeting, and any decisions being taken without Manchester being consulted, we can say little more officially.

“Naturally, the club is keen to learn of what was discussed in our absence and upon receipt of such written detail, we will issue our official response.”

The club has now confirmed that such written notification has been received and Costigan advised that the Phoenix will be making a “major announcement” on Thursday morning.

The Elite League issued a statement which said :”Over the past months there have been considerable consultations and meetings between the Elite League clubs regarding a plan going forward.

“All clubs in one way or another have had to consider how best to adapt to the economic climate in order to ensure progress for their club.

“The process culminated in a meeting on Monday 30th March of those clubs who were, without conditions, committed to participation in the 2009/10 season. The clubs not present, but fully aware of the meeting being held, had consistently, throughout earlier meetings and correspondence, put forward a number of points which they required to be considered or adopted by the league.

“Immediately following the meeting, all clubs were advised of the outcome, which is to continue effectively under the same playing conditions as was the case in 2008/2009, and the league presently awaits the remaining clubs to formally confirm if they are continuing their involvement in the league.

“2008/09 has been a thrilling year of ice hockey and both fans and sponsors can look forward to the fantastic playoff weekend and standards being maintained in the Elite ice hockey league for the 2009/10 season.”

As I previously wrote the Giants were trailing 4-1 in what looked to be another final to forget for the Giants but a very strong third period and goals from Andrew Martin and Evan Cheverie to go with an earlier one from George Awada brought the score to 4-3 and enough to keep things alive for the second leg back in Belfast. 

Of course things didn’t go remotely to play as the Eagles shocked the Giants 5-0 and the boys never recovered. They had already won the league but following this defeat their season went to hell in a hand basket and they didn’t even make the playoffs final four.

Fast forward seven whole years, a league name change, local players now involved and a bunch of old teams gone and new teams in and the challenge cup remains and remains a trophy the Giants cannot get a trip on. In fact they cannot even get to the final. At least until tonight.

They have finally qualified and they are currently battling the Manchester Phoenix. This one isn’t on the BBC and the trophy is now played over two-legs.

The bad news?

At the time of writing, somewhere in the third period the Giants are 4-1 down. It’s not 5-0 I suppose and they at least get a shot at recovering the defecit in the home leg but it’s hardly ideal for a team looking to break their Challenge Cup curse.

The Phoenix scored early and often in this contest racing out to a four goal lead through the first thirty minutes in scenes remenicent of seven years ago. Thankfully though the Giants found the goal — their first goal in Challenge Cup Finals — through captain George Awada.

You could say a good fight might have livened up the crowd but I wont — the can of worms that might open wouldn’t be worth it.

Oh wait.

Em, nevermind. Anyway, there wasn’t a fight and reports suggest Rushton and Cloutier didn’t even come close to mixing it up.

The win keeps the Giants in second but still quite a stretch behind the Steelers. It is Sheffield’s title to lose now and the best the Giants can do is keep winning, hope for a collase and if not keep their attention on the challenge cup, knockout cup and later the playoffs.

I hate midweek games now. I’m stuck in work because of the time difference and I can’t even watch the games online. So on that note there will be no preview, just the information that the Giants play Manchester tonight, that Rushton will almost certainly fight Clouthier and that face off is from 7.30 p.m.