Playoff format reverting to 1 v 8 etc

Wasn’t it already like this? Obviously two teams will be eliminated this season but the fact will still remain that you can win the cup by playing just four games: The two legged knockout round and then the final four semi’s and final. The league could do with having the teams play 4 leg rounds with the total score deciding who goes through rather than a 2 leg round. The 4 leg round would be more in line with a traditional playoff series, it would build rivalries but it wouldn’t leave the teams facing the problem of having arena availability when they have been knocked out which can happen in a best-of series.

12 Imports for Caps, Stingrays, Stars, Clan and Vipers
I quite like this – it adds a little parity to the league in allowing the teams that finish near the bottom of the standings to bring in an extra import to be more competitive the next year. With no draft in the EIHL this is a way to help a poor team get good. It would be an idea though for the smaller team to be able to sell their extra import slot to one of the top teams if they feel they couldn’t use the slot but could use the finances.

NCAA players to be able to play straight away (needs approval from Home office they think)
A good move by the league if it works out and a new area to tap up young talent.

North and South Challenge Cup division
Why not, they have groups for the Challenge Cup already so may as well split them geographically and cut down on travelling.

Giants, Caps, Clan, Vipers and Stars – League games will double as Cup games
I think this is to save on games played for the likes of the Stars, Caps and Clan who probably don’t fancy trekking over to Belfast anymore than necessary due to financial restraints. It’ll mean less games played for players from these teams than players from the south division overall but that can only be a good thing come the run-in, right?

More enforcers next season
Is this something the league is pushing? Is it compulsory for a team to carry an enforcer and if so who judges whether a player is or isn’t an enforcer. I can only imagine this is a recommendation or the fact that most coaches have said they intend to sign an enforcer.

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.”

Basingstoke is already gone and Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh look set to follow. Finances as always are the reason for the moves and with the credit crunch in full swing these four teams have clearly felt the pinch.

Most of the rumors suggest that Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh were looking for everyone to agree on a big cut on the imports limit while also cutting back on the wage cap. Of course the big teams like Belfast, Sheffield and Nottingham strongly disagreed knowing this would turn away quite a lot of fans who wanted to see a above average standard of hockey. Belfast, Sheffield and Nottingham along with Coventry and Hull of all teams had a meeting without the other four teams and decided they would rather press on with six teams with better quality than ten with a lower standard.

These are all rumors right now, of course though it seems certain teams are releasing info via ‘well connected’ fans on message forums. Everyone is just left wishing their respective teams would come forward and let them know the state of play. Especially given that many fans are holding onto their season ticket money for next season until they hear exactly what is going on.

So what would I rather see? What would be better?

Well the simple trade off is this: Six teams at a higher standard but playing the same teams all the time versus ten teams at a lower standard but much more variety in games.

For me it is a no brainer.

The league can survive on six teams and the fans can survive watching the likes of Nottingham every week. Sure how badly did numbers decrease when Edinburgh and Basingstoke come to town anyway? The only real shame would be losing a newly build rivalry with Newcastle and the Christmas double header in Edinburgh. Maintaining a good standard of hockey is a must for the arena teams that rely on a strong support coming through the doors every week.

I am just glad this is happening now and not in the early stages of next season. Better to lose any dead weight now than to have teams put together very subpar teams next year just because they feel they have to enter the league and end up having in effect a six team league – six competitive teams and four whipping boys.

A simple argument for the six-team league is that the NHL survived that way for years and many fans from them days said it was better than it is now. Sure they played each other lots but the talent pool is high.

In many ways that can be applied to a six-team EIHL. There would be four teams worth of imports looking a job which would surely constitute a higher quality of import across the six teams left when the teams selected their import players.

Same goes for the British players. One of the complaints among fans when the import level was decreased was that teams then had to select a British player for the sake of it – often someone who wasn’t really up to the standard. He would sit on the bench all night anyway forcing the lack of imports to play more and the upshot meant so much ice time for certain imports that they were even more prone to injuries. One look at the Giants injury list this season seems to suggest there is some truth to that. Other teams might agree.

With four teams dropping out that drops the number of British players in the league from about 70 in a ten team league to about 42 in a six team league. The most talented would remain and so would aid the quality of the league.

I can certainly understand some fans point of view that watching the same teams week in and week out would get annoying. I know many fans complained about that back in 2003 when a few teams dropped out leaving us a five team league for over half-a-season. People will also ask how the playoffs would work in a six team league . . . would all six make it or would it just go straight to the final-four? My answer to that is to look at what the NHL did in its original six days.

Another rumor going around is that to combat teams playing the same teams so often is that the league schedule would be simply reduced. Frustrating for the hockey addicted fan indeed who wants as many games as possible, but all it would likely do is cut out mid week games, allow players more times off (the injury factor again), and create a more intense season with less games meaning so much more. Hey, it works in College Hockey in North America were seasons are often very short, playing only on weekends.

As Bob Dylan once sang, “The answer my friend is blowing in the wind”.

That is certainly the case here and knowing the history of this league and its off-seasons well from past experience; do not expect to get the answers from your respective clubs anytime soon. In the memory of summer 2003 it could be August before we know exactly what is going on.

— Ricky