Starting now, for the first time ever, is live TV coverage of the EIHL playoff final and it’s between two non-English sides, the Belfast Giants and Cardiff Devils. I’m off to retrieve one of my chilled beers and ready to enjoy the big game. I wish I was there and if I was I would doubtlessly be drunk, but if you can’t be there, getting to see it live on TV is the next best option and I’m glad Sky Sports have come through. This is the Giants second ever playoff final with their previous one being in 2003 when they beat the London Knights.

The show has just started and one of the analysits is Steelers coach and ex-Giant Dave Matsos. The year the Giants won the trophy in ‘03 he scored one of the goals.

Enjoy.

Next Saturday the final four weekend beings and below is a look at the two semi-finals that will take place at the NIC in Nottingham. The four teams competing were the top four teams in the league this season so no upsets and it’s set to truly be a battle of the best.

Coventry Blaze v Cardiff Devils @ 1p.m.

Belfast Giants v Nottingham Panthers @ 5 p.m.

And great news folks, the final itself will be live on Sky Sports 2 at 5 p.m.

In an interview with SkySports.com Todd Kelman has talked about the year that Theo Fleury came to play in Belfast, how he acted like an obcessed fan rather than a regular team-mate and how Theo would tell them all stories and get them going in games. This is the first part in a two part interview and is well worth the read.

Steve Thornton today spoke to Sky Sports News about his plans for next season. As well as telling them that his new season has already begun he noted that he hopes to retain most of the players from last season though does seem confined to losing star player Paul Deniset to a team in Europe.

Claiming that he wants to keep the majority of players that helped the team win two trophies in his first year as a head-coach was interesting considering General Manager Todd Kelman recently said in an interview that he would like to see an overhaul of the side.

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