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Hi folks,
I'm sorry to say that I shall be unable to post any blogs for the next
few weeks as I'm moving home. Please, no tears at Elite League
Towers. I shall return as soon as I have some time to spare.
Meanwhile, thanks for your feedback. I'm glad that so many of
you enjoy reading this site.
Enjoy your hockey and may your team win every game.
Stewart Roberts |
30th January 2008
The bmibaby Elite League is talking about increasing the number of imports.
Is this a return to the Superleague era, asks Stewart.
The week’s big talking point is the Elite League’s latest wizard wheeze (revealed
here) which could take us straight back to the Superleague era.
Those who know me will know just how much I love this idea. It’s been
explained to me that with 15 ‘imports’ and a strictly enforced wage cap
(another story for another day), teams will not be held to ransom by Brits
who are not as good as they think they are. (Not quite the language used but
you get the drift).
If this rule is adopted by the league, my betting is that the only Brits to
get a regular spot on an Elite roster will be the very best ones - the Taits,
Weavers, Hands and Clarkes - while the less talented will be forced to drop
down to the English Premier or out of the sport altogether.
As in Superleague, our own brave boys would be squeezed out of our ‘top
league’. This is the drawback with running a pro circuit in Britain which
can’t afford to pay its players a living wage.
North Americans enjoy coming here for a year, getting £300-500 a week, a
place to lay their heads (and their girl friends) and a car to get around
in. But Brits can’t live on this sort of money unless they have a second
job. And there’s no time for that and playing in a professional circuit.
(If my analysis is wrong, I’ll be delighted to hear the league’s thinking.
As always, I’m at stewice@aol.com.)
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Player of the Week
There’s only one possible choice. Tony Hand MBE played his 1,000th
league game on Sunday - an all-time British record - scoring a goal and,
of course, an assist for Manchester Phoenix. Now in his 27th year in
senior hockey, the Great Brit One has 3,006 league points (including
1,120 goals). Our photo shows Tony receiving his MBE from HM The Queen
in January 2004. |
PRO LEAGUE DIVIDES ICE HOCKEY
This is just one of the reasons I’m uneasy about a pro league in this
country. It also divides an already minor sport into warring factions while
doing little to address the most vital issue - how to develop better
home-grown players.
So I was glad to see that some effort is being made in this direction, and
by the coach of an Elite League club. According to an article in Powerplay,
Coventry Blaze’s Paul Thompson’s coaching clinic (www.paulthompsonscoachingclinic.co.uk)
has been given ‘workshop status’ (whatever that is) by the English and
Scottish IHAs.
The clinic is not directly involved in coaching our kids but in coaching
their coaches who too often are just willing and not very able parents.
I’m not familiar with junior coaching organisations. I only see the end
product. But I do know that the standard of coaching our youngsters receive
varies enormously from club to club. So anything that can improve matters
has to be welcomed.
A fine, if unwanted, example of the sport’s Warring Factions is the news
that ice hockey’s movers and shakers are meeting this week with the Minister
for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe.
Going to the Trafalgar Square offices of the Dept of Culture, Media and
Sport are Frederick Meredith of the world governing IIHF; Ken Taggart, Bob
Wilkinson and Neville Moralee of the English Ice Hockey Association (parent
body of the English Premier League); and Joanne Collins of the players’
union, IHPAGB.
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Photo of the Week
Basingstoke Bison’s Derek Campbell steam-rollers a Newcastle Viper in
Vipers’ 4-1 win in Hampshire. Photo: David Taylor.
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SPORT DISCUSSES HOT TOPICS
On the agenda are the recommendations made by sports consultant, Neil
Tunnicliffe, after his extensive interviews with a number of ice hockey
people. There are several hot political topics on Mr T’s list which is why a
couple of the Warring Factions were missing from this week’s get-together.
I understand that Ice Hockey UK and the Elite League are to meet the
Minister in a week or two. Congratulations, gents, on showing to someone
trying to help you that your sport’s organisation is a complete shambles.
The GB 33 are off to the Euro Challenge in the Mont Blanc region of France
next week (Feb 5-8). Sadly, I shan’t be able to make it as all the hotels
were booked but you can follow the team’s progress on
www.bbc.co.uk or
http://www.icehockeychallenge.net/index.htm.
With three games in three different rinks and players flying in and out of
France to make sure they don’t tire themselves out for their club sides
(shades of Pool A ’94), the organisers have a logistical nightmare on their
hands.
But at least Thommo will be able to run the rule over guys who might not
otherwise have had a look in. Good luck to him and all the players.
I’m away for the next few days, visiting former GB and London Knights’
coach, Chris McSorley, whose Geneva Eagles (http://www.geneva-hockey.ch/)
are now the second most successful team in Switzerland. What a huge loss
he’s been to the sport here.
Back in two weeks.
The 2007-08 edition of The Ice Hockey
Annual is on sale.
All the Latest UK Ice Hockey News here. |
