NEWCASTLE, UK – With so many all-star team selections taking place as the 2010/11 campaign approach’s its end, I decided to take a slightly different perspective on this season’s all-star selection process and compile the Elite League’s most disappointing line-up of players. All players who have played some part in this terms action are eligible even if they have only made a handful of appearances in Britain’s top league.
In goal, Dundee netminder Jared Kaufmann was the name that immediately came to mind as the Stars were shipping goals all over the shop when the season got under way. Kaufmann may have only iced on 10 occasions for the Scottish side, however a save percentage of just over 85% and a goals per game average of 5.17 makes it clear that Dundee would have struggled to make improvements they have done if Dan Ceman had not gassed the hapless Kaufmann.
The second selection in my alternative all-star line-up also started the 10/11 season with the Dundee Stars. The way the signing of Luciano Lomanno was being reported suggested that the left-handed blue liner was going to be one of the top offensive d-men in the British game. It did not take long before the Stars realised their signing from Fassa HC in the Italian league was not up to the task of playing in the Elite League. Lommano lasted slightly longer than Kaufman as he played 14 competitive games for Dundee but he only picked up 3 points during his time on Tayside.
Who to select alongside Lomanno on defence was a tough call. Another Dundee player Lauri Kinos could have been selected as the Finn did not look overly impressive while Hull’s Aivars Gaisins was another import who failed to set the British game alight.
I have selected Cardiff’s Justin Sawyer as one of the most disappointing Elite League players of the 2010/11 campaign. Sawyer came to the UK with an impressive resume as he had played in both the ECHL and AHL in North America before deciding to cross the pond. Sawyer’s spell with the Devils was not a great success on either a personal or team level as the blue liner only picked up 1 point in 11 appearances while Cardiff struggled to compete with the top sides at the start of the season.
With Kaufmann, Lomanno and Sawyer penciled as my sides dubious back bone I now had to consider who to play in front of my hapless defensive trio.
The most disappointing player in the Elite League for me this season has to be Konstantin Kalmikov of the Hull Stingrays. Kalmikov came into this campaign in superb form and the majority of UK hockey fans would have been expecting to Konstantin to be the Stingrays go to guy over the course of the season it certainly hasn’t turned out that way. At the time of writing Kalmikov has a paltry 15 goals to his name and is being outshot nearly 3 to 1 by team mate Jereme Tendler.
Brad Cruickshank just has to be selected alongside Kalmikov as the power forward has certainly had a year to forget. Cruikshank has been one of British hockey’s most popular players over the last few campaigns however he has failed to live up to expectations this season.
Cruikshank has only 13 goals to his name this term which is a poor tally given he was firing 20 plus goals when he icing for perennial Elite League strugglers the Basingstoke Bison. Cruiker has also ran into disciplinary problems which has meant that the former Sheffield Steeler had had to miss large parts of the season due to suspension. The fact that his own coach Paul Thompson chose to fine Cruikshank for his lack of control on the ice shows just how disillusioned the Blaze’ have become with their player.
Vipers Patrik Forsbacka
The last forward slot on my line could have gone to the likes of heavyweight enforcer Sean McMorrow of the Dundee Stars or Matt Uusivirta of Hull Stingrays however I’ve gone with the Newcastle’s Vipers Patrik Forsbacka. Forsbacka started the season off reasonably well notching a few goals and squaring off against a number of the heavyweights of the British game however this was as good as it got for the giant Finn whose performances tailed off as soon as Vipers ran into troubles off the ice. Patrik often looked uninterested during shifts and his lack of effort and passion was there for all to see during his time on Tyneside. It came as no surprise to the majority of north east hockey supporters when Forsbacka decided to head back to Scandinavia halfway through the campaign.
I have chosen to appoint a coach to my all-star team as I feel Corey Neilson of the Nottingham Panthers has spectacularly failed to get the best out of a truly talented group of individuals at the National Ice Centre. Neilson has had a great season on the ice (I even chose the d man in my genuine all star line up) however it has been his coaching ability or lack of it that has let the Panthers down as a roster as strong as the one Nottingham assembled should not be finishing 4th in the Elite League standings.
Corey Neilson of the Nottingham Panthers
Alternative All Star Select
Jared Kaufmann – Dundee Stars
Luciano Lomanno – Dundee Stars
Justin Sawyer – Cardiff Devils
Konstantin Kalmikov – Hull Stingrays
Brad Cruikshank – Coventry Blaze
Patrik Forsbacka – Newcastle Vipers
Coach – Corey Neilson (Nottingham Panthers)
On stand by
Aivars Gaisins – Hull Stingrays
Matt Uisivirta – Hull Stingrays
Contact the author – chris.mackenzie@prohockeynews.com
Images courtesy of Paul Lynch Photography
