English Premier League preview

LONDON,U.K- Its the news all English Premier league fans have been waiting for, September is here and that can only mean one thing, EPL hockey is back. Its been a long five month’s but we can now breath a sigh of relief as teams across the United Kingdom hit the ice for the opening games of the regular season. The hot topic this summer has unfortunately been a negative discussion. Financial problems have been rife across a league that has always bordered in the red. Bracknell Bees and Telford Tigers nearly fell victim to a financial collapse only to be saved in the final moments. Slough Jets have been hit by a severe cash flow problem that has forced the club to cut its budget. Gone is one of the biggest rivalries in the EPL, the great battles between Romford Raiders and Chelmsford Chieftains are no more as the Chieftains fell to the financial crisis in the UK. The Essex based side have been forced to withdraw from the EPL and enter the lower standard English National league. 
However now the season is upon us, fans can look forward to an exciting season. As budget restraints have levelled the field, games should be alot closer and the big four of Bracknell Bees, Guildford Flames, Milton Keynes Lightning and Slough Jets will not have things thier own way. 

The Flames are without doubt the hot favourites to sweep the EPL treble. The Surrey side have retained the roster from last year and go into this season as the team to beat. Rivals Bracknell Bees have formed a tougher, entertaining mix of players with a roster bolstering former Traverse City North Star Joe Greener and the experienced Jeff Hutchinson. Also signing for the Berkshire side is agitator Andruis Kaminskas who sure to bang heads in his search for silverware. Down the short road to Slough last seasons playoff winners Slough Jets have fallen on harder times and will struggle to compete with the Bees and Flames. The departure of last seasons superstar defenseman Jan Krajicek hasn’t helped the cause but the Jets have an experienced line-up who will compete on a nightly basis so a playoff push could be a reward if the club and fans pull together.The surprise team of the season could be Swindon Wildcats. Sporting a new logo to go with a re-vamped roster, the Wildcats will be definite contenders for silverware. The signing of prolific shot stopper Ladislav Kurdna is a major coup for the Wiltshire side. Bringing the gritty Watt brothers Nicky and Ryan will add an edge to a team that has lacked aggression. New import signing Ivan Racek will have his work cut out to replace goal machine Joel Petkoff. Teams likley to battle in thier own mini league will be the of Wightlink Raiders, Telford Tigers and Romford Raiders. Despite the Wightlink Raiders new signings, the Isle of Wight outfit will look to make home ice in Ryde a fortress as this will be where the team can steal a few wins but away from home they will struggle. A very under strength Romford Raiders side will find the 2008-09 season a struggle. Losing standout agitator Andruis Kaminskas to the Bees and Mark Williams to the Flames, the Essex side hasn’t strengthened in the off season enough to push for honours and will find an uphill task to make the playoffs. Telford Tigers were close to exiting the league after a major sponsorship pulled the plug, throwing Head-coach Claude Dumas plans into chaos. Despite the set back the Tigers pulled through and will compete this season. The Shropshire side should improve on last year but will make up the bottom of the table.  The three remaining clubs that could turn the Flames and Bees on their heads are the often overlooked but very consistent trio of Milton Keynes Lightning, Peterborough Phantoms and Sheffield Scimitars. The Lightning will always be considered a threat to anyone in the EPL as Player-coach Nick Poole brings out the best of his players and with Captain Gary Clarke leading the attack, the Lightning cannot be ruled out. The signing of Coventry Blaze James Pease will also help to plug the back line. The standout team of the last three years the Sheffield Scimitars have gone from a mediocre ENL side to a top EPL team in just a short time. Led by veteran player-coach Ron Shudra the Scimitars are a well trained tactical side that can beat anyone in the EPL. A dip in form last season when netminder Pasi Raitanen was injured eventually saw the Yorkshire side relinquish the league.This season they have no Raitanen between the pipes which could be significant but for scoring the Scimitars should have no problem with the signing of Warren tait. The controversial Andrew Sharp is also on a two-way contract with the Scims and Steelers who will bring a different perspective to a team that is normally a stranger to the penalty box. Peterborough Phantoms have yet to find the form that once dominated the EPL and with not much movement over the summer the Phantoms will be a mid table outfit at best. A club in need of fresh talent will look to better last years disappointment of an early exit from the playoffs after finishing fourth in the league. A poor playoff run saw them win just one game in six. Overall the EPL season will be a close affair on a nightly basis but over the whole season look for the Flames and Bees to be taking the silverware. The Wildcats are in with a shout but the reliance of Kurdna in net is alot of pressure on just one set of shoulders. Opening games Saturday  Sept 20 Guildford Flames v Bracknell Bees … EPL League / EPL Cup Slough Jets v Telford Tigers… EPL League /EPL Cup Swindon Wildcats v Sheffield Scimitars … EPL League / EPL Cup Wightlink Raiders v Romford Raiders … EPL League / EPL Cup (All above results count towards both competitions.) Contact the author at Kevin.oconnor@prohockeynews.com