UNITED KINGDOM – In part one, we looked at the likely winners and playoff contenders and now we look at the remaining teams and their chances this season plus a predicted final league table. Bracknell Bees
Key Import: Jaroslav Cesky – Arriving from HC Chamonix in the French Elite League, he will be expected to put up big numbers.
Key Brit: Carl Ambler – The ex-Romford netminder will have to be in top form due to lack of defensive depth.
Key Arrival: Michal Pinc – Also from HC Chamonix and new to Britain, the former NHL draftee will be a go-to-guy along with Cesky.
Key Loss: Jan Melichar – The smooth-skating import d-man was a leader for the Bees, but has joined a number of others in making the switch to Slough Jets.
Netminders: Carl Ambler / Adam Marashi
The lowdown: The Bees almost could not compete this year due to financial issues, which were eventually sorted fairly late in the off-season when a lot of players had already been signed. The Bees ’ new import forwards look impressive, and they will be relied upon on a team severely lacking strength in depth, particularly on defence. Romford Raiders
Key Import: Jonathon Sitko – The ex-Swindon defenseman should prove a big hit with the Raiders fans with his hard-hitting style.
Key Brit: Danny Marshall – The Raiders captain is Romford through-and-through and is consistently among the league ’ s top British scorers.
Key Arrival: Dallas Costanzo – Arriving from the CHL, the centre is expected to add grit and leadership as well as putting up points.
Key Loss: Jan Krajicek – Had originally agreed to stay at Romford before their ownership issues forced the giant defenseman to look elsewhere.
Netminders: Euan King / Joe Myers
The lowdown: The Raiders had an impressive second half to last season once Jesse Hammill had taken over as coach, and will look to continue that form under him this season. Romford have put on emphasis on recruiting younger players, and will be able to roll four lines for the first time in a long time with no less than 12 new faces. Their success will depend on how the young and inexperienced goalies cope, and how their new-to-the-country import forwards perform.
Sheffield Scimitars
Key Import: Peter Slamiar – The popular forward always gives 100% and should put up a good number of points now fully fit.
Key Brit: Stephen Wallace – Was slightly below par last season, but is a legitimate first line forward and will be looking to bounce back.
Key Arrival: Pasi Raitanen – Returning for his second spell as a Scimitar, the aging Finnish goalie has the ability to steal games.
Key Loss: Ben Morgan – The talented British defenseman agreed to return to the Scimitars before being snapped up by Elite League Sheffield Steelers.
Netminders: Pasi Raitanen / Paul Jones / Ben Bowns
The lowdown: A few weeks ago the Scimitars were pegged for a bottom-placed finish, but they have since announced the signings of import forwards Slamiar and Millqvist, and a new import defenseman is rumoured to be on the way. They have been added to a strong core of local British players, with a number of youngsters also stepping up from the Sheffield ENL team. They may not win the league, but the Scimitars will be well drilled and hard to beat.
Slough Jets
Key Import: Blaz Emersic – The talented forward put up almost a point-per-game last season, while also covering on defence effectively when injuries hit.
Key Brit: Joe Greener – The young forward spent five years developing his game in America, and was a hit in his first EPL season for the Bees last year.
Key Arrival: Jan Melichar – Has consistently been one of the best defensemen in the EPL for Bracknell.
Key Loss: Nicky Chinn – On his day the strong forward, now of Basingstoke Bison, can be dominant, able to hit, fight and score.
Netminders: Gregg Rockman / Charles Kaylor
The lowdown: Slough ’ s new-look team contains many new faces, several of which have followed new coach Pete Russell from the Bracknell Bees. They have some good supporting players alongside their strong contingent of imports, though with their policy of recruiting younger players (such as Billy Phillips and Ciaron Long), they may be a little too inexperienced to challenge for the league.
Swindon Wildcats
Key Import: Jozef Kohut – Though he has been plagued by injuries, when fit Kohut is amongst the very best snipers in the EPL.
Key Brit: Aaron Nell – The young forward had the best points-per-game average on the Wildcats last year, earning a two-way contract with Coventry Blaze.
Key Arrival: Jan Krajicek – The best defenseman in the EPL, Krajicek is dominant in his own zone and puts up a lot of points.
Key Loss: Matty Davies – The 18 year-old had a poor year last season, but is talented and has taken a shot at the Elite League with Hull Stingrays.
Netminders: Geoff Woolhouse / Oli Lansdowne
The lowdown: Swindon look to have a talented group of imports and some good supporting players, but lack strength in depth, particularly on defence where they may rely too heavily on Krajicek. Their success will depend on how their new imports and youngsters (such as Bullas and Finn) adapt to the league, and keeping Kohut fit.
Prediction
Looking through the teams assembled for this year ’ s EPL, the league is stronger than it has ever been. Several teams have a legitimate shot at the title, and there are no obvious weak teams as there have been in previous years. With that in mind, I think the final standings will look something like his:
1. Manchester Phoenix
2. Guildford Flames
3. Basingstoke Bison
4. Peterborough Phantoms
5. Milton Keynes Lightning
6. Slough Jets
7. Sheffield Scimitars
8. Romford Raiders
9. Bracknell Bees
10. Swindon Wildcats
But that ’ s just my guess. It ’ s sure to be an interesting season in the English Premier League!
Contact dave.lambert@prohockeynews.com
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