EPL Roundup – Romford: now you see them, now you don’t.

SWINDON, UK – As this was the week in which the Raiders decision was expected, I extended my deadline by a few hours to catch the announcement and so the end of the week is this roundup’s start, if you get my drift.
In other words, the Raiders’ application to join the ENIHL was considered at a meeting in Bracknell on Sunday and was successful, although first reports sounded as though it wasn’t quite the straight forward affair it might have been, with a majority vote in favour rather than unanimous. It means the Raiders will play in Div1 South and one of the considerations must have been the presence of the Romford Fury who already play in the ENL Div2 South. It just seems a bit of a shame a team can go from EPL level, and in a few weeks not simply be found a place at a more suitable level, but be voted out of existence. I ask myself, isn’t it bad enough to lose a team at ANY level of our sport, especially in a division so-say considered a ‘development’ league for British talent?     
Enough! I hear me cry, this is now ENL matters and the province of others. But before I jump from my soapbox I do wonder what might have been an effect on the EPL had Telford Tigers not rejoined. The League would now be looking at nine teams. Bad news.
Anyway, now to the beginning of the week. First announcement came from Bracknell Bees who confirmed the rumour that Czech D-man Vlademar Pelikovsky, currently playing in Australia, had signed. That makes him the third Czech player to join the club and, as it turns out, he is a former playing colleague of Michal Pinc, one of those three signees. General Manager Stuart Robinson said the club was in a sound financial position and looked secure for the season and talks continued for a forth import. ‘We are working hard to get the right man,’ he said.
Telford continue their build up with the signing of England and GB junior international forward Joe Henry, previously with the EIHL Coventry Blaze and team mate of coach Tom Watkins.
Wildcats said goodbye to their top scorer, forward Aaron Nell, who after a year with a two-way deal with Coventry Blaze, where he played 13 times last year, has now signed a full time contract. Wildcats coach Ryan Aldridge said he thought Nell was the best British player in the EPL last year. One player who is staying with the Wildcats, though, is Matt Foord, who signed for a second year. Coach Ryan Aldridge said he was pleased with the signing because he felt the best was yet to come from the British forward.

Tony Hand, player-coach with the Phoenix is still insisting he will sort out his British players before looking for imports and reasserted this with the re-signing of Steve Fone, the second netminder to put pen to paper with the club, having already signed Adam Summerfield back in April. Fone recently underwent keyhole surgery for a shoulder injury which kept him out of the side for part of last season.
Finnish forward Jaako Hagelberg, one of those Phoenix imports Hand is not talking to just yet,   said he would love to play for the Manchester team again. He added that although he hadn’t spoken to any British teams as yet, he would like to play in the UK again and would prefer the Phoenix, although he would need a pay rise to tempt him back.

Peterborough forward Tom Carlon returns to the Phantoms for a second campaign and coach Cruickshank said he thought the coming season would be a ‘catapult’ year to greater things for British forward. Cruickshank also secured the signature of another British forward, Joe Miller, despite competition from several other clubs.
Unusually, for this time of year, one player that isn’t returning to the sport is Scimitars forward Simon Butterworth who has decided to mothball his skates and return to his studies and further his career. Coach Rowbotham said he was ‘gutted’ by the decision. To help ‘ungut’ himself Rowbotham signed Dimitri Zimozdra, the Russian-born netminder who does not qualify as an import because he was British-trained at junior level for several years. Or was it his grandfather was Irish and spoke with a lisp on Wednesdays? Anyway, Zimozdra signed on as third goalie from ENL Sheffield Spartans.
Another player with two nationalities lurking in their past is Brit Rick Skene. The US-born D-man signed for the Bison after icing with them in the 2004/05 season when they were in the Elite League, having since played five seasons with the Guildford Flames. Ex-GB junior international player Jez Lundin, however, is staying with the Flames and signed for a second season after a very successful initial season when he was the leading scoring defensive player.
No player moves from either the Lightning or Jets but with the Raiders issue sorted it will be interesting to see what happens to some of their players.
More, I am sure, next week. Can’t wait!
 
Contact the author Bill.Collins@Prohockeynews.com