SWINDON, UK – The week started with news of the experimental open trial at the experimental Tigers over the weekend. Coach Tom Watkins of the Tigers said he was pleased with the turnout and the 35 would-be EPL players who were put through their paces. Watkins expressed surprise the entrants had come from all over, and were not just local lads. He went on to say the experience had been valuable and as far as he knew quite unique, but as the standard was high he would use the idea again. Although he is hoping to fill only three or four places, the successful candidates will be notified in the next week or so. Phoenix owner Neil Morris reiterated comments made a few weeks ago by Coach Tony Hand that the move to the EPL was the right thing for the club and had been a big success. Morris said that although the EPL was not as technical as the Elite League it was ‘quicker and more gutsy.’ Hand, meanwhile, is waiting for the result of the Robert Farmer trial in the US later this month before deciding on the finishing touches to his lines, so is still sticking by his previous statements that no import contracts had been signed yet. Nathan Rempel, the Canadian forward who scored a respectable point-plus per game last season despite missing seven games with a head injury, resigned for a second term with the Flames which took their new roster up to six players, three of which are imports. Ex-GB junior international Callum Fowler, who in his first season with the Phantoms was awarded a staggering twelve man-of-the-match awards, and although not quite the prize-magnetic his second year left the Peterborough forward signed for Invicta in the ENL. Phantoms coach Curtis Cruickshank was, however, singing the praises at the re-signing of British forward James Spurr. “Spurr is a terrific talent” he said “A player who I think will deliver great things this season”. Cruickshank went on to call the twenty-year-old a ‘pest’, in the best possible taste, of course. “James is a real pest of a player for opposition teams. He works so hard every shift.” While referring to Spurr, Steve Duncombe and Tom Carlon, Cruickshank added, “I want these players to be pushing the other more senior players for their ice time”. In Basingstoke they had what you might call a hat-trick day with three signings, the first confirming the rumour of a few weeks ago that top Slovakian forward Ondrej Lauko would return. Lauko headed the EPL in goal scoring at the close of the season and was third top points scorer including nine, er yes, nine hat-tricks, which must be at least a club record, and probably carries a bit of weight in the league too. Second was Ollie Bronnimann who also re-signed and is no stranger to the odd hat-trick either being one of just a few Brits to achieve the distinction and in the process ended the season as a top ten British goal scorer. But with an eye on the future, Coach Steve Moria also signed young British forward and GB junior international Callum Best from the Bees commenting, “Callum is a young guy who just needs an opportunity. He did well in Bracknell and I think he is one for the future”. But, one of the youngest players in the EPL must have been Loris Taylor who at sixteen played his first senior season with the Wildcats and won’t actually be seventeen until after the start of the new season. Taylor, who re-signed for the Swindon team impressed Coach Ryan Aldridge enough for him to comment, ‘His skill, shots and skating are second to none for his age.’ But perhaps the oddest signing of the week was at Sheffield. I don’t mean the capture of Ukrainian defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk from EIHL Hull Stingrays, although that was unusual enough if for no other reason than his nationality wasn’t represented in the EPL last season and when Coach Jon Rowbotham said he wanted more stability at the back, he certainly found some of it with Gomenyuk clocking in at over fifteen stone. No, I meant Matej Kangyar. The Slovakian forward hasn’t actually been playing competitive hockey since icing in Slovakian junior leagues a few years ago, but he has lived in the UK for nearly four years and was spotted at a recreational practise at Ice Sheffield by a fan. OK, so we can all be armchair scouts in the rink bar, but this observant supporter went one further and passed on the word and Kangyar was invited to a three hour training session with the Sheffield ENL team and promptly signed by Coach Rowbotham. Rowbotham said he was astonished at the level of skill displayed by the 22-year-old, who, apparently, had not played hockey in two years! Which all goes to show God certainly does move in mysterious ways, and is obviously a Scimitars supporter. Contact the author Bill.Collins@Prohockeynews.com For more EPL facts, figures and news try my website – www.iceman-epl.com
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