SWINDON, UK – A cheering piece of news to start the week came not from the EPL but from the ENL Sting where it was announced former Scimitars’ boss Jon Robotham had been appointed head coach. Rowbotham, it may be remembered, unexpectedly walked out on his job, the Scimitars Academy and his GB Under18 coach commitments without explanation and which subsequently plunged the EPL team into chaos. Although debts were revealed and Rowbotham made accusations of ‘rumours’ and ‘clannish behaviour’ at work to the detriment of his position and Sheffield hockey which made even an EPL future look shaky, Assistant Coach Matt Darlow took over and all Rowbotham’s signings up to that point were honoured. The rest, as they say, is history as the Steeldogs rose from the ashes.
Rowbotham was a talented coach, and hopefully still is regardless of what happened, and was a loss to the sport so it is good to see him back behind the wheel.
Closer to home the Bees kicked their week off with the news Latvian Sergejs Louskins had been recruited to their blue line. Louskins, a former Under 20 international, has never played in Britain before but has moved around Europe and most recently from Sweden’s division1.
The Flames continued to add to their strong-looking line up with the long-rumoured news Canadian forward Greg Chambers was on board after spells with Coventry and Basingstoke in the Elite league. A few days later they followed it up with the announcement British forward Stuart Potts had re-signed for an eighth time.
Jets’ ex-Coach Pete Russell, who says he was only told of his sacking the day it was announced and had he been told a month or two sooner he might have found another job. ‘The decision was nothing to do with me, and after winning a couple of trophies in the last two years, I’m pretty shocked. They told me it was down to money matters, so I don’t know if I was too expensive for them. I didn’t expect it, but they wanted to make a change and it’s absolutely ridiculous.’
Jets’ manager Dee Mason said, ‘We feel a new approach is required for both the EPL and Junior Academy.’ Hmmm. Having brought the Jets success and being familiar with junior development it makes you wonder exactly in what direction the Jets want to head.
However, new head coach Doug Sheppard let it be known that British forward Joe Greener was back in the captain’s seat. Greener finished last season in the Top Ten Assists Chart and the Top Ten British Goal Scorer Chart, and returns for a third time.
The Tigers announced two more signings, the first being forward Luke Brittle who was voted the Most Improved Player last season and returns with the bonus of a 2-way deal with Elite League Coventry. Next up was 17-year-old Telford Trojans’ forward Adam Taylor. Coach Watkins said the signing will allow the youngster to gain valuable EPL ice time along with his ENL Titans’ experience.
One important piece of news in the week came from the Ice Hockey Journalists UK which revealed the induction of four British legends into the Hall of Fame. The British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 1948 by the weekly newspaper Ice Hockey World. It lasted ten years but was resurrected in 1986 by what has become the IHJUK. This year’s new faces are Les Lovell, Neal Martin, Robert Stevenson and Rob Wilson and details can be found on this or the IHJUK site.
Two weeks ago we took a look at the four teams that finished lowest in the league last season, and as there wasn’t much news from the middle of the league this week, it might be better taking a look at the top three where things have definitely happened. I refer, of course, to the changes in Slough. OK, so it is debatable whether the Jets should be included as a middle order or top team with five points separating them from the second placed Flames, and seven above the Bison, but on goals scored the Jets were definitely up with the big boys Manchester and Guildford.
So, the Jets are looking more stable now with Doug Sheppard in charge with a proven record behind him, and if things progress as they are they could still be a handy team to look out for. Darius Pliskauskas is back, and is a top ten EPL point’s scorer and goal scorer, as is Adam Calder on game average. New signing Tom Carlon is also in the Top Ten Brit Points Scorer Chart and Mindy Kieras, who arrived from the Bison, is in the Top Ten EPL D-men Chart. Interestingly, although James Morgan joins the Jets from a lay-off, his last complete figures would have given him top ten places in both the Brit Points Chart and Assist Chart, so no slouch there either.
There are two big losses though with Slava Koulikov, who was a top ten Brit at everything positive, and who will now be sitting not quite where Marcus Kristoffersson resided, but tantalisingly close, and the reliable Jan Krajicek, who was released. The only other top ten placed player for the Jets was Joe Greener who, as mentioned, has had his recall.
The Phoenix are still playing their waiting game with Coach Hand sounding unperturbed with the team’s slow rebuild. Apart from himself, who regardless of his age is still a prodigious goal-making machine, Hand has overseen the return of two Top Ten Brit Goal Chart forwards James Archer and Steve Wallace.
The big downside for the Phoenix, of course, is the loss of Curtis Huppe and Marcus Kristoffersson, while also needing replacement are Ben Morgan and Pavel Gomeniuk, both top ten D-ma and both having gone to the Dogs, so to speak.
The big question for the coming season must be can the Phoenix produce the same standard as last year? The recently signed Archer, for one, was confident they are ‘capable’ of doing so but qualified that with, ‘It’s going to be a tougher league this year because everyone is strengthening.’
Which naturally brings us on to the Flames. Well, they began their rebuild by dropping the EPL’s top netminder Miro Hala plus top ten imports Lukas Smital and Martin Masa. If you can afford to do that with players of that calibre you are either broke or have something serious up your sleeve. Nathan Rempel, a top ten points and goal scorer and Huppe from the Phoenix, a top ten everything, kind of answers that question. GB international and undoubtedly one of the top British players David Longstaff is also back, with just Matt Towe, their only top ten player, not accounted for.
They have a strong blue line too with Paul Dixon, Steve Savage and Jez Lundin all top ten players.
It is difficult to comment on imports new to the EPL, so the likes of Branislav Kvetan, Greg Chambers and Martin Cingel go unmentioned, simply because you just can’t tell what they are going to do. Take Kristoffersson, for example, who scored twenty-two goals in his two seasons previous to joining the Phoenix then shot through the roof with 112. Conversely, we all know of imports who promised much, but delivered little.
Strangely, this brings to mind some advice my old grand-pappy once thrust on me. ‘If you want a good second-hand tractor,’ he advised, although I have no idea why he felt I might be in need of one, ‘don’t pick the one spruced up like new; go for the battered and rugged one because you know it has done the business and is less likely to let you down.’
So there you have it. For those teams still needing to fill their import quota, go find a battered tractor instead.
For more EPL facts and figures, results and news and the graphic-enhanced version of this Roundup, why not try www.iceman-epl.com
Contact the author Bill.Collins@Prohockeynews.com
