BELFAST, UK –
A Sheffield Steeler, a Cardiff Devil and a Nottingham Panther are the next three players selected to the Elite All Star team facing the Boston Bruins in Belfast on October 2nd.
Player/Coach Ben Simon of the Sheffield Steelers has become the first Steeler named to the team and he brings with him a wealth of experience at the top level, playing a total of 81 games in the National Hockey League with the Atlanta Thrashers and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Simon is in his first season in the Elite League after playing the majority of last season for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.
Joining him in the line up for the Boston Bruins match is Scott Matzka of the Cardiff Devils, a player that already has the rest of the Elite League talking about him. Matzka played last season in the Swedish Division One for Orebro HK and has been a top scoring forward for the last few years in Denmark and Germany.
The addition of Simon and Matzka brings the total to 6 players already named for the All-Star line up that will face off against the Boston Bruins, one of the most famous ice hockey teams in the world and last year’s Stanley Cup Semi-Finalists.
“ Matzka and Simon bring extremely impressive resumes to the EIHL. We have added two very skilled forwards who can score. The two of them are veteran players and will be able to adjust to new linemates and systems quickly,” said Giants Coach Doug Christiansen.
Christiansen also officially confirmed that Panthers Player/Coach Corey Neilson will be on the ice against the Bruins, the first of the Nottingham squad named to the Elite League All-Star lineup. The big burly defenceman has been one of the top defenders in the league since his arrival in the UK back in 2006. Last season he finished with 65 points in 67 games, including 15 goals, while leading the Panthers to the Challenge Cup Championship and a playoff semi-final appearance.
“We would expect to have a few of the Panthers in the lineup against the Bruins and I am sure I will catch up with Corey this weekend to discuss his views on his own guys. We have a tough weekend of games to start the season, but at least I will get to see some of the league’s best players and talk to two of the other coaches involved in this game.”
The Belfast Giants take on the Nottingham Panthers on Saturday and then face the Cardiff Devils on Sunday. The Devils Coach Gerad Adams is also part of the coaching staff for the game against the Bruins along with Paul Thompson of the Coventry Blaze and the Giants own Doug Christiansen.
The Boston Bruins match against the Elite League All-Stars takes place on Saturday, October 2nd in Belfast. Tickets are available starting at ÂŁ40.50. Book your seats now by logging onto www.ticketmaster.ie or www.belfastgiants.com
Or by calling the Odyssey Box Office on (028) 9073 9074 or Ticketmaster on 0844 2774455. 