LONDON, UK – With the UK continuing to bask in a seemingly never ending heatwave, it’s almost hard to believe that in a few weeks’ time pucks will be dropping across the NIHL South 1 in the 2018/19 campaign.
Almost time to start again
Players are already lacing their skates up at some clubs, easing their way back into the familiar routine. Whilst others are delaying the inevitable, secretly grateful that their team’s finances perhaps don’t stretch enough to pay for ice too early ahead of match night income.
For the players other halves, they will no doubt be cramming in weekends of non-ice related activity while they still can. A trip to Legoland, a two-course Toby carvery late on a Sunday, a trip to watch the Lion King in London or a road trip to see the pandas at Edinburgh zoo perhaps. Anything but hockey!
So what has happened this summer? Well compared to the miserable summer of 2017, where clubs begrudgingly got together in compromise to recover from the popping of the EPL bubble, the summer of 2018 has been a little less painful but not painless. If you don’t fancy reading on through a few paragraphs of tittle tattle and in-jokes just head straight to the updated team roster pages here, or read on at your leisure.
Fire farewell
We’re loathed to use the word brave in a sporting context as it’s usually a kind way of describing plucky losers (usually the Scotland football team), but in the case of Cardiff Fire it can be used in its truest sense to describe their 2017/18 campaign.
The Fire’s wholly amateur outfit turned up week in and week out and didn’t shy away from an almost impossible challenge. The team pulled out of the upcoming NIHL 1 season late on due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ and despite what their detractors might say, they will be missed. It takes real mental resolve and an enthusiasm for the game to give up every weekend knowing that you’re likely to lose. The decision does mean however that the dreaded eight team league is now a reality and will need to be expanded next season in some way, shape or form.
Bracknell Bison
Strong rumours that the successful Basingstoke Bison team would lose Captain Aaron Connolly and star defenseman Dan Scott this summer began before their Play-Off final win over Telford, but few could have guessed that Coach of the Year Doug Sheppard and everyone from the DJ to programme sellers would head up the M3 to sup on that sweet Bracknell Hive honey.
Karpov trading in the motor for a yellow mobile
The Bison countered the exodus by recruiting GB stalwart Ashley Tait who has set to work rebuilding a threadbare squad. One of his first signings attracted such a flurry of excitement it generated five pages of comment on the UK’s most popular online hockey forum… namely The Hockey Forum. Had he checked out the thread in his name, poor Danny Ingolsby’s initial excitement at seeing such fervent comment on his arrival back in Hampshire would have been dampened as it owed little to a considered analysis of his work rate, positional sense and suggested role in the team rebuild. If he wanted to soak up opinions on bag searches and the crumbling state of the Basingstoke rink however, he could fill his boots (not with food and drink purchased externally on match night of course).
The Bees begin the season as title contenders alongside Swindon, whilst the Bison look a dangerous dark horse, especially with recent addition Russ Cowley.
The original four
Making up the numbers or ready to shake up the pack? That’s the question fans of Everyone Active/London/Romford Raiders, Streatham IHC, Invicta Dynamos and MK Thunder are asking. The Raiders continue to ride the crest of the new rink wave and have strengthened considerably with the addition of the aforementioned Connolly and Scott. The Raiders even had to fend off the most reviled insult in British hockey at one point during their squad announcements as some online comments labelled them ‘moneybags’. The shame of being well run and having a bit of cash to spend is somehow seen as a label no one ever wants, which is perhaps a British trait that extends to many sports, but shouldn’t.
“As we walked in Fields of Gold”
The long anticipated import announcement for Invicta finally happened last week with Slovak Extraliga star Edmund Piaka signing up for a year on the Medway Riviera.
Both the Mo’s and Streatham will consider themselves stronger this season than last, with the latter still yet to announce a second import that could really elevate the already strengthened South Londoners if they get it right. The Thunder agreed to help out the league by entering the Cup competition for the first time, thus putting a strain on their resources with additional fixtures. They launched a crowdfunding appeal recently to help bridge the gap and it’s something all NIHL fans should consider donating towards if finances allow.
All of the original four know what the challenges are and all will feel a lot more confident of their competitiveness this season compared to last.
Blazer Squad
No summer would be complete without comment on the governing body, who held a “poorly attended” EGM smack bang in the middle of the World Cup in Stratford upon Avon. There are many who criticise the EIHA for their decisions, especially on disciplinary matters when team’s whole campaigns are on the line, but it’s fair to say that their commitment can’t be questioned.
Blazers in this heat? Insanity. It’s very easy to post on social media to talk the talk, but few actually walk the walk and commit their time year round to try and make the sport work for everyone. Having said all that, their 07:00 synchronised press announcements suggest a lack of consideration for NIHL media who don’t live on farms with excitable roosters, and may have a normal social life that doesn’t see them tucked up in bed at 21:00 every evening with a hot water bottle.
Yesterday both the EIHA and IHUK (including Scottish ice hockey) confirmed that they had agreed to move forward with a joint project to create a new unified UK organisation for ice hockey. Good news hopefully, assuming they can somehow get the Elite League properly on board and under their wing.
482 days in the dog house
“Take me with you or I’ll wet your sofa and chew through your broadband”
Strong rumours circulating that fellow NIHL media outlet 482 days are getting a resident puppy at their country estate HQ very soon, have sent alarm bells ringing around the league. Will the infamous lady with the yellow laptop be able to tear herself away from the adoring ball of fluff or will it be allowed entry to NIHL venues on game days so that the (whispers quietly) excellent match night Twitter service will continue this season?
The acid test of course being the wall of steel at Basingstoke foyer.
Contact the author: carrsy2@gmail.com
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