Originally posted on http://www.ukamericansportsfans.com/ on 30th March 2012
Keeping you updated with happenings up and down the Elite League during the play-off period… according to me!
Monday 26th March
With play-off berths decided and fans up and down the Elite League buying tickets in their droves and planning travel for their away trips, I hastily put the finishing touches to my review of the weekend and preview of the quarter-final match-ups. Read parts 1 and 2 below, if you haven't already.
Tuesday 27th March
All-Stars, Baby!
Journalists release their all-star line-ups for the season. And can you believe I wasn’t even asked my opinion! It would have made all the difference too – what poppycock these so-called writer types spout! Okay, so some of it made sense. Jade Galbraith is a no-brainer to be on the first team, as are Murphy, Mason, and Legue. Guthrie is a fantastic talent but for me, was a little goal-shy earlier in the season as he took some time to get his eye in – but a dream to watch when on the puck and on paper of course, he’s the right choice. I would have replaced him with Rob Dowd, who only made the second team for the ‘journalists’. (This is only fake bitterness, you understand). Neilson? As an attacking defender probably only Jeff Mason outclassed him this year, but it’s hard to see past his more questionable actions and as such, I wouldn’t have chosen him.
Missing from the teams? The Belfast defencemen deserve their place, none more so than Jeff Mason, but I would have had Tom Dignard in there too. He’s underrated, a real unsung hero. Okay, I’m a bit biased. As I love him. But only because he’s SO good. Speaking of defencemen who I have a soft spot for, I’m glad they included Jim Jorgensen in the second team as I found him to be a revelation in Braehead this year, a fast, clean, creative and dynamic defenceman who turns up at the heart of everything good the Clan seem to do; undoubtedly an asset they will look to keep hold of next season.
My All-Stars are based on the players I’ve found myself enamoured with over the course of the season for having that extra something about their game, as even though it’s quite obvious that on paper the likes of Galbraith and Legue would have to top any list, not every player can be a fancy-pants goal machine and as such, I would have Darryl Lloyd in my dream team. I’ve made no secret of my admiration for the feisty Giants centre; what he lacks in size he makes up for twice over in grit, determination and pure aggression. He hits like a train and gets in the faces of opponents. He’s your worst nightmare – unless he’s in your team.
I’d also have a punt on Jeff Pierce as a surprise inclusion, as if you’re considering pure raw talent, it’s hard to look past Pierce despite his sporadic effort and understandable obsession with his own hair. His puck-handling is poetry and his movement on the ice breath-taking at times, and when he gets the bit between his teeth he can undress defences up and down the league. If you could guarantee him on top of his game at all times, I think I’d even choose him over Galbraith due to his speed and fitness.
No Panthers?! I hear you cry?! No. As yet, I haven’t seen a single minute of Panthers hockey outside of a few minutes of highlights, so I don’t feel qualified to rate them against the teams who I have seen plenty of (all the rest). Also, I like nine teams more than them. So it was unlikely I’d pick a Panther for my all-stars. Pick a Panther sounds like a really twee card game doesn’t it. I can just picture Corey Neilson as the Joker.
On the subject of netminders, there’s no doubting the man at the top of the heap (take a bow Stephen Murphy), but after that I like two of the Scottish sides’ netminders, Chris Whitley and Garrett Zemlak, over a number of the top half teams’ choices. Both have showed great passion alongside great shot-stopping all season and I would be confident that either could perform for one of the top teams if they were called upon. Plus Zemlak’s unforgettable 70-plus shot-stopping heroics against the Panthers was not only brilliant, but could do nothing other than endear him to fans all over the league. Except possibly in the East Midlands.
Game 1
The first of the playoff quarter final games took place in Glasgow. In an exact repeat of last year’s quarter final, Nottingham travelled to the Braehead Arena. I was otherwise engaged, taking in one of the world’s worst football matches at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, and was completely unaware of the goings-on from north of the border. I came out to discover that not only had Braehead won, they had shut out the Panthers in doing so and built a lead that, whilst not unassailable, would take some coming back from. It was a timely reminder that the four places in the final weekend are up for grabs by any of the eight teams involved – a predictable top four line-up may be what the league would like to see, but the fans would love an upset, and this has the makings of one written all over it: odds on Jade Galbraith scoring at the NIC in a twist that will be the big money side’s ultimate undoing? Let the hockey gods be merciful.
Wednesday 28th March
British ice hockey seems to have a knack of throwing up a shock news story when you least expect it, and today was no exception. Three days shy of the most important games of the year for the Sheffield Steelers - bearing in mind the pressure on them to pick up some silverware of some sort – news breaks of the release by the club of fan favourite Colt King.
Wow. That one really caught everyone with their pants down and I can’t help but feel a bit cheated. King has been one of the Steeler favourites this season not to mention one of their top players and to lose him on the eve of the playoffs is not only a kick in the teeth for his devoted fans and, er, total neutrals who aren’t even bothered such as myself, but it begs the question, just how bold a move can one coach afford without shooting himself in the foot? It’s impossible to know what has gone on behind the scenes and perhaps King’s absence may be better for the club going forward, but now? Right now? Bad plan. Has to be. They immediately lose a strong physical presence as well as a great goal poacher, the top fighter in the league and a source of real consternation to their rivals. Whether or not it improves the Steelers as a unit is an unknown; what is not is that Sheffield’s quarter-final opponents, the Hull Stingrays, will take courage from this perceived unrest and do everything they can to turn it to their advantage come game time on Saturday.
Thursday 29th March
The calm before the storm…
Check back for updates over the weekend as I continue with my playoff journal.
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