New Season
The hockey season is back, and you can follow it all with us right here on BIH.
Stats Centre
We are working on an archive of matches, stats and players from BIH in the past few years.
An exciting new season ahead
Well with the new season less than a month away I thought it was about time many of the resident bloggers for this website and offered up my thoughts on what we will see over the next few months. Well I have to say I am very excited about all the new players coming into the league this year. We have not seen the influx of ex NHL players like we had last year but that may lead to a more competitive league.
Here in Sheffield we have seen the usual off season circus that Steelers fans have become accustomed to but i think we are a little better off for it. In Ryan Finnerty I think we have the best second line center in the league. We also have another player-coach. Now some of you will know I put no stock in player coaches. Give me a proper head coach any day, but this is not a time for that argument. We have lost several of last season’s championship team but have interestingly replaced them. We perhaps don't have the pedigree that we had last season but we do have players who I believe will be hungry to win. We have gotten a little younger generally and I believe that will compensate. The signings of Mike Ramsay and John De Caro interest me the most. From what I have heard and read Ramsey is a pocket rocket forward who was good for a point a game in the CHL. De Caro comes off the back of winning a championship in that league. A big goalie who is said to play his angles well who could be the deciding factor on how our season goes. Most goalies that come from that league generally don't impress me but Brett Jaeger came from there and i really believe he was one of the better goalies in the league last term so i have faith.
Belfast look very good this time around. They have lost captain Colin Shields but frankly in Robert Dowd I think they have the best possible replacement. Then the addition of Jon Pelle was probably the biggest signing of the summer. Add that to several other solid looking players this could very well be the year that the Giants realise their potential and take the league title again.
Nottingham are another team who could be ready to fulfil that potential. The addition of Brandon Benedict is crucial for me. I have always being a big fan of Benny. If only he hadn't had the injury problems endured during his time at Belfast i think he would be more widely recognized as a top player in this league. The only question mark for me is in goal. I am not a fan of Kowalski and probably never will be. People say he was great at the playoff weekend and is why Nottingham won. I disagree. Nottingham could have won more easily with a different goalie for my money. Time will tell.
The Coventry Blaze have made wholesale changes and i think they will be better. I'm not sure they can challenge for the league but they won't finish 6th like last years abysmal effort. A fit Owen Fussey will help lead the front line and Jerramie Domish is probably their biggest off season signing. He was a crucial part of the Steelers last year and will instantly improve the Blaze. I also am quite a big fan of the clubs new logo. It is a little like a rebirth for the club after a shocking campaign last season.
Honestly I don't expect the league title to go anywhere else. Cardiff will not be anywhere near as good as before. In Pelle, Weller and Finnerty they have lost three of their best five player and so far I haven't seen good replacements signed. Braehead have a new coach in Drew Bannister so have to start all over again. Jade Galbraith is a great start but will need a supporting cast. Dundee, Edinburgh and Hull will be pretty much the same. Edinburgh have largely signed Europeans so may struggle in what can be a physical league. That been said the addition of Nathan Craze as a starter is a positive all round as he will only get better from the experience. The only X Factor is Fife. Nobody knows how they will fair but if they only go with eight imports then you have to think 8th place is about the best they can achieve.
It's not far away now and I can't wait.
0-3 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-3 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-5 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
1-4 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-4 |
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| 11th March 2006 19:00 | ||
2-4 |
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| 11th March 2006 19:00 | ||
| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
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5-8 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-2 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
3-7 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
1-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
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- Adam Walker
- Alex Birch
- Andy Pierce
- Chris Gent
- Christopher Beal
- Craig Simpson
- Dave Simms
- Elliott Stanley
- Gareth Chalmers
- James Broughton
- James Gordon
- Katy Madgwick
- Luke Catterson
- Mark Briggs
- Mark Duell
- Mat Young
- Patrick Smyth
- Promotion
- Russ Morrell
- Seanna Murdock
- Stephen Dowson
- Stewart Roberts
- Tom Forster
- Vicki Smart
- William Lyon
