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My Team GB selection
Hi all after watching the Sky Sports show last week I was made aware that Paul Thompson has to name his Great Britain squad of 30. So i thought to myself who would I pick? Well here is my 30 man squad.
Netminders: Stephen Murphy, Stevie Lyle and Nathan Craze.
Defenders: David Phillips, Jonathan Weaver, Mark Richardson, Danny Meyers, Mark Thomas, Russell Cowley, Stevie Lee, Ben O'Connor and Kyle Horne.
Forwards: Colin Shields, Ashley Tait, Robert Dowd, David Clarke, Matt Myers, Craig Peacock, Phil Hill, Jason Hewitt, Jonathon Phillips, Sam Smith, Greg Chambers, Greg Owen, Robert Lachowicz, Tristan Harper, Ross Venus, Aaron Nell, Robert Farmer and Matt Towe.
So that's my 30. Does it match up with yours? I think for the most part this squad picks itself but there may be a few names that surprise you. So allow me to explain my choices.
So lets talk goaltending. The three guys i have picked will be no surprise to anyone and if we are all honest we all know that if Murphy and Lyle are it. They will not only be in Paul Thompson's 30 but in his final 23 as well. The 3rd goalie is where people will differ but i think pound for pound Craze is just about the best back up in the league and will get the nod.
On D David Phillips is a must if he is not still in the ECHL play offs. He is the one guy on the back end you can see making the team every year for the next 10 years. Also i think Weaver and Richardson are guaranteed a spot. After that things are not as clear. Mark Thomas gets a spot as i think he has had a much improved season on last year. Stevie Lee has done as well as anyone else on the Panthers blue line all things considered. His captain in Nottingham Danny Meyers brings big match experience and frankly Kyle Horne gets in because he plays in the top league against the best players. Ben O'connor will have learned a lot from his french experience so he gets in. Russell Cowley is a guy i feel has to go and go as a D man. The reason for this is he has proven capable of playing that position this season with Coventry. Doing this also allows you to take an extra D man in your final 23 as he can cover forward if needed. I think it also helps out with the powerplay. You have a tailor made player to play the Weaver quarterback role on your second PP unit. That to me is the biggest positive with Cowley.
So the forwards. Well again several of these pick themselves. Shields, Dowd and Clarke provide instant offense added to by the best big game player of the Elite league era Ashley Tait. Craig Peacock continues to develop but has been generally quieter than last season. Matt Myers and Phil Hill give a solid mix of size, strength and ever increasing experience.
Steelers pair Jason Hewitt and Jonathon Phillips are a couple of old fashioned grinders who will help the team balance and they know how to win. Sam Smith is this year's break out British player with 15 goals and 34 points so far helping elevate the Devils to title challenger status. Coventry's two Greg's Chambers and Owen have both had a tough time of it on a bad season by Blaze standards but are easy picks for the original 30. Whether they make the 23 remains to be seen. Robert Lachowicz and Tristan Harper have impressed me at times this year and i believe should be in Thompson's 30. They may not make the 23 but are surely names for the future. 3 more names for the future are those of Farmer, Venus and Nell. The Blaze trio have all stepped up at times this year and while I’m not sure any of them will make the final roster they all are in the 30 for me. My last place goes to the only EPL player on my list. There is a lot of talent in the EPL but the other 29 ply their trade against the best players in the land that is in my mind a huge advantage. Anyway Matt Towe is my last pick. I though he had a great game against Belfast in last season's Play Off final and frankly is more than capable than playing in the top flight having done well for Guildford.
Well that's my team. Is it the same as yours? Is it different? Well here are some guys who missed out.
Thomas Murdy. The Blaze back up is highly rated by Paul Thompson and has covered when Brett Jaeger has had injury problems but personally i feel the edge in experience gives Craze the call as 3rd choice goalie. Also if Lyle or Murphy went down hurt between now and April i would want Craze as one of my final 2 netminders. I don't feel that way about Murdy i haven't seen as much of him.
Ben Morgan. A solid d man at EPL who played ok at Elite level last year. Again it comes down to the fact that Kyle Horne plays at a higher level.
Kevin Phillips. After 2 years at the top level i can happily say Kevin Phillips is a decent hockey player capable of playing in the top flight. However he lacks the size of Kyle Horne and sadly his brother he is not. David Phillips will be around the national team for many years like I said earlier. With Kevin i just don't get that vibe.
David Longstaff. Lobby was a great player for many years but I think dropping down a league this year reflects the fact that he is past his best. Its time for younger blood to get its chance.
Mark Garside. Perhaps the one player who i really could have gone for. Garside has played very well for Belfast and has adjusted well to playing on a team with championship aspirations. I guess i went with Matt Towe as he is a favourite of mine
Marc Levers. Levers again is a player a rate but he missed Panthers action through injury this year and hasn't really got his form back. Maybe he will make it next year.
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| 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
