Debut blog - an introduction

Welcome to my new blog. I thought it was only polite of me to introduce myself before I commence my general ramblings about British Ice Hockey in the future.

Co-owner of this very site, my primary passion and sporting love is rugby league, but ice hockey, these days, is my firm second choice.

I first fell for hockey back in 1999, when I was given two tickets to a Manchester Storm game free by a PE teacher at school. From what I recall, there was approximately 50 tickets dished out, and I do remember seeing a few class mates at the game, which was against Sheffield Steelers at the MEN Arena.

I ended up dragging my grandad along, and we went a handful of times over the next few seasons, before the sad demise of the Storm. I saw a few crackers, including one against Eisbaren Berlin in the Aherne Trophy, which probably remains to this day as the best hockey game I've ever seen. I was also at the Challenge Cup Final one year - think it was 2001 or 2002 - when Nottingham played Sheffield in what if I recall correctly, was a fairly low-scoring game (anyone?).

I kept up to date with the progress of hockey in Manchester, and when the Phoenix was formed, I managed three or four games in their debut season - I remember going to see a game against Cardiff, and sitting at the side of the MEN, whereas previously we always used to try and get behind the goal. A lot has changed since then.

Phoenix of course then went on sabbatical, and although they returned, I didn't until the 2007/08 season - mainly because I was now old enough to take myself to games. I managed to convince my then girlfriend it was a good idea, and we went along to Phoenix against Hull Stingrays at the Altrincham Ice Dome on a Thursday night. It wasn't the best game to try and introduce someone new - there was a power cut midway through the game which had us waiting around for a long while, although my girlfriend thought that it was what was supposed to happen! I forget the final score (anyone?), but it was enough to convince me to come again.

I didn't miss many home games for the rest of the season. I became a season ticket holder in 2008/09, and it was when I first had the idea of setting up a hockey site. The inspiration for it comes from www.lasttackle.com, a similar style rugby league website that I run. Unfortunately, coming up with a name proved difficult, and plans were shelved.

Ironically, it was working in rugby league that led me to getting involved with BIH. Through Last Tackle, I had designed and built the Gateshead Thunder RLFC site with a colleague, which led to Newcastle Vipers getting in touch. One thing led to another, and it resulted in me coming on board with BIH, and overseeing the overhaul which we see today.

My passion for hockey has rocketed in the past 18 months, and I hope it continues to do. I by no means regard myself as an expert, and I am continually learning new things. I hope that this blog will provide the point of view of someone with a reasonable knowledge of the game, and that I can speak from a fan's perspective, but also in a way that is appreciated by experts, die-hard fans and newcomers alike.

You will still find me at Phoenix home games in the EPL (although I'm not a season ticket holder this season), usually sat in Block 16 at the Dome.

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