We’re now at the business end of the summer and so finally, it’s time for me to put sentimentality aside and take an objective look at the coming season. Who’s looking good and who is struggling?
Cards on the table, people. It’s nearing the end. I’m not going to pretend that it’s going to be easy. But we will face it together. First I will deal with the match report-type business-like malarkey, before I descend into hysteria and launch into my man-size box of Kleenex.
The end of the ice hockey season is looming all too large. It was tangible at Whitley Bay on Saturday night, as Viper fan discussion turned to the end of season awards, and the play-off weekend, but strangely enough, nothing beyond that.
It was a Saturday night, in Whitley Bay. It quite often is, these days. The Vipers were taking on the Dundee Stars in the first of five vital matches to be played between the two sides over the next few weeks.
It’s been a week of massive ups and downs for the Vipers and I’m struggling to make sense of it all to be honest, so can we go through it together, step by step, in a nice calm, structured fashion, please?
» They tried to make me go to rehab...
» Dangerous Liaisons
» Act Two v Nottingham Panthers
» Vipers Drive for 5 weekend
» Close Encounters of the Blurred Kind
Adam Walker
- We're battling hard
- We're ready for the semis
- Great start in Glasgow
- I can't wait to get started
- The summer has gone quick
Alex Birch
Andy Pierce
- Lightning need a spark
- Szucks to be me, Roman
- Lightning face the music against pumped-up Flames
- Blaz has MK buzzing
- Emersic has Lightning on cloud nine
Chris Gent
Christopher Beal
Craig Simpson
- NIHL and the media
- The Billingham 'evolution'
- Here come the girls!
- A day in the People's Republic of Sheffield
- It's hockey, Jim, but not as we know it
Dave Simms
- Good luck to The Sheriff
- The old arguement of spending
- Telling who is who?
- Something about Dundee I like
- It's not Nottingham's fault
Elliott Stanley
- What a difference since November
- Being away from the carnage
- Cardiff are the real deal
- Three wins in three for Panthers
- Lots to talk about in Pantherland
Emma Boultby
- Panthers left to lick their wounds
- Green leads Panthers revenge
- Sheffield smarting, Panthers revenge?
- Two thrilling Panthers games for Clan
Gareth Chalmers
- The failure of Newcastle
- Ijshockey in Nederland
- What next for North East hockey?
- Trip to see Italian A2 hockey
- Now the busy period is over
James Broughton
- So what next for the Steelers?
- The Evolution Of Chad Huttel
- Where are they now: Evan Cheverie
- Where are they now: Peter Campbell
- Bah! humbug!
James Gordon
James Reeve
- No blog posts in this category
Lawrie Hill
- Wirll-winds hit Dundee
- Bowen arrows into Dundee
- Young Star becomes a Phantom
- Better the Devil... you get to know!
- Little but Large for Giants
Lee Sims
Luke Catterson
Mark Briggs
- 1-3-1
- Who's ready for the NHL?
- NHL Preview - Winnipeg Jets
- NHL Preview - Buffalo Sabres
- NHL Preview - New York Islanders
Mark Duell
- Hitting the road
- Has Corey unlocked the magic formula?
- First month's report
- Clan's gain could be Corey's biggest mistake
- Is it the Muppet Show?
Mat Young
Michael Black
- NIHL Round-up: Week twenty six
- NIHL Round-up: Week twenty five
- NIHL Round-up: Week twenty four
- NIHL Round-up: Week twenty three
- NIHL Round-up: Week twenty one
Patrick Smyth
- Lets get Physical, Physical!
- Every day's a school day
- The long wait is almost over
- Know Your (So-called) Enemy
- Bradley Voth is coming to town - Part 1
Promotion
Russ Morrell
- It's tough at the top
- The two sides of hockey
- Another season over
- When is enough really enough?
- New year, new start?
Seanna Murdock
- A round-up from Door 19
- Fighting will always be
- Watching from over the pond
- Eventful Giants weekend
- Interview with Jon Pelle
Stephen Dowson
- Defending the mice
- Big Day, Big Moves, Big Worries
- No shock at Simon leaving
- We'll meet again
- House of Dows
Stewart Roberts
- 20 years, was BIH better of worse?
- Replace the EIHL's messy start with an Autumn Cup
- Full of contradictions
- Historic weekend but where were GB?
- Omigod, I agree with Dave Simms!
Tom Forster
Vicki Smart
- Phoenix rise for the new season
- An evening of introductions
- Seeing the game in a different way
- Happy Shirt Launch, Phoenix fans!
William Lyon
