More plans in motion

Now for the second part of my summer round-up of the EPL movers and groovers. Having done the first five named teams alphabetically starting at Basingstoke and finishing with Milton Keynes, it’s time for part deux so to speak.

 

So here it is, my opinions so far on the player recruitment carousel from Peterborough Phantoms to new boys, OK they’re not really a new team as such, Telford Tigers. Enjoy. Many thanks however before I start to my mates Ian Willoughby and Matt Clarke for keeping me updated with player signings as they are confirmed by the respective teams. It’s helped loads.

 

Peterborough: New coach after last season’s up and down season in former Elite League All Star Curtis Cruickshank, the Phantoms can surely do better this time.  Cruickshank knows he will be expected to deliver silverware after the disastrous reign of fellow North American Doug Irwin, and following on from the Grand Slam season of 2009 under “Grandad” Colin Patterson. He’s started well by bringing back the popular James Hutchinson from Elite League Hull as well as re-signing players such as Stephen Wall and Joe Miller.

 

Sheffield: Last season’s so called whipping boys had a season which had all the elements of a roller coaster. One minute high as a kite, the next as low as you can get. The side punched above their weight to be sure, but now with a full season behind can only go on to better things. Sure the Scims will miss Matt Haywood who has gone Elite, but new import Peter Vaisanen should fill that void in terms of scoring.  The South Yorkshire side have been buoyed by the decision of highly rated netminder Ben Bowns to continue his hockey education to remain at EPL level for a second full season.

 

Slough: Winners of the play-offs and for some thrilling hockey played all season, it was just rewards for Pete Russell and his side.   Captain and talisman Blaz Emersic will probably look to have another season like last, where he notched 50 plus goals, and Gregg Rockman will be dependable between the pipes for Russell. The signings of Lithuanian Darius Pliskauskas – who had an impressive end of season spell with Romford – and Elite League winner Doug Sheppard from Sheffield Steelers means they could be the team to beat this season. Providing everything gels on ice that is…

 

Swindon: They gatecrashed the play-offs late on last season when at one stage they looked they would miss out, but they didn’t half mean business dumping out Milton Keynes when few expected it. Already Ryan Aldridge is planning on bigger and better things for the Wildcats and the three new faces to the red and white ranks are all solid. Jan Melichar and Jason Stone – the latter from Cardiff Devils where he’d spent his entire career – should cover up for the loss of Jan Krajicek who’s gone back to Slough. Ryan Watt returns home too, but they are sure to miss Aaron Nell who’s moved up to the big boys.

 

Telford: After a year in the ENL as the Telford Titans, the Tigers will roar again at EPL level thanks to their great fans who set up a trust to run the Club after problems in the past. Now they are ready to go and have appointed GB international Tom Watkins (latterly of Coventry Blaze) as player/coach in a move that smacks of ambition. They have already signed two of the Blaze’s young talents to their roster, and Club legend Marek Hornak should post up good numbers in a league which he has a proven record beforehand.

 

So who is going to win it? Well, that’s too hard to call now – maybe when the rosters have filled out a bit more and it’s time to do another review I’ll decide.  But I’ll leave you with the inevitable; expect the usual suspects to be heavily involved in the title race.

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