My end of season review
by James Broughton Hi everyone, well the regular season finished yesterday and once again the Coventry Blaze finished top of the pile with a fourth league title in seven years. A big congratulations to Paul Thompson and his men. They did only just get there in the end. They crawled home in the end. Belfast once again came very close but no cigar. Nottingham are the team that really should have won the league but fell short again. Cardiff had a decent year again but always seem to struggle on the big ice of Belfast, Nottingham and Sheffield. Talking of my beloved Steelers they may have won the 20/20 and being to the Continental Cup final but our year hasn't being a great one. Edinburgh have had a real good year and proved to be the best of the lower budget teams. Newcastle had an up and down season and ended up in an average seventh. Hull despite finishing bottom ended with their best ever points haul and have some form to take into the playoffs.
Ok so here are a few of my end of year awards.
Team of the year: As much as I hate to say it, Nottingham. This years Panthers team is possible the best Nottingham team I have seen in my 18 years of watching hockey so they get the award.
Coach of the year: Doug Christiansen top effort with the Caps this year, pulled off a couple of great signings and really got the best out of his team.
Goalie of the year: For me this was really quite tough. Murphy has being great but there is just something about him that tells me he isn't goalie of the year. The same goes for Peter Hirsch. So the award goes to Cody Rudkowsky.
Defenceman of the year: Well really it has to be Jonathan Weaver. Wes Jarvis came close with a really good year but it had to be the Blaze stalwart.
Forward of the year: This was the toughest category. Do I go for out and out all star Jade Galbraith? Pleasant surprise 40 goal man Luke Fulghum. Or Belfast Sensation Jeff Swzez. No I go with Colin Shields the man who I think is the stand-out player of the year.
Well that's it for now good luck to everyone in the playoffs.
Jim Broughton
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