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Replace the EIHL's messy start with an Autumn Cup
Replace the Elite League's messy start with an Autumn Cup, says Stewart Roberts, editor of The Ice Hockey Annual.
Don't you wish that all our major teams could open the season on the same day?
After a warm-up weekend of challenge games, all ten English Premier League sides face-off in earnest this weekend.
But four of the Elite clubs dropped their first pucks three weeks ago, the rest have been skating for a fortnight, except for Braehead Clan who don't hit the ice until tomorrow (Saturday).
Talk about a staggered start.
There are some excuses for this, like the arena teams having restricted dates and everyone needing to finish before the World Championships, but it sure looks messy.
The same as the amateurish idea of having some games count for league points, some for cup and others for both, particularly when a different score is recorded for each competition.
When the Dundee-Belfast game ended 0-0 on Sunday (I hope it was more exciting than it sounds), that score was OK for the cup but they had to play overtime for the league.
What's that all about? Confuse-a-fan night?
Then there are the hopelessly one-sided scores inflicted on the league's weakest members.
Deciding to play in the late summer did nothing ease the path for the league's newest side, Fife Flyers. (Didn't they join at least partly as a favour to the nine-team league, which was keen to avoid an odd number of sides?)
The Kirkcaldy folk are still trying to find the right players at the right price for their bargain basement club. Right now, many overseas skaters are still hoping to sign for a North American team.
They won't be on the market for several weeks, probably not until after the ECHL - the league's prime recruiting ground - has opened in mid-October. Then they might be willing to sign for a more affordable wage.
Remember, two of last year's best players, Craig Weller (Cardiff) and Drew Bannister (Hull), didn't come over until November.
And the early start found Fife's rivals across the Forth, Edinburgh Capitals, still tucked up in bed. Oh dear, Scotty. We know you're a late riser but having your players dressed in jerseys borrowed from your fans because the proper ones 'failed to arrive on time'…. Dear, oh dear.
So here's my suggestion. Hold the cup competition in the first three or four weeks of the season, just for the clubs that are actually ready to play. The finals can be staged later in the year, or whenever they can be fitted in.
My memory goes back a few eons (in sporting terms) to the Nineties when we had just such a tournament, imaginatively titled the Autumn Cup.
(In those heady days it was sponsored by Benson and Hedges. Seventeen Superleague and BNL teams took part in the last one, in 2000-01, with prize money of £36,000. I told you it was eons ago.)
And if there weren't enough Elite teams willing to make the commitment and the league were feeling really adventurous, they could extend an invitation to the EPL clubs. I'm sure some of them - and especially their fans - would love the challenge.
Heck, this could be the start of something bigger than both leagues - one national league!
Sorry, I've come over a bit wobbly. A glass of water? Thank you. Now where was I?
Oh yes. Even some of the Elite's owners must admit they've been scraping the barrel for the last few weeks. So it's over to you, gents. How about giving next season a memorable start, not a messy one.
The new edition of The Ice Hockey Annual will be published early next month: www.icehockeyannual.co.uk.
The Ice Hockey Annual 2011-12 is available now to pre-order via BIH.
Guaranteeing you the cheapest price on the internet at £9.45 with free P&P.
To pre-order your Ice Hockey Annual please click: http://bit.ly/osSKGV
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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
