EIHL players to watch

So, as the fans across the country prepare to don their team’s colours and park themselves in the rink for some ice hockey again, who are the ones to watch this season? Who will be filling up the goal column on the gamesheet with inevitable regularity? Who will be using their fists to do the talking and getting spectators raised on their feet?

 

Colin Hemingway – He returns to the Elite League with the Belfast Giants after a three-year absence, and rejoins old coach Doug Christiansen with whom he played for at Edinburgh. Hemingway was a star in the league in that 2007/8 season, scoring a very credible 66 points in 47 games. He is almost certain to find the net even more this year playing with arguably the most potent offense ever seen in the league on the Belfast roster. Look out for his brother Brett too – he and Colin could become a deadly duo for Doug Christiansen’s side.

 

Scott Matzka – the 32-year-old, Michigan-born Matzka has the pedigree to suggest that he could be right up with the top point scorers in the UK this campaign. He joins the Devils from the continent, where he has a wealth of experience in the top leagues of Denmark and Finland, and the second tiers of Sweden and Germany; the centre has also played in his native America in the AHL and ECHL.

 

Alex Penner – The league increased the teams’ import quota allowance to 11 for the top five sides of last season (Coventry, Belfast, Nottingham, Cardiff and Sheffield) and 12 for the other five teams (Edinburgh, Hull, Newcastle and the two new boys Braehead and Dundee). This has led to teams employing a player specifically doing the role of enforcing on their respective team. Penner, who was recruited by Nottingham in the summer, is the man that sticks out for me in his category; he will be entertaining for the fans at the National Ice Centre and throughout Britain and will stick up for his team mates. I hope he contributes some offense to his team too as he showed last season with the Colorado Eagles, of the CHL, that he can. Players will be ill advised to keep their heads down when Penner is chomping at the bit around the ice.

 

Ervins Mustukovs – The Latvian goaltender is the most intriguing acquisition of the off-season. Former Sheffield Steelers’ coach Dave Matsos admitted when he announced the signing of the 26-year-old that it is a “gamble”. Mustukovs, who arrived in Sheffield recently after an incredibly gruelling drive from his native, has experience in the highly-rated KHL and was a champion in Latvia last term. He is a relative unknown to the vast majority of fans in the league, if not all. He’ll be an interesting player to keep an eye on to see how he performs between the pipes for Sheffield. He could be the make-or-break of how Ben Simon’s Steelers perform in the league this season.

 

Adam Walker – An unheralded signing by newcomers Braehead over the offseason is that of young Brit Walker. The Scot has been with the Manchester Phoenix for the past four seasons and that has surely done him no harm, being under the guidance of one of the British greats in Tony Hand. Last season, Walker had a standout year for the Phoenix side, registering 102 points during the regular season in 54 games. He could be an excellent pick-up for Bruce Richardson’s franchise, especially in a league where decent British players are like gold dust.

 

Brad Zanon – Defenseman tend to generally be unsung heroes on their teams as they don’t lead the league in scoring or win countless awards and make the headlines. Zanon looks set to follow this stereotype after his performances in Blaze’s pre-season. He is a solid and experienced yet slick blue-liner who is not afraid to stick up for himself or his team mates. He’ll give the defending champions some calmness and toughness at the back end without “making the headlines” – much as Brian Lee did last year.

 

Adam Taylor – The 26-year-old right wing from British Columbia could well be a franchise player for the Capitals this year. Taylor racked up 31 points last season for the Victoria Salmon Kings and has consistently achieved a good total in all his seasons in the ECHL. He is still young, full of energy and enthusiasm and is efficient at both ends of the ice. He will play hard every night and use his experience to try and win games for the Scots this season.

 

Sean McMorrow – This article could not end without featuring the Sheriff. McMorrow has proven himself as an entertainer and a player who can intimidate. With lots more potential fight opponents this year for the new Dundee Star, he will sure to be even busier this season. He’s everything a new team in the league like the Stars needed and more – a marketing diamond.

 

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