EHM The Blue Line

Last game I saw was a KIJHL game on the 19th between the Chase Chiefs and the Penticton Lakers with the Chiefs winning 4-0. Too bad the Chiefs are not in the DB and the KIJHL isn't playable as it would be fun to play the home town team even if it is only a step above midget minor hockey

Niagara Ice Dogs (Hate them so much, I don't care if I'm from Niagara or not) vs the Erie Otters. Went to see my friend Mitch play. 6-2 was the final score for Erie. Torquato had 3pts and was named 1st star. Great game. I was so thrilled that the Ice Dogs lost.

Dundee Stars 1 Solway Sharks 2

Not a great standard of hockey but at least it was a close match. Both goalies had good game in particular the Solway goalie. Dundee were being too fancy with the puck and never converted pocession into goals.

My kids horrible team 0 Other horrible team 4

My kid was outstanding. Til he hit the little guy at the end of the game and got tossed for hit to the head. Bad luck for him...but he knows better. And the ensuing fight was interesting too. Never seen him do that. And he beat the daylights out of the big fat bugger who jumped him. Cool to see he could defend himself. Now...he needs to defend his teammates a bit more.

Not sure if this belongs in here, but I didn't really want to start a new thread...

Just got back from the Leafs-Sens Rookie game here in London. Quick thoughts...
Most impressive players:
Toronto
Gysbers (big, moves the puck well, great shot from the point)
Holzer (steady big d-man)
D'Amigo (fast, good hands, smart)

Ottawa
Lehner (solid in net)
Hoffman (knows how to find the puck and finds open ice)


Unimpressive:
Kadri (was smothered all night, got frustrated late in game and started running guys and taking stupid penalties)
Mueller (sluggish...maybe just tired, but not really effective at all)
Stefanovich (invisible)

However, the one player that really stood out for me, before leaving the game early with an apparent injury, was Sondre Olden! Fast, good puck handler, effective on the forecheck, good positioning. Very impressed with this guy. Sort of reminded me of a taller Pavel Bure, with hints of Forsberg...we can only hope... Pray

Engelage played net for the Leafs. Solid, made a couple nice saves...big kid. Rynnas was backup. Blacker, Irwin and Mitchell were not dressed.

I was in Jyp - Pelicans -game yesterday. Jyp won 3-2 in OT. It was Eric Perrin's first game in Jyp after he left Jyväskylä at 2003. He played very well, scoring 2-2 -goal and gamewinning-goal in overtime.

It was also Jyri Marttinen's first game at Synergia Arena after he left Jyp during season 2007-2008. This time he had wear Pelicans' jersey, but I hope that he will play in Jyp some beatiful day.

Two weeks ago I was in Belfast to see the UK Select/All-Stars play the Boston Bruins. The UK team played so well against the Bruins - they really stepped up to the challenge.

Prior to that, I went to the EIHL playoffs weekend to see the semi-finals, final and a junior international game (April 2010). And then prior to that I saw the Toronto Marlies, Hamilton Bulldogs, Belfast Giants and Edinburgh Capitals in a mini tournament (Sept 2009).

I don't get to see many games in a year but I try to get to the big ones!

Dinamo Riga v Atlant Moscow at Arena Riga

Simply the best experience of my life! Riga won 3-0, in truth it was very easy for Riga in this game. The arena wasn't sold out but there was 7k people, it was loud! Ozolins scored a great goal right from leaving the penalty box and the place erupted! That guy should go for Prime Minister once his hockey days are over!

Made it alittle more interesting as I was sat next to 3 Russians who was clearly trying to keep a low key that they are Atlant supporters. Great game and experience and for just 12 lahts!.. Cheaper then watching my home town Manchester Phoenix in the terrible English Premier League

I went to Braehead Clan v Nottingham Panthers yesterday at Braehead. Great game of hockey amazing start by Clan 4-0 up end of the first against one of the biggest teams in the league. Panthers got 2 back in the 2nd period. In the 3rd Clan got the crucial 5th though Panthers got another to make it a good ending to the game and after fending off pressure Clan secured the win in style with an empty netter to make it 6. I think i might go to the play off finals this year in Nottingham where the final 4 winners of the play off quarters play maybe a Scottish team can make it for the first time in a long time.

This seems like best place as any to make post #1

Yesterday I was at game #2 of the 2nd round of the KHL play-off SKA vs Atlant. I am season ticket holder in supporter/ultras sector. This game was a big let down that I saw coming, we have just completed 4-0 sweep over our fiercest rival Spartak and won the first game of series with Atlant in exciting emotional 2nd period that saw 7 goals between both clubs. We came out early with no energy on the attack and the Moscow Oblast team brought energy from the first face off. This series has been very physical with a lot of penalties and confrontations and this match was no different. I am getting on bus shortly with support club to go to Moscow Oblast for the next 2 games, hopefully we can pick up 2 victories and come home and wrap up Atlant on 16 March and face the victor of Lokomotiv/Riga.

I went to the Flames vs. Pens game at Consol Energy Center on Saturday, November 27th, 2010. Pens won 4-1. Brent Johnson got the start and played great...the only goal was due to a turnover right in front of the net and he went sprawling a little too soon.

Aaron Asham opened up the scoring to make it 1-0 and from there on it was all about Crosby, who netted the hat trick with an empty net goal late in the 3rd. Crosby had an attempted penalty shot in the game, but was robbed by Kiprusoff. There was even a fight! I really couldn't have asked for more.

Due to the cost of tickets, distance to the games (2 hours), and lack of availability, it was my first game in probably 3-4 years (I used to go to 3-5 games a year - when the Pens were losing it was much easier to get tickets - Not to mention, I've been rotating the sporting events I go to - one year I'll go to a baseball game, one year football, then hockey). I didn't really check out the new arena much, but from what I did see, it's a great venue. We were sitting at center ice on the upper level - 3 rows back - Great seats.

I didn't see where I could edit the post....here's a video and news recap of the game http://penguins.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2010020335

jesusrocks150 wrote:Due to the cost of tickets

Out of curiosity what is cost of tickets range for match run between?

Last game I've seen was Kalpa - Jyp at 1st March in Kuopio. Jyp won the game at OT.

There's one funny clip of the game: Kalpa's Sakari Salminen gets breakaway, but referee blows his whistle, cause Jyp's d-man hits linesman, who gets injured.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xcX57M_jVE

Since I am leaving Manchester in September I am trying to get to as many hockey games at Manchester as possible, so this weekend I am going to Manchester - Basingstoke. Next Thursday I'm going to Manchester - Slough; it's possible we could win the league in that Thursday game

Does English hockey have the same basics as English football? By that i mean, is winning the regular season your most coveted price? Any playoffs?

I'm askin, cause you said you could win the league if you win a single game.

Yes, the league is probably the most coveted prize, especially by the fans, with the playoffs secone.

The problem with the playoffs in all leagues on Britain is that you only need to win 4 games to win them. They are split into a 2-legged quarter final followed by a playoff weekend at 1 rink where the 2 semi finals and the final are played over 2 days. It's easier to win 4 games at the end of the season, where teams might be tired etc.. Than perform consistently over 54 games (for eihl and epl)

If they ever extend the playoffs at all then it may become more important, but unfortunately for many reasons that is unlikely to happen any time soon

I see. I guess being that the football league is the most followed sport, it's only natural to adapt some of their rules into hockey.

The latest game I've seen live must be RoKi - Raahe-K (Fin-3, Suomi-Sarja) last autumn on holiday.

Calv wrote:Yes, the league is probably the most coveted prize, especially by the fans, with the playoffs secone.

The problem with the playoffs in all leagues on Britain is that you only need to win 4 games to win them. They are split into a 2-legged quarter final followed by a playoff weekend at 1 rink where the 2 semi finals and the final are played over 2 days. It's easier to win 4 games at the end of the season, where teams might be tired etc.. Than perform consistently over 54 games (for eihl and epl)

If they ever extend the playoffs at all then it may become more important, but unfortunately for many reasons that is unlikely to happen any time soon

This is a real shame as play-offs are the best part of hockey in my opinion.

I have just watched SKA defeat Atlant 3-0 and take a 2-1 lead in series. Quite happy with the attack this match, starting in the 2nd period at least. Atlant's Fedor Fedorov got knocked around pretty good in this match, deserving so for all the instigating he did in the 2 matches in Leningrad. Next game is Monday.

Soldiers from Neva wrote:

Calv wrote:Yes, the league is probably the most coveted prize, especially by the fans, with the playoffs secone.

The problem with the playoffs in all leagues on Britain is that you only need to win 4 games to win them. They are split into a 2-legged quarter final followed by a playoff weekend at 1 rink where the 2 semi finals and the final are played over 2 days. It's easier to win 4 games at the end of the season, where teams might be tired etc.. Than perform consistently over 54 games (for eihl and epl)

If they ever extend the playoffs at all then it may become more important, but unfortunately for many reasons that is unlikely to happen any time soon

This is a real shame as play-offs are the best part of hockey in my opinion.

Unfortunately, because hockey is such a minority sport in the UK, it's difficult to get a proper series style playoff system. They did try and change it at the beginning of this season but 1 team went bust just before the season so they reverted to the old knockout system.


I went to Manchester - Basingstoke tonight, Manchester looked tired with a few players carrying knocks and the game didn't start well with Basingstoke taking the first period 1-0. The goal came from some good skill from Kubenko of Basingstoke and some shocking defensive coverage from Manchester leaving Callum Best open to score past Fone in net for Phoenix. Overall Phoenix were on top, but looked bereft of ideas going forward.

In the second period Manchester got a scrappy goal through Kristoffersson, his 100th point of the season. The goal came from a cross-goal pass that was bundled in. Their second came from a Kristoffersson one-timer slapshot and they quickly went further ahead thanks to a back post tap in from Curtis Huppe.

Basingstoke got a goal back thanks to 50-year old player coach Steve Moria who undressed Fone on a shorthanded breakaway to reduce te deficit to 1 goal only. Kristoffersson then grabbed his hattrick with another back post tap in as Manchester ended the period 4-2 up.

Manchester sat back in the third and stayed solid at the back whilst threatening on occasion to increase their lead. The score stayed the same until the final minute when Kristoffersson got an empty net goal for his 4th of the game and it finished 5-2.

The top line of Manchester ended with Kristoffersson 4+1, Huppe 1+4 & Hand 0+5 They are now 58+46 = 104, 57+48 = 105 & 23 + 102 = 125 respectively Only 3 points needed for the title now

Blackhawks at Toronto Maple Leafs on Sat March 5th .. a stinker for the leafs but tons of Hawks fans in Toronto .. could have been 50-50 in support that night

Soldiers from Neva wrote:

jesusrocks150 wrote:Due to the cost of tickets

Out of curiosity what is cost of tickets range for match run between?

The tickets I had were in the upper level and they were $85 bucks a piece (they were great since I was at center ice), including all those unncessary fees and charges. I think the ticket itself was like $70 something. The lower level club seats, which only give you access to the "clubs" (no drinks, food, or anything...just access) are like $200 bucks a piece...I said, no thank you - I figured at that price, everything better be included and I better have someone waiting on me!! The other lower level seats are $100+.

At Mellon Arena, you could get a seat from $50 bucks all the way up...now they start at over $70 - If you're a student, then you might (if you get in line early enough) be able to get in for $25.

Going to Game 1 between Kitchener Rangers and Plymouth Whalers tomorrow night. Exicted to watch as it'll be my first game in over 2 years. My first OHL playoff game in about 15-20 years. And I'll get to watch Landeskog and D'Amigo in person too instead of just on TV.

I'm off to see Braehead Clan at home to Nottingham Panthers in the first leg of the play off quarter finals tommorow night. Last home game of the season and a massive game. If we can get a positive result at home I am confident as we had a very good record away there this season. Should be a good battle anyway.

Then weekend after this one I'm travelling down to Nottingham in England for the play off finals weekend where the winner of the above match will be one of the semi finalists. Dundee look like they won't make it losing their first leg at Sheffield 6-1 so Clan Scotland's only hope for the final 4 and it would be fantastic for a year 1 team and I will have someone to cheer on in the semi's.