For the latest edition of "From The Editor's Chair" I'm going to look at the new look Elite League which is scheduled to be happening next season with possibly 12 clubs. I'm also going to have my opinion on what I think should be the format the league should have if this does, and finally the ramifications that this might have on the EPL.
So we knew already that Milton Keynes Lightning are making the jump into the Elite League next season. Having visited the city to watch a EPL game, I can tell you they are a passionate bunch them Lightning fans so they will be a welcome addition, especially if they maintain or exceed last season's average of 1500 which made the top ten of the average rink attendances. They have a good structure in place and depending who they ice as a team roster next season; could surprise a few here and there.
However, after the monthly meeting this time out - it came to being that we might have not 11, but a 12 team Elite League next season. People had been guessing long before where the 12th club might come from. Places like Dublin, Liverpool, Telford, London were all mentioned. But they're all wrong. The potential 12th team is another EPL team making the jump; and it's not Hull coming back after a two year hiatus. Guildford Flames, whose jerseys are very much akin to the old Atlanta Thrashers NHL ones with a flaming G logo - akin to Calgary's C - in the centre, have applied for 2017-18 EIHL.
Guildford are a well supported club, and last season averaged 1765 a game. That was the 8th best supported rink in the country, and that is around 80% of its capacity. Not too shabby I'm sure you agree. They, like Milton Keynes, have a good fanbase (as proven by the attendance figures) and are very well structured off ice. They are coached by Paul Dixon who played 40 games for the Steelers in 1992-93, and the current roster has a fair of EIHL experience in the shape of former Devils and Clan netminder Mike Will, Shaggy's brother Kevin, former Newcastle Viper Jez Lundin (who wears the "C"), another former Viper Ben Campbell, Matic Kraji (ex-Vipers and Blaze) and of course a certain Danny Meyers. That, if they are accepted, could be a more than useful backbone to work with.
Let's presume they get accepted then, what does this mean for the structure of the 2017-18. Well you either keep the much maligned Conference system albeit with a wee tweak or bin it off. If you're keeping the Conference system, then two conferences of six to me isn't the way I would approach it. Maybe three Conferences of four with Flames, Lightning, Devils and Blaze forming a Southern one, a Central one that encompasses us, Storm, Panthers and Giants and the North one with the four Scottish teams.
Each team would play each other Conference team twice home and away and three times home and away in their own Conference resulting in a 50 game regular season and revamp the CC accordingly - my plan is to have four seeds as quarter-finalists already and the rest play home and away over 2 legs for a place in the last eight. Or you bin the Conferences full stop and have one big league where teams play each three home, three away for a 66 game league season and as a shake up get rid of the god damn Challenge Cup (sorry Gary Moron) which is just a massive ballache and pointless in its current format.
Blimey I should be on the board with these proposals...
However with the money problems at the Phoenix and both Guildford (subject to approval) and Milton Keynes going Elite, this will possibly leave the current EPL at just seven clubs. For a stepping stone league like what the EPL is, don't worry there are some decent players at that level, you can't say that this is good. In fact it's a shambles, and there is a lot of bad feeling going around. I bet Guildford will be glad to escape if they make the jump. The EPL will need a revamp of its own to regain any credibility back, I mean when someone posts a picture of clowns on Twitter and adds the caption: "Exclusive photo from the EPL meeting..." then you know something isn't quite right. I hope that something does get sorted but second tier hockey isn't all that good off ice with all this bickering here, there and everywhere.
As they say in the photographic world, we shall see what develops. The next few months are going to be interesting both in the EIHL and down the structure too. It's like a soap opera that you just can't get enough of. Until next week, that's me over and out...
However, after the monthly meeting this time out - it came to being that we might have not 11, but a 12 team Elite League next season. People had been guessing long before where the 12th club might come from. Places like Dublin, Liverpool, Telford, London were all mentioned. But they're all wrong. The potential 12th team is another EPL team making the jump; and it's not Hull coming back after a two year hiatus. Guildford Flames, whose jerseys are very much akin to the old Atlanta Thrashers NHL ones with a flaming G logo - akin to Calgary's C - in the centre, have applied for 2017-18 EIHL.
Guildford are a well supported club, and last season averaged 1765 a game. That was the 8th best supported rink in the country, and that is around 80% of its capacity. Not too shabby I'm sure you agree. They, like Milton Keynes, have a good fanbase (as proven by the attendance figures) and are very well structured off ice. They are coached by Paul Dixon who played 40 games for the Steelers in 1992-93, and the current roster has a fair of EIHL experience in the shape of former Devils and Clan netminder Mike Will, Shaggy's brother Kevin, former Newcastle Viper Jez Lundin (who wears the "C"), another former Viper Ben Campbell, Matic Kraji (ex-Vipers and Blaze) and of course a certain Danny Meyers. That, if they are accepted, could be a more than useful backbone to work with.
Let's presume they get accepted then, what does this mean for the structure of the 2017-18. Well you either keep the much maligned Conference system albeit with a wee tweak or bin it off. If you're keeping the Conference system, then two conferences of six to me isn't the way I would approach it. Maybe three Conferences of four with Flames, Lightning, Devils and Blaze forming a Southern one, a Central one that encompasses us, Storm, Panthers and Giants and the North one with the four Scottish teams.
Each team would play each other Conference team twice home and away and three times home and away in their own Conference resulting in a 50 game regular season and revamp the CC accordingly - my plan is to have four seeds as quarter-finalists already and the rest play home and away over 2 legs for a place in the last eight. Or you bin the Conferences full stop and have one big league where teams play each three home, three away for a 66 game league season and as a shake up get rid of the god damn Challenge Cup (sorry Gary Moron) which is just a massive ballache and pointless in its current format.
Blimey I should be on the board with these proposals...
However with the money problems at the Phoenix and both Guildford (subject to approval) and Milton Keynes going Elite, this will possibly leave the current EPL at just seven clubs. For a stepping stone league like what the EPL is, don't worry there are some decent players at that level, you can't say that this is good. In fact it's a shambles, and there is a lot of bad feeling going around. I bet Guildford will be glad to escape if they make the jump. The EPL will need a revamp of its own to regain any credibility back, I mean when someone posts a picture of clowns on Twitter and adds the caption: "Exclusive photo from the EPL meeting..." then you know something isn't quite right. I hope that something does get sorted but second tier hockey isn't all that good off ice with all this bickering here, there and everywhere.
As they say in the photographic world, we shall see what develops. The next few months are going to be interesting both in the EIHL and down the structure too. It's like a soap opera that you just can't get enough of. Until next week, that's me over and out...
Thanks for reading everybody. Remember if you want to be a part of Frozen Steel you can get into touch with us on Twitter or find us on our Facebook Page, remembering to like us and leave a comment. We will then get back in touch:
@FrozenSteelBlog
@FrozenSteelMNL
@hockeybhoy
@DISGU15ED
Don't forget to listen to our weekly podcast Breaking The Ice
It's available on iTunes to listen and download, also on Soundcloud
Or drop us an email to Frozen Steel Blog
No comments:
Post a Comment