Welcome to this week's Hockey Soapbox....the finale!
1. Five Words On Saturday
Nice view from corporate suite
Expected win against struggling opponents
Difficult to watch against Caps
The Most Pointless Game Ever
Non event but oddly satisfying
2. Five Words On Sunday
Make that four consecutive wins
Dominant performance great game Day
No
Interest What So Ever
Non event but oddly satisfying
Get Neiley A New Contract
3. Are you happy with the way the team finished the regular
season?
Fay: I wasn’t expecting us to finish as high as 3rd, form is good
going into the playoffs which is a big confidence boost!
Nathan: I’m just happy the season is finished period! It’s been
pretty drab tbh and even though we’re going to the play off weekend I’ve
completely lost all interest in this club and all it’s spin and media cock ups.
The constant excuses coming from the coaching staff and you know who. Doesn’t
matter how we finish or if we win anything. Crowds are up! 50/50 sales are up!
Jackpot!
George: Yes. Shame we left it too late.
Sarah: I’m
more surprised than happy. Still don’t understand how we managed to finish 3rd.
Thanks to Belfast’s and Fife slump, it’s moved us up in the rankings.
Mark: Came as a huge surprise to me, but they have finally shown proper glimpses of what they are capable of. They just have to keep this going if some of them want to earn new deals for nexr season.
4. Which players were your stand out performers this season and
which let you down?
Nathan: Kirk, Shudra & Brown. Stood out considerably more than
most of the seniors and that was part of the problem this term. Biggest let
downs? No surprises here, Wallace and Westerling. Westerling flies around like a
wasp at a picnic serving no purpose and getting on everyone’s nerves and
Wallace’s stats might as well read M.I.A.
George: Neiley and Kirk stand out; Ronnberg and Wallace let down.
Sarah: For
the entire season it has to be Matheson although recently I fear he’s been
spending too much time near the goal leaving our forwards patrolling the blue
line. Recently though, Neiley has been our stand out guy, isn’t afraid to drop
the gloves or look out for his team mates and this weekend he’s scoring for
fun.
Players
that have disappointed me Wallace for sure, never understood what he brings to
the team. Another player and this isn’t going to go down well with many fans
but I’ve been disappointed with Fitzy this season, maybe disappointed in the
wrong word. I love the guy to bits, he’s great with kids (and adults) but I’m
not sure where he has fitted into the team this season. He’s had injuries and
suspensions which certainly hasn’t helped. Felt like Thommo hasnt known what to
do with him. I’ll be very surprised if he’s back next season.
Mark: Plusses: Neiley, Mad Dog, Shaggy and Moose. Minuses: The BFG, Gromit plus the coaching.
Fay: Neiley, Moose and Davey P have all stood out for me this
year. Neiley has had such an impact after coming here mid season, Moose has
kept us in games by himself! And Davey has been the most solid. Let down by: Ronnberg and the coach. I feel Ronnberg brings
nothing to this team. He’s slow, doesn’t hit and for a man his size gets
knocked over so easily! Fair play to him for helping us out when we needed it
though. The Coach and his recruiting have also let me down, throwing players
under the bus blaming referees, everything but admitting he got it wrong
himself. I don’t necessarily want him sacked but I feel like he takes no
responsibility for losses or bad performances and he has no plan B when games
aren’t going our way.
5. Who are your final 4 at POFW?
George: Us, Coventry, Panthers, Storm.
Sarah: Cardiff,
Belfast, Sheffield and Fife (even if I have to put some skates on to help
Fife!)
Mark: Cardiff, Belfast, Manchester, Us.
Fay: Cardiff, Manchester, Steelers, Belfast.
Nathan: Steelers, Devils, Giants, Storm.
6. Where could the club improve next season?
Fay: I think we need a bit of an overhaul import wise, bring in
some younger, hungry lads a mixture of speed and skill and toughness at the
back. Keep the Brits (minus Kirk as we know he’s too good for this league) and
build around Neiley, Nelson and Valdix. I think the Nelson, Valdix and Dowd
line has another couple seasons in them but can’t see either imports returning
unless on multi year deals (can’t remember from last year!). Wouldn’t want
Fitzy to go anywhere but he seems to be a shadow of his former self with the
injuries, so I’d have him as an assistant coach but let him kit up if we needed
cover for whatever reason. I’d also put O’Connor up front and sign a couple of
big stay at home D men, half the time looks like we’ve got 5 forwards on the
ice.
Not so much team based but I think the experience over all
needs a change, keep the crowd involvement songs but stop playing the life out
of them, and put it some current music, we don’t need Sweet Caroline and wave
those flags 90273894 times on match night, once a game would do. More
interaction using the big megatron screen, player GIFs are popular at the
moment - funny without being cringey, quit with the kissing and dabbing.
George: Getting
rid of the dead wood and bringing in some young talent.
Nathan: How
long have you got? They could and need to improve massively on the ice in terms
of performance and entertainment value and also recruitment. Which brings me on
to our illustrious leader, and his constant flow of tired old cliches, worn out
rhetoric and never ending list of excuses. Needs to go. Although the powers
that be would have you believe he’s taking us forwards. Other areas that could
be improved on is the stale match night experience but I’m bored to tears
talking about that so I won’t anymore. Suffice to say I doubt that I’ll be
‘experiencing’ it very much next season.
Mark: Player recruitment needs to be much better than this year, some of the signings left me cold. Club also needs a proper media person (not someone who does it a second "job" of sorts): I'd gladly do it if I was offered the chance. Nobody on the on-ice should be bulletproof and that includes the coaching team.
Sarah: I think the media has improved in the last week
or so and need to continue with that. The on ice product just needs to be
better. I’m not bothered about all the entertaining stuff as I’m there for the
hockey. Good hockey games is what brings people back although I had newbies
with me last Saturday to celebrate my dad's birthday and they will definitely be
coming back, they were gutted they had no Challenge Cup shirts available to
buy!
7. Will Liam Kirk get drafted in the NHL and if so, what round?
Sarah: I’m
hoping so, it will be one of the later rounds I imagine. Apparently scouts from
over 20 NHL teams have taken the trip to see him player, they wouldn’t have
bothered if they didn’t like what they saw on video and there’s plenty of
videos of him play. He’s now been invited to the NHL’s scouting event in May
and of course he’ll do well in the skill and physical tests so fingers crossed.
Mark: Yes he will, expecting him to go fourth or fifth round. He will play CHL or European hockey next season which should stand him in excellent stead for AHL and eventually making the big jump into "The Show". He's definitely good enough.
George: Honestly I’d have to read up on this I don’t know.
Nathan: He’ll get drafted I’m sure. What round? No idea. I
personally think he’ll end up somewhere in Europe playing regular CHL before
long. Good luck to the lad.
Fay: I think he’s more likely to be picked up in Europe next year
but would love to see him drafted.
8. What are your opinions on the youth apprenticeship scheme?
George: Fantastic. Shows a real commitment to get younger players
into the league. Liam Kirk should be the bar for the apprentices to aim for.
Fay: It’s a great idea, but I don’t think we have used it to full
advantage this year. Towards the end of the season we have given ample ice time
but when we were struggling before Christmas with a stack of injuries the boys
would’ve been more than capable replacements. Provided they are played in their
natural positions and not just shoved anywhere...
Sarah: Every
team should have apprenticeships, it’s great for the youths and will make our Brits for the future. It’s gonna help GB too for the future. Look how well the
3 boys have been played for us.
Mark: A great idea as you will need players like these to keep the team evolving and not standing still. If you didn't do this then you'd be in a right mess when players like Jono, Dowdy etc. hang up the skates.
Nathan: Great idea. As long as they learn proper things like how to
wire a plug correctly. (sorry my sarcasm has hit an all time low).
Thank you to everyone who contributed and for making the Soapbox as good as it was.
