EIHL Rosters 2017-18: Ins and Outs (as of 9 August 2017) - Belfast to Edinburgh

Welcome back once more for your roster updates, and with some teams in pre-season exhibition action this weekend then I might make this and the second part of the article - the last roster update columns before the big puck drop. Then again, I might keep this going until the last weekend of the month to allow some last minute transfer action.

As usual; this part features Belfast, Braehead, Cardiff, Coventry, Dundee and Edinburgh. So read on and brush up.

Belfast Giants:

Head Coach: Adam Keefe (promoted from player)

In: Andrew Dickson, Blair Riley, Brandon Benedict*, Colin Shields, Jackson Whistle, Mark Garside, Matt Towe, Ryan Martinelli, Steve Saviano, Stephen Murphy: Re-Signed

Brendan Connolly (Rungsted Seier Capital)
Cole Jarrett (Tokohu Free Blades)
Darcy Murphy (Tulsa Oilers)
Dustin Johner (Villacher SV)
Jonathan Ferland (Vienna Capitals)
Kevin Raine (Florida Everblades)
Sebastian Sylvestre (Elmira Jackals)

Out:

Michael Forney, Derrick Walser (Player-Coach)

James Desmarais (Jonquiere Marquis)
Jerome Leduc (Dornbirner EC)
Jonathan Boxill (Milton Keynes)
Matt Nickerson (Milton Keynes)
Michael Quesnele (Angers)
David Rutherford (Retired)

Braehead Clan:

Head Coach: John Tripp (Eispiraten Crimmitschau)

In: Bari McKenzie, Craig Peacock, Jordan Buesa, Matt Haywood, Zach Sullivan: Re-Signed

Adam Brace (Reading Royals)
Brendan Brooks (Fife*)
Cameron Burt (Starbulls Rosenheim)
Craig Cescon (Dundee)
Jacob Doty (Kansas City Mavericks)
Josh Grieveson (Dundee)
Landon Oslanski (Toledo Walleye)
Mike Embach (Fort Wayne Komets)
Ryan Nie (Eispiraten Crimmitschau)
Tyler Scofield (Starbulls Rosenheim)

Out:

Kyle Wharton

Cody Carlson (Atlanta Gladiators)
Corey Cowick (Epinal)
Daniel Ahsberg (Helsingborgs HC)
Jay Rosehill (Manchester)
Lee Baldwin (Epinal)
Matt Beca (Manchester)
Michal Zajwokski (Ornskoldsvik HF)
Mike Hammond (Manchester)
Ryan Finnerty  (Head Coach - Manchester)
Scott Aarssen (Sheffield)
Scott Pitt (MsHK Zillna)
Stefan Della Rovere (EC Kassel Huskies)
Alex Leavitt (Retired)
Matt Keith (Retired)

Cardiff Devils:

Player-Coach: Andrew Lord

In: Andrew Hotham, Ben Bowns, Gleason Fournier, Jake Morrissette, Joey Haddad, Joey Martin, Josh Batch, Layne Ulmer, Luke Piggott, Mark Louis, Mark Richardson, Matthew Myers, Patrick Asselin, Sean Bentivoglio, Thomas Murdy: Re-Signed

Bryce Reddick (Aalborg Pirates)
Craig Moore (Dundee)
Drew Paris (Dornbirner EC)
Justin Faryna (Dundee)
Matt Pope (Tokohu Free Blades)
Paul Crowder (unattached)

Out:

Chris Jones (Swindon)
David Brine (Medvescak Zagreb)
Denny Kearney (Milton Keynes)
Guillaume Doucet (Milton Keynes)
Chris Culligan (Retired)

Coventry Blaze:

Head Coach: Danny Stewart

In: Brett Robinson, David Clements, Jordan Pietrus, Jordan Stokes, Kevin Noble, Olive  Stone, Renny Marr, Ross Venus: Re-Signed

Adam Courchiane (Dusseldorfer EG)
Ben Lake (Alaska Aces)
Brython Preece (Utah Outilers)
Danick Paquette (Tulsa Oilers)
Dax Lauwers (Alaska Aces)
Gaelan Patterson (Chamonix-Morzine)
Garrett Ladd (Tulsa Oilers)
Gustav Ahnelov (Karlskrona HK)
Kevin Nastiuk (Dresdner Eislowen)
Luke Ferrara (Sheffield)
Marc-Olivier Vallerand (HC Bolzano)
Ryan Dingle (Fife)

Out:

Garrett Klotz, Josh Godfrey, Marc Cantin

Barry Almeida (Worcester Railers)
Ben Davies (Guildford)
Brian Stewart (Guildford)
Jim Jorgensen (Podhale Nowy Targ)
Jordan Stokes *** (Telford)
Liam Stewart (Guildford)
Oliver Stone *** (Swindon)
Matt Marquardt (Sheffield)
Renny Marr *** (Swindon)
Robin Bergman (Rungsted Seier Capital)
Shawn Boutin (Dresdner Eislowen)
TJ Syner (Worcester Railers)
Russ Cowley (Retired)

Dundee Stars:

Head Coach: Omar Pacha (Manchester)

In: Ben Edmonds, Cameron McGiffin, Craig Holland, Joey De Concilys, Kris Inglis: Re-Signed

Adam Harding (Manchester)
Anthony Mastrodicasa (Rapid City Rush)
Emerson Hrynyk (Mount Royal University)
Gabriel Levesque (Anglet Hormandi)
Jimmy Jensen (Dijon)
Johan Andersson (Dijon)
Jordan Cownie (Milton Keynes)
Malcolm Gould (Strasbourg)
Riley Stadel (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Taylor Dickin (Manchester)
Travis Fullerton (Edinburgh)
Tyler Brickier (Gangwon High 1)

Out:

Brett Switzer (Nice)
Craig Cescon (Braehead)
Craig Moore (Cardiff)
Felix-Antoine Poulin (MsHK Zillna)
Kevin Brujisten (Mulhouse)
Joe Fallon (Worcester Railers)
Josh Grieveson (Braehead)
Justin Faryna (Cardiff)
Mikael Lidhammar (Guildford)
Scott Brannon (Caen)
Marc Lefebvre (Cincinnati Cyclones++)
Vinny Scarsella (Retired)

Edinburgh Capitals:

Head Coach: Dmitri Khristich (HK Kremenchuk**)

In: Harry Ferguson, Kevin Forshall, Jay King, Michael D'Orazio, Pavel Vorobyev, Tyler Plews: Re-Signed

Aaron Robertson (Fife Falcons)
Alexander Ismalov (Yermak Angarsk)
Calum Robertson (Fife Falcons)
Denis Trakhanov (KS Torun)
Duncan Spiers (Solway Sharks)
Dylan Anderson (Queens University)
Igor Valeyev (Chelmet Chelyabinsk)
Jordan McLaughlin (Edinburgh Capitals SNL)
Konstantin Teslyukevich (Arlan Kokshetau)
Mike Cazzola (Binghamton Senators)
Pavel Shegalo (Metallurg Zhlobin)
Sergei Banashkov (Saryarka Karaganda)
Taylor Stefishen (Dijon)


Out: 

Jacob Johnston (Odense Bulldogs)
Jaroslav Hertl (Mont-Blanc)
Jordan Marr (Fife)
Michal Dobron (Brest)
Sean Beattie (Fife)
Travis Fullerton (Dundee)
Taylor MacDougall


* - Signed as Player-Assistant Coach
** - Was in charge of youth programme
*** - Two way contract
+ - Retired as player but became Head Coach of team shown
++ - Left position as Head Coach, became assistant coach of team shown
Player in normal typeface - Brit Over 23 years of ago
Player in italic typeface - Brit Under 23 years of age
Player in bold typeface - Import

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From The Editor's Chair - Edition 43

Last of the end season reviews for you here, number nine of nine. We started with the Belfast Giants and now finish with the team we all love to bits, the one team we have probably met in games more than anyone else. We're gonna play them at least 10 times this year, we played them 14 times last...yes it's the Nottingham Panthers!

Season in summary: For Corey and those of a black and gold persuasion, it was another season with no silverware in the domestic campaign, but they did win a sandwich tray in Italy. Don't why it can be called a Cup when it clearly isn't. It's got them back in the Champions Hockey League after two seasons absence though. But Panthers biggest problem back home was to their inconsistencies and we thought ours were bad. The team wasn't a team, they were simply individuals and that spells disaster. Not the best way to start a new two year contract Corey, gotta buck ideas up methinks.

Performance of the Season: One game for me, and probably the one that really sticks in the mind-set. If you were there, you saw what Panthers are like when they really click but if you weren't then you'll be wishing you had gone. Yes, it's that 8-0 shutout, I repeat the word shutout, of the Cardiff Devils and at Ice Arena Wales. Believe me, it did bloody happen. The much maligned Brian McGrattan scored his first ever goals for the Panthers that night as they blew the home side away. Shame the rest of the season wasn't as good as this, finishing 23 points off the champions isn't good reading.

Low point of the season: We saw it happen, the Panthers fans who were there saw it happen, Corey Neilson saw it all happen too. We're going to select the 8-1 destruction they received at the hand of the Steelers. Steelers tore the Panthers apart with ruthless efficiency that night, and the visitors should have conceded double figures: they were that embarrassing. It was so bad that Panthers only really played for the final minute in the final period. It was like erm, we're losing 8-0 here and we can't be shutout that badly in Sheffield can we? They played, and right on the buzzer Brad Moran bust Moose's shutout. The defence, if you could call it one, didn't exist and gave Jindrich "Henry" Pacl no protection, as for the forwards they were as a limp as a balloon with no air. Yet Rick Strachan claimed it was a very good performance from the visitors, I still want to know what he was drinking that night now...

Player of the Season: Am I forced to pick one out of a roster of individuals who only understood the word "team" when they were in the Continental Cup/Sandwich Tray? Go on then, I'll pick one out and that would be "Big Ern" (McGrattan). He started off very slowly indeed and most of us thought he's gonna get the cases packed and swan off back to NA because he's not enjoying his hockey. But that night in Cardiff changed everything, and he looked a more decent player despite being known more for punching ten bells out of someone. Picking up just 140 PiMs only says everything doesn't it?

Anything else? In order to arrest the domestic silverware slide, Neilson has completely reshuffled his roster for 2017-18 with only eight players returning and one a forward: that being Jeff Brown. He's brought back Evan Mosey after the latter spent two seasons in the AHL with the Rockford Ice Hogs, and also proven scorer Mark Derlago and experienced goaltender Michael Garnett amongst his recruitment. My concern is, will Neilson rely on these solely to get the Panthers back on the domestic winning trail or will he have a roster that works as a "team" to do the same? If it's the former, more problems loom. Neilson has to deliver in 2017-18 or his time could be up and for the most successful modern day Panthers coach that would be a sad way to bow out. Wouldn't it Corey?

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From The Editor's Chair - Edition 42

It's the penultimate of the end of season assessments. This time we feature a side that were only in their second season of a return to the top echelons of British hockey. Ladies and gentlemen, it's the Manchester Storm.

Season in summary: Not a light drizzle of a season, but given a proper close season behind them - Storm certainly rained on some teams. However the lack of consistency, meant that Storm had to wait until the final weekend of the regular season campaign to secure their place in the play-offs. With many games sold out, Manchester are slowly putting the building blocks in place for what looks to be a promising future.

Performance of the Season: If you had to pick one result out of the 2016-17 season for Manchester season then I'm sure as eggs are eggs that you will pick the same one as me. Yes, it's the game two days before Christmas when Omar Pacha's Storm did a thing that only Belfast, Nottingham, Coventry and Sheffield could only match - it's called a win in Ice Arena Wales. No other Gardiner Conference could achieve it.

Low point of the Season: It's kind of embarrassing when you have to pick the last game of the season. Storm entertained Nottingham in another sell-out crowd at Altrincham, however conditions weren't perfect. The game sheet will show that the Panthers won 3-2 after overtime, but that's because the ice was unplayable. You really couldn't believe it. With challengers for eighth, Coventry, getting humped in the Steel City then Storm didn't mind. Suppose Mr Hicks got a decision right for once..

Player of the Season: Storm had a few players that had decent seasons, but the name that is the cream of the crop is winger Darian Dziurzynski. The fifth round pick by the Arizona (when they were known as Phoenix) Coyotes in 2011 had his best ever season in hockey as a professional. 29 goals and 52 points overall in 50 regular games, and a goal and an assist in the quarter final...definitely a very good season for the 26 year old Sasquatch when it was his first campaign out of North America.

Anything else? During the season it became known that the Storm were up for sale but any doubts were dispelled in the summer when a consortium fronted by Gordon Greig took over the team. Part of that consortium was also then Braehead Clan coach Ryan Finnerty so you can expect what happened as part of it. Pacha left with deepest gratitude, and despite his little tantrums on ice, Finnerty became HC at Storm weeks after leaving the Clan. Three players have joined him South in Rosehill, Beca and Hammond and with the rest of the squad assembled, Storm should make more positive steps with the wise head known as Neil Russell masterminding processes off-ice.

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From The Editor's Chair - Edition 41

The latest end of season review is here, and it is number seven of nine. It's another Gardiner Conference side, and a team that actually surprised a few at home and away last season. We present to you; the Fife Flyers.

Season in summary: When comparing previous seasons, Fife had a great season. They finished 6th in the overall standings which for a lesser known team, was an amazing campaign. With Shane Owen being a brilliant pick up to tend the goal, 2015-16 league title winner Russ Moyer on the blue line having a season that probably surprised Russ himself and plenty of goals from Ryan Dingle - they did themselves proud on ice in Kirkcaldy last year.

Performance of the Season: Quite a few stand out results for the Flyers but I'm going for one that killed a championship title challenge. Yes it's the 6-3 win in "The Auld Barn" against the Steelers. Flyers really stepped up the plate that night, and as I said it killed off the Steelers title hopes in my eyes. A complete team performance that left the majority of the 1553 attendance going home with huge smiles. But the 9-5 at home to Belfast and a 4-3 overtime win at Nottingham were pretty close in topping it.

Low point of the Season: I'm going to say two losses against the Caps would be the low points. Prior to and post this, Flyers pushed Clan close to the Gardiner Conference all the way and contributed to a good season. Who actually would go on and know exactly what effect those four points might have had. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn't it Todd?

Player of the Season: Not many knew much about him before the season, but a fair few knew about him at the end though. My Flyers Player of the Season, goaltender Shane Owen. Owen made an astonishing 1754 saves in 52 games; that's a hell of a rubber faced. He also came out of that with a more than creditable 90.90% save. Obviously people have taken note and the 27 year old Canadian will between the pipes of BIK Karlskoga of the All Svenskan league season in 2017-18. Fife will need to find a decent replacement.

Anything else? After much will they, or won't they - Flyers will take part in their 7th EIHL season this year. Todd Dutiaume is still the man behind the bench and he's assisted by former GB internationalist Jeff Hutchins. Whilst recruitment has been slow compared to other teams, Flyers never have been rushed as far as I'm concerned when it comes to this. Much will be expected from single game NHLer (he played for Washington Capitals in the final 2013-14 regular season game) Peter LeBlanc. As regards Owen's replacement, we still don't know...


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From The Editor's Chair - Edition 40

Another end of season analysis of the rest of the Elite League sides. We've done five, now four remain. This latest one features the team that propped up the rest of us, we look back at Scott Neil's Edinburgh Capitals.

Season in summary: A typical Capitals season to be fair, some highlights with plenty low lights and a bottom of the pile finish. The one positive we really could draw was that the imports actually stayed around for the campaign instead of buggering off to where they came from halfway through. Players like Tyler Plews and Jay King increased in their development and look good to be highly rated prospects for the future. 

Performance of the Season: Capitals didn't have much success but when they did then recorded it in style. They particularly found some form in the M8 derbies with the Clan; winning a couple of games and losing narrowly in others. I'm going however for a 5-4 overtime win in Fife as the stand out showing. 

Low point of the Season: Where do we start with this? There were numerous losing streaks throughout, and Capitals begin the new campaign having lost each of their last seven EIHL games; a feat they also did in 15 days either side of the Christmas and New Year period. A 10-3 loss at Dundee started that particular sequence, and that is my low point pick of the season.

Player of the Season: Only one player for me stood head and shoulders above, and that was the 11th pick of the opening round in the 2000 NHL Draft - way before the great Henrik Lundqvist - by the 'Hawks. That man, Pavel Vorobyev. The Russian picked up 51 points in 50 games and for a team that didn't have the greatest of seasons, it's pretty damn impressive isn't it? An excellent pick up by Scott Neil and the Caps backroom team.

Anything else? 2017-18 season will see the Capitals change even more. Player-Coach Michal Dobron has left for Ligue Magnus side Brest, and in his replacement is almost 900 game (regular and play-offs) NHLer Dimitri Khristich. And he's brought a lot of Russians with him. Whilst gives the Caps increased optimism, part of me is cynical in wondering how the Russians will adapt to the usual North American style of play here and if they will settle in the UK overall. Will Khristich last the season? I have doubts...


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