MarchHockey

NHL Agrees to Allow Players in 2014 Olympics

After spending the week debating on will they or won’t they, they National Hockey League has ruled in favour of letting it’s players participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics. The joint decision was made after months of talks by the Olympics themselves, the League and the National Hockey League Players Association. It’s a good thing because some players were threatening to go even without the league’s blessing.

The Olympics, which are being held in Sochi, Russia, will feature a dozen nations competing for gold. These nations include Canada, The United States, Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria, Finland, Norway, Czech Republic, Latvia, Switzerland and Sweden.

The NHL will shut down its season for two weeks in February to allow for the players to complete in the games. The stake is set high for Team Canada as they will be looking for a repeat as gold medal champions. If successful, they will become to the first nation to repeat as champs since the Soviet Union in 1988.

Another shock to the 2014 games is the first time competing of Team Slovenia. Slovenia is slated to be in Group A along Russia, Slovakia and the United States. They definitely have their work cut out for them. Team Austria will be competing in their first Winter Olympic games since 2002.

Now that the ruling has come down to allow for the players to participate in the Olympic Games, the National Hockey League should be releasing its 2013/2014 regular season schedule at some point later today.

EPIHL Team Profile: Sheffield Steeldogs

The Sheffield Steeldogs are a semi professional team playing out of the English Premier Ice Hockey League (more on that in another post). With 10 teams in the league, each plays a total of 54 games.

Founded in 2010 and head manned by Cornwall, Ontario’s own Andre Payette (drafted to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1994), the Steeldogs have seen a winning season making it all the way to the finals in 2011/2012 season. Losing to the Guildford Flames, that season proved to be a tremendous learning experience as the club is now in a rebuilding phase.

The Steeldogs play out of the IceSheffield in Sheffield, England and have a fierce rivalry brewing with the Manchester Phoenix who were founding members of England’s Elite Ice Hockey League.

The Sheffield Steeldogs have released their 2013-2014 schedule which you can find here. Stay tuned to March Hockey as we will do our best to cover the action from here in Canada.

Flashback Friday: “Battlin” Billy Smith

My latest for Eyes On Isles and my Legends Of Long Island segment takes a look at the amazing career of goaltender Billy Smith! Give it a read!

Cornwall Colts to Raise Championship Banner

At long last, there is finally another banner being raised to the rafters at the Ed Lumley Arena. The Central Canada Hockey League 2012/2013 champions, the Cornwall Colts, will see their hard work paid off on Thursday, September 5^th.The banner raising ceremony will mark the beginning of Cornwall’s 2013/2014 season as they take on the Hawkesbury Hawks.

Looking to start the long road to a repeat performance, the Colts are hoping to be in fine form. It should not be too tough of a road as they have made the finals 3 seasons in a row. The Colts toppled off the Nepean Raiders on their way to victory last season to capture the franchise’s 5^th Bogart Cup. That championship win allowed them a shot at the Fred Page Cup tournament, the best of the best of Eastern Canada. Although the Colts came up empty handed, they are graciously waiting their next chance at it as they host the Fred Page Cup in 2015.

Colts_celebrate_L — (Photo credit: Robert Lefevbre/IceLevel Photography)

Head coach and owner Ian MacInnis will not only have his hands full with his Junior A squad this season but as coach of Team Canada East. Team Canada East is slated to play in the World Junior A. Challenge taking place in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in November. The annual tournament showcases the best of the best of Junior A hockey which is alive and well in the country. Former Colts alumni have played and produced medals in the tournament.

The Cornwall Colts season opener and banner raising ceremony will take place on Thursday, September 5^th at the Cornwall Civic Complex. Puck drop is at 7:30p.m.

Jersday: NZIHL’s Southern Stampede

Alright, this week I’m a little bias because I’ve been following a lot of the action in the NZIHL. Although the Stamps didn’t play this week, I felt the need to honour them with their logo and jersey.

First off, I am a huge fan of blue. And in particular this version of blue. Blue might be used an awful lot in hockey threads but this one is bright enough to catch your attention and not end up dull. The contrasting yellow makes it even easier on the eyes. Yellow in general, I don’t like as a team colour but the Stampede make it work. (Hello Sweden, I know you proudly make it work too.)

I don’t know if it’s just being used to North American hockey (besides the LNAH) but I’m glad there’s not a lot of advertising all over this. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand the important of advertising and why it’s needed. But when I see some Russian teams starting to look like a walking billboard in Times Square, it’s a little much.

The logo itself is spot on. Hell, it gives the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders a run for its money. Could even replace it in my opinion. There are some very talented people down in New Zealand and the rest of the world needs to start taking notice.

Eredivisie: The Netherlands National Hockey League

As Cornwall River Kings draft pick Jonathan Zion announced that he had signed overseas for the upcoming season, I was naturally interested to see where he was headed. Off the top of my head, I was thinking he’s most likely gone to the U.K. and suit up for some team in the EIHL.

Boy, was I wrong.

Zion signed up with the Destil Trappers of the Eredivisie, a.k.a, the Dutch Hockey League. As I’m intrigued by non-traditional hockey markets lately, it persuaded me to look into it’s history a little bit.

Believe it or not, the Dutch league was formed after World War 2 with only 3 teams based in Amsterdam, The Hague and Tilburg (where Zion’s Trappers are located presently). The league currently houses 7 teams and have been notable spots for NHLers such as John Wensink, Karl Dykhuis and the late Fred Shero. From what I understand it’s a very tight and competitive league, one that I’m sure Zion will be glad with his decision. The Tilburg Trappers are 12 time league champions and have won 13 National championships. The team is also headed into it’s astonishing 75th season.

It’s so nice to see the greatest game on earth being played all over the world. Be on the look out as I profile some more leagues that take place in not so traditional hockey markets. I mean, did you know that Thailand, Kuwait and South Africa all have National teams? You do now.

Never Eat the Yellow Snow

Probably one of the dumbest ideas I’ve ever seen.

Snark Sports

nashville ice

Painting ice gone wrong. Hey kids, how would you like to skate on frozen pee? The Nashville Predators have dyed their ice yellow, or maybe gold (hell, I’m colorblind) , for an open house this weekend. Don’t worry though, hockey fans, they won’t be playing games on that.

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Southern Stampede vs. West Auckland Admirals Preview

In the only series being played this weekend in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League, the Southern Stampede travel down to Avondale to take on the West Auckland Admirals.

The Admirals are coming off of a 2 game loss (including a confrontation with the TKRT Tropthy) to the Canterbury Red Devils on their last weekend set in Christchurch. They will hope to be ready to play against the opposing Stamps. Nick Henderson will be looking to add to his team leading goals as he enters this weekend’s showdown.

The Southern Stampede however have not played since June 29th. On that date they fell to the Botany Swarm by a score of 10-6 in front of a hometown crowd. Will the time off prepare them for their clash with the Admirals or will it have turned into a disadvantage? Only time will tell. Matt Schneider who sits second in the league with goals scored and 4th in the league in points will try to add to his streak to sit on top. Mike McRae will also look to add to his point total to move up a notch with the league leaders.

The Stampede and Admirals both sit at the bottom of the standings in 4th and 5th place respectively. With that being said, don’t count out the Stampede. They’re very much still in the running as spots 1 through 3 are in a tight race. With two wins this weekend, the Stampede could very well see themselves tied for 3rd place.

Get down to the Paradice Avondale this weekend for some sure to be hard-hitting and talented hockey. Puck drops at 5pm local time.

AIHL Team Profile: Newscastle North Stars

The Newcastle North Stars were formed in 1981 and joined the AIHL in 2002 as an expansion team. As most expansion teams do, they suffered a hard year with their first in the league.

However the next year proved to be successful as they added Rob Barnes, a former European coach and imported Canadian player Ray Sheffield. With these additions, the North Stars captured their first Goodall Cup.

In total Newcastle are 4 time Goodall Cup champions and 3 time H Newman Reid Champions. They also hold the record for most goals scored in one game with 21. The North Stars have had plenty of overseas talent join their roster over the years including former member of the Wichita Thunder, Brad Wanchulak and former Nepean Raider, Trevor Hawkins.

Newcastle’s next game is July 13th as they take on the Perth Thunder. Puck drop is 5pm local time!

Canadian Hockey League To Ban All Imports?

I was reading an article on a Yahoo hockey blog about the possibility of the Canadian Hockey League banning European imports and it got me thinking.

The man of question in this article is Alexei Dementiev; a former Nashville Predators scout turned hockey agent. According to him and things that he’s heard is that the CHL is moving to ban all import players from playing in the league. The earlier ruling of the banning of import goaltenders is just the start.

I am Canadian. I understand how important hockey is to this country. I also understand the scrutiny our players are under when they compete. Be it junior hockey, national level or international level, everyone is under the eye of the nation. What I don’t understand is if the CHL thinks that our hockey playing abilities are not up to par, goaltending or otherwise, how is it the fault of import players?

The only way you get better is to play against better players. It’s as simple as that and that goes for any sport. You want our goaltending to be amazing at an international level at the World Juniors? Easy. Have goaltenders face players with impeccable and hard to stop shots. European, Russian, Canadian, South African, doesn’t matter! If they can play the game at a superior level, it’s only going to help your development.

European and Russian players come to the CHL because of the talent in the league. So what if they go back to their home countries when their junior career is over. The next generation is just waiting behind them for their chance. It helps everyone develop and take that next step in their hockey careers.

I really hope this is not the case with the Canadian Hockey League. I’ll be really dissapointed if it is.