The Manchester Phoenix were originally apart of the EIHL before moving over to the EPIHL. Matt Freedman is a die hard Phoenix fan who volunteers his time on game nights and tries his best to promote the game of hockey and recruit new fans.
March Hockey: Where are you located and how did you get into hockey?
Matt Freedman.
Matt Freedman:I live in Manchester and got in to hockey as a result of playing hockey games on my old mega-drive (we all know which game I mean!). I decided I had to see this sport and went down to the old ice rink with my brother to watch the Trafford Metros, who were in the BD1 league back in 1993. I was blown away by the whole thing, and became hooked instantly. I fell out of love with the sport when the team became the Manchester Storm and moved to the arena. This may sound strange but I’d got so used to being really close to the action, and being around people who knew their hockey. The Storm just didn’t feel that way and I stopped going regularly.
MH: What makes you a passionate fan of the Manchester Phoenix?
MF:The same as makes any fan passionate I think. It’s a great sport played by proper sportsmen who know how to behave off the ice. The club has a great fan base, management team, product and atmosphere and I look forward to each game of the season like a kid on Christmas Eve! I volunteer on match nights and try to make the match night a great experience for all the newbies. It’s very satisfying to see a family come down time after time when you were part of their first game night.Continue reading “Fan Voice: Matt Freedman and the Manchester Phoenix”
Philadelphia Flyers press box hero Jody Shelley has retired in order to join the Columbus Blue Jackets front office. This will be a pleasant surprise for most Flyers fans who have seen Jody Shelley in the press box more often than on the ice.
Jody Shelley was famously donned “irrelevant” by Mike Rupp on the HBO: 24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the NHL Winter Classic, much to the amusement of viewers.
To be fair to Jody he did take a beating when needed. But with the rise of Zac Rinaldo as an actual enforcer he can hang up his skates and do what he does best, sit in the Columbus press box.
In the first step down a new path for Team GB, two Under 20’s squad have been announced for forthcoming tournaments.
Lithuania will be the first port of call in a six team tournament held from 23rd to 28th August 2013.
The tournament is dedicated to the memory of Alexei Cherepanov, a Russian hockey player who died after collapsing during a KHL game in Russia in October 2008.
Team GB will face Lithuania Under-20s, Poland Under-20s, Belarus Under-18s and Russian sides Omsk Hawks and Kapitan Stupino.
A young squad of players has been selected with the emphasis on getting valuable experience.
Nine of the players are aged 16-17, with just four 19 year olds.
Without going through each member of the squad, I’ve selected a few interesting or notable players to note. Defenseman Ben Russell is now with Milton Keynes but…
My New York hockey brothers and I have started a fan/reader mailbag section for Eyes On Isles!
If you have any New York Islanders or NHL questions that have been bugging you, by all means, send us an email to eyesonisles@gmail.com. Make sure you include your name and city along with the question.
Questions can be about anything hockey related and you’ll be featured on our site! Come on, you know you want too!!
A few weeks I profiled a team from this league, the Sheffield Steeldogs. Now it’s time to have a look at what the whole league has to offer.
The EPIHL is 10 team professional league situated in England that is second to the EIHL. The league allows it’s teams to dress 4 or 5 imports per game in a 54 game season. Here’s a bit of background on each team:
Basingstoke Bison
Formed in 1988, the Basingstoke Bison play in Basingstoke Hampshire and plays out of the Planet Ice Silverdome Arena. They didn’t join the league until 2009. The club has 2 Canadians signed up for this coming season so far as they continue to build their roster. Their logo is very similar to the old Buffalo Sabres logo of years past.
Bracknell Bees
The Bracknell Bees play out of the John Nike Leisuresport Complex (also known as “the Hive”) and wear black and gold. Another long time club that was formed in 1987, they have won numerous championships.
Guilford Flames
The current EPIHL champions, the Guilford Flames have seen NHL talent amongst it’s roster. Retired goaltender Jamie McLennan and retired forward David Oliver called Guilford home during the 2005 lockout. A few members of Great Britain’s national team also play for the Flames. They play out of the Guilford Spectrum in Guilford, Surrey.
Manchester Phoenix
The Manchester Phoenix were originally formed in 2003 as apart of the Elite league (EIHL). They play out of the Altrincham Ice Dome after their original spot of the 17,500 MEN Arena proved to be too much financially. Former Kingston Frontenac and New Jersey Devils draft pick, Brett Clouthier holds the record for most penalty minutes.
Milton Keynes Lightning
Founded in 2002, the Milton Keynes Lightning were originally apart of the EIHL but choose to compete in the EPIHL instead. For the 2013/2014 season, they will be playing out of Coventry. The team has won numerous titles over the years as well.
Peterborough Phantoms
The Phantoms were formed in 2002 and were the winners of the first Premier cup. Former Florida Panther Chris Allen spent two years with the team. Another fun fact: while with the Kingston Frontenacs, Allen was the first ever to score in the CHL Top Prospects game.
Sheffield Steeldogs
Headmanned by a guy from my hometown, Andrew Payette, I dedicated a whole entire post to the Steeldogs! Go take a look here.
Slough Jets
The Jets were the 2012 EPIHL champions and play out of the greatly named Hangar. Gary Stefan (older brother of former Detroit Red Wings netminder Greg Stefan) holds franchise records for most points, goals and assists. A feat that may not be matched.
Swindon Wildcats
The Swindon Wildcats play out of the Link Centre and formed in 1986. They hold two regular season titles under their belt. Canadian player Daryl Lipsey, coached and played for the team for 8 seasons. The Wildcats honoured Lipsey with the retirement of his number 14.
Telford Tigers
The Tigers are one of the newest teams in England having formed in 2001. Although they have struggled, they have knocked off some wins against some of the stronger teams in the league, proving that they can and will be a successful team in the future.
Welcome to the third and final instalment of my 2014 NHL Entry Draft Prospect Overlook. We have already taken a look at picks 11-30 and are now in the final stretch to see what players could possibly be in an NHL uniform at the start of the 2014-15 season. Picks 11-30 are:
11. Leon Draisaitl
12. Chase De Leo
13. Joni Tuulola
14. Michael Dal Colle
15. Alex Nedeljkovic
16. Tyson Baillie
17. Daniel Muzito-Bagenda
18. Haydn Fleury
19. Ryan Falkenham
20. Jared McCann
21. Nikolaj Ehlers
22. Shane Gersich
23. Nick Ritchie
24. Jack Ramsey
25. Kyle Jenkins
26. Sonny Milano
27. Josh Ho Sang
28. Jakub Vrana
29. Pierre Engvall
30. Spencer Watson
Now, on to the top 10!
10. Vladimir Tkachyov, LW, Omsk (KHL)
5’9″, 132 lbs
Shoots: R
Tkachyov is a small winger with great speed and skill. Russians are starting to disappear from the NHL draft, and selecting them is usually sketchy, but Tkachyov is full of talent, makes players around him better and is a confident skater. He will need to bulk up to make an NHL in the future.
9. Matt Mistele, LW, Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
6’2″, 172 lbs
Shoots: L
Mistele is big, mean and full of skill. He’s a natural goal scorer and drives to the net, running over anyone who has anything to say about it. He plays the defensive side of the game very well and will make significant strides this season.
8. Oskar Lindblom, RW, Brynas (Sweden)
6’1″, 192 lbs
Shoots: L
2012-13 stats:
22 GP, 20G, 21A, +40, 4 PIM
Lindblom is not a name I have seen even close to this high on any other scouting report so far, and I can’t fathom why. He is over a point-per-game player for his career, plays the defensive game better than any other player in this draft (another defensive swedish forward, imagine that) and is already 6’2″, 192 lbs at 16 years old (birthdate: Aug. 15, 1996). He has won multiple junior medals and point/goal awards and comes out of the great Brynas program. If he doesn’t crack the top 10 next year, I will be surprised.
7. Ivan Barbashev, LW, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
6’0″, 181 lbs
Shoots: L
Barbashev is another big winger from the QMJHL. He is more of a passer than a shooter, but can do both and is still as complete a player as you can find. He’s big, but not too big that he can’t skate if he works on conditioning, but he will be worth the work.
6. Blake Clarke, LW, North Bay Battalion (OHL)
6’2″, 196 lbs
Shoots: L
2012-13 stats:
68 GP, 19G, 32A, -2, 42 PIM
(Photo: northbaybattalion.com)
Year of the big power forward continues with Blake Clarke from the North Bay Battalion. Clarke has excellent vision and hockey sense and can pass the puck pretty much anywhere on the ice. He has no problem playing on the edge and making sure other players know he’s on the ice. He goes hard to the net and makes opposing goalies hate him. Still looking into whether or not he is related to former Philadelphia Flyer Bobby Clarke.
5. Nikolai Goldobin, LW, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
5’11, 165 lbs
Shoots: L
One of the few russians in the draft, Goldobin looks to be this year’s Valeri Nichushkin. He has the skill level to go top 5 and the points to back it up, but may slip just because teams are leery about having Russian players with the current spike in KHL popularity. Nonetheless, the team that drafts Goldobin will be getting a speedy winger who can both score and pass. He will be big and strong enough to make an NHL roster next year.
4. William Nylander, C/RW, Sodertalje (Sweden)
5’10”, 170 lbs
Shoots: R
Son of former NHLer Michael Nylander, William has just as much, if not more offensive potential than his father. Scoring almost 2 points per game in the ever-defensive Swedish league is no easy task, but Nylander managed 43 points in 27 games last season, while still employing the Swedish defensive game. Well-disciplined with a big frame, Nylander should see NHL time not long after his drafting.
What isn’t there to like about Aaron Ekblad? Besides his PIM, which are to be expected from such a monster of a 17 year old, Ekblad does it all. He’s 6’3″ and 212 lbs, but he’s a strong skater and can shoot the puck like nobody’s business. He hits hard and will make you regret even looking at his goalie, then he’ll take the puck up ice and fire it through the back of your net. Additionally, Ekblad was considered an exceptional player and was bumped up to the OHL a year early. The only other player to have that honor this year was…
Connor McDavid was another player granted exceptional status at the start of last season so he could be drafted into the OHL a year early. Before all this, McDavid put up 281 points in 121 AAA games, scoring a ridiculous 112 goals. His productivity dipped a little bit at the OHL level, but he still put up 66 points in 63 games to be voted the OHL’s best first year player. His defensive play needs to improve, but he still has another season to work on that, and will most certainly be ranked 1 or 2 going into the draft.
1. Sam Reinhart, C, Kootenay Ice (WHL)
5’11”, 165 lbs
Shoots: R
Sam Reinhart is the son of Paul Reinhart, who played nearly 20 years in the NHL with Vancouver and Calgary, and the brother of Max and Griffin, who were drafted in 2010 and 2012, respectively; Max was picked in the 3rd round, 64th overall by the Calgary Flames and Griffin was selected in the 1st round, 4th overall by the New York Islanders. Sam, however, has quickly made his own name in the WHL and is the current favorite to go 1st overall in 2014. The kid is a dynamic, fiery centreman with explosive speed and a bullet of a shot. When he isn’t burning the mesh with his laser beams, he’s dishing passes out that shouldn’t even be thought of. It will be tough for anyone on this list to knock Reinhart out of No. 1, but as we saw with this year’s draft, anything can, and most likely will happen.
Personally, the draft is the one thing I look forward to most out of the hockey year (besides playoff beards, of course) and after researching these players, my stance has definitely not changed! Let me know what changes you would make in the comments section below! i look forward to seeing what everyone thinks! Check back soon for another prospect profile and, as always, thanks for reading. Cheers!
Now that this year’s draft is done and the lunacy that was the free agency has subsided, I wanted to get a head start on scouting prospects. At this point in time, placing players is not an easy task, as many who are draft eligible are fresh out of high school and need next season in either university or with a CHL team to show off their true skills. Regardless, these kids are the future of our sport and it is never too early to get a sneak peek.
Since I don’t want to cram this all into one blog, I’m going to split it into 3, starting with picks 21-30 and working towards number 1. Each pick will include a little blurb about each player and what he brings. Without further ado:
Engvall is a big power forward who is hard to knock off the puck. His size is a big asset, as he drives hard to the net without taking many penalties. Engvall is the type of player who will make everyone around him better.
28. Jakub Vrana, C, Linkoping (Sweden)
6’0″, 165 lbs
Shoots: L
Vrana comes from the Swedish system, which has produced some of the best defensive hockey players in the history of the league. Vrana possesses great defensive skills while still putting up points. He needs to get bigger to reach his full potential.
27. Josh Ho Sang, C/RW, Windsor Spirfires (OHL)
5’11”, 159 lbs
Shoots: R
Josh Ho Sang comes from the club that spit out (no pun intended) 2010 NHL first overall pick Taylor Hall. He is a speedy playmaker and his versatility is desirable, but he needs to bulk up to improve his defensive game.
26. Sonny Milano, C, Team USA U-17 (USHL)
5’10, 159 lbs
Shoots: L
2012-13 stats:
56 GP, 20G, 27A, 47 pts, 20 PIM
Not the smallest forward on the list, but at 5’11”, 159 lbs, it wouldn’t hurt for Milano to gain some muscle. Despite his small stature, Milano plays big and is entertaining to watch.
Jenkins is a big boy, can shoot the puck and isn’t afraid to move bodies away from his own net. As a defender,
it wouldn’t hurt to hit the gym if he wants to crack an NHL roster any time soon.
24. Jack Ramsey, RW, Minnetonka High, USHS
6’2, 165 lbs
Shoots: R
2012-13 stats:
24 GP, 9G, 18A, 27 pts, 6 PIM
A big power forward, Jack Ramsey has a smooth set of hands and can pass just as effectively as he can shoot. 27 points in 24 games is impressive, but a full season at that rate will significantly increase his stock.
23. Nick Ritchie, RW/LW, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
6’2, 205 lbs
Shoots: L
Ritchie is another big power forward who uses his size to his advantage. Despite weighing in at over 200 pounds as a 17 year old, the kid can move, and anyone who gets in his way will learn the hard way.
Chances are that Gersich will be drafted in 2015, but some teams will take a chance on high school kids anyways (Ahem, Jay Feaster). The kid scores at an unbelievable rate, all while staying an even player. With 21 PIM in 20 game, it’s clear that Gersich plays with an edge to his game, so discipline may be an issue in the future, but.. 60 points in 20 games!
Ehlers is a solid body, despite measuring up at 5’10” and can fly. He tore up the Swiss league last season and can help a team in need of speedy snipers.
Upon perusing the 2013-14 NHL schedule, there were a number of things includes that caught my attention. 6 outdoor games, the Olympic break, re-aligned divisions/conferences and an earlier start date were some of the first things I noticed. The one thing that really stood out to me, though, was actually an exclusion: the All-Star game.
Every year since 1947, the NHL has held an official All-Star game; even the 30 years prior to those official games held some sort of east vs. west all-star event. This year, however: nothing.
I realize that this is in large part due to the NHL sending its players to the Olympics, but nobody has made a peep about this yet. You would think that some sort of blurb would have been made just to let the public know that it was thought about.
The lack of comment on the matter leads me to believe that the NHL is slowly going to eliminate the All-Star festivities. There have been talks in that past couple years that players, teams and fans have all been tiring of the spectacle.
I understand what attracts people to the All-Star festivities, don’t get me wrong. I love seeing the best players from each team all playing together and having fun, leaving the seriousness and business of the game behind for a couple days. My problem is that many, myself included, feel that the novelty has just worn off.
In my own personal opinion, the game is boring. Sure, there are a lot of pretty goals and nice passing plays, but is anybody really trying? The goalies are basically pointless, and are only there so the players aren’t firing on open nets and defensemen aren’t going to start laying down and blocking shots for a game that means virtually nothing. Some would argue that having the proceeds go to the players’ pension fund is a good reason to continue, but even the players don’t seem interested in going anymore. Nicklas Lidstrom, Teemu Selanne, Pavel Datsyuk and Alex Ovechkin all opted to sit out to either rest or spend time with family. Ovechkin was suspended, and cited that as his reason, but one would have a hard time believing that the players just don’t want to waste their time and energy on a pointless game.
Let’s be clear here, the All-Star game is all about the fans; mostly the younger ones who wanna see “sick dangles” and “cheddar shootout dekes”, but a true fan knows that the more these guys play, the harder it is on them and they already have to worry about playing 82 games that are all crucial to their teams’ success. I would personally rather have no All-Star game, but have my favorite teams’ players all healthy and focused on the season.
Additionally, the league is running out of creative ways to keep the festivities entertaining. It used to be just the All-Star game, speed skating and some accuracy shooting. Recently they’ve added a fantasy draft in which players select each other, a relay challenge, a shootout tournament and a breakaway challenge. After a few years of this, I still don’t see this difference between the shootout competition and the breakaway challenge. It’s like Gary Bettman, Bill Daly and whoever else is in charge sat down and said, “Well, guys, we’re out of good ideas, so I guess we’ll just have a SECOND shootout challenge and call it a breakaway event. It’s perfect!” Not fooling me guys.
The point is, the league, the players and the organizers expel a lot of time, effort and money for this little affair when it seems as though it’s a little overrated and overdone, and now they have completely neglected to even mention the All-Star game in the press release announcing the schedule.
Call me crazy, but I see the NHL All-Star game as a fad that’s fading rather quickly. Your thoughts?
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.
MF: The same as makes any fan passionate I think. It’s a great sport played by proper sportsmen who know how to behave off the ice. The club has a great fan base, management team, product and atmosphere and I look forward to each game of the season like a kid on Christmas Eve! I volunteer on match nights and try to make the match night a great experience for all the newbies. It’s very satisfying to see a family come down time after time when you were part of their first game night. Continue reading “Fan Voice: Matt Freedman and the Manchester Phoenix”
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