Following the Giants 3 goal victory over the Stingrays at the Odyssey Arena last night, the Giants travel to Humberside with Sean McMorrow returning to the squad after his 1 game suspension.
You can follow all the major events in the game right here at UKHL. Join Patrick from 5.45pm.
There is also live twitter updates from @hullstingrays
We have a 3-way tie on 26 points at the top of the EIHL as we enter this weeks games. Belfast back to back wins over the Panthers have levelled things between the two teams, and Coventry also sitting pretty at the head of the table. The Blaze have 5 games in hand on Nottingham and 2 on Belfast, so it may be the clashes between Coventry and Belfast that lead to deciding the real contenders for this seasons title.
Sheffield take a break from this weeks Elite League to enjoy a European Tour in Bolzano where they compete in the IIHF Continental Cup. Dave Matsos’s side still struggling toward the foot of the table and strangely this week bemoaning Refereeing decisions following their defeat at the hands of the Newcastle Vipers. Be this an, Alex Ferguson-esque, distraction from the real issue at hand is anyone’s guess, but the Steelers problems at the minute stem from deeper depths than mere supposed refereeing lapses.
Newcastle make the move to Whitley Bay this weekend, a move that will remain for the rest of the season, and speculation is growing that it may stretch beyond that. However Jaimie Longmuir was quick to give little credence to such speculation when UKHL spoke to him for VipersHockey. The Vipers have struggled of late on smaller ice pads, and are yet to gleam a victory from the Hillheads Road. But this is something Rob Wilson is hoping will change in order for the Vipers to continue to snap at the heels of the leading pack.
Finally before we look ahead to this week. The Chellenge Cup Semi final dates have been announced. Back in April the EIHL announced that the Challenge Cup would be “re-vamped” to finish earlier and culminate in a one off showpiece final. This seems now to have been reneged on. The “showpiece final” will not take place and once again we will see the Challenge Cup be decided by a 2-legged affair most likely in February or March. The Semi Final dates are.
Semi Final 1, 1st Leg: Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants, Wednesday 16th December
Semi Final 1, 2nd Leg: Belfast Giants v Cardiff Devils, Wednesday 20th January
Semi Final 2, 1st Leg: Sheffield Steelers v Nottingham Panthers, Wednesday 20th January
Semi Final 2, 2nd Leg: Nottingham Panthers v Sheffield Steelers, Wednesday 3rd February
Yes, the 2 legs of the second semi final are over a month apart. And the final competitors will be decided a whole 6 weeks after the first semi final faces off.
Anyway, onto the games at hand. With Sheffield “on holiday”, only 7 Elite League games in the course of this week…
Saturday 28th November 2009
Edinburgh Capitals v Cardiff Devils ; Face Off @6pm – Live Video Stream from Edinburgh Capitals Website
Newcastle Vipers v Coventry Blaze ; Face Off @ 6.30pm – Live Text from Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Belfast Giants v Hull Stringrays; Face Off @ 7pm – Live Video Coverage from GiantsLive.tv
Sunday 29th November 2009
Nottingham Panthers v Cardiff Devils ; Face Off @ 4pm – Live from TCW LIVE and The Inferno MNL
Hull Stingrays v Belfast Giants; Face Off @ 6pm – LIVE from UKHL and @HullStingrays
Coventry Blaze v Newcastle Vipers; Face Off @ 6pm– Live from Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Wednesday 2nd December 2009
Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers; Face Off @ 7.30pm – Live from The Inferno MNL
You can, as always, also find up to date scores and stats from many of the weekends games by visiting ih-update.co.uk
If you’re running any live updates and would like added to this regular blog, leave a comment, or e-mail updates@ukhockeylive.com
Christmas is fast approaching, as is the mid way point of the EIHL season and still things couldn’t be tighter.
Coventry have put in a good series of results, while Belfast took 4 points from last weekends match ups to keep the pressure on at the top.
Life is still tough towards the bottom however, Sheffield and Edinburgh’s game this week has caused repercussions and both coaches have not been backward in coming forward to give their opinion to the press.
Cardiff had their problems too this week. Their game this Sunday, just like the Sunday past, delayed to a very late face off due to travel “issues” from Belfast.
This will be a tough week for Cardiff who, along with Newcastle, play 3 games in only 5 days.
Finally this weekend sees the “Drive for 5” initiative in Newcastle. Cardiff and Sheffield visit the Metro Radio Arena for the final games there this season. Meanwhile Rob Wilsons comments in the Daily Mail this week sheds doubt on whether the Vipers will ever return to the Elite League after this season, never mind the Arena.
Life is never dull in UK Hockey.
Time for this weeks games.
Friday 20th November 2009
Belfast Giants v Nottingham Panthers; Face Off @ 7.30pm – Live Video Coverage from GiantsLive.tv
Saturday 21st November 2009
Newcastle Vipers v Cardiff Devils; Face Off @ 6.30 – Live Coverage from The Inferno MNL
Nottingham Panthers v Belfast Giants; Face Off @ 7pm – Live Coverage from The Cats Whiskers Live
Coventry Blaze v Edinburgh Capitals; Face Off @ 7pm – Live Coverage from Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Sheffield Steelers v Hull Stingrays; Face Off @ 7pm – Live Coverage from Steel Night Live
Sunday 22nd November 2009
Newcastle Vipers v Sheffield Steelers; Face Off @ 5.30 – No Live Coverage Available
Cardiff Devils v Hull Stingrays; Face Off @ 6pm – Live Coverage from The Inferno MNL
Edinburgh Capitals v Coventry Blaze; Face Off @ 6pm – Live Video Coverage from Edinburgh Capitals Website and Text Coverage Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Wednesday 25th November 2009
Cardiff Devils v Newcastle Vipers; Face Off @ 7.30pm – Live Coverage from The Inferno MNL
You can, as always, also find up to date scores and stats from many of the weekends games by visiting ih-update.co.uk
If you’re running any live updates and would like added to this regular blog, leave a comment, or e-mail updates@ukhockeylive.com
There are 5 points separating the top 5 teams in the EIHL.
Tonight at the Metro Radio Arena the Belfast Giants come travel to face the Newcastle Vipers.
Both teams come off 3-1 games last night, however Belfast were the victors over Cardiff, while Rob Wilson’s Vipers side were defeated in Coventry.
Coverage starts at 5.15pm on our LIVE page.
We regret that there will be comment facility tonight. Please send any comments or questions to updates@ukhockeylive.com or tweet us @ukhl
It is well close at the top. Only a few points separating the top 5 teams. While the poor Sheffield Steelers drift further and further away.
I’m sure there is a lot of concern up the road for that.
Anyway… later than usual.. this weekend games
Saturday 14th November 2009
Hull Stingrays v Nottingham Panthers; Face Off @ 5.30pm – Live coverage from @HullStingrays
Coventry Blaze v Newcastle Vipers; Face Off @ 7pm– Live from Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Belfast Giants v Cardiff Devils; Face Off @ 7.30pm – Live Video Coverage from GiantsLive.tv
Sheffield Steelers v Edinburgh Capitals ; Face Off @7.00pm – Live coverage from Steel Night Live
Sunday 15th November 2009
Newcastle Vipers v Belfast Giants; Face Off @ 5.30pm – LIVE from UKHL
Cardiff Devils v Nottingham Panthers; Face Off @ 6pm – Live from The Inferno MNL
Hull Stingrays v Coventry Blaze; Face Off @ 6pm – Live coverage from @HullStingrays and Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Edinburgh Capitals v Sheffield Steelers; Face Off @ 6pm – Live Video Stream from Edinburgh Capitals Website
You can, as always, also find up to date scores and stats from many of the weekends games by visiting ih-update.co.uk
If you’re running any live updates and would like added to this regular blog, leave a comment, or e-mail updates@ukhockeylive.com
Its a top of that table clash at the Metro Radio Arena. The Panthers will looking revenge for the Vipers taking the victory from the NIC just over a week ago.
UKHL Coverage starts at 5.15pm with face off at 5.30pm.
Woah… Week 10. Where has the time gone?
Right, no messing about, here are your games this weekend.
Friday 6th November 2009
Sheffield Steelers v Newcastle Vipers ; Face Off @7.30pm – Live coverage from Steel Night Live
Saturday 7th November 2009
Hull Stingrays v Edinburgh Capitals; Face Off @ 5.45pm – Live coverage from @HullStingrays
Nottingham Panthers v Sheffield Steelers ; Face Off @ 7pm – Live from TCW LIVE
Belfast Giants v Coventry Blaze; Face Off @ 7pm – Live Video Coverage from GiantsLive.tv and Live Text from Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Sunday 8th November 2009
Newcastle Vipers v Nottingham Panthers; Face Off @ 5.30pm – LIVE from UKHL
Coventry Blaze v Hull Stingrays; Face Off @ 6pm– Live from Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants; Face Off @ 6pm – Live from The Inferno MNL and also from WalesOnline
Tuesday 10th November 2009
Edinburgh Capitals v Nottingham Panthers; Face Off @ 7.30pm – Live Video Stream from Edinburgh Capitals Website
Edit: Edinburgh v Nottingham is this weeks Sky Recording and as such there will be no live webcast
You can, as always, also find up to date scores and stats from many of the weekends games by visiting ih-update.co.uk
If you’re running any live updates and would like added to this regular blog, leave a comment, or e-mail updates@ukhockeylive.com