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
