The Steelers travel to Whitley Bay with the Vipers looking revenge for last nights defeat in South Yorkshire.
Coverage from 6.25pm
Face Off at 6.30pm
December, 2009:
LIVE This Week – EIHL Week 16
It is a HUGE weekend at the top of the Elite League. The Giants took top spot last weekend with their 11-3 blow out of the Newcastle Vipers followed by a 3-1 away win in Edinburgh. While the Coventry Blaze slipped up at home against Sheffield to allow the Giants to sit top of the tree as the weekend ended.
The Blaze still have enough games in hand to regain the top spot should they win them, however that could change after this weekend as the Giants and Blaze collide in back to back games that could go a long way to deciding who is in the driving seat come 2010.
The Blaze will be bouyed in their quest with the Giants mid-week slip up in Cardiff, losing 5-2 in a poor performance against the Devils. The Giants have injuries in defense, while the Blaze have just strengthened their with the acquisition of former Capital Chris Allen.
It’s going to be a massive weekend at the top.
So with that.. here’s this weeks coverage.
Friday 18th December 2009
Sheffield Steelers v Newcastle Vipers; Face Off @ 7.30pm – Live Text from Steel Night Live
Saturday 19th December 2009
Newcastle Vipers v Sheffield Steelers ; Face Off @ 6.30pm – LIVE on UKHL and @VipersUpdates
Belfast Giants v Coventry Blaze; Face Off @ 7pm – Live Video Coverage from GiantsLive.tv and live text from Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Cardiff Devils v Hull Stingrays; Face Off @ 7pm – Live from The Inferno MNL
Nottingham Panthers v Edinburgh Capitals; Face Off @ 7pm – Live from TCW LIVE
Sunday 20th December 2009
Hull Stingrays v Nottingham Panthers; Face Off @ 6pm – Live from TCW LIVE
Edinburgh Capitals v Newcastle Vipers; Face Off @6pm – Live Video Stream from Edinburgh Capitals Website
Coventry Blaze v Belfast Giants; Face Off @ 6pm– Live from Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Sheffield Steelers v Cardiff Devils; Face Off @ 6pm – Live coverage from Steel Night Live and 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
LIVE – Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants;
The Challenge Cup reaches the Semi-Final stage.
With the first match up seeing the EIHL leading Belfast Giants travel to Cardiff to take on the Devils.
UKHL’s interactive coverage begins at 7.15pm, Face Off at 7.30pm.
Join Patrick and Marty as they bring you all the action from Cardiff Bay Ice Arena, leave your comments and predictions.
LIVE This Week – EIHL Week 15
It’s “as you were” at the top of the Elite League. The Belfast Giants had a prime opportunity to claw back some ground on the Coventry Blaze on Saturday night, the Blaze losing to the Nottingham Panthers in the first of back to back games between the two. But Giants couldn’t capitalise and were defeated 2-1 at Whitley Bay by the Newcastle Vipers.
So the Blaze retain their tight lead at the top of the Elite League, with the Giants snapping at their heels and the Panthers just behind that, albeit having played more games than any other team in the league.
The Steelers experienced a rare 4 point weekend, wins over Hull and Newcastle give their fans something to cheer about, but the Steelers still sit 2nd from bottom.
Ryan Finnerty has this week returned to the Elite League, joining the Cardiff Devils. An interesting acquisition for the Welsh team considering Finnerty’s position as “Chief Villan” in last season’s rivalry with the Sheffield Steelers. Cardiff are currently in 4th spot just 4 points shy of the top.
We also have the return of the Challenge Cup this week, Belfast Giants travelling to Cardiff on Wednesday night for the first leg of the first semi final.
So with that.. here’s this weeks coverage.
Friday 11th December 2009
Belfast Giants v Newcastle Vipers; Face Off @ 7.30pm – Live Video Coverage from GiantsLive.tv
Saturday 12th December 2009
Edinburgh Capitals v Sheffield Steelers ; Face Off @6pm – Live Video Stream from Edinburgh Capitals Website
Newcastle Vipers v Nottingham Panthers; Face Off @ 6.30pm – No Known Coverage Available. Check BIH ScoreCentre or ih-update for scores.
Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze; Face Off @ 7pm – Live from The Inferno MNL and Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Sunday 12th December 2009
Nottingham Panthers v Hull Stingrays; Face Off @ 4pm – Live from TCW LIVE
Edinburgh Capitals Belfast Giants ; Face Off @6pm – Live Video Stream from Edinburgh Capitals Website
Coventry Blaze v Sheffield Steelers; Face Off @ 6pm– Live from Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Wednesday 16th December 2009
Challenge Cup Semi Final; First Leg
Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants; Face Off @ 7.30pm – LIVE from UKHL and 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
LIVE – Newcastle Vipers v Belfast Giants
The Belfast Giants make their second visit to Whitley Bay Ice Rink in Newcastle, looking to continue their assault on the Elite League title.
The Newcastle Vipers, however, have similar ambitions and will be aiming to gain revenge for the 5-2 Challenge Cup defeat they suffered at the hands of the Giants at that same venue in October.
That game was punctuated by a 1+1 performance from Sean McMorrow, his only goal of the season so far.
Coverage from Whitley Bay starts at 6.15 for a 6.30 face off, Live from UKHL
VipersHockey: The Sheriff Speaks…
LIVE This Weekend – EIHL Week 14
A slip up in Hull by the Belfast Giants last Sunday, losing on Penalty shots to the Coventry Blaze, has allowed the Coventry Blaze to take a 1 point lead in the Elite League title race. The Midlands team also have a game in hand on their Northern Irish rivals which will build to an interesting clash when the two sides meet in 2 weeks time.
The Sheffield Steelers last weekend became the first Elite League side, and the first UK Hockey team since the Belfast Giants, to reach the Continental Cup finals in Grenoble next month. Given their league form, further hampered by a loss in Cardiff mid week, this will come as a bit of respite to the suffering Sheffield fans, and mild bragging rights to be held against their “friends” down the M1.
In other sadder news, Dave Matsos’ young son was taken into hospital with pneumonia; all at UKHL wish him a very speedy recovery.
Hull will be pleased to snap a poor losing streak with their home penalty shots win over the Giants, a game which saw both Sean McMorrow and Colin Shields shown the door to the dressing room. Shields however has reason to resent his ejection, referee Marco Coenen doing little to stem the criticism first levelled by Dave Matsos last week.
It is worth noting that there are only 6 points separating Coventry in first place and Newcastle in 5th. Making every game leading into Christmas a vital one for those hoping to catch the Blaze and remain in the title fight. But back to back games this weekend with the Nottingham Panthers will have Giants fans keeping an eager eye on events in Coventry. Can the Blaze overcome the Panthers with the ease the Giants showed only a few weeks ago?
Full compliment of 8 games this weekend…
Friday 4th December 2009
Belfast Giants v Edinburgh Capitals; Face Off @ 7.30pm – Live Video Coverage from GiantsLive.tv
Saturday 5th December 2009
Hull Stingrays v Sheffield Steelers; Face Off @ 5.30pm – Live Coverage from @HullStingrays
Newcastle Vipers v Belfast Giants; Face Off @ 6.30pm – LIVE from UKHL
Nottingham Panthers v Coventry Blaze; Face Off @ 7pm – Live from TCW LIVE and Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Cardiff Devils v Edinburgh Capitals; Face Off @ 7pm – Live from The Inferno MNL
Sunday 6th December 2009
Sheffield Steelers v Newcastle Vipers ; Face Off @ 6pm – Live coverage from Steel Night Live
Coventry Blaze v Nottingham Panthers; Face Off @ 6pm– Live from Fire and Ice Forum MNL
Edinburgh Capitals v Hull Stingrays ; 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
Ollie Williams of BBC Sport speaks with UKHL
Ollie Williams is an Olympics Correspondant for BBC Sport. In the last few seasons he’s become well known in the English Premier League as the BBC’s voice of the EPL, commentating regularly on the Bracknell Bees, Romford Raiders, Slough Jets and Guilford Flames, to name a few, via BBC Sports online coverage.
Ollie spent some time chatting to Patrick from UKHL about his experiences in UK Hockey, how hockey is percieved within the mainstream media, and how he feels exposure could be improved.