Nottingham Panthers

The season proper is so close you can taste it. Hull have been out then back in. Sheffield have had their own soap opera. While two new teams north of the border settle down to prepare for EIHL hockey.

But before the festivities begin, we have a few games to whet your appetite!

Here are coverage details for all EIHL Pre-season games taking place this week.

Wednesday 25th August 2010

Charity Shield – Coventry Blaze v Belfast Giants ; Face Off @ 7.30pm – Coverage from Fire and Ice Forum MNL and UK Hockey LIVE

Saturday 28th August 2010

Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze ; Face Off @ 7.00pm – Coverage from Inferno MNL and Fire and Ice Forum MNL

Sunday 29th August 2010

Coventry Blaze v Cardiff Devils ; Face Off @ 6.00pm – Coverage from Fire and Ice Forum MNL and Inferno MNL

If there’s any you feel we’ve missed. Please comment or contact us on the address below.

If you’re running any live updates and would like added to this regular blog, leave a comment, or e-mail updates@ukhockeylive.com

Friday 29th January 2010

Belfast Giants v Nottingham Panthers; Face Off @ 7.30pm – Live Video Coverage from GiantsLive.tv

Sheffield Steelers v Cardiff Devils; Face Off @ 7.30pm – Live from The Inferno MNL

Saturday 30th January 2010

Hull Stingrays v Cardiff Devils; Face Off @ 5.30pm – Live coverage from @HullStingrays and Live Text from The Inferno MNL

Edinburgh Capitals v Sheffield Steelers; Face Off @ 6pm – Live Video Stream from Edinburgh Capitals Website

Newcastle Vipers v Coventry Blaze; Face Off @ 6.30pm– Live from @vipersupdates and Fire and Ice Forum MNL

Belfast Giants v Nottingham Panthers; Face Off @ 7pm – Live Video Coverage from GiantsLive.tv

Sunday 31st January 2010

Cardiff Devils v Newcastle Vipers; Face Off @ 6pm – Live from The Inferno MNL

Edinburgh Capitals v Sheffield Steelers; Face Off @ 6pm – Live Video Stream from Edinburgh Capitals Website

Coventry Blaze v Hull Stingrays; Face Off @ 6pm– Live from Fire and Ice Forum 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

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

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

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