Signings & Departures 23/24

[ginger]

Owen stays in Fife

J Hazeldine stays in Manchester

J Hopkins & A Hazeldine from Panthers to Blaze

Forbes leaves Blaze


Seems to be a lot of Brit movement

Think the Brit movement was inevitable this off season. A few high profile retirements, some players wanting more ice time so going to NIHL, and some will come up from NIHL full time.

I've got various views on Brits taking NIHL offers over Elite, but probably not the thread to air them on!

[Jayboy]

Owen stays in Fife

J Hazeldine stays in Manchester

J Hopkins & A Hazeldine from Panthers to Blaze

Forbes leaves Blaze


Seems to be a lot of Brit movement

Think the Brit movement was inevitable this off season. A few high profile retirements, some players wanting more ice time so going to NIHL, and some will come up from full time.

I've got various views on Brits taking NIHL offers over Elite, but probably not the thread to air them on!

I can only imagine what they are as you've not posted them but this is the thread to do it..

For me a players career is very short and as such I dont blame players in any way for dropping down to the NIHL for bigger wages, there have been several players that played a good number of years in our league have done it too for instance Jason Hewitt, was he good enought to stay in the EIHL? Well evidence would suggest he was, especially looking at his performances in the mini series, but they have a coach no longer wanting them for only reason the two parties can only know and you have a NIHL team willing to pay you a good wage (sometimes more) then I am sorry these players are just as entitled to make a living as any other player..

OK I too would love to see British players remain in the highest leagues. That's not always possible and if they could remain but choose to get paid more by another club anywhere then why shouldn't they go?

for Example - If Jono decided he wanted to carry on playing in some capacity and say the Steeldogs offered him a tasty contract to go play for them, would we think any less of him, I certainly wouldn't!

[ginger]

Owen stays in Fife

J Hazeldine stays in Manchester

J Hopkins & A Hazeldine from Panthers to Blaze

Forbes leaves Blaze


Seems to be a lot of Brit movement

Think the Brit movement was inevitable this off season. A few high profile retirements, some players wanting more ice time so going to NIHL, and some will come up from full time.

I've got various views on Brits taking NIHL offers over Elite, but probably not the thread to air them on!

I can only imagine what they are as you've not posted them but this is the thread to do it..

For me a players career is very short and as such I dont blame players in any way for dropping down to the NIHL for bigger wages, there have been several players that played a good number of years in our league have done it too for instance Jason Hewitt, was he good enought to stay in the EIHL? Well evidence would suggest he was, especially looking at his performances in the mini series, but they have a coach no longer wanting them for only reason the two parties can only know and you have a NIHL team willing to pay you a good wage (sometimes more) then I am sorry these players are just as entitled to make a living as any other player..

OK I too would love to see British players remain in the highest leagues. That's not always possible and if they could remain but choose to get paid more by another club anywhere then why shouldn't they go?

for Example - If Jono decided he wanted to carry on playing in some capacity and say the Steeldogs offered him a tasty contract to go play for them, would we think any less of him, I certainly wouldn't!

Here goes;

I don't have an issue with people doing what's right for them, players careers are short and we're not talking about being set for life by playing in the Elite. Also get the guys going there at back end of careers as they start to transition to the real world. I get guys like Brandon Whistle who felt he needed to prove something to get back to the Elite.

What I don't hold with is players who say they want to be top players, and aren't willing to put the work in and grind it out. I don't get a few fans/ex players lording it as something brilliant or crowing how the Elite is crap for Brits when a Brit drops down to NIHL, - we've got to pool A, stayed there, and now managed to get back in the Elite era. So clearly not terrible for team GB! Would I love to see a 5 import league that's at the current Elite quality, absolutely. But there seems to be a massive sense of entitlement from some around Brits in the Elite, and that I can't get on board with. Josh Waller, and next season Sean Norris and Alex Graham are the examples that should be held up. Heads down, worked hard and are or will be full time Elite players for years to come - because they are good enough.

I saw Liam Stenton dropped down and again, lots of people saying it's a big coup or that it's awful he's not got an Elite spot. Does he have potential? Undoubtedly. Is he really good enough to hold down an EIHL top 6 D role? Not from what I've seen. It might do him the world of good to have 2 years at NIHL then come back up. But ultimately this points to a couple of real underlying issues that cover the real reason we don't have lots of Brits at Elite level, and the problem of perception from fans etc.

1) junior coaching and ice time is limited. Coaching is improving, but ice time is precious. If you want to make it, you're going to have to do a lot more than an hour or 2 on the ice each week. The simple answer to why not many Brits end up going straight from junior to Elite teams is they're not good enough, or not good enough yet.

2) stop expecting 18/19/20 year olds to get lots of minutes at Elite level, especially considering point 1.

There's definitely (imo) a few big fish/small pond mentalities as well. There's a couple of players who probably have the ability to be in the Elite, but don't like the fact they wouldn't be the main guy, or might have to accept less ice time, or might have to actually learn how to play in their own D zone (one of the biggest issues!).

One thing I always think is how many guys go from being high scorers in junior to making the NHL as 3rd line career role guys. It happens all the time and I think this goes hand in hand with the big fish/small pond mentalities - Jonathan Phillips should be the great example of why you shouldn't automatically assume that because you scored loads at junior/NIHL then you should be getting lots of minutes/pp chances. Still probably one of the best penalty killers last season at the age of 40. Still got decent minutes because he was solid and wouldn't give much up.

Only way to fix it is for team partnerships and junior teams to all go under the EIHL clubs. Will never happen though as far to many people like the current level of status/influence they get from being involved at junior levels (as ever was in youth sport).

[ginger]

That was the forum rules friendly version. Anyone who finds me half cut at Arena can have the full unedited version

[Jayboy]

Owen stays in Fife

J Hazeldine stays in Manchester

J Hopkins & A Hazeldine from Panthers to Blaze

Forbes leaves Blaze


Seems to be a lot of Brit movement

Think the Brit movement was inevitable this off season. A few high profile retirements, some players wanting more ice time so going to NIHL, and some will come up from full time.

I've got various views on Brits taking NIHL offers over Elite, but probably not the thread to air them on!

I can only imagine what they are as you've not posted them but this is the thread to do it..

For me a players career is very short and as such I dont blame players in any way for dropping down to the NIHL for bigger wages, there have been several players that played a good number of years in our league have done it too for instance Jason Hewitt, was he good enought to stay in the EIHL? Well evidence would suggest he was, especially looking at his performances in the mini series, but they have a coach no longer wanting them for only reason the two parties can only know and you have a NIHL team willing to pay you a good wage (sometimes more) then I am sorry these players are just as entitled to make a living as any other player..

OK I too would love to see British players remain in the highest leagues. That's not always possible and if they could remain but choose to get paid more by another club anywhere then why shouldn't they go?

for Example - If Jono decided he wanted to carry on playing in some capacity and say the Steeldogs offered him a tasty contract to go play for them, would we think any less of him, I certainly wouldn't!

Here goes;

I don't have an issue with people doing what's right for them, players careers are short and we're not talking about being set for life by playing in the Elite. Also get the guys going there at back end of careers as they start to transition to the real world. I get guys like Brandon Whistle who felt he needed to prove something to get back to the Elite.

What I don't hold with is players who say they want to be top players, and aren't willing to put the work in and grind it out. I don't get a few fans/ex players lording it as something brilliant or crowing how the Elite is crap for Brits when a Brit drops down to NIHL, - we've got to pool A, stayed there, and now managed to get back in the Elite era. So clearly not terrible for team GB! Would I love to see a 5 import league that's at the current Elite quality, absolutely. But there seems to be a massive sense of entitlement from some around Brits in the Elite, and that I can't get on board with. Josh Waller, and next season Sean Norris and Alex Graham are the examples that should be held up. Heads down, worked hard and are or will be full time Elite players for years to come - because they are good enough.

I saw Liam Stenton dropped down and again, lots of people saying it's a big coup or that it's awful he's not got an Elite spot. Does he have potential? Undoubtedly. Is he really good enough to hold down an EIHL top 6 D role? Not from what I've seen. It might do him the world of good to have 2 years at NIHL then come back up. But ultimately this points to a couple of real underlying issues that cover the real reason we don't have lots of Brits at Elite level, and the problem of perception from fans etc.

1) junior coaching and ice time is limited. Coaching is improving, but ice time is precious. If you want to make it, you're going to have to do a lot more than an hour or 2 on the ice each week. The simple answer to why not many Brits end up going straight from junior to Elite teams is they're not good enough, or not good enough yet.

2) stop expecting 18/19/20 year olds to get lots of minutes at Elite level, especially considering point 1.

There's definitely (imo) a few big fish/small pond mentalities as well. There's a couple of players who probably have the ability to be in the Elite, but don't like the fact they wouldn't be the main guy, or might have to accept less ice time, or might have to actually learn how to play in their own D zone (one of the biggest issues!).

One thing I always think is how many guys go from being high scorers in junior to making the NHL as 3rd line career role guys. It happens all the time and I think this goes hand in hand with the big fish/small pond mentalities - Jonathan Phillips should be the great example of why you shouldn't automatically assume that because you scored loads at junior/NIHL then you should be getting lots of minutes/pp chances. Still probably one of the best penalty killers last season at the age of 40. Still got decent minutes because he was solid and wouldn't give much up.

Only way to fix it is for team partnerships and junior teams to all go under the EIHL clubs. Will never happen though as far to many people like the current level of status/influence they get from being involved at junior levels (as ever was in youth sport).

A great post and very well explained, not a great deal i would argue with either, especially has you've taken on board the points I wanted to point out... LIKED

[ginger]

A great post and very well explained, not a great deal i would argue with either, especially has you've taken on board the points I wanted to point out... LIKED

Thanks!

Couple of 4000 and Counting episodes worth a listen - the most recent Dave Simms one, and the Joey Lewis episode. Both give the examples of how it's done in Europe - juniors part of the same club as the pros, with literally under 10s dressing room next to the u12s, next to u14s and so on to senior.

Clear pathway, no pressure to jump up at 18 if would benefit from a couple of extra seasons. Proper coaching and ice time. And probably most importantly, no parents involved in running junior teams!

[Sully]

A great post and very well explained, not a great deal i would argue with either, especially has you've taken on board the points I wanted to point out... LIKED

Thanks!

Couple of 4000 and Counting episodes worth a listen - the most recent Dave Simms one, and the Joey Lewis episode. Both give the examples of how it's done in Europe - juniors part of the same club as the pros, with literally under 10s dressing room next to the u12s, next to u14s and so on to senior.

Clear pathway, no pressure to jump up at 18 if would benefit from a couple of extra seasons. Proper coaching and ice time. And probably most importantly, no parents involved in running junior teams!

100% and far too many egos involved starting with parents. Let the kids play be coached and develop.

[ginger]

A great post and very well explained, not a great deal i would argue with either, especially has you've taken on board the points I wanted to point out... LIKED

Thanks!

Couple of 4000 and Counting episodes worth a listen - the most recent Dave Simms one, and the Joey Lewis episode. Both give the examples of how it's done in Europe - juniors part of the same club as the pros, with literally under 10s dressing room next to the u12s, next to u14s and so on to senior.

Clear pathway, no pressure to jump up at 18 if would benefit from a couple of extra seasons. Proper coaching and ice time. And probably most importantly, no parents involved in running junior teams!

100% and far too many egos involved starting with parents. Let the kids play be coached and develop.

Never been involved with junior ice, but played roller as a kid and still do now as a rapidly approaching middle aged man. The egos/politics etc from parents almost ruined it for me as a kid (not my own parents thankfully!), and from what I see it's just as bad today.

Suspect ice can be even worse, but not having kids means I'm spared from finding out!

[ginger]

And, as if by magic, Alex Graham confirmed on a full time 1 way deal.

Quality signing, and shows exactly what I said in my post earlier - head down, worked hard, made it so Fox could only make 1 decision and sign him up.

[wakefieldsteelersfan]

Fox confirms departure of Mosey in his latest interview with Pete Spencer.