Signings & Departures 23/24
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- glenngiant
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David Phillips mentioned in an interview to a Belfast paper that Steelers were messing him about whether to bring him back or not, I guess with new import limits and therefore less Brit spots they had to weigh up their options, Steelers going with a Brit back up so Greenfield going to play majority of games similar to last season and players already under contract ie Dowd, Jones and Whistle left them between Phillips and Graham and Graham won out, Giants likely to go with 2 import goalies If rumours true Whistle is leaving so needed additional Brit depth which Phillips can provide.
- BontSteeler
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We should be lowering the import level so that more Brits can play in the EIHL
Not for me. Personally I want to see the best ice hockey available in the UK. Ticket prices are certainly high enough to warrant that IMO.BontSteeler wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 9:40 pmWe should be lowering the import level so that more Brits can play in the EIHL
If the Brits are good enough they will play. Longstaff managed ok in the ISL days and one of the reasons IMO he was so good is because he had a high bar to aim for. Just letting low quality Brits play by a ruling will just dilute the quality of hockey on show.
- DiscoRay
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For me, I'd rather we stopped the annual faffing with import limits, and start investing the money instead in things like officials. No point in keeping on bringing in great imports if the officials can't keep up to their standard, as the clubs are indeed the league, they can't tenably complain about referees when at the same time they invest nothing into them. Long past time the clubs put up or shut-up on that front.smbmetal wrote: ↑Wed May 31, 2023 8:53 amNot for me. Personally I want to see the best ice hockey available in the UK. Ticket prices are certainly high enough to warrant that IMO.BontSteeler wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 9:40 pmWe should be lowering the import level so that more Brits can play in the EIHL
If the Brits are good enough they will play. Longstaff managed ok in the ISL days and one of the reasons IMO he was so good is because he had a high bar to aim for. Just letting low quality Brits play by a ruling will just dilute the quality of hockey on show.
- ginger
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Yeah, sorry but assuming a Brit back up goalie, it means currently there needs to be a further 40 Brits who are at EIHL standard (or on the cusp if below 23 years old).
If we reduce import level back to 14, we need another 10 Brits at the right level. Each time it's reduced, you need an extra 10 good Brits.
You need them all to be good players as otherwise it will skew salary further (big spenders hoover up best Brits)
Ultimately, we don't have enough currently to make that work and that is the issue - junior development. Until that is sorted and it's a fully joined up pathway from u10s to pro, with quality coaching and enough ice time, we will never develop enough players to make this viable. Too many egos and personal grudges on all sides for that to happen any time soon.
If we reduce import level back to 14, we need another 10 Brits at the right level. Each time it's reduced, you need an extra 10 good Brits.
You need them all to be good players as otherwise it will skew salary further (big spenders hoover up best Brits)
Ultimately, we don't have enough currently to make that work and that is the issue - junior development. Until that is sorted and it's a fully joined up pathway from u10s to pro, with quality coaching and enough ice time, we will never develop enough players to make this viable. Too many egos and personal grudges on all sides for that to happen any time soon.
- greeny
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For me , i want to see best standard of hockey possible, if that means more imports so be it, we are never going to see a development through all the junior leagues up to pro level in this country, its a minority sport compared to football , the funding is not thereDiscoRay wrote: ↑Wed May 31, 2023 9:24 amFor me, I'd rather we stopped the annual faffing with import limits, and start investing the money instead in things like officials. No point in keeping on bringing in great imports if the officials can't keep up to their standard, as the clubs are indeed the league, they can't tenably complain about referees when at the same time they invest nothing into them. Long past time the clubs put up or shut-up on that front.smbmetal wrote: ↑Wed May 31, 2023 8:53 amNot for me. Personally I want to see the best ice hockey available in the UK. Ticket prices are certainly high enough to warrant that IMO.BontSteeler wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 9:40 pmWe should be lowering the import level so that more Brits can play in the EIHL
If the Brits are good enough they will play. Longstaff managed ok in the ISL days and one of the reasons IMO he was so good is because he had a high bar to aim for. Just letting low quality Brits play by a ruling will just dilute the quality of hockey on show.
- BontSteeler
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Give me a Kieren Brown over a Mason Mitchell
- House_of_Steel
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- Firefox1001
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Maybe not, I think we will sign an additional import N/M and rotate them with a Brit Back-Up.glenngiant wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 5:04 pmDavid Phillips mentioned in an interview to a Belfast paper that Steelers were messing him about whether to bring him back or not, I guess with new import limits and therefore less Brit spots they had to weigh up their options, Steelers going with a Brit back up so Greenfield going to play majority of games similar to last season and players already under contract ie Dowd, Jones and Whistle left them between Phillips and Graham and Graham won out, Giants likely to go with 2 import goalies If rumours true Whistle is leaving so needed additional Brit depth which Phillips can provide.