Freezing The Puck

Ice Hockey talk from a UK fan. Focussing on UK hockey and in particular the exploits of my beloved Wightlink Raiders and the rest of the NIHL 1 South, but aiming to cover all the UK leagues as well as thoughts on the NHL and other hockey from time to time. Always on the lookout for new people to answer some questions, so get in touch!

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Catching Up With Phil Manny

  Hey Phil, how was your summer?

It was an interesting summer hockey wise, 'meeting central' would be a fair description .... but in general it’s always nice to have a good break from the rink as combining a full season of playing alongside work can wear you down.

I suppose we should start with the obvious. You and many of your colleagues won’t be suiting up for the Cardiff Devils this season, that has to hurt?

Obviously myself, Brabs, Deacs and Wilko all wanted to play in Cardiff, it’s an unfortunate situation that politics has caused what I can only describe as a catastrophic mess.

The worst thing is that it’s resulted in problems between friends and guys who have played together for many years. 

My personal opinion is that a certain individual should have done the honourable thing and fulfilled their commitment which was the root of the whole issue.

You’ve joined a London Raiders team who are looking to put their own off-ice issues behind them. What tempted you to make the move there?

Well due to the situation in Cardiff we all felt that we couldn’t from a moral and ethical basis be connected due to certain individuals involved and some of what I can only describe as "brainwashing" tactics to the newly formed junior committee.

Some discussions were made between the players and Marsh and things moved really quickly from then on. Due to the distance from Cardiff and London we have arranged to skate in Cardiff with a couple of teams who have kindly helped us out and then link in with the raiders on the weekend.

The Raiders management have done a great job in turning things around for the club in around 3 weeks.

A lot of fans don’t understand the level of commitment required of players in the NIHL, you’ll be travelling from home to London each week. I guess you and others will carshare. If so who is the worst to be trapped in a car with?

Well Wilko should be entertaining as he's the karaoke king of Cardiff and loves a bit of Luther Vandross.

Deacs is always good to have around as he's a welsh del boy and has some good connections to get discounts and deals! haha

Brabs, well based on previous travel over the years I'm sure he will be asleep in a coma for most journeys under his duvet....

There are probably still a few players to be announced around the league, but we’re close to the puck dropping on the season. Where do you see London Raiders ending up in the standings?

Romford/London have always been at the top of the table so I'm hoping this can continue.

The talent level in the league rises every year, are there any players you’ll be keeping a particular eye on this year.

The league has stepped up a notch, to be honest there are too many good players to mention.

Lastly we wanted to ask, what are your thoughts on the new inter-league cup where NIHL teams will play against the EPL? Do you think it will be good for the league?

I think it’s a great idea, its perfect for the teams that in truth belong somewhere between the NIHL and the EPL league. It gives their fans a chance to see a higher level that they may have experienced before and also gives younger players the opportunity to be seen by the EPL so great for development.

  You can say hi to Phil on twitter at @juandingo84 and follow the London Raiders at @LonRaiders_IHC.

We're always on the lookout for people to chat to so if you're a player/coach or writer and fancy answering a few questions get in touch!

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An Interview With Andrew Magee

  Hey Andrew, welcome to the UK! Have you had much time to settle in yet?

Thanks! It's great to be here. At the moment I am staying with my agent and friend so it's been nice to settle in and get over the travel. Last night was good to get on the ice with my teammates and I'm looking forward to the start of the season as I become more acclimated to life in England.

You’ve joined a Solent Devils team who seem to be getting stronger each year. Did you know much about the team or the league before joining?

I was in long discussions all summer and I was well educated on the club by my agent. I knew that they were promoted a couple of years ago and this season they are looking to do great things in the NIHL. I've seen a few games on YouTube, and it's exciting to finally be here and be a part of the vision the Solent Devils have for the team.

The hockey world is surprisingly small, were you able to reach out to any people in the UK game to get some advance info?

It very much is, I actually met an old teammate of mine after the game up in Basingstoke, he played on their EPL team last year. It's always cool to run into old teammates and friends.

Devils fans are excited to see you in action, what sort of player should they expect?

Thats great to hear, I'm excited to play for them. I would describe myself as an offensive playmaker. I like to make things happen in the offensive zone and generate scoring chances, something which I hope I can do for the Devils this year.

I believe you grew up in the Richmond Hill/Scarborough area? I’m guessing you’re a Leafs fan? Who were your favourite players growing up?

Yes I grow up in Richmond Hill all my life, and watched the Leafs since the beginning. Although I am a Leafs fan, my favourite players are on other teams. My favourites are Sidney Crosby, Jeff Carter, James Neal and Marian Gaborik.

Hockey is part of the fabric of Canadian life, not only as the sport of choice but in numerous songs, movies and TV shows. Is it a little strange when you come here and find hockey is very much a cult attraction?

It is very popular in Canada, but I have found so far the fans to be fantastic here in the UK. In Basingstoke last night they were great, louder then any fans we had for our team last year in Canada. If that's the support behind the team in a pre-season game away from home, I can't wait to experience the home fans atmosphere.

Last but not least, is there any message you’d like to share with Devils fans and UK hockey followers in general?

I would like to say to the Devils fans that it will be an absolute privilege to play in front of them in Solent this year.

You can say hi to Andrew on twitter at @AMagsASM and follow the Devils at @SolentDevil

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Freezing The Puck turned 1 today!

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An Interview With Stephen Murphy

Hey Stephen! The Giants are league champions and have been dominant in all season. How good did it feel to raise that trophy over your head at the Odyssey?

It was a very special moment in my career. To win it the first time a couple of years ago was unbelievable but to be able to do it again and in the manner with which we won it this year, was every bit as special!

After such a strong run is there any risk the team will lose focus heading into the playoffs?

No if don't think we will lose focus, the playoffs always have been and still remain a big part of our goals for the season.

The Giants organisation seems very committed to embedding the Giants into the community and to building a legacy with the team. To that end there was a testimonial for former Giant Rob Stewart this week. That game must have been a lot of fun?

It was a lot of fun to see old friends and meet some of the past Giants players too. I think a game like that is great for the club and the fans to not only celebrate Rob but also the history of the club.

As I’m writing this, Team Canada have just won Olympic gold. You’re a Team GB regular, how far do you think we are from sending a team to the Olympics?

Well technically we were only 2 or 3 wins away from this year’s Olympics. It's a small margin between team GB and some of those bigger hockey countries but that small margin requires a massive push.

 With import players coming and going regularly, it’s hugely important to have a solid core of UK based players. This is really true in Belfast and a number of your team mates have been called up to Team GB. Would you say the number of imports allowed on a team holds back local players or does it give them more opportunity to learn and develop?

It works both ways really, The more imports you have helps increase the overall standard of the league and our better British players will benefit from that but on the other hand it makes it harder for the Brits who are trying to break into the league.

You played a few seasons outside the UK, would you recommend that as a way to improve the hockey education of young players?

Definitely. Not only was it a great experience for my hockey career but it was a great life experience in general.

Last question from us. The team than play in front of you are frightening going forward… Which of the lads would you least like to line up against?

It's a tough one because we have a number of guys who can step up on the night and be the danger player. Kevin Saurette has been one of those throughout the year.

    A huge thank you to Stephen for giving up his time for us. You can follow him at @31Murph and all the Giants at @BelfastGiants

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, so get in touch!

If we’ve used your photos, let us know as we’d like to give credit where it’s due!

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An Interview With Mike Hargreaves

Hey Mike, with NIHL 2 cup final games only a few weeks away we’re creeping toward the end of the hockey year! The Pitbulls are currently comfortably in mid table, how has the season been so far for you?

Crazy would be the right word! We have a better record against the top half of the league, than the bottom! We set out to be in the top three and anything lower than that wouldn't be seen as an unsuccessful season.

You’ve been with the Pitbulls from the beginning, but this year you’re also coaching the team. Is it difficult to transition from being one of the lads?

Not really, I try to take up the role of good cop! We have a great bunch of boys and they seem to know when to respect both me and Dick as a coach, but give it to us as players! Dicky also brought in Daryl Morvan and Becci (our sister) to run the bench, so my role has been more about telling the boys in a one on one style during games and training.

As one of the most forward-thinking clubs around the NIHL the Pitbulls are really setting the standards for other teams in terms of their publicity and charity efforts. What can we expect next from the team?

Cup jerseys and they look sick! The great thing about Dick is he always tries to think outside the box. He also has been trying to help other teams, telling them to do group on deals and other general things that he's used to promote our team over the last five seasons.

You’re currently playing home games in Oxford, how difficult is it to build a fan base when you’re playing in another town?

We are very thankful to Oxford for their help in helping us stay alive as a club, but it's almost impossible to build an Oxford fan base as they have a team in our league. We have a handful of die-hard fans that follow us and help out on game days. Rich has managed to retain all our sponsors, as well as adding some. So that goes a long way to keeping us alive and stops us relying on home gate money. However this doesn't mean he's not got ideas on how to push up our crowd numbers!

How weird was it seeing the team on TSN’s NHL coverage in December as they talked about your Christmas jerseys?

How cool was that! Again credit to my brother for doing something different, as far as we know no one has had the goalies and players in different shirts. The fact they were also voted one of the best shirts on the program as well was crazy, I know our Xmas jerseys were a big bit and I think we sold over 50 to the states! 

We have to ask… you lived with Chris Randall for a while. Does the Wightlink Raiders TV interviewer ever stop talking?

I've tried to blank those memories out of my mind... And no he doesn't!

He would wake me up every Saturday morning, with a copy of power play in one hand and Denver (his son) in the other! He would then sit at the end of my bed and rabbit on for hours, I still cry myself to sleep and thank you for making me re-live that!

  Thanks for your time Mike, anything you’d like to add?

Just a big thank you to all our supporters, sponsors, Oxford ice rink and Birmingham ice rink for their help and support

A big thank you to Mike for taking the time to chat with us. You can find the team at @bristolpitbulls

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

Big thanks to Flyfifer for the photographs too!

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, please get in touch either here or via twitter!

[bodhi-rogue]

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It's always nice to see the NHL putting rivalries aside to look after one of their own!

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Catching Up With Julian Smith

Hey Julian! The season has moved on a lot since we last spoke and Chelmsford find themselves sat at the top of the table. What has been the secret of your success?

I think the main secret to the Chieftains success so far has been from two things, a lot of depth in the squad and a well-structured system and game plan. At the start of the season we had a lot of injuries and we were able to keep getting the results we needed which has put us at the top now. 

Chelmsford seem to have found a really good balance in the squad, with a good mix of younger lads and experienced NIHL players, who among your teammates has stood out for you?

Yer, the Chieftains have got a great balance of players with a lot of experience in different leagues. Stand out players would be Ross Brears; he's playing with confidence and getting big goals. I've been really impressed with Volrab. He's cool and calm on the puck and showing to be one of the top imports in league. Finally John Connelly and Luke Brittle have been great. Both great plays with a good future, Luke just needs to sort out his hair style and choice of shoes for home games!! 

One thing I’ve noticed about the Chieftains is that your imports seem to fit really well into the team. Volrab particularly seems to just quietly go about his business not being too flashy but coming up with the important points. Just how important is it for these guys to settle in?

Volrab has settled in well and is showing his worth with big goals and point when we need them. It is always tough settling into a new team and I imagine a lot harder as an import. I think it's helped having Tibor in the room for him too as they can chatter there jibber jabber in their home language. 

Chelmsford already had probably the best goalie tandem in the league and even with Ryan Bainborough taking some time away you’ve not dipped in quality. How is Euan King gelling with the rest of the lads?

Yer we started with a very strong pair of goalies and I think bringing Kinger in to replace Ryan has made it an even stronger pair. It was a great shame for Ryan to retire but hopefully the break will give him time to miss and love the game again. 

Kinger has settled in with the guys easily, he has had a season in Chelmsford before so will know the guys already. And as a fellow Peterborough junior it's nice to have him in the team. 

  Looking around the league, who has impressed you this season so far?

The league has improved again this year and has some very strong teams. Invicta are proving to be a force and playing well. A few players spring to mind, even with such a busy personal life juggling busy jobs of dolphin shaving and caring for people in the community Ryan Giles still manages to play well. And Huska is still playing like a 25 year old even at the age of 38. 

Last question from us… its Olympics time, which nation will win the gold?

Finally I think that the gold medal will go to the Canadians. (Great prediction there from Jules… we were picking Sweden).

Big thanks to Julian for answering our questions. You can keep up with the team throughout the season at @ChelmChieftains and Julian himself at @j_smith26.

Pictures courtesy of Nicky Craft.

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, please get in touch either here or via twitter

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An Interview With Harrison Lillis

Hi Harrison, after a long time with Invicta you opted to move to Streatham recently. What prompted the change?

I found It very hard to leave Invicta as It’s my local club that I spent the majority of my junior and all of my senior career, a total of 9 consecutive seasons up until now, playing at. I had seen my confidence decline right from the start of this season and my enthusiasm towards hockey had gone. I found myself ending the previous season on a sky high after good performances in the playoffs, then by Christmas on a low. My game had fallen to pieces. I found that I was becoming buried in a hole and not being picked up. I spoke to players that I have good friendships with and found myself joining Streatham right on top of deadline day.

How do you find you’re settling in with the RedskIns?

I have been made very welcome at Streatham by all of the staff, players and fans. I have been very lucky to have been given greater opportunities than those that I had at Invicta and have been made to feel like an important part of the team at Streatham. Since joining Streatham I have seen my ice time triple and my confidence has grown. I am getting coached in all aspects of the game and learning new plays and systems to help improve my game. I really love the size of their rink as it gives you more time on the puck, and the boards read perfectly.

You’ve played in defence and up front, where do you think you’re best suited?

I don't really know, I find the strongest part of my game is skating on the puck which as a forward is a good quality, however playing defence allows me to break the puck out successfully using this quality of my game. My size helps me as a physical presence so I find this feature better suited for defence but I do enjoy playing both positions. Other coaches and players have told me that I am a far better defence man so I’ll take their word for it.

How did you first get into hockey?

I first got Into Ice hockey like most people in my generation, watching the Mighty Ducks. I used to pretend to skate in my front room with shoe boxes on my feet until my parents took me to the rink. I was nearly 7 and my Dad got me a pair of Bauer supreme Impact 100 skates. I then had skating lessons and joined the junior u10s team a year later.

You’re now sharing a dressing room with the guy who writes the weekly NIHL round ups…Worried you’ll end up with an embarrassing story being shared, or do you already have some blackmail material on Dave Carr?

I do have a reputation for doing stupid things I guess so that makes me easily open to all of the banter in the room. However David Carr did buy Capri suns for all the boys in the room after getting juice boy which is something I have never seen. In the Redskins dressing room I find Evander Grinell and Jaime McIlroy always the guys dishing out the chirps and jokes but I don't have much on them right now.

  Outside the NIHL are there any teams/players you like to follow?

I watch the NHL on the TV normally late nights after training or long away games but I don't actually support a team. Although I do like the New York Rangers because I like their jerseys so I find myself following them more than any other team.

Last question from us. How difficult Is It to train and work on plays when you can play on a huge rink like Streatham or Bracknell one night, and the next be In Milton Keynes skating on their tiny sheet?

I cannot stand playing on small Ice pads. I find myself shooting from my own end rather a lot and a lot of the boys get the hump with it. I find small pads very clumsy with bodies everywhere. The big pads are much better to play on as you can move the puck much better and there is more space for skill. Overall the game is better to play and watch if on a larger pad I think.

Many thanks to Harrison for taking the time out to talk to us. You can follow him on twitter @harrisonlillis and keep up with the team throughout the season at @streathamhockey.

If I've used your photos please let me know, I'm more than happy to give credit where it's due.

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, so get in touch!

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An Interview With Christian Cole

  Hey Chris, it’s been a great weekend for the Devils with back to back wins. How is the mood in the dressing room right now?

Hello Matt, yes what a great weekend for us it was. We had the 4 points in mind when the weekend was coming up and then all the players put in two great performances and it really did show that the grit and determination of all the players with the two wins. The mood in the changing room was certainly very good especially after Sunday it was great looking down the changing room with smiles on all the players faces!!

It’s fair to say it’s been an odd season for Solent & Gosport with player unrest and a mid-season coaching change. How tough is it to stay focussed on the ice when all that is going on off of it?

Erm maybe it has been a bit odd but there is always drama’s in nihl1!! To be honest me as a goalie I keep myself to myself and don’t get involved in all the changes. When I’m on the ice I literally in my own bubble and don’t hear anything going on. Off the ice I hear some things that go on but again I try and keep out of it and try to remain focus on the task in hand which is to stop the puck.

Despite being in the lower half of the table, Gosport seem to have made big improvements in recent weeks. Steve Gannaway is a great defensive coach, how has that changed the team in front of you?

Yes we have made good improvements with key players stepping up at the time we need. Yes Mr Steve Gannaway, absolute legend of the game. Unfortunately he has been away as he had a big knee operation but the combination with Alex Murray has really drilled the team well and it’s starting to come together in only 4/5 weeks or so.

A lot of people have talked about your performances in net this season, with the common consensus being that you’re one of the best keepers in the league. Do you fancy trying your chances at a higher level?

Have they??? Nah I’m only joking yes it’s nice to be talked about especially the positives in my game. I train hard in the gym and off ice training and always try and improve on my game to be the best I can. I would love to play at a higher level but I want to earn my place wherever I go in the future. Hopefully the summer brings me options and I would love to play as high as I can and maybe abroad but who knows.

You’re the NIHL’s king of Snapchat… but what’s the worst message you’ve received?

Ahahah am I now?? Adam Rich are you to blame in this??!! Erm wow I have ever seen some dodgy and funny snap chats. Sorry guys I couldn’t say the worst it all good banter on there!! Worst hockey snapchat has to be when I received one from Ryan Giles when his car was half under water in the floods (poor fella).

Last question from us… Of the players who’ve left Gosport this season who do you miss most in the dressing room?

I suppose I should have to say fluffy (Adam Rich) only because of the amount of banter we had on away days in the car! Normally the first subject would be someone’s missus and then the banter wouldn’t stop for the whole journey.

Thanks for your time Chico, anything you’d like to add?

Just want to say thank you to all the people that have supported me throughout my hockey career so far (mum & dad/G DOG). My sponsors this year SureFix Home Improvements, Customised Graphics, Just Car Spares, Fitness First & CJC Sports Therapy & Fitness (Jokes that’s my own) ahah and Peter Walker for his sports massages. Lastly thank you to Will Francis and Alex Murray for the belief in me in goal and support as a key guy.

Many thanks to Chris for answering our questions. You can keep up with the Devils throughout the season at @SolentDevil and you can say hi to Chris at @CJC_ST

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, please get in touch either here or via twitter!

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An Interview With Stephen Matthews & James Ions

Hey gents, we’ll start with the same question we asked Rory Bevis… What made you ever want to become a referee?

James Ions: I've always admired Stephen Mattews  so I tried following in his footsteps next is the hair cut... I just wanted to stay in the game in some capacity after getting fed up of playing and I'm glad I chose this option.

Stephen Matthews: I was a useless player, I was the kind of player who could only play non-contact… was never a fan of going into the corners! So the only way to stay within the game and not get hit was to become a referee.

You’ve both refereed at various rinks around the south, which have been your favourites and why?

SM: I think I have a few favourite rinks. Bracknell, because it is nice and warm... I also used to like going to the RVW just because of the atmosphere.

JI: I haven't visited every rink but I've been around a few. Out of all of the rinks I have visited the best atmosphere I've experienced is a packed out Bracknell game at home!  It's hard to single out one because they're all fun at every level.

What about the ones you dislike?

SM: Has to be Gosport- just because the last few times I was there we used the Zamboni hose as a shower!

JI: There isn't a rink I don't like that I've visited already. Although I would improve a few facilities and extend a few of our dressing rooms they can be cramped at times! 

As the ref you have to make the final call, everyone has their own way of dealing with players, how do you guys approach it?

SM: I find if you show players respect then hopefully you will get that back – I try to have a bit of banter with them. Communication I feel goes a long way.

JI: The only way to approach this is professionally, we all have jobs to do and not everyone is going to agree with every call. As long as you can communicate in a proper manner and explain your reasoning when necessary then everyone understands and it makes it a lot easier.

Emilio Fusco turned up on the island a few weeks back in a pair of shoes that looked like he’s nicked them from Al Capone… who are the best and worst turned out of the boys in stripes?

JI: I already know Matthews has put himself forward for best dressed without even reading his answers! Tim Pickett dresses well, I've spotted him in a 3 piece a few times this season. He's up there with the smartest. I don't think any of the boys are particularly badly dressed although some look like they got dressed at their grandparents house, blindfolded! I welcome some debate on this.....

SM: The worst dressed, that would have to be Emilio Fusco, have you seen the shoes that guy wears?? He looks like he goes shopping in the dark!

Best dressed – I would have to go for Tim Pickett, always turns up to games in a 3 piece suit… looks very dapper.

We talked with Rory about banter with the fans. We’ve heard some choice words directed at refs, how do you deal with it.

SM: Just try to laugh it off, all the paying fans have the right to voice their opinion, which I really don’t mind…  you do have to be a bit thick skinned to dress in the stripes, it would be good if a select few do pick up a rule book every now and again mind!

JI: Every fan is passionate about their team and I have a lot of respect for that. They may say things that are not  meant personally in the heat of the moment.  I choose to let it go over my head. It's not a true reflection of their character so why hold it against them? When you hear those things it's just about letting it go in one ear and out the other and sticking together as a team.

You guys have worked alongside each other a few times so you obviously get on well… What are your worst habits on game days though?

SM: Worst habits?! I think it has to be James’ banter, he does like to think he is a funny guy, but we have to laugh just to make him feel better. Or it could even been his time keeping…. Maybe a watch for his birthday will help him!

JI: Stephen Matthews bad habits? He's always late and stops me getting my coffee. He always takes shotgun (front passenger) if we’re in someone else's car. He won't even play RPS for it, he usually cites travel sickness for an excuse! We’re always late because Stephens booster seat is a nightmare to get in the car, apart from that he's a good roadie.

As for me I'm always a bit tired and reflective after a game so probably not the best company on the return trip.

  Last question from us… If you could change one rule in the league what would it be and why?

JI: There's not any that I’d change. They all have a purpose and help the game in one way or another! 

SM: I think I would change the ‘icing infraction’ rule… not a penalty I am a fan of, especially in a tight game, but then every team knows the rule and I think it’s the only penalty that the teams can’t blame us for!

Cheers for your time gents, is there anything else you’d like to add?

SM: Yeah, roll on the summer!!!

JI: Thanks for the questions. It was fun answering them. Hope everyone enjoys the rest of the season at all levels!  Roll on the summer, my legs need a rest! 

A big thank you to Stephen and James for answering our questions. You can say hi to them both on twitter at @sjmatthews8 and @ions70 respectively.

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, please get in touch either here or via twitter

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An Interview With Stephen Wall

Hey Stephen, the Lightning are currently 4th in the EPIHL. How has the season been so far for you?

It’s going great really considering that we have no home rink so every game day is an away day! It's been an interesting season so far but we signed a great team at the start of the year so it was just about adapting to Coventry as a home venue.

You’re currently sat among the top goalies in the league in stats. The guys either side of you are imports, how would you say the standard of play differs between home grown players and those who are brought in from other leagues?

A lot really! we train over here maybe 2-3 times a week as the import goalies that come over are maybe used to training every day where they come from and the EPL is a bit more" in your face" I think as a goalie as people shoot from everywhere and I've seen a lot of imported goalies struggle in this league. 

The Lightning seem to be on a bit of a run at the minute with some good results in recent games. What has been the secret of your success?

Not training lol! No, Nick Poole has put a team together with a "never say die" attitude this year and we struggled at the start of the season getting used to Coventry but once we settled down we have been fine. We have played 12 games in the month of February and trained once so we have been pretty much game head on this last month or so

  The most important thing for a team is that they play together as a unit. How is the mood in the MK dressing room and which guys keep you smiling?

to be honest we all get on so well as a team there is no one left out of anything, I knew a few years ago before I came to MK that it was a great place to play and always wanted to get on board at that club, so when I got the chance a took it with both hands.. but if I had to say certain people on the team the ones that stand out for me are Ross Bowers and Leigh Jamieson, Leigh is the biggest character on our team he keeps everybody up beat and he's not short of a few pranks on people, I also last season got a tattoo of Leigh on my leg which sounds a bit silly but I said I would get it done so I did 

Looking around the league, who are the players that stand out and the ones you least like to see bearing down on your goal?

there are some really good players on form this season just a few of the top of my head would be Kohorn from Sheffield, Karpov from the Bison and Kovar from the Phoenix all stand out for me but to be honest I love the challenge playing against these sort of players, it makes you feel good when you can shut them down.

How are you finding playing out of Coventry’s rink? Does it cause any problems for the team?

at the start yes it was a big change with all the travelling for training and games it’s been great to see the fans still following us no matter where we go they have been class this year and I would just like to say a massive thanks to them it’s been tough but a fun year so far and now we are in the cup final it would be a great gift to them if we can win it 

Last question from us, of all the guys you’ve played alongside, which one would you love to line up with again and why?

Oh that’s a tough question. Brit wise I'd have to say Terry Miles. That guy played with his heart on his sleeve and gave 100% every game and was a beauty to have on your team!

Import wise I'd have to say Jesse Hammill I got along so well with this guy and still do to this day. He was a legend in the EPL and again he gave 100% every game and stood up for every single one of his team mates!

A big thank you to Stephen for answering our questions. You can keep up with the Lightning throughout the season at @MKL_Official. You can say hi to Stephen at @wally931.

We must acknowledge Blueline photography who took these excellent photos too!

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, please get in touch either here or via twitter

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An Interview With Chris Cooke

Hey Chris, thanks for taking some time out on a rare Saturday off! How is the season going for you so far?

Hey Matt, Personally I'm really enjoying this season, I feel I'm progressing much more as a player trying to get myself to the best I can be, the added ice time on my two way deal between Guildford and Invicta has really been beneficial. Both teams have had a dip but are coming out strongly, hopefully on the way to winning some silverware! 

You’ve split time between the Guildford Flames and Invicta Dynamos this year, both teams that are around or at the top of their leagues, how much does the atmosphere differ from one team to the other?

To be honest, the fans at both Guildford and Invicta make a great atmosphere and really get behind you during a game. With the size of the rink at Invicta being smaller than Guildford and much more confined, the place can become electric. I believe it was definitely a factor in our win over Wightlink when we were 4-0 down and came back to win 6-4, I have never witnessed anything in the stands like it! 

You’ve grown up in the Guildford organisation, how did the time with Invicta this year come about?

I sat down with Paul Dixon and Milos Melicherik last year to talk about a two way deal, however injury prevented me playing for the last half of the season and therefore it fell through. I sat down with Paul again this year and we talked about progressing me as a player and getting much more game experience. we were approached by Kevin Parrish offering me a two way with Invicta, and the three of us thought it was the best option and I have found myself with the mo's and I'm really enjoying it. A massive thanks to both Flames and Dynamos for allowing me to do it. 

How did you first get into ice hockey?

My dad has done the programmes for the Flames from day 1, and I was taken to my first match at 13 days old! anyway, the owner John Hepburn approached my dad and questioned him, over a beer on whether I would like to start playing in which the reply was we can't afford it! however, John kindly provided me with kit and set me up with the junior programme and here we are still playing! I owe a lot to both my dad and John. 

How would you describe your role on the Flames? Does it differ in Gillingham?

I feel as a young member of the roster at Guildford, my ice time will be limited due to the calibre of players that we have, so I see myself providing energy for the team and  motivate my team mates, keeping them going. At Invicta I feel like I'm a dependable D-man who can log a lot of minutes and I feel my role is to play solid defence and contribute points wise where I can. I've never been an offensive D-man, always stay at home but you always have to adapt your game and strengthen in all areas. 

Do you follow any teams or players outside the UK Leagues?

I wouldn't say I'm a huge follower of the NHL, though do enjoy it, but I've always kept an eye on the Red Wings. Particularly when the likes of Nick Lidstrom was plying his trade, what a player to watch!

Last question, if you could line up alongside any player, past or present, who would it be and why?

To be honest, I would love to line up with my team mates from my 18's years, guys such as Andy Melachrino and George Norcliffe. We had a great team with great chemistry who would do anything for each other. A proper team! 

Anything you’d like to add Chris?

Just wanna say thanks Matt, and let's go Flames and Dynamos!

Many thanks to Chris for answering our questions. You can keep up with the Dynamos throughout the season at @InvictaDynamos and the Flames at @flamesicehockey. You can cheer Chris on at @cookie9494

If I used your photos let me know and I'll be very happy to give credit where it's due.

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, please get in touch either here or via twitter

[dovahqueeen]

the madhouse on madison

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seeing the icepads get put together always fascinates me...

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Catching up with Dan Weller-Evans

Back to back starts this weekend! How did it feel getting a run in net for the Raiders Dan?

Yeah, that was a bit of a surprise! But it was great, especially to get a 4 point weekend and qualification in the cup (I think)! I think that was the first time for the Raiders in 4 years that I’ve started both games in a weekend and I really enjoyed it. Hopefully it is something I get to do more as I gain more experience. It’s a lot of fun playing games, but I know that there is a lot more work to do before I get regular starting minutes.

Despite a couple of blips the Raiders have had a great season so far, how hard is it to keep focus when things are going well?

Yeah we’ve started very well; going into Christmas in first place is always a good thing. As a team we aim to be competitive right until the end of the season, so we all focus on that the whole way through. We have a set of goals that Jeremy gives us at the start of the year and in individual/team meetings throughout the season so it’s not easy to lose focus.

With the recent news coming from the London Raiders, do you think fans will start to understand just how tight the budget is in the NIHL?

I think so; it’s a strange but obviously horrible situation that London are in right now. What I found strange was that 3 of the guys played against us on Saturday. I don’t know whether they knew at the time or not but they certainly played as if nothing was wrong. But I think some fans already know having experienced it with other teams. I grew up watching the Basingstoke Bison when they were in the elite league and they certainly had a lot of trouble with budget for one reason or another. But there are teams at every level of hockey in this country who will struggle with their budget with reasons varying from team to team. Hopefully London manage to see out the season and stay competitive, which I’m sure they will. We have a very strong rivalry with them and the league would suffer without them.

The Raiders are scoring for fun this year, but are arguably not as defensively solid as in previous seasons. Is that something the team are conscious of or simply a factor in being a more free-flowing attacking team?

Yeah the guys are having no problem putting the puck away, all of our forwards are capable of scoring goals this season. They all have awesome shots and they seem to be clicking with one another. Even if Corny changes the lines it doesn’t seem to affect the guys. I think the defensive issues are starting to disappear and it was just a blip. I honestly think we have the best defensive core in the league. They all block shots and do what they can to help us goalies out. We were conscious that we were conceding too many goals and we have done a lot of defensive zone coverage in practise which seems to be doing the trick. We have a lot of tough games coming up so it’s the perfect test.

In our last interview you spoke about the influence of Matty Colclough. Which other keepers would you pick out from around the NIHL?

Yeah Matty is a big influence on me. He helps me out a lot and he’s obviously one of if not the best goalie in the league so it would be stupid of me not to take his advice. This past weekend he helped me a lot in the two games and was always talking to me after warm ups and between periods on what I could do, he also went through the goals against with me and told me what he would have done in those situations. This obviously gives me another point of view and helps me to do better next time I play.

There are a lot of good goalies in our league, but the ones who stand out to me other than Matty would be Chris Douglas in Invicta and Ryan Bainborough and Ben Clements in Chelmo. I’d say they are the top 4 goalies in the league and they are a major factor in the success their teams have! Another goalie who I think will be one to watch is Dennis Bell in MK/Haringey (NIHL 2) He has played 2 very good games against us this year and seems to be one for the future.

Simon Hobbis has just been called up to GB u18s, in recent years a number of players have joined the Raiders on two way or short term contracts before playing for EPL or EIHL teams. What do you think attracts them to the island?

Yeah that’s great news that Hobbis has been called up, it’s very much deserved. He is a good guy both on and off the ice and hasn’t looked out of place since day 1 with the team. He plays regular minutes with us and has formed a solid D pairing with Damo.

I think Jeremy is a major reason a lot of players drop down to play for us. He has a lot of contacts in different leagues and he believes in giving people a chance to earn ice time and play games when they may not be getting any ice time with their team. But also the team is well known throughout the country from its days in the EPL and I think this would help. I don’t know the ins and outs of recruitment but I assume these factors help.

Last but not least. The league is considered to be a three way race, who do you consider the bigger threat, Chelmsford or Invicta?

Wow, that’s a tough one! I think a lot of people don’t see us as favourites and we are more than happy to keep going along as we are. It’s probably not the answer you were looking for but this year I can’t really call it between those two teams. If I had to I’d have to say Chelmsford because in the past we seem to have less success against them than Invicta over the course of the season. We still have to meet both of those teams a few times this season so we’ll see what happens, but they are certainly two very skilled teams, especially offensively.

Cheers for your time Dan, anything you’d like to add?

No problem, anytime! Just like to say thank you to everyone for the kind words about this past weekend and the continued support over the season. Hopefully I can contribute to the team a few more times this year! Go Raiders! 

Once again, we’d like to thank Dan for taking the time to talk with us. You can follow him on twitter @DanWellerEvans and keep up with the team@wightlinkraider!

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, so get in touch!

If we’ve used your photos, let us know as we’d like to give credit where it’s due!

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An Interview With Rory Bevis

Hey Rory, we have to ask… What made you ever want to become a referee?

Having spent four years playing junior on the island and being part of a losing team, I decided after finishing my GCSE's that I didn't want to play anymore and instead start reffing to keep my interest in the sport.

You have probably the toughest job, both in terms of having to make split second decisions and having to jump in and break up fights. What is the most difficult part of your role?

A thick skin is definitely needed, which I can definitely say I lacked in my early years. A good level of maturity, and good communication is needed between you and everyone else. I'm lucky enough in that I normally work with the same group of officials so we all know how we work, but it can sometimes be a bit of a challenge with other people.

Do you find that when you travel to different rinks you have different issues to face? For instance, how does the confined space at Gosport or Ryde differ to the larger ice of Chelmsford?

I'm quite unlucky in that about 99% of my games have been on the island. The small ice of here (and Gosport) provides it's own set of challenges, but also makes it a lot easier in my opinion. I recently did EPIHL in Guildford, and found myself out of position a few times - I'm so used to barely having to skate at the island, going to the big ice was quite a shock to the system but you get used to it quick enough. It's one of the problems I've had being on the island, I only really get games down here!

You’re from the Isle of Wight. Do you find you get an easier run from the ‘hometown’ fans or are they all the more vocal because they know who you are?

Normally I get it pretty easy from fans - I know quite a few of them personally - and they never really cause me any issues, just a bit of banter each way! There's one or two that seem to disagree a lot, but at the end of the day I'm the one in the stripes and I actually know the rule book as opposed to some of them! (They know who they are). But for the most part it's the away ones.

Debi sends us a question from Twitter: what would you think about the possibility of using video ref under your control to help with decisions. Good or bad?

Good question there Debi! Personally I think it would be a great asset to have, no referee will make the perfect call every time so it would definitely help! But on the other hand, any missed calls will be used completely against the official(s) and it would si

Cheers for your time Rory, is there anything else you’d like to add?

Just the same to everyone else, I'm on the twitter hype @RoryBevis. Hope you're all enjoying the season and I'll see you down the cube on the 25th vs Streatham!

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, so get in touch!

If we’ve used your photos, let us know as we’d like to give credit where it’s due!

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An Interview With Stuart Coles

Hey Stuart, why don’t we start at the beginning? How did you get interested in hockey and at what point did you decide to start writing about it?

The beginning was a long time ago! I grew up in Southampton and a friend of mine at school played in the Gosport junior system. I went with him to the odd game and then I ended up goal judging for the U12 team (when they still had them…). I never got on the ice though and still have never actually played the sport. When I moved to Cardiff for going to uni, I carried on taking in the odd Devils game when I could but being a poor student that wasn’t so many! My studies continued at Warwick and living in Coventry, I started going to Blaze games. It was still hockey but there was just something different about the club and the atmosphere. I moved in September 2002 and got a season ticket with my girlfriend (who is now my wife) the following year. We’ve kept the same seats ever since. It was due to The Hockey Forum in 2004 that I decided to start writing about the game; I was approached about doing match reports for the club as apparently I could write reasonably well and turn them around pretty quickly. From there it’s just grown to the point where I’m at now, helping to edit a magazine, interviewing players on video and writing my own articles as well.

It’s been an interesting season for Coventry, the team seem to be in transition. How are the fans responding to the team not playing to their usual high standard?

I think it’s safe to say the fans aren’t happy. It’s not just this season; it’s the combination of the past three seasons since the side won the title in 2009/10. None of them have been particularly good by Blaze’s own high standards. There’s a vocal minority on internet forums or social media who are perhaps at the extreme end of the bad feeling, but there is a general discomfort currently around the rink. After some recent performances, it was clear from the number of people who stayed behind after the game to see the man of the match awarded or from the audible groans when a pass went astray. I think the Coventry fan base is incredibly supportive and when the team is playing well, they’ll get behind them. But when the team isn’t performing, silence speaks volumes.

For those readers who don’t know too much about the EIHL, what sort of hockey would you say the Blaze play and who are their key guys?

All successful EIHL sides have had a combination of physicality and skill. Teams that go too far one way or the other (I’m thinking the near non-contact style of some of the Edinburgh Capitals teams or the brutality of the old London Racers sides) haven’t been particularly good. Blaze have tried to go down that route by mixing the physical side of the game with players like Benn Olson and Kevin Harvey with the more skilful aspects with guys like Ryan Ginand and Adam Henrich. Ginand is the headline grabber; he’s the top goals and points scorer in the league but for me, Adam Henrich is the key guy and that’s shown over the past month where his craft and guile has been missed while he’s been out with injury. I should also mention Mike Zacharias in between the pipes, he’s a standout goalie and arguably in the top 3 if not the best goalie in the league right now. He’s kept the Blaze in many games already this season that they might have been blown out of.

How about through the rest of the league, who are the guys you enjoy watching?

I really enjoy watching Belfast play. Games between them and us always seem to be close regardless of how the teams are performing currently, there just seems to be something that clicks between the two sides. Adam Keefe is probably the spearhead of that and for me he’s the prototype EIHL player. A little bit of toughness, a willingness to drop the gloves but also skilled and can put up the points and is reliable on special teams and in the defensive zone. From a purely skilled point of view, Nottingham always have a jam-packed roster of offensive talent and they’re always good to watch. Matt Francis has stood out for me this year, a really dynamic player.

The EIHL is now a regular feature on Premier Sports and Benn Olson seems to have emerged as a real character. Are the team capitalising on this at all? Olson novelty bowties at the merch stands perhaps??

The team actually do very well on merchandising for all of the players, but yes, Benn Olson has been capitalised on, back from when he joined the side last season. There’s been at least one, maybe two, themed t-shirts that he’s featured on. Two of the young lads who sit in front of me have “Big Benn Olson” on the back of their replica jerseys instead of just “Olson”; they’re not the only ones either. I will say that although Benn plays the tough guy role on the ice, he’s always been friendly and accommodating to everyone and has a wicked sense of humour and that has definitely come through on the TV.

It’s only fair as you’ve given up your time for us that we return the favour. Where can our readers find your writing on the game?

At this moment in time, pretty much exclusively in the Blaze’s monthly magazine “On Fire”. I’m working on a new website in my spare time right now which will be trying to take a more sideways look at hockey (at all levels) in the UK. Right now I’m developing the content for the site and hope to go live with it at some point in the summer. If there happens to be anyone reading who might be interested in contributing, particularly about either the EPL or NIHL, they can find me on Twitter @StutheBadger. 

Thanks to Stu for giving up his time. Go say hi to him on twitter!

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog!

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, or you write about your local team or the wider game, I’d love to ask you some questions too, please get in touch either here or via twitter!

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An Interview With Phil Manny

Hey Phil, we’re a good way through the season now, how do you feel the Devils have been doing so far, have you met expectations?

I think Cardiff have actually surprised a lot of sceptics, especially with 3 of last years top scorers moving on to other teams. The one thing to remember about NIHL Devils is that it’s a development team and new, hungry blood will always be coming through the ranks.

You spent last season in Streatham, was it an easy decision to return to Cardiff?

Streatham was a class organisation to play for and I can’t say enough good things about the people and the set up. They really treated me well. The move back to Cardiff stemmed from a Job offer I had whilst I was working in London so with Cardiff being my home town and my new job being in Cardiff there was no real decision to make, it was a no brainer.

How did you first get into ice hockey?

For my 9th Birthday my Mum and Dad arranged a skating party for me and my friends. I took some lessons and did a little bit of figure skating. After that my folks took me to watch a Devils games and from that day on I was hooked.

You can play in defence or up front, how much an asset is that, especially on a team like the Devils with lots of young players?

I think any player who has diversity is a good asset to any team. Being able to play forward or D gives Cudd options should he need to shuffle things around.

Outside of the Devils do you follow any other teams or players?

Not really to be honest, but i keep up to date on general news in UK hockey and former team mates/friends.

We’ve got a couple of questions from twitter for you. Ryan asks if you still have the cookie monster t-shirt you wore on an Invicta Christmas party a few years back?

Solid question Gilesy! J . Haha I do still have it somewhere.....

Also, Jamie from Streatham would like to know if you still keep in touch with a certain backup netminder?

Sorry Jamie “Gadge” I don’t. I may have known Dr Stefan Nubert since we were kids but he’s really busy trying to become a Professor so has no time for me i’m afraid.

Last question from us, you’ve been in the league a good few years now, whats the one piece of advice you’d give to any youngsters just starting out?

Hockey like most sports at Junior level can be very political, so if somebody tries to put you down, shrug it off and keep going.

Thanks for your time Phil, anything else you’d like to mention?

If anyone reading is interested in supporting or sponsoring the NIHL Devils please feel free to contact me either on Facebook or Twitter.

 A big Thank You to Phil for taking the time out to answer our questions. You can follow him on twitter @juandingo84 and keep up with the team throughout the season at @CardiffDevilsNL

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, so get in touch!

If we’ve used your photos, let us know as we’d like to give credit where it’s due!