Signings, Rumours and Hybrid NHL teams

Busy few days in both the EIHL and the EPL as regards comings and goings, signatures, and floating rumours for the forth-coming 09/10 season. Also, news out of the NHL is that the Phoenix Coyotes could be a few home games away from home this season.

Firstly though to the concrete signings of the past week or so, going back to the week that Andre Payette put pen to paper in Manchester, Rod Sarich also confirmed he would be playing another season at the House of Steel. Coach Dave Matsos feels that this signing is the most important of the summer and also added that Sarich may have a different role this season as the Steelers look to retain their Elite League crown. I don’t think there’s anyone that can deny it is a great signing for the Steelers as Sarich will have had a mountain of contracts awaiting his signature from various teams around the world as he continues to be one of, if not the best defenceman in the Elite League. Meanwhile Ryan Finnerty has been confirmed as leaving the club by Matsos and has apparently signed a contract in North America (possibly with the Bloomington Prairie Thunder of the IHL).

Meanwhile in the North-East the Newcastle Vipers continued to re-shape their squad by securing the services of Matus Petricko. The Slovakian born forward should add strength and further depth to a completely re-vamped Vipers side. During a previous spell in Newcastle through the 05/06 season, Petricko scored 53 points in 47 games, leading them to the play-off title, this will be the kind of production that coach Rob Wilson will be hoping to get from the Slovak in the coming season. The Vipers also completed the signings of their blue liners for the new season by adding the final piece in American defenceman Tyler Kindle. Kindle is an offensive defenceman who arrives on Tyneside from the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder. In the 07/08 season with the Fresno Falcons he posted 10 goals and 34 assists in 57 league games for a career year.

In the English Premier League, the Bracknell Bees have signed Dutch defenceman Chad Euverman. Born in British Columbia, Canada, Euverman opted to use his family ties and regularly holds a spot on the blue line for the Netherlands team and has played in World Championship and Olympic qualification tournaments. Although, from recent stats, it doesn’t look like he has a played a full season (or somewhere close) since the 06/07 season with Bolzano II of the Italian second division where he posted 22 points in 30 games.

The Romford Raiders completed their import quota last Friday (July 24th) with the signing of defenceman Jonathan Sitko who last season played for the Swindon Wildcats. Sitko also comes with experience from the ECHL (Toledo Storm, Gwinnett Gladiators) and the NCAA (Bowling Green State University). On the same day, Slough Jets lost a defenceman before a puck has even dropped as the Belfast Giants snapped up Kevin Phillips, brother of AHL bound Davey Phillips and the Slough Jets management seemed less than happy to lose a valuable piece of their blue-line some 7 weeks from the start of the new season.

Final couple of notes, veteran forward Ed Courtenay is strongly rumoured to have signed for the Manchester Phoenix and if Tony Hand has worked his magic again, this scoop is sure to raise the threat levels to red at several other EPL clubs who are looking for the league title this year. Meanwhile the ongoing saga across the pond in the NHL is as to whether the Phoenix Coyotes will in fact be playing hockey in Phoenix for the 09/10 season, and news has come about that the Coyotes might have two homes for the new season, one in Glendale, where they are at present in Arizona, and one in…Saskatchewan. The planned ‘hybrid’ Coyotes team would play five ‘home’ games in Saskatoon as part of the company Ice Edge’s buying of the franchise that would see the Coyotes remain at home in the basking sun of the Arizona Desert apart from the said five games. One thing’s for sure, if those scheduled five ‘home’ games are against Canadian opposition, tickets won’t be on sale for long.

Hand Looks For Power With Payette

Manchester Phoenix player coach Tony Hand has this week swooped for the Canadian power forward Andre Payette. The 32 year old comes to Manchester with a sack full of experience including 155 games in the AHL whilst also spending the past four seasons with Elite League side Newcastle Vipers.

Payette was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL during the 1994 season and since then has been to a number of AHL sides including the Flyers affiliate team the Philadelphia Phantoms,

“I like to think I’ve more to my game than just being the physical presence and I think my track record of success backs that up,” commented the amiable Canadian from his home in Ontario. “I won a Calder Cup with the Philadelphia Phantoms in the American Hockey League and since arriving in the UK in 2004, I’ve won a Challenge Cup, an Elite League title and two Playoff Championships, so I know what it takes to win trophies, and I’m determined to win more.”

Manchester Phoenix fans know exactly what they are going to get with Payette as he has dropped his gloves many times to take on Brett Clouthier in past seasons but along with his role as an enforcer, he likes to chip in with the points here and there and hopefully this side of his game will take on a bigger now that he has stepped onto a team that is only allowed four imports on the roster.

Tony Hand added, “I’ve no doubt this signing will be a big surprise to some, but for me, Andre ticks a lot of boxes. He’s a big, physical presence, a true power-forward who can score goals, can play a number of positions and he brings a winners experience to the room. He’ll give the team the toughness if it’s needed, but I think his qualities of leadership in the room will be an even bigger asset to our club this season, I’m very pleased to have brought him to Manchester.”

However, Payette is known to amass the penalty minutes as his hard-nosed approach to the game often gets him sitting in the penalty box, over the past four seasons with the Vipers he has accumulated over a 1000 penalty minutes and this will have to be something Hand will have to watch when the season starts come September. Although during a one season stint with the Coventry Blaze back in 04/05, Payette scored 22 points in 28 games and this will be the kind of form that Hand will be looking to get from the Canadian. Payette has been in touch with an ex-Phoenix player whom he iced with up on Tyneside last season and remarked,

“Joining the Phoenix is another great challenge for me at this stage in my career, I’ve always tried to contribute to every club I’ve played for and having talked at length with Tony (Hand), I’m looking forward to an exciting season in Manchester. I spoke with Derek Campbell a few days ago and he spoke really well of his time with the Phoenix.”

Hand now has only two remaining import slots to fill as Payette joins Jaako Hagelberg as non-UK trained players on the Phoenix team and he will continue the search to bring the right players to Manchester for the forth-coming season, which is due to start around mid-September.

Ex-Herd Reiter Joins Steelers

Last seasons stand out player for the Basingstoke Bison has been confirmed as the man to replace the departing Jody Lehman between the pipers for the Sheffield Steelers this season. Kevin Reiter, a native of Pittsburgh, US, stands at 5’10” and tips the scales at 174lbs will hope to fill the big shoes left by Lehman who has left the Elite League champions to embark on a new challenge in Denmark. Reiter has already been quoted as saying how good the Steelers defence was last term, however coach Dave Matsos has yet to sign up the majority of his blue line personnel with only Scott Basiuk and Mark Thomas as confirmed signings. One thing is for sure, the Steelers back line will have a number of new faces and there will be a question mark as to whether the defence will be as strong as last seasons with Steve Munn and Rod Sarich remaining unsigned.

With Reiter however, they have managed to secure the signature of a goalie that has proven his ability in the past and managed to show flashes of his brilliance last season at the Bison including a memorable road win in Coventry where he withstood a barrage of some 50+ shots. In the season prior to joining the Bison, he posted a 2.34 GAA and a save percentage of .910 for the Fort Wayne Komets in the IHL.

Meanwhile, the Edinburgh Capitals have announced the signing of defenceman Chris Allen. Born in Chatham, Ontario, Allen has 130 games of ECHL experience along with 110 games in the AHL. He has also played in leagues across Europe including Finland, Austria, Denmark and Norway before playing a season in the Asian League with High1. Allen was drafted by the Florida Panthers in 1996 and was ranked 60th overall, he went on to play a couple of games with the Panthers but spent most of his contract with AHL team Beast of New Haven.

Phoenix Duo Head For Italy

Former Phoenix captain and the Elite League's Top Scorer of 08/09 have both decided to try their luck in Italy. Kenton Smith and David Beauregard have signed for HC Valpellice Bulldogs who ice in Serie A Italian Hockey League.

With the Phoenix moving to the EPL this year, it was inevitable that the majority of the players from last term would move on, but surely this news will come as a bit of a relief for many Phoenix fans as rumours spread that certain Elite League clubs were after Beauregards signature for next season.

In terms of this seasons squad however, there are still 3 international spots available on the roster and player/coach Tony Hand has got plenty of time to pick out the players that he feels will get the job done next season and with the current roster shaping up nicely, Tony Hand should be looking at no less than a top half finish.

Phoenix Forward Hits The Road For Cancer Charity

Manchester Phoenix forward Adam Walker has been hard at work in preparation for the new ice hockey season and his training will be put to the test as he prepares to cycle 300 miles in just four days in aid of the Macmillan Cancer charity.

Walker, now approaching his fourth season with the Phoenix will take on the challenge in August where he will start in London and hopefully finish the task in Paris, Adam commented,

“My Grandad suffered with and eventually died from cancer and the people at Macmillans were unbelievably good to him. The care and support they offer is second to none and I want to try and give something back to them. I’m passionate about this and if I can help by raising some money, then the effort will be well worth while.”

Adam will leave Blackheath, London on August 19th and the race will come to a close under the Eiffel Tower on August 22nd. The four stages of the bike ride will take him through to Dover, onto Calais, then through Arras and finally Compiegne before the concluding 56 miles to Paris.

In an effort to raise as much funds as possible, Adam has created a special web page so that anyone wishing to sponsor him for his efforts can do at :-

www.justgiving.com/adamwalker29

Adam hopes to raise around £1500 and added, ” Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Macmillan Cancer Support gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.”

Phoenix Seal Hagelberg Deal

Manchester Phoenix head coach Tony Hand has secured his first international summer signing with the acquisition of versatile experienced Finn Jaakko Hagelberg.

The 26 year-old left winger hails from Tampere, Finland, however his position on the ice seems irrelevant as he is able to play in any position, his versatility as a player being a key element when the Phoenix management set out for his signature.

Hagelberg has played over 170 games in the SM:liiga with Tappara and Lukko and last season he recorded 14 points in 32 games with Finnish second tier side Leki Lempaala. Meanwhile in two previous seasons in the German Bundesliga he scored 25 goals and chipped in with 38 assists.

Phoenix fans may now know who is to play up on the infamous Phoenix top line which has produced so many great scoring tandems with player/coach Hand. With Swedish sniper Johan Molin, Italian-Canadian Joe Tallari and last years phenomenal David Beauregard having all had great seasons with Tony Hand on the top line, perhaps Hagelberg will be the one to fit into this continuing equation.

This signing news comes on the back of Elite League team Coventry Blaze announcing the signing of Luke Fulghum, last seasons third member of the Phoenix number one line and Hagelberg could be the player to replace Fulghum if not the influential Beauregard.

Phoenix owner Neil Morris acquired another signature just last week as ex-Manchester Storm marketing expert Dave Biggar agreed to join the club after spending the last nine years in North America. Biggar comes the Phoenix after providing his skills to the owners of the world-renowned Madison Square Garden whilst working with NHL side New York Rangers and AHL outfit Hartford Wolf Pack. Now, Biggar has set out to make Altrincham based Manchester Phoenix his next project as the club look for further ways to boost attendances even though the club has decided to drop to the English National League for the forthcoming ice hockey season.

Phoenix Brits All Signed Up

Manchester Phoenix player coach Tony Hand has completed the signings of the British contingent for the forthcoming season, the first in the English Premier League. Hand has acquired youngsters James Neil and Robert Lachowicz from Elite League side Nottingham Panthers and will now turn his attention to signing the foreign imports for Phoenix’s first foray in the second tier of British Ice Hockey.

However with the British players all signed up and ready to begin preparations for the new season, the Phoenix line-up is already looking very strong, with former Elite League players Stephen Fone (Coventry Blaze), Greg Wood (Coventry Blaze), Iain Bowie (Edinburgh Capitals) mixed with a strong young nucleus of players from last season’s squad including Luke Boothroyd, Adam Walker and inspirational leader Hand. Fans of the Altrincham based club have reason to believe that Phoenix should be pushing for a top half finish with the likes of Peterborough Phantoms, Milton Keynes Lightning and Guildford Flames also in the mix to compete for the title. Equally the Basingstoke Bison, another team which dropped a division from the Elite League at the end of last season, should not be discounted when the season gets underway. Meanwhile the Swindon Wildcats have snapped up former Nottingham Panthers back-up netminder Geoff Woolhouse, whom the Phoenix faithful saw last season at the Ice Dome. For those fans who are a little disappointed in the Phoenix’s exit from the top flight, the current rosters forming in the EPL show that the standard of play, whilst not Elite League standard, will be good and the league is shaping up to be very competitive indeed with all teams making impressive signings which should make for another exciting rollercoaster season.

Meanwhile this weekend saw confirmation that the Bracknell Bees will also ice in the EPL next season, much to the delight of ice hockey fans in general as the Bee’s are a well recognized team and the yellow and black jerseys should be no stranger to the Phoenix fans next season as the Bee’s used to be regular visitors to the Storm Shelter back in the days of the Manchester Storm and the Superleague.

Over the next few weeks Phoenix’s Tony Hand will look to start adding his international players to the roster, however with the EPL rules on foreign talent different to that of the Elite League, expect Hand to take his time in finding the right players to do the job next season. With the Elite League allowing teams to ice ten imports, the EPL is designed to allow more British players to play in the league therefore only four imports will take to the ice for the Phoenix next season, non of which will be returnees from last season. The players must have an E.U passport as apposed to getting a work permit, which players coming from North America would need should they wish to play ice hockey in the UK. This does somewhat decrease the amount of players available to player/coach Tony Hand for next season, but by no means installs the idea that the imports will be lower quality than seasons gone by, in fact, the Phoenix coach now has the theoretically the same funds as last season to spend on four international players as apposed to ten, therefore those four imports should be of the highest quality and the fans should await with optimism as to the talent that Tony Hand brings to Altrincham next season.