Attendances and irrelevant games

I have just had a text from tonights game (yes, I'm not there. Can't afford 2 games worth of expenditure this week).

Apparently the crowd is numbering somewhere around 500-550.

Ouch.

This approx figure proves 2 things:

Midweek games have lower attendances.

The Knock Out Cup is seen as being irrelevant to the majority of supporters (around 700 fewer folks at the rink tonight, compared to Sunday, and probably 2-300 fewer than most midweek games).

Personally, I would either withdraw from next seasons K.O.Cup, or push for the league to scrap the competition, and save on the ice time costs. I have a feeling tonights tie will actually end up costing the club money rather than making it any, which in the current economic climate is something we really do not need.

Now that was much better

Finally, after a couple of points-less weekends, we take 3 out of the 4 on offer.

For sure, we made a right balls up of the game in Coventry (I still can't understand quite what happened), but we took the points off a very determined Cardiff side, who performed admirably despite being 5 skaters down.

The boys looked sharp and focused, and played at a cracking pace for much of the game. I totally loved it. The passion was there again (it has been missing somewhat recently).

Highlight of the night was undoubtedly the entire crowd helping/mimicing peter Aubrys desperate attempts to get the bench to pull him. Totally priceless.

And thats it. Im too damn tired to do anything detailed, thanks to my wonderful job.

What the Fu....

...ck happened there?

2-2, and quite finely balanced going into the 3rd, then BANG, were done for the night, shipping 6 goals in one period of play.

Ouch.

But, as the title suggests, I'm at a loss as to what actually went wrong, as we didn't really appear to turn to shit,indeed, we kept on trying to make plays happen, and get forward. The heads stayed up (mostly), and we still looked like we could score, but.....

I suppose the tipping point was Cloots missing a sitter from all of 2 feet out. I think that they boys must ahve known at that point that it just wasn't going to be their night.

Oh, and in my opinion our 2nd goal shouldn't have happened.Darnell should have stopped the game to allow the Giants player to recieve medical attention as it was obvious to a blind man that he was genuinely hurt, and was lay in such a position that a stry or deflected shot on goal could have caused further injury.

Of course, some will argue we should have stopped ourselves, but unlike football, if the puck (ball) is put out of play deliberately,then the ref must assess a 2 minute 'Delay of Game' penalty.

On a plus point though, I won £118 on the 50/50 draw. Which is nice.

Oh, and a special shout out goes to Five Minute Majors ladyhathaway (AKA Becky), Who has done some sterling work over the last few games as club photographer. You can actually go and buy her photos (for a very reasonable £2) on match nights at the merch desk. Just tell em Robb sent you.

We have a new address!

Yes, this wonderful, informative corner of ye olde web can now be reached from the following url:

www.thepyre.co.uk

That is all.

Well, that was shite wasn't it?

Thats my assesment of Sunday.

Shite.

We looked a (very) pale shadow of the team we usually are. For whatever reason we just never looked any good on Sunday.

The Blaze, on the other hand, looked every inch the 'Big 4' team that they and their fans proclaim them to be.

I really can't write anymore as I am at a loss as to explain what went on on the ice.

This could be a long one.....

So, lets start with Sundays game.

We beat the Panthers 4-2, which, being honest was a major surprise. In all honesty, for me, getting a tie, with an OT loss would have been a result, but the Gods of Hockey smiled upon us this time, and presented us will a well earned victory. After a sluggish first period from us, we improved and made ourselves some luck (Cloots goal was one of those 'It didn't actually go in, did it?' moments), and the empty netter was the icing on the cake.

And it must be noted, Robinson looks far better with the Panthers D infront of him than he did at Edinburgh. Could be a very astute signing there.

Now, onto some other stuff.

So, Neil Morris has gone public about how he is supporting the team commercially at this time after some (unnamed) sponsors have been unable to match their commitments due to the current economic climate. Good. I'd rather he was honest about this rather than pretending all is well, as other team owners have done (and likely will continue to do so). Yes, it makes things alittle more precarious for next season, but I have every confidence in Neil and the Phoenix team.

And as we enter the new year, the inevitable 'new league' rumors are begining in earnest. Allegedly Hull and Newcastle are looking at joining an updated 3 import Northern League, alongside Fife and Dundee. Other teams rumored for this NPL include Flintshire, Blackburn, Sheffield (Scimitars), and Whitley (no mention of us, interestingly).

Other rumors involve Basingstoke and Hull (again) joining the EPL, and the EIHL dropping all the way down to 6 imports. Certainly Basingstoke to the EPL has a ring of truth to it (more local games, less travel), but given that Hull tried the EPL for 1 season and found it just as expensive as playing with more imports due to higher travel costs, I feel that this rumor may only be partly true (although I have a feeling that Basingstoke could be persuaded to stay in the EIHL). As for the EIHL dropping to 6 imports.... won't happen. The 'Big 4' will not countenance such a drastic lowering of imports and the percieved (important word that one) drop in standards it would bring. My guess is for the import limit to be dropped to 9, maybe 8 at a push.