Aladdin Cup 2013

[kezypanther]

Ice hockey’s Aladdin Cup is back with a bang, top French side Amiens will visit the UK in August to take on Grand Slam Winners Nottingham Panthers and Gardiner Conference Champions Braehead Clan in a three day tournament across two great cities.

The action starts in Nottingham where the GMB Panthers, winners of the UK Elite League, the Challenge Cup and the Play-Offs will take on Amiens on Friday August 30th

Then the action switches to Scotland with the Braehead Clan hosting the Amiens Gothiques on Saturday August 31st

And the tournament finishes with the clash of the Clan and the Panthers on Sunday September 1st.

GMB Panthers head coach Corey Neilson said: “We’re going to Rotterdam for a big international tournament in late August and now we are returning home for another big test. The Aladdin Cup will be a meaningful event and I’m sure all three sides will be going for victory. The Friday game will be the first chance for fans to see our new-look side in action and we can’t wait for the puck to drop.”

New Clan coach Ryan Finnerty echoed his opposite number’s thoughts saying : “Pre-season games are all well and good but without an edge they lean more towards fitness than anything else. This competition has a trophy up for grabs so fans will get to see competitive games straight off the bat. We’re all looking forward to it!”

Ticket details will be announced soon.

[Yotes]

By late August, even the Aladdin Cup will be enticing I'll definitely make the Amiens game.

Glad they'll be getting a good build up to the season, with this and Rotterdam.

[cooperphil156]

It might be me, but it does not seem clear where the Panthers - Clan match is. Presumably Braehead.

[kezypanther]

I had the same thoughts as you, I think in Braehead too.

[Caesar]

Evening Post confirms that its at Braehead

[madras]

Any of you guys coming up to Braehead for the Saturday/Sunday? Got to say that I love coming to Nottingham for the play off weekend. Great arena, great City, great people. You will all be more than welcome in Glasgow.

The fact that the final 2 games are in Braehead is certainly a welcome boost for us Clan fans. It means that we do not have to pay top dollar to watch the action. Play off weekend for me and my girlfriend costs around £800 all in.

There is a Travelodge next to the Arena and I am sure that they will sort you out.

See you there!

[harlan]

Its a real shame for Scottish hockey that Braehead are taking part in this pre-season tournament rather than progressing with the Scottish Autumn Cup as a pre-season tournament.

Everybody really agreed last season that the Scottish Autumn Cup had great potential as a pre-season tournament that would increase the rivalries in Scotland and generate good publicity for the game up here especially with it revolving round each of the four venues and it gives each of the four teams to have some silverware before the season has even started.

Now with Clan taking part in this the game in Scotland will not start off in the same vein as it did last season nor will it give the Flyers the opportunity to defend the trophy they won last season.

IMO the Clan taking part in the Aladdin Cup instead of the Scottish Autumn Cup isn't progressing the game in Scotland

[spik]

Jun 14, 2013 8:53:09 GMT harlan said:

Its a real shame for Scottish hockey that Braehead are taking part in this pre-season tournament rather than progressing with the Scottish Autumn Cup as a pre-season tournament.

Everybody really agreed last season that the Scottish Autumn Cup had great potential as a pre-season tournament that would increase the rivalries in Scotland and generate good publicity for the game up here especially with it revolving round each of the four venues and it gives each of the four teams to have some silverware before the season has even started.

Now with Clan taking part in this the game in Scotland will not start off in the same vein as it did last season nor will it give the Flyers the opportunity to defend the trophy they won last season.

IMO the Clan taking part in the Aladdin Cup instead of the Scottish Autumn Cup isn't progressing the game in Scotland

I have to agree with you.Typical of my ever increasing complaint that we cannot organise anything worthwhile.Just keep popping in and out with odd games and tournaments which falter the next season.No real consistency.
Didn't Panthers lose the Alladin Cup last time as well.So might as well forget calling this the 'whatever' Cup and just play the event.Whats the point of playing for a Cup, might as well just put some money up as a gift prize.

[BigLad]

Jun 14, 2013 11:13:15 GMT spik said:

Jun 14, 2013 8:53:09 GMT harlan said:

Its a real shame for Scottish hockey that Braehead are taking part in this pre-season tournament rather than progressing with the Scottish Autumn Cup as a pre-season tournament.

Everybody really agreed last season that the Scottish Autumn Cup had great potential as a pre-season tournament that would increase the rivalries in Scotland and generate good publicity for the game up here especially with it revolving round each of the four venues and it gives each of the four teams to have some silverware before the season has even started.

Now with Clan taking part in this the game in Scotland will not start off in the same vein as it did last season nor will it give the Flyers the opportunity to defend the trophy they won last season.

IMO the Clan taking part in the Aladdin Cup instead of the Scottish Autumn Cup isn't progressing the game in Scotland

I have to agree with you.Typical of my ever increasing complaint that we cannot organise anything worthwhile.Just keep popping in and out with odd games and tournaments which falter the next season.No real consistency.
Didn't Panthers lose the Alladin Cup last time as well.So might as well forget calling this the 'whatever' Cup and just play the event.Whats the point of playing for a Cup, might as well just put some money up as a gift prize.

It's pre-season. They're friendly games. Personally I'd have thought playing a team 10 times in a season already before you do pre-season games is more than enough. Just IMO on that like.

As for the Aladdin thing, it's arranged by Aladdin Sports. They can invite who they like to take part. No different to the Emirates Cup, etc in footy. Arsenal don't win it, but are always in it!

[billbris]

Jun 14, 2013 8:53:09 GMT harlan said:

Its a real shame for Scottish hockey that Braehead are taking part in this pre-season tournament rather than progressing with the Scottish Autumn Cup as a pre-season tournament.

Everybody really agreed last season that the Scottish Autumn Cup had great potential as a pre-season tournament that would increase the rivalries in Scotland and generate good publicity for the game up here especially with it revolving round each of the four venues and it gives each of the four teams to have some silverware before the season has even started.

Now with Clan taking part in this the game in Scotland will not start off in the same vein as it did last season nor will it give the Flyers the opportunity to defend the trophy they won last season.

IMO the Clan taking part in the Aladdin Cup instead of the Scottish Autumn Cup isn't progressing the game in Scotland

I understand your dismay that the Clan have opted to participate in the Aladdin Cup, and not in the Scottish Autumn Cup, as in the previous year.

Having now had a season of the Conference system under our belts, where we played the other Scottish teams 8 – 10 times in league and CC games, and having the knowledge that the same is to occur in the coming season, can hardly fill fans with anticipation for this tournament as their pre-season opener.

In contrast as a Clan supporter, I’m delighted that we’ll be having 2 home games (which may not have been the case with the Autumn Cup) against fresh opposition, Amiens, and last year’s stand-out EIHL team, the Panthers. These should generate decent publicity for the Clan, given that the Daily Record is one of our sponsors, and the previous good coverage given by the Scottish Sun. If other Scottish teams use a bit of imagination and organise something between themselves, or with others, this would be included with, and increase that publicity, raising awareness of the start of the Scottish ice hockey season.

Clan can hardly be blamed for opting for 2 lucrative (hopefully) pre-season home games, with the spectre of ‘Disney on Ice’ hanging over Braehead at the start of our season again (it’s the start of their run, so we get hit with their initial rehearsals as well). Like last year, we’ll probably have 1 home game on the first weekend, before becoming hockey nomads for the next 4 weekends!

I was wondering why you haven’t commented on the ‘Aladdin Cup’ thread on the Clan forum, where it would be more relevant.

[NickThePanther44]

Have I missed something? Why can't the Autumn Cup be played the weekend before?

[Pies]

Jun 15, 2013 7:55:19 GMT NickThePanther44 said:

Have I missed something? Why can't the Autumn Cup be played the weekend before?

Because that suggest common sense ideas!

Though I imagine that teams like the stars and flyers won't get their players in until closer to seasons start in order to save some money on wages and housing.

[harlan]

Flyers had their imports in two weeks before the season started last summer and the ice down for drills but you are right I don't see Edinburgh or Dundee bringing in their imports two/three weeks before the season is due to start.
Even Braehead weren't able to have all their imports that they had signed in for the Autumn Cup last season

[clanfandouglas]

I am with Bill on this one as the conference system and challenge cup games mean more games v Scots teams. So a refreshing change and to good games for Braehead to play as Bill said above the team will be on the road in September so money for these games will also help when no weekly income from home games coming in.
Dundee are playing Fife home and away anyway.

[harlan]

Jun 19, 2013 0:51:34 GMT clanfandouglas said:

I am with Bill on this one as the conference system and challenge cup games mean more games v Scots teams. So a refreshing change and to good games for Braehead to play as Bill said above the team will be on the road in September so money for these games will also help when no weekly income from home games coming in.
Dundee are playing Fife home and away anyway.

But all of Clans home challenge cup games against their Scottish opposition are all doubled up as league games, so how is that more games against Scottish teams? It is actually less games against their Scottish rivals than last season

[snrn10]

Jun 19, 2013 8:55:42 GMT harlan said:

Jun 19, 2013 0:51:34 GMT clanfandouglas said:

I am with Bill on this one as the conference system and challenge cup games mean more games v Scots teams. So a refreshing change and to good games for Braehead to play as Bill said above the team will be on the road in September so money for these games will also help when no weekly income from home games coming in.
Dundee are playing Fife home and away anyway.

But all of Clans home challenge cup games against their Scottish opposition are all doubled up as league games, so how is that more games against Scottish teams? It is actually less games against their Scottish rivals than last season

it works out as 1 less [guaranteed] game v scots rivals than last season [@ Fife now a standalone CC game] & I feel that this is a better way for the Clan to prepare for the season ahead 

[clanfandouglas]

Clan have to do what's best for Clan and that's 2 home games and bring in revenue before heading on the road, 4 home games and 5 away games if you count challenge cup is more than enough for Scottish opponents.