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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Oct 29, 2023 9:19:22 GMT
Truly the most awful news, from an awful incident for everyone involved and thoughts go to Adam’s friends, family and all those players involved. Poor form from the media team of Panthers & EIHL who haven’t acknowledged the incident, no official releases, and have let rumours fly around with multiple non-hockey media outlets have produced updates instead. It didn’t have to be much but just a few lines to update fans would have sufficed, even now when those across from Canada are providing updates. Above that thought, RIP AJ47. A magnificent hockey player and will be greatly missed. This is a little unfair, friend. They wouldn’t want to fan the flames of speculation and there probably wasn’t any encouraging news to post. They would want to tell Johnson’s family before they told the fanbase and by that time it’s likely the middle of the night. Plus I heard Chris is abroad right now with his own family. Just to make it clear, I did not mean to post about his condition or go into any detail (and certainly not post false hope) but just something short to say the game was stopped due to an incident, he’s been taken to hospital and to bear with the club in such a time, nothing more. That would have addressed it and given everyone time to await the unfortunate news rather than the speculation which did happen.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Oct 29, 2023 7:47:23 GMT
Truly the most awful news, from an awful incident for everyone involved and thoughts go to Adam’s friends, family and all those players involved.
Poor form from the media team of Panthers & EIHL who haven’t acknowledged the incident, no official releases, and have let rumours fly around with multiple non-hockey media outlets have produced updates instead. It didn’t have to be much but just a few lines to update fans would have sufficed, even now when those across from Canada are providing updates.
Above that thought, RIP AJ47. A magnificent hockey player and will be greatly missed.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Oct 21, 2023 20:28:27 GMT
Always been the case that a decent team will get bigger crowds, however not an exact science as the crowd sizes of 2012-13 were no different to other seasons around that time. To say OP came in with the specific intent of building crowd numbers, building the match night atmosphere and growing the business side, he’s failing woefully and where my GM comparison comes from was that although old school style and a marmite character to say the least, he build anticipation for games and although a bit contrived, Steelers rivalry was an easy sell. The marketing of OP seems almost non-existent other than what the social media team are doing, which is effectively making light hearted videos (following trends from other teams) and putting out a few tweets, of which one might link to ticket sales. There’s no build up or excitement, then game night arrives (for CC, EIHL, Steelers or otherwise) and crowd numbers are weak at best and barely match up to the size of an Edinburgh Capitals game 10 years ago. Out of interest how do you create excitement and buildup when we’re not blowing teams away offensively and there’s not the level of physicality compared to 10 years ago, also add our shocking record against Steelers in recent years That’s exactly what I’ve said in the opening part of above, the crowd sizes of 12/13 when we were winning games, with the likes of Lepine etc, were no real different to the crowd sizes of 11/12 and 13/14 seasons. Marketing the team, promoting games and tickets works. When they’re left to passively sell themselves without any advertising etc then the sales slope off. How do you do that? Ask the man who got a CEO job largely on the basis of the work he’d done in Dundee boosting crowd numbers, building rivalries etc.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Oct 21, 2023 19:01:26 GMT
Have a decent team, playing exciting hockey and you’d sell out. Shame we haven’t had that for years, GM and OP aren’t the issue. Always been the case that a decent team will get bigger crowds, however not an exact science as the crowd sizes of 2012-13 were no different to other seasons around that time. To say OP came in with the specific intent of building crowd numbers, building the match night atmosphere and growing the business side, he’s failing woefully and where my GM comparison comes from was that although old school style and a marmite character to say the least, he build anticipation for games and although a bit contrived, Steelers rivalry was an easy sell. The marketing of OP seems almost non-existent other than what the social media team are doing, which is effectively making light hearted videos (following trends from other teams) and putting out a few tweets, of which one might link to ticket sales. There’s no build up or excitement, then game night arrives (for CC, EIHL, Steelers or otherwise) and crowd numbers are weak at best and barely match up to the size of an Edinburgh Capitals game 10 years ago.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Oct 20, 2023 10:17:58 GMT
Just looked at tickets, go back 5 years ago and it would have been sold out days ago, but there’s still well over half of the bowl still available.
Granted it’s CC etc but it’s sad how poor the attendances have become, and no long past COVID etc, it either shows how GM was very good or how Pacha isn’t fulfilling his promises to boost crowds.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Oct 4, 2023 13:37:38 GMT
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Sept 30, 2023 21:39:06 GMT
Really bad, made a Steelers team not leave second gear and held us arms length all night.
Defence has no cohesion with attack and when (which wasn’t often) they cleared the zone, the D were so quick to step up and basically get amongst the forwards that it left us exposed time and time again at the back. Robinson may want back one or two but he was hung out to dry.
Swap out at least one D for a stay-at-home and it would help (Ryczek my pick on tonight’s viewing). Neill and Bjorkung with a Brock Wilson or first stint Lepine would be ideal.
The forwards are all too similar, as many predicted. All too same and as much as they are quick and skilful, when times get tough and you go 3-0 down in the first period there’s no plan B. Swap out Welsh and Anderson and you don’t lose any speed or skill, then put in two decent sized units to cover defensive responsibilities.
Steelers have a good balance, good skill, enough size and strength to push us off and they were well drilled and played their roles well.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Sept 10, 2023 16:44:58 GMT
Henbrant seems like he could be a diamond in the rough, hopefully he keeps pushing on and improving!
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Sept 7, 2023 10:48:11 GMT
Sort of the glaring issue in my eyes of what is wrong with playing pre-season games against your biggest (supposedly anyway) domestic league rivals. It was better, for the few season we did it, in getting teams from other leagues in. It was better for the fans to see a different team and it would put the Panthers up against a team where there was no pre-existing animosity or reason to take chunks out of each other. Not sure I buy this any more. (Hence Simmsy's rantings the other day, trying to rekindle an old flame) The rivalry in terms of knocking 7 bells out of one another is dead, effectively. Last season, there were only 88 PIMs in total in the 6 league games between Panthers and Steelers last season, below average for all games played. The series vs Fife, Dundee and Cardiff were far feistier (130+PIMS in all 3). Any injuries are likely to be entirely coincidental. Players get injured in warm up/training as well. I'd perhaps like to see some different opposition, but it will all come down to cost/willingness in the end. I’m not saying that the game(s) against Steelers will be an early 00’s style slug-fest and heavily laden with penalties, but as a pre-season game it’s an easy way to stick in a few cheap shots, rack a few slashes across wrists etc and do a bit of harm to a league rival before the season begins. Especially like you’ve raised, when the club representatives are building up the rivalry again and those brand new to the league and history are susceptible to being influenced to getting carried away and overzealous. Go back to playing against Asiago for example in 2012, it was a good fan spectacle seeing an unknown team come in and play, at that time the leagues and teams were comparable, it was exhibition stuff where both teams could use it to test the water, build chemistry and play without the added pressure of trying to one-up each other. Doesn’t always go that way of course, for no real known reason when Krefeld came over it did turn into a feisty affair with a few fights, but then we were competing with a level above and both teams had a couple of enforcers wanting to do their own preparations too.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Sept 6, 2023 15:28:55 GMT
Just don't want any injuries, didn't Sheffield injure one of our guys last season? Caruso? Sort of the glaring issue in my eyes of what is wrong with playing pre-season games against your biggest (supposedly anyway) domestic league rivals. It was better, for the few season we did it, in getting teams from other leagues in. It was better for the fans to see a different team and it would put the Panthers up against a team where there was no pre-existing animosity or reason to take chunks out of each other.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Aug 29, 2023 9:22:36 GMT
Who is the kit manufacturer out of interest?
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Aug 25, 2023 17:13:47 GMT
Obviously the strong rumour surfaced yesterday and as good as Wideman would have been, I feel Johnson trumps that. A really good pick up and someone with his experience will be uncommon in this EIHL this year. I hope he lives up to the billing and is able to thrive under Parades.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Aug 25, 2023 16:53:43 GMT
When Derlago arrived aged 31, having posted 1.42ppg in over 100 Danish league games, 1.26ppg in nearly 250 ECHL games & 1.40ppg in 130 Asian League games… not getting a point per game at EIHL was quite a disappointment.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Aug 25, 2023 10:19:49 GMT
Quit with the hype about the last signing, because you know Panthers will let it all build up to an announcement of Craig Puffer or the return of Gagnon to play as a forward!
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Aug 24, 2023 18:05:48 GMT
For a new player, must be the most drawn out rumour that kept resurfacing I’ve known Panthers have.
Looks ok though, hopefully more John Molin than Jens Jakobs.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Aug 16, 2023 11:18:33 GMT
It’s interesting that in his Panthers welcome interview he’s placed himself firmly as a two-way centre. He’s clearly adept at picking up points and goals and his +/- numbers have been good too (asides from the A who clearly deployed him in a defensive role).
Found from the AHL website from a few years back, Michaud’s highlights:
- Scored his first professiona goal with Manitoba (AHL), April 7/21 vs. Belleville - Made his professional debut with Manitoba, Feb. 15/21 vs. Toronto - Tied for the lead on North Dakota in goals (16), 2019-20 - Captured the Penrose Cup with North Dakota as the NCHC's top regular season club, 2019-20 - Named an all-conference honorable mention, 2019-20 - Posted an NCHC career high in points (30) and goals (13) with Colorado College, 2018-19 - Advanced to the semifinals of the 2019 Frozen Faceoff with Colorado Led Colorado with seven power-play tallies, 2018-19.
On face value and on paper, a line of Michaud/Lemay/Nieminen would have plenty of goals and assists between them. Not the biggest line but would cause any defence issues if they start clicking early.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Aug 10, 2023 11:13:20 GMT
I think he looks good, clearly a quick and offensively minded d-man who in Norway & Slovakia has also been quite impressive with his +/- stats too.
30 years old, 6ft tall, with two or three seasons in each of USHL, NCAA, Denmark, Norway (including being in a league winning team then CHL) and Slovakia.
Usually scoring over 0.5pt a game each season and with decent PIMs numbers showing he has a feisty side to his game.
As with all these signings, it will depend who he’s paired with and who else comes in to compliment him, however Bjorkung looks like he could be a decent pickup to me.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Aug 2, 2023 22:18:46 GMT
Kevin Carr lands back in the EIHL with Dundee.
Decent pick up for them, given Carr is nothing flashy but solid enough and consistently sits above 91% svs.
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Line up..
Aug 2, 2023 22:15:47 GMT
via mobile
Post by Kovalchuk17 on Aug 2, 2023 22:15:47 GMT
It’s disappointing that Clan have picked up Darien Craighead, he would have been a nice fit for Panthers. The name would have looked great back on a Panthers jersey again too
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Jul 19, 2023 14:54:26 GMT
Heard in passing that Garret Hunt to Panthers, not sure how I'd feel based on him jumping ship last year If it’s true, would be happy to have him. Leaving Panthers to take up a KHL role (and the money that comes with it) is excusable for me.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Jun 29, 2023 14:43:37 GMT
Good pick up for us and should be reliable and solid.
Cost wise, his signing could and should be leave us with scope to sign another, younger netminder too.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Jun 26, 2023 12:39:34 GMT
Lindsay I seemed to remember started OK in the opening games but suddenly fell off a cliff, hence in retrospect his numbers are average but those who were there remember him as being very poor. Lindsay also suffered from the inexplicable decision to bring him in as replacement for Cruickshank who had just finished with .935 SVS and 1.88 GAA. Mike Ellis wanted his own direction, but CC’s numbers were unbeatable.
Parley was very poor but perhaps let down by the team defence. He was one of the top ECHL performers the season before, posting better numbers all round than a certain Craig Kowalski. Davis never had a good game and was gone pretty quick and replaced by a very much unexpectedly good Michel Robinson.
St Pierre was very average. Didn’t really do enough to get the chop but he was anything to write home about either.
People often forget too, either due to how well he started or his zany personality, Miika Wiikman put up some consistently poor numbers. Played on a couple of very offensive minded teams but he was always around 3 GAA and struggled past .900 SVS.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Jun 24, 2023 14:41:56 GMT
It was just a bit of fun, I wasn’t actually suggesting signing someone just because of their name. I don’t think signing Logan is “desperation” on either side, it’s certainly not “desperation” of Logan to try out the plan you’ve described as seeking opportunity to get his name in the European market. His NAHL numbers, at 20 years old, aren’t going to tempt in many ECHL or AHL teams and for whatever reason (his own or no teams wanting him) he’s not gone to the NCAA. He’s undrafted and finds himself in a better position than trawling tryouts at the end of summer by signing with his home team. Cade put up good numbers in the NAHL and has found himself at Uni and in the NCAA - which is where the top NAHL players end up. Now I’m being genuine here, but I’m still confused as to why they would let Hopkins go and then sign a player who from the sounds of your post didn’t have much in the way of career options ? I’m not saying he doesn’t have career options at all, I’m saying it’s probably his best option to get his foot on the Euro ladder when his numbers wouldn’t have tempted many ECHL or above leagues. Those who seem to have watched Logan and are better in the know, seem to unanimously believe he will be a useful addition in the EIHL.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Jun 24, 2023 7:34:00 GMT
That’s hilarious. Best name I’ve ever seen. Never mind someone with an 'hilarious' name (really ??), I'd settle for Logan's older brother. I'm surprised Logan has made the move to the UK so soon, without at least trying out for the pro leagues back home. Unless Panthers are paying him really good money. It's smacks of slight desperation on both sides, Panthers needing a top Brit and hoping that Logan has the same impact as Cade, Logan seeing an opportunity to get his name in the European market where the good money is It was just a bit of fun, I wasn’t actually suggesting signing someone just because of their name. I don’t think signing Logan is “desperation” on either side, it’s certainly not “desperation” of Logan to try out the plan you’ve described as seeking opportunity to get his name in the European market. His NAHL numbers, at 20 years old, aren’t going to tempt in many ECHL or AHL teams and for whatever reason (his own or no teams wanting him) he’s not gone to the NCAA. He’s undrafted and finds himself in a better position than trawling tryouts at the end of summer by signing with his home team. Cade put up good numbers in the NAHL and has found himself at Uni and in the NCAA - which is where the top NAHL players end up.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on Jun 23, 2023 20:30:05 GMT
That would be a very, very good signing.
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