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Post by KimThePanther on Dec 8, 2004 21:47:39 GMT
Taken from off THF....
Clubs Apply to Join The Elite League.
During recent weeks and months, rumours have been circulating about clubs from the British National League potentially applying to join the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).
Following Tuesday’s Elite League board meeting chairman Eamon Convery confirmed that he had been approached a few weeks ago by a number of clubs wishing to apply to join the league at the end of the current season in April 2005.
He also advised that representatives from the Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals and Newcastle Vipers attended the board meeting as part of the application process. “The discussions yesterday were very open and constructive,” he commented. “Although there are a number of procedural matters to be finalised it was the unanimous decision of the directors present, in principle, to welcome the clubs as members”.
The next EIHL board meeting is scheduled to be held in early January by which time it is hoped that the application process will be completed and confirmation can made about the admission of the clubs.
Convery reported that, “With the projected return to play of the Manchester Phoenix in a new facility for 2005, the league will have a minimum of 10 teams and this will encompass representation from all the four of the home nations.”
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simbo
Jade Galbraith
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Post by simbo on Dec 8, 2004 22:23:22 GMT
So the Elite league have had a meeting Hmmm and i welcome all teams into the fold....... Pressing matters are we to get the 2 points from London or NOT. I for one am getting a bit bemused about this and the next meeting is in January.
RULES are rules if we had broken the "RULES" we would be two points worse off.........
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Post by Daddio on Dec 8, 2004 22:27:31 GMT
Where does this leave Bracknell, guildford etc.
Must be worrying times for them.
Cant see any alternative now for all those teams to follow suite especially Fife, no other teams left in Scotland
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Post by newham on Dec 8, 2004 22:28:04 GMT
bit random there Sime? I think the future of the league is a little more important than a couple of points when we're going to win the league by 15 anyway!
10 teams next year? Thats utterly fantastic news!
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sunbeam
David Clarke
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Post by sunbeam on Dec 9, 2004 9:42:00 GMT
Bison, Belfast, Cardiff, Cov, London, Manchester, Nottm, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Dundee and Newcastle surely equals 11?
Excellent news for the sport.
I am concerned with the lack of criticism of Dave Simms on this thread though..........!
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MP
Paul Adey
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Post by MP on Dec 9, 2004 9:49:17 GMT
I am concerned with the lack of criticism of Dave Simms on this thread though..........! That's £1 you owe the Rink Rush on Sunday Sunbeam! ;D
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Lynne
Pat Casey
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Post by Lynne on Dec 9, 2004 9:49:46 GMT
Bison, Belfast, Cardiff, Cov, London, Manchester, Nottm, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Dundee and Newcastle surely equals 11? Excellent news for the sport. I am concerned with the lack of criticism of Dave Simms on this thread though..........! Shhh YOU!!!! As for there being 11 - maybe Steelers are going to drop out ? ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) (only joking, and I would hate that to happen!)
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Post by KimThePanther on Dec 9, 2004 11:32:49 GMT
Some individual statements from the clubs involved....
Dundee Stars...
Edinburgh Capitals...
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Post by Wigwam on Dec 9, 2004 12:50:48 GMT
Great news indeed! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by nickthepanther44 on Dec 9, 2004 14:33:32 GMT
yep, a 10/11 team league will be ideal
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Post by Heanor Lair on Dec 9, 2004 14:35:42 GMT
Hull and Bracknell made comments about joining the Elite League did'nt they?
Presumably they havn't submitted an application or if they did their application was refused.
I think one thing is certain Fife and Guilford are unlikely to apply. Influence figures in both clubs have set their anti EIHL stall out publicly in the past and I suspect it would be too much of a humiliation to these persons (dont worry Mods won't mention them, their comments are readily availbale on several web sites), if they applied to the EIHL.
I have to say I'm suprised that neither Hull or Bracknell were mentioned in the Press Release, but I guess with 11 teams ( the present EIHL plus Manchester, Dundee, Newcastle, and Edinburgh) you can have 3 home and 3 away games (10 X 6 =60 games) , but with 13 teams you either have 2 home 2 away (48 games which is probably too few) or 3 home 3 away (72 games which for our regular season is probably too many)
HL
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Post by Heanor Lair on Dec 9, 2004 15:49:28 GMT
Taken from the Sheffield Star (or the Daily Stir) as mr Lea referred to the rag in las nights Steelers Programme ![:-X](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/lipssealed.png) ******************** London coach Roger Black told Canadian journalists at Sheffield Arena last night that there would be a "12 or 14 team" Elite League, next season - effectively predicting the end of the British National League. ********************* Not sure about the 14 with Guilford and Fife not entertaing the EIHL. 12 Yes if Hull come on board (likely I'd say). Bracknell, who knows?? HL
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Post by Cunndies on Dec 9, 2004 16:05:10 GMT
I think one thing is certain Fife and Guilford are unlikely to apply. Influence figures in both clubs have set their anti EIHL stall out publicly in the past and I suspect it would be too much of a humiliation to these persons (dont worry Mods won't mention them, their comments are readily availbale on several web sites), if they applied to the EIHL. That's quite a big accusation there HL - care to back it up with some facts? When did anybody from Fife "set out their anti-EIHL stall"? You say "in public", so I assume you have quotes to back that up, right? The only thing that Fife have set out publically recently was when a club official confirmed on THF that they'd been involved in the merger talks from the start. If anybody has any concrete facts about what Tom Muir is "supposed" to have done, rather than hearsay, then please let me know! Everybody (particularly on THF) seems to speculate to their hearts content, but whenever I ask, the silence is deafening. From what I know, I'd be very surprised if Fife didn't apply to the EIHL.
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Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
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Post by Shaggy on Dec 9, 2004 16:21:16 GMT
Hull and Bracknell made comments about joining the Elite League did'nt they? Presumably they havn't submitted an application or if they did their application was refused. I believe that the former is true - no application made............ yet! Hmmmm....... Fife and Guildford haven't exactly set out their anti-EIHL stall publicly.... publicly, it's all perfectly deniable. There is a lot of information/rumour/speculation (a mixture of all 3) that behind the scenes they have been opposed to the EIHL - even actively engaged in attempts to cripple it - but nothing proveable. However - it could now be out of their control. They may only have a simple choice - EIHL or bust... especially if the other 5 BNL teams move over - only Bracknell & Hull to make that decision now, and there have already been indications that they are considering it. I suppose that there could well be 2 choices:- - do the EIHL bury any real or imagined past political grudges and accept applications from Fife & Guildford? (I doubt they'd fail on financial grounds) - would Tom Muir (Fife) and John Hepburn (Guildford) prefer to swallow their political pride and do what's best for the clubs, or would they prefer to go 'better dead than red' re the EIHL? (and I've heard rumours both ways). It sounds stupid, but so is the NHL lockout, so we can't rely on common sense for decisions. I don't think any of us know what the answers to either of those are likely to be...... we are just going to have to wait and see. Sure as hell, there's going to be a lot of factors under consideration, so anyone saying that this will happen because of that is probably looking at things a little too simplistically. Basically, it's a mess.
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Post by girdeaux on Dec 9, 2004 16:28:23 GMT
- would Tom Muir (Fife) and John Hepburn (Guildford) prefer to swallow their political pride and do what's best for the clubs, or would they prefer to go 'better dead than red' re the EIHL? I certainly hope that isn't the case Shaggy, but it'll come out in the wash. I've spoken to a Caps fan today, who seems to think that Fife will apply ![:-/](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/undecided.png)
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MP
Paul Adey
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Post by MP on Dec 9, 2004 16:30:00 GMT
I believe that the Basically, it's a mess. An all too familiar situation.... Do the EIHL really want more than 10 or 11 teams at the moment?
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Post by Cunndies on Dec 9, 2004 16:33:40 GMT
I certainly hope that isn't the case Shaggy, but it'll come out in the wash. I've spoken to a Caps fan today, who seems to think that Fife will apply ![:-/](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/undecided.png) I'm led to believe they will as well. I ask again - what has Tom Muir done to offend the EIHL teams? Everybody seems to take it as read that he's got some grudge against them. I know all the speculation, and I'm not interested. I want facts.
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ktglitz
Robert Lachowicz
Posts: 587
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Post by ktglitz on Dec 9, 2004 16:36:21 GMT
An all too familiar situation.... Do the EIHL really want more than 10 or 11 teams at the moment? From what I gather there are concerns about taking on another 7 teams and managing the whole thing. What we "could" end up with is 2 Conferences/Divisions all under one structure with essentially an EIHL/BNL split but at least it would be all controlled centrally. Not ideal but more likely than a true merger. I heard some mumblings that IHUK might be looking to stick their oar in and not affiliate either the EIHL or BNL to force the "true merger" issue but I believe this would be a BIG mistake.
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Post by Cunndies on Dec 9, 2004 16:37:39 GMT
CW - I thought the affiliations for both leagues expired this summer?
Is that the case?
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ktglitz
Robert Lachowicz
Posts: 587
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Post by ktglitz on Dec 9, 2004 16:41:16 GMT
CW - I thought the affiliations for both leagues expired this summer? Is that the case? The EIHL one is renewed annually I believe whereas the BNL's "block" runs out at the end of this season.
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Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
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Post by Shaggy on Dec 9, 2004 17:27:23 GMT
I ask again - what has Tom Muir done to offend the EIHL teams? Everybody seems to take it as read that he's got some grudge against them. I know all the speculation, and I'm not interested. I want facts. You want facts? In THIS sport? Fat bl**dy chance....... I might as well ask the same of plenty of Fife fans for the FACTS to support their oft-stated arguments that Neil Black hates the BNL, controls the EIHL, is out to dominate all of British ice hockey, etc etc. Come on - don't tell me you've not read the same incessant bullsh*t on THF and else where...... Cunndies - you know the rumours/speculation and unproveable-but-known stuff as well as I do - probably better. You KNOW what people are talking about. But proof? - yeah, right..... not in this sport. 90% of what gets said officially is bullsh*t and the other 10% is incomplete.... as well you know.
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Post by Cunndies on Dec 9, 2004 17:41:24 GMT
Cunndies - you know the rumours/speculation and unproveable-but-known stuff as well as I do - probably better. You KNOW what people are talking about. That's the thing- I don't. I know that people think that Tom Muir and John Hepburn have some kind of grudge against the EIHL. That's all I know. I don't know if it's true, I don't know why people think it is if it isn't. What irritates me is that people automatically assume that it's fact. How many times, on here and THF (Heanor Lair's post is a perfect example), do people use this as a reason for Fife not to join the EIHL. Everybody says "They've got the history with the EIHL teams", or that we've "spoken out against them", but nobody actually knows if we have or not! I know I'm being pedantic in arguing this, but I think it gets my point accross. As for the stuff about Neil Black, I take your point. But I don't feel that the stuff sometimes posted about him is posted as often, or taken as complete fact to the same extent that the stuff about Tam Muir is. Again, I'm not trying to be really arsey or to hack anybody on here off, I'm just trying to work out what exactly we're supposed to have done.
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Post by Heanor Lair on Dec 9, 2004 18:07:42 GMT
That's the thing- I don't. I know that people think that Tom Muir and John Hepburn have some kind of grudge against the EIHL. That's all I know. I don't know if it's true, I don't know why people think it is if it isn't. What irritates me is that people automatically assume that it's fact. How many times, on here and THF (Heanor Lair's post is a perfect example), do people use this as a reason for Fife not to join the EIHL. Everybody says "They've got the history with the EIHL teams", or that we've "spoken out against them", but nobody actually knows if we have or not! I know I'm being pedantic in arguing this, but I think it gets my point accross. As for the stuff about Neil Black, I take your point. But I don't feel that the stuff sometimes posted about him is posted as often, or taken as complete fact to the same extent that the stuff about Tam Muir is. Again, I'm not trying to be really arsey or to hack anybody on here off, I'm just trying to work out what exactly we're supposed to have done. Sorry Cunndies, I'm not saying Fife should not join the league, as long as they are financially viable, I not really bothered whether they do or not. If they do its just another few 100 miles on the road upto Fife during the season to watch the Panthers as far as I'm concerned What I am saying is that personnel at the Club used the hockey media to put forward the view that they were against the formation of the EIHL. Now whether or not it was a personal viewpoint or an official viewpoint of Fife, again I dont know or care, but from the comments made it would mean a U-turn on thei stance if they wished to apply for the EIHL. Im sure most Fife fans would like to be part of the EIHL. Im not making any accusations but as someone who took a close interest in the Trmoil of Summer 2003, you do remember who the leading characters were on both sides of the fence. Regards HL
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Post by Cunndies on Dec 9, 2004 18:14:57 GMT
HL, I know you weren't saying Fife shouldn't join the EIHL - that wasn't what I was getting at. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) What I objected to was your statement that Fife have publicaly been against the EIHL - that simply isn't true. The last thing I read on the matter (from a club official on the Flyers forum) was this...
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