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Post by quoththeraven on Mar 17, 2009 17:25:01 GMT
Pre-empt time.
EIHA says we're in Whitley on 29th March and at home against them on 5th April. Sadly I can't make it to the north east but I will be at the home game sticking it to the noble dozen fans who do come down with the Warriors.
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Post by carolle on Mar 17, 2009 18:17:20 GMT
So its a home game on Elite finals weekend.
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brains
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Post by brains on Mar 17, 2009 20:27:40 GMT
Thank goodness for that, all the players should be available then?
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Post by Nottingham Lions on Mar 18, 2009 12:51:53 GMT
Yes we should have all available for both games, although the Panthers will be playing their playoff game on the 29th.
Keep an eye out for a special announcement about tickets for the home game on 5th April after the Elite Finals.
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Helen B
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Post by Helen B on Mar 18, 2009 13:04:37 GMT
What an excellent way to end the finals weekend. You might quite a nice crowd for that game.
I would certainly look at attending.
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Post by Nottingham Lions on Mar 19, 2009 12:10:32 GMT
That's what we're hoping Helen.
We have to wait to find out if we have the Arena or the Olympic pad, and as soon as we know then we can make the decision - also we have to discuss it with the Club! However we're hoping we can announce it before this weekend.
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Post by quoththeraven on Mar 19, 2009 12:14:55 GMT
What an excellent way to end the finals weekend. You might quite a nice crowd for that game. I would certainly look at attending. As long as people do follow your example and actually come into the game, taking advantage of the special offer the Lions have teased us with, rather than stand in the bar, thus watching the game without paying. Any chance of the flags making a welcome return for one night only?
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Post by Nottingham Lions on Mar 19, 2009 12:21:11 GMT
It all depends on who is duty manager.
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Adam
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Post by Adam on Mar 19, 2009 19:04:25 GMT
What an excellent way to end the finals weekend. You might quite a nice crowd for that game. I would certainly look at attending. As long as people do follow your example and actually come into the game, taking advantage of the special offer the Lions have teased us with, rather than stand in the bar, thus watching the game without paying. Well why dont they put shutter curtains up against the windows like they have at ice sheffield? Dont blame people for watching it from the bar to be honest.
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Shaggy
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Post by Shaggy on Mar 22, 2009 23:38:35 GMT
As long as people do follow your example and actually come into the game, taking advantage of the special offer the Lions have teased us with, rather than stand in the bar, thus watching the game without paying. Well why dont they put shutter curtains up against the windows like they have at ice sheffield? The NIC will not allow any obstruction to viewing the Olympic Rink from the bar. Whether the Lions like it or not - regardless of the fact that they have booked the rink and therefore you would have thought that they should be able to control viewing access to it. Neither would I, if they paid to watch the game. Some do... some don't. Of course, those who watch without paying don't really give a damn about anyone but themselves, do they? They don't give a toss that if the Lions fail to make enough money from ticket sales to cover the costs, then sooner or later the Lions will be no more. As long as they get some free entertainment... who cares?
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Post by Shaggy on Mar 29, 2009 20:38:31 GMT
Lions away at Whitley, first leg of the play-offs....
Final score Whitley 4 - 4 Lions
Lions scorers were:- Chris Colegate PP Robert Lachowicz Robert Lachowicz SH Joe Graham
Whitley were apparently even more their usual dirty selves than normal... and that's saying something!
So it's all to play for next Sunday in the home leg...
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Post by martin45 on Mar 30, 2009 9:35:49 GMT
where is the game being played and at what time
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Post by Nottingham Lions on Mar 30, 2009 9:48:51 GMT
Face off will be 7.15-7.30pm on Sunday. We're 99% sure we'll be on the Olympic pad as the NIC have told us the Arena will not be ready for us to use after the Playoff Final.
We will be having some ticket offers for those attending the Playoff weekend - please keep an eye on The Cage and we should have something in the next 24 hours.
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Post by quoththeraven on Mar 30, 2009 11:14:41 GMT
Lions away at Whitley, first leg of the play-offs.... Final score Whitley 4 - 4 Lions Lions scorers were:- Chris Colegate PP Robert Lachowicz Robert Lachowicz SH Joe Graham Whitley were apparently even more their usual dirty selves than normal... and that's saying something! So it's all to play for next Sunday in the home leg... Whitley? Dirty? Shurely shome mishtake? Not many teams take "points" (I know there were no points on offer for a playoff game but you get the idea) back home when they go to the Land Before Time, and following a 7-1 demolition of the Warriors in the regular season a 4-4 tie represents another excellent result. Whitley do not play as well on their travels as they do at home, as their dozen away fans will probably agree, and the last game between the sides in Nottingham ended 5-0 to the Lions. This Sunday's game promises to be tense, with physical play and skilful play in equal measures from both sides. Oh yeah, and if the scores are tied at the end of the game then it's OT and penalties. I don't envisage having many fingernails left come Monday morning.
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Adam
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Post by Adam on Mar 30, 2009 14:14:08 GMT
Well why dont they put shutter curtains up against the windows like they have at ice sheffield? The NIC will not allow any obstruction to viewing the Olympic Rink from the bar. Whether the Lions like it or not - regardless of the fact that they have booked the rink and therefore you would have thought that they should be able to control viewing access to it. Neither would I, if they paid to watch the game. Some do... some don't. Of course, those who watch without paying don't really give a damn about anyone but themselves, do they? They don't give a toss that if the Lions fail to make enough money from ticket sales to cover the costs, then sooner or later the Lions will be no more. As long as they get some free entertainment... who cares? I disagree with the NIC there and think a curtain would be fine like you say, but i guess if they say no then its no and you gotta accept it. I agree with you to some extent, if people watch from the bar when the Lions are playing and its not after a Panthers game they dont really have a good reason to be there. You could say they are basically in the bar just so they can watch the Lions play for free, i agree thats wrong. But your never going to be able to stop people watching the Lions play from the bar when Panthers have played half an hour before, thats where imo a curtain would come in useful. I have paid to watch the Lions a few times over the past few seasons, i'll be honest here though and i think £5 is a steep price to pay for the level of hockey on show its not very good VFM at all.
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Post by Nottingham Lions on Mar 30, 2009 15:21:52 GMT
AFAIK the Lions is the cheapest in ENL North, with the possible exception of Sheffield - I don't always pay to go into rinks so am not sure, perhaps one of the others here who post may be able to confirm and deny that.
What would you like to pay to watch ENL Adam? Bearing in mind that out of the gate money we do get we have to pay the officials, which is often over £150, and can sometimes be more than £200. There's no sponsorship to speak of, and all the players already pay £35 a month to train. Us cutting the gate price - even by a pound all round may be the difference between paying the officials or not. If we can't get the money in, it'll be the players who are forced to pay more to play - and I don't think that's fair.
Adam we're not just talking about people hanging around after a Panthers game - there hasn't been that many games that clash this season, and we usually offer some form of discount if you've seen a Panthers game before (OK It's usally £1 off, but for a family than can be as much as a fiver!).
What we're talking about is people who know the Lions are playing and deliberately choose to watch from the bar and refuse to pay. Thankfully these selfish people are few & far between this season - most people that have been watching from the bar and haven't got a ticket have gone to get one.
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Post by quoththeraven on Mar 30, 2009 16:06:26 GMT
i'll be honest here though and i think £5 is a steep price to pay for the level of hockey on show its not very good VFM at all. I completely disagree. It's 1/3 the price of a Panthers ticket and every Panthers game I've been to has been less than 3 times as good as a Lions game. To most people the Panthers games are better, but 3 times better? Probably not. Most ENIHL teams that are not affiliated to an EPL or Elite League team charge more than the Lions. Invicta is £6.50 I think, as is Streatham, and I heard Whitley is £7. I also think that the games this season have in general been of a more consistent high quality. So yeah I think you are out of line saying the Lions are not VFM, mainly in that the level of hockey is too low, when in fact the competition on display is better than in previous seasons, and in criticising the price as too high, when to their ultimate credit the Lions and the Friends of the Lions have resisted the urge to put ticket prices up over the past 5 or 6 years, whereas just about every other club in a similar position to us in this league and others has hiked prices. The Lions do not have control over the bar, or the people who decide to stand there and watch without paying. However what they (and I as their fan) can do is encourage people to support their local team, made up of local players, by contributing to the atmosphere as well as the team coffers, for the bargain price of £5. I hope I see plenty of people in the rink, supporting the team.
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Post by Nottingham Lions on Mar 30, 2009 16:13:08 GMT
and I heard Whitley is £7. I also think that the games this season have in general been of a more consistent high quality. Yes, it was £7 for a ticket @ Whitley last night. IIRC Billingham was £8!
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Post by quoththeraven on Mar 30, 2009 16:22:15 GMT
and I heard Whitley is £7. I also think that the games this season have in general been of a more consistent high quality. Yes, it was £7 for a ticket @ Whitley last night. IIRC Billingham was £8! £8! They didn't even make the playoffs! Ollie Lomax's train tickets from Blackburn perhaps?
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Post by supermac on Mar 31, 2009 13:09:37 GMT
As a Spartans fan, who sometimes peruses this forum, I hope you will forgive me for offering my opinion on the price/value issue raised by Adam. As a former Steelers season ticket holder and a current fan of both the Scimitars and Spartans, I have no doubt at all that the ENL in Nottingham and Sheffield (our tickets are £4 by the way) offers the best value for money in terms of entertainment and effort. In Sheffield and I believe in Nottingham, the emphasis is on junior development, which to me is the most important thing of all and has led to us producing players to represent GB, at all levels, culminating in the fine gold medal winning performance by the under 18's recently. From what I have seen of the Lions this season, they have some fine players and I would recommend any Panthers fan to take a step back from arena, import dominated hockey and have at look at what probably got you hooked in the first place, local kids giving their all with a skill level which may just surprise and delight you. After the heartbreak of the league loss, I am sure the Lions would like to see a bumper crowd for the play off 2nd leg - And what else could you get with a fiver!!!
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Post by Nottingham Lions on Apr 3, 2009 8:29:18 GMT
SPECIAL TICKET OFFER FOR THE 2ND PLAYOFF LEG, SUNDAY 5TH APRIL.
Nottingham Lions will be offering tickets to all for the price of £3 on Sunday.
Usual ticket prices are £5 Adults, £4 Concessions and £3 for children, but the management of the Lions have decided to lower prices for this one game only, to say thank you to all the regular fans and also in the hopes of attracting some of the hockey fans visiting the NIC for the Elite League Finals.
The Lions are taking on Whitley Warriors in the 2nd leg of the playoff Quarter Finals. The 1st leg ended 4-4 in Whitley Bay last Sunday, but the last time the Warriors were in town they got scalped, losing 5-0 with Alan Levers getting his 3rd shutout of the season.
The winners of the game on Sunday will face either Coventry or Sheffield in the ENIHL Finals weekend at the Coventry Skydome on 18th April.
If you've always fancied going to a Lions game but haven't had the chance then please come down and cheer on the guys as they take on the Warriors in what promises to be a hard-hitting, fast-flowing game.
If you have any questions, please PM me.
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Post by Shaggy on Apr 5, 2009 22:17:11 GMT
Just got back from the game... and the Lions are through to the finals weekend in 2 weeks time! ;D ;D ;D
Final score, 1-0 to the Lions... captain Chris Colegate scoring inside 3 minutes, and then that was it for goals! Both goalies got MoM (Alan Levers for the Lions) - both awards well deserved.
Whitley were just plain dirty - again.... and whiney - again... and when the final buzzer sounded, they started a mass brawl. Poor losers, simple as.
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Post by martin45 on Apr 6, 2009 8:38:16 GMT
well done lads do you know who you will be playing .
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Post by Nottingham Lions on Apr 6, 2009 9:35:55 GMT
Looks like Lions are going to have a few players suspended for the National Finals in Coventry on 18th, however Warriors are going to have a couple more, and I believe both Warriors' coaches will be suspended too.
Not quite sure how it started tbh, Warriors shot/iced the puck and Levers hesitated to cover as the clock was winding down, he did cover just as the buzzer went - and that's when all hell broke loose!! Warriors #5 skated straight in and tried to run Levers, sprayed him with snow and ended up on top of him. As the game had ended, both teams were leaving the benches anyway and before anyone knew it there were sticks and gloves everywhere, with at least 5 seperate fights going on! Both backup goalies ended up in a bit of a hugfest, with a couple of punches thrown....
I've seen the gamesheet (but don't have it here with me) and there were 6 Match pens handed out to the Lions, and a similar number to the Warriors and Lions ended up with over 170 mins to Warriors 230+
However there was a referee's assessor there and I know that he was in long discussions with the Lions coach and manager after the game, both teams now have to wait for the report of the Referee and the assessor before we know exactly who is suspended.
Warriors fans have been saying all week on their forum that they need to stay out of the bin - and then Lions score on their first Powerplay chance through Captain Chris Colegate, before the game was 3 minutes old! The next 57 minutes were pretty nailbiting as both goalies made some excellent saves, but the Lions were pretty much on top throughout the game, spending long time camped in their zone and we out shot them something like 2-1 in the end. Forgetting everything that happened after the buzzer at the end, this was classic playoff hockey that had everything. Warriors seem to struggle playing on a large, decent ice surface (and the ice looked pretty good last night as there was time between the session finishing and the game starting), and the Lions have certainly had the measure of them this season.
Still, a bumper crowd last night, thanks to those who came and supported the Lions. I hope that you all enjoyed it and that you keep an eye out when the fixtures are released in July/August.
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Post by quoththeraven on Apr 6, 2009 11:31:33 GMT
A wonderful game - I've got no voice and no fingernails left so work is difficult today. I am so proud of the Lions, almost as much as when we lifted the title last year. To score on our usually unreliable PP that early on was fantastic. For those who don't know, getting the Lions to score on the PP is like getting a penguin to fly - it has everything it needs but for some reason it can't do it. They defended resolutely and didn't give the puck as way anywhere near as often as they usually do. There was the odd mad moment, but never mind. I'd like to give a shout out to Whitley's Rob Wilson, who towards the end was discussing with the officials, before realising we were telling him loudly to "sit down, shut up". He looked for all the world like he was going to shout something obscene at us but then stopped himself at the last minute as though powerless against our heckling. The end of the game was the real highlight though - yeah, the brawl was good but the Lions and Warriors fans trying to outsing each other was pretty fun as well. The Lions fans weren't swearing or being abusive in any way, but it really wound the Warriors up. Oh yeah, in the vein of other threads regarding the Elite League final, I've checked with Dave Simms and the reason some of the Warriors fans were waving one finger at us Lions fans is to indicate to us how many goals they'd lost by . The Whitley forum tells an interesting story. It says they lost because of referee Hewitt not liking the physical hockey. That's funny, because from where I was sitting most of the penalties were hooking or tripping, rather than for overzealous checking, or for "handbags" around the crease after the whistle. As it was there were a lot of checks that could have been called but weren't. I suppose it's easier to blame the one bloke on his own rather than the 20 in maroon who couldn't play cleanly, couldn't get a decent spell of possession, and couldn't find a way past a goalie in top form. The brawl at the end was a pretty classless thing to do, especially with several fights outside of the main melee breaking out just for the sake of it - backup goalies, for example. Although the look on Leach's face when he skated out of the ruck and towards Hewitt. Again, a rumour on the Whitley forum says he went for Hewitt. I don't think that's quite the case but he was being aggressive towards the ref. That soured the end of the game slightly, but I can't wait for Coventry in two weeks. I hope to see plenty of you there to cheer on the Pride of Nottingham
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