STORM BLITZ ISSUE #37 Sunday 13 April 1997 Sponsorship of Storm Blitz will hopefully be confirmed in a couple of weeks. If you have any comments on Storm Blitz, please feel free to e-mail inter.the.storm@poboxes.com any time. --------------------------------------------------- In this issue : * Stormforce to become independant of Ogdens * The Stormforce AGM * Latest player rumours * Pool A hopes fading as GB lose again * GB lose first Pool B match * GB have creditable 3-3 draw in Austria * Forthcoming GB Pool B fixtures * Altrincham Shield report * NHL news update * Inter The Storm relaunch news * Write to GMR and Granada TV * Get back issues of Storm Blitz * How to unsubscribe to Storm Blitz --------------------------------------------------- > STORMFORCE TO BECOME INDEPENDANT OF OGDENS As yet this news is still unofficial, but Stormforce tell me that Ogdens have decided that Stormforce is no longer to be affiliated with them and that they will become a Supporters Club independant of the team. This has several severe implications. Firstly and maybe of least importance is that the Stormforce committee - who are all volunteers - will no longer receive any benefits such as free tickets for Storm home games. This means that Stormforce will be surely less motivated to be at every match and their hard work will be effectively unrecognised. The 50/50 draw will now be split 50% to the winner, 25% to Ogdens and 25% to Stormforce. Stormforce membership fees will not be donated to Ogdens or the players air travel fund (Ogdens don't want it apparantly) and this could make Stormforce as an entity redundant - after all there are bound to be a number of "What is the point of Stormforce now?" questions asked and with little motivation there could be moves to disband it. Assuming that there is no turnaround, this will mean the end to Ogdens-subsidised events such as the end-of-season party - at least Stormforce won't be organising one. The decision was apparantly made "suddenly" by David Davies (Superleague director, Manchester Storm director and General Manager of the Nynex Arena). Dave Biggar will be announcing this to the public at the Stormforce AGM to be held at Manchester City FC on April 27th. What isn't known is what prompted the decision. The Stormforce representative that I spoke to in detail about all this said that he believed that the decision was made following the publication of a letter from The Sad Bs in a national ice hockey magazine (IHNR) which didn't hold back with its critisism of everything connected with Manchester Storm. I have not seen the magazine, so I cannot confirm this, but it seems to be pretty scathing. Another suggested reason is that Stormforce are being used as a scapegoat for the poor team performance (ie. do something - don't care what, just something). One of the biggest consequences of this is that Stormforce will officially have NO say in the running of Storm or any events at any level at all. The press end of Stormforce will apparantly be treated as any newspaper journalist would and the programme will be limited to just one page of Stormforce News despite an expanded programme. The most ludicrous appears to be that Stormforce's Press Officer, Mick Thompson, has been told that when he goes onto GMR to discuss Storm and Stormforce, he is not allowed to discuss Storm as a team, just Stormforce. Needless to say, he is wondering why he is bothering. The Stormforce merchandise that was limited very heavily as to what logos it can and can't use, can now not use ANY Storm logos AT ALL! > THE STORMFORCE AGM The first Stormforce Annual General Meeting will be taking place on Sunday 27 April 1997 at the Millenium Suite, Kippax Street Stand, Manchester City Football Club. The meeting will start at 1.00pm prompt. The following positions will be elected: Chair Vice Chair Treasurer Vice Treasurer Secretary Membership Secretary (2) Travel Officer Assistant Travel Officer Press Officer Newsletter Editor Events Officer Assistant Events Officer Junior Stormforce Officer There will be Storm representatives at the meeting - it is expected that Dave Biggar will announce the news about Stormforce and Ogdens mentioned above. > LATEST PLAYER RUMOURS These are the staying/going rumours that I have heard and believed! I have given each comment a %age reliability! Craig Woodcroft : undecided - he's been given the chance to stay but hasn't made up his mind : 75% Nick Poole : STAYING : 95% Mike Morin : STAYING : 80% Brad Rubachuk : STAYING : 55% Hilton Ruggles : STAYING : 85% Martin Smith : STAYING : 75% Chad Penney : GOING : 70% Brad Zavisha : GOING : 99% Jeff Sebastian : STAYING : 95% Dale Jago : GOING : 88% Stephen Cooper : STAYING : 94% Brad Turner : GOING : 95% Eric Calder : no news David Smith : STAYING : 75% David Latta : STAYING : 65% John Finnie : STAYING : 90% Bart Vanstaalduinen : no news Eric Raymond : GOING : 55% John Lawless : STAYING : 70% There has also been rumours of some incoming players... Nicky Chinn (Sheffield Steelers) : 65% Mark Morrison (Fife Flyers) : 65% Mike Bodnarchuk (Newcastle Cobras) : 60% Of course if you know any different then please let me know! > POOL A HOPES FADING AS GB LOSE AGAIN Great Britain's hopes of gaining promotion to the new expanded Pool A are fading as they lost their second game 4-2 against Kazakstan on Sunday. Paul Adey opened the scoring for GB on 6 minutes but Kazakstan scored four goals without reply before Nicky Chinn scored a late consolation goal. Merv Priest got an eye injury in practise for the game and so if flying home soon. Other results from Pool B : Switzerland 8-3 Holland Kazakstan 5-3 Austria Belarus 3-9 Denmark > GB LOSE FIRST POOL B MATCH Great Britain got their Pool B campaign off to a bad start on Saturday with a 4-3 defeat against Poland. Poland scored after just 12 seconds, but Steve Moria (Cardiff) equalised after 1.30. Scott put GB into a 2-1 lead but Britain eventually lost 4-3. > GB HAVE CREDITABLE 3-3 DRAW IN AUSTRIA In a challenge match arranged as a warm up for the Pool B championships, Great Britain travelled to Austria and drew 3-3 with the home team. Only three years ago when Great Britain were in the Pool A championship, Austria beat Great Britain 10-0! In front of an 800 crowd, Morgan (Nottingham) opened the scoring for GB after 4 minutes of the game. Wheeldon equalised for Austria on the powerplay two minutes before the end of the first period. Austria scored to take the lead 4 minutes into the second period. Tim Cranston (Sheffield) scored on 35 minutes to level the scores at 2-2. Austria took the lead again one minute into the third period and then with seven minutes of the game remaining, Nicky Chinn (Sheffield) scored the equaliser for Great Britain. > FORTHCOMING GB POOL B FIXTURES TUE 15 APR GB v Holland WED 16 APR GB v Denmark FRI 18 APR GB v Austria SUN 20 APR GB v Switzerland MON 21 APR GB v Belarus > ALTRINCHAM SHIELD REPORT Thanks very much to Jan Fuller for the following match report from the Altrincham Shield game - Storm's final game of the season. Altrincham Shield Trophy Tuesday 18th March 1997 Altrincham Aces All-stars vs. Manchester Storm Select This match was played by two teams which were made up from players from both the Aces and the Storm in the hope to make the sides more even - well could an team which finished second in English Division One Northern Conference actually worry a side which finished seventh in the British Ice Hockey Superleague? There new follows a list of players for both teams so you know who was on each side: Aces All-stars 1 - Dave Clancy N/M (Aces) 3 - Dave Shepherd (Aces) 4 - Ben Sykes N/M (Aces) 5 - Stephen Cooper (Storm) 6 - Peter Founds (Aces) 9 - Pete Winstanley (Aces) 10 - Brad Zavisha (Storm) 14 - Nick Poole (Storm) 15 - Brian Jackson (Aces) 17 - Tim Dempsey (Blackburn) 33 - Eric Raymond N/M (Storm) 36 - Hilton Ruggles (Storm) 45 - Martin Smith (Storm) 56 - Dave Latta (Storm) 63 - Brad Rubachuk (Storm) 72 - Andy Bennett (Aces) 84 - Steve Fellows (Aces) 96 - Jeff Sebastian (Storm) Storm Select 2 - Kevin Kinsella (Aces) 5 - Jeff Lindsay (Storm) 8 - Chad Penney (Storm) 9 - Craig Woodcroft (Storm) 11 - Pete Broadhurst (Aces) 14 - Daryl Lipsey (Storm) 15 - John Lawless (Storm) 18 - Dave Thomason (Aces) 19 - Nick Crawley (Aces) 22 - Eric Calder (Storm) 24 - Steve Ellams (Aces) 27 - Mark Hobson (Aces) 29 - Mike Clancy N/M (Aces) 30 - John Finnie N/M (Storm) 34 - Jon Murray (Aces) 73 - Dave Smith (Storm) Before I give a summary of the match, I will point out that there seemed to be an agreement between the players that even though they were going to play well, they would keep the scores close. This, I surpose, would lead to a more exciting match for both players and fans as the outcome was already decided. Last years winners were the Storm Select. The match started with #1 Clancy in the Aces net and #30 Finnie in the Storm net. At 00:54 #19 Smith scored for the Aces off #63 Rubachuk. Two minutes later (02:57) #5 Lindsay equalised - to the delight of the Storm fans. 09:11 saw #21 Turner score for the Aces with the help of #19 Smith and #63 Rubachuk. Storm equalised with a shot from #73 Smith off #11 Broadhurst (the first Aces player to get on the score sheet!). Less than two minutes later Aces took the lead again (13:16) with #36 Ruggles assisting #96 Sebastian in scoring. Neither team was able to take advantage in the last seven minutes and the period ended 3-2, with #1 Clancy having faced 19 shots and #30 Finnie 20. The second period saw a changes of net minders. #33 Raymond replaced #1 Clancy in the Aces net, and #29 Clancy (older brother) replace #30 Finnie in the Storm net. Finnie was still playing though - I think as a forward, but if could have been in defence! Also #36 Ruggles was no longer icing (he only played the first period last year - and that was for Storm Select!!!) Aces extended their lead as 22:27 by a goal from #63 Rubachuk, assisted by #21 Turner: and again at 25:00 with #8 Winstanley (nice one Pete!) off #56 Latta. Storm reduced the lead at 28:12 with #22 Calder scoring off #8 Penney. Five minute later, 33:31, Aces extended the lead again with #63 Rubachuk scoring off #19 Smith. Four minutes later, 37:39, #15 Lawless scored off #19 Crawley and #30 Finnie, just 39 seconds after #18 Thomson had finished his penalty for interference. The last few minutes saw failed chances on both sides with the period scores being 3-2 (again), and #33 Raymond facing 11 shots and #29 Clancy facing 31. The final period started with #4 Sykes in the Aces net and no change in the Storm net. Changing the precedent of the first two periods, it was the Storm who started the scoring at 41:44 with #30 Finnie (Yes that’s John Finnie - Storm netminder reliving his ambition at five years old to be a forward!) netting off #19 Crawley. Less that a minute later (42:34) #11 Broadhurst equalised (a surprise to himself - he thought the puck had been stopped!) off #5 Lindsay. The next few minutes saw Aces miss a few easy shots, but essentially dominate the game. Then a penalty shot was given to one the Storm players (I think it was #34 Jon Murray, but I’m not sure) who missed. Soon afterwards a penalty shot was given to the Aces #63 Rubachuk. Unfortunately he ‘tripped over his boot laces’ on the approach. Did this have anything to do with Lawless having a few words to him just prior, I wonder? Almost straight away, Aces scored again. #63 Rubachuk (possibly trying to make up for ‘falling over’ netted the puck at 52:11 off #17 Dempsey and #21 Turner. While skating back to the Aces bench, passed the Storm bench, Rubachuk was ‘set upon’ by his usual fellow team mates. Others went to his ‘rescue’. It wasn’t until about six minutes later that the announcer told the crowd that the referee Mark (or is that Mel) Gibson had awarded Aces players #63, #19 and #56 with a cornetto for the incident, and Storm players #15, #9 and #22 with a feast - which probably sums up the game! This delay in play did not stop the Aces. #9 Fleury scored off #56 Sebastian at 52:43. The 54th minute saw Aces extend their lead three times. #6 Founds scored off #96 Sebastian and #72 Bennett at 54:04. #72 Bennett scored off #84 Fellows at 54:23. With the exception of #96, these players are all under 21, some actually play for the under 19 side - so very well done to them! The last goal in this minute was scored at 54:40 by #17 Dempsey. Storm tried to increase their score, but only succeeded by netting the last goal of the match at 55:55 - #9 Woodcroft off #8 Penney. Storm had, by this time stepped up their game - but to no avail. 59:01 saw all the Storm players ‘invade’ the ice, closely followed by all the Aces players. Now the announcer tell us that Storm are sitting a bench penalty given at 58:01 for having too many men on the ice - I think only the officials saw that one. Although the puck went in each net once in this last minute - they didn’t actually count as goals - for obvious reason. However, Gibson with Slater and Prystay did show that it was more or less possible to officiate with that number of player in the ice! The period score were Aces 6 and Storm 3. #4 Sykes (who has only played a couple of matches for the Aces) faced 29 shots and #29 Clancy faced 19. What began as a fairly even match saw the Aces All-stars dominate. the final score of Aces 12 Storm 7 meant that Storm lost the Shield this year. Can’t wait for next year now! Man of the Match awards went to players who played exceptionally well, even though their performance is not reflected in the score sheet. For the Storm John Finnie received the award - his net minding performance was excellent, and he showed some versatility as a forward (or was that a defenceman?) even if he wasn’t particularly fast (sorry John). Aces MOM award went to #45 Martin Smith (I’m sure last season it was in the programmes as Martyn though). He worked the puck up the ice on numerous occasions (with the help of other under 21’s), but wasn’t lucky enough to score. He was fast enough to seem to be everywhere on the ice, so it was an award well deserved. FINAL SCORE : Aces All Stars 12-7 Storm Select Can’t wait for next year now! Jan Fuller Stormforce member A3325 Altrincham Aces supporter Sheffield Steelers season ticket holder (but that’s only by accident) > NHL NEWS UPDATE Due to the Web page situation I have decided to add the NHL update from Mike Vrooman (from our Canadian friends at Simcoe Storm) to Storm Blitz this time. The news will appear on the new pages from 1st May: TOP 10 TEAMS AS OF MARCH 26 1. Colorado 97 pts 2. Dallas 90 3. Philadelphia 90 4. New Jersey 89 5. Buffalo 85 6. Detroit 83 7. Florida 81 8. Pittsburgh 75 9. NY Rangers 75 10. Edmonton 73 TOP SCORERS 1. Mario Lemieux (Pit) 105 pts 2. Teemu Selame (Van) 95 3. John LeClair (Phil) 88 4. Jaromir Jagr (Pit) 87 5. Wayne Gretzky (NYR) 87 6. Mats Sundin (Tor) 85 POWER PLAY LEADER Brendon Shanahan of Detroit Red Wings has 20 power play goals in 69 games. NHL PAYROLLS IN U.S.$ 1. NY Rangers $37.9 million 2. Pittsburgh $34.7 million 3. Detroit $31.1 million 4. St. Louis $29.2 million 5. Philadelphia $28.1 million PLAYER SALARIES IN US $ 1. Mario Lemieux (Pit) $11,321,429 2. Mark Messier (NYR) $6,000,000 3. Wayne Gretzky (NYR) $5,047,500 4. Pavel Bure (Van) $5,000,000 600 GOAL SCORERS Thanks to all who sent in answers. The three answers are Wayne Gretzky (active), Gordie Howe (retired) and Bobby Hull (retired). Latest rumor in professional hockey in North America is that Gordie Howe, at the age of 69, is planning a comeback in the American Hockey League. > INTER THE STORM RELAUNCH NEWS Apologies for the lack of activity on the Inter The Storm pages this week especially the fact that there have been no News or NHL updates recently. I have decided to suspend all updates until 1st May - the date that I have set for the relaunch of the Web pages. There will then be up to date NHL news added every couple of days. The new pages will include new LIVE Java Chat for Storm fans to "meet up" and talk ice hockey through the Web. There is still very little up and running on the new site but it is currently running at an alternative site before transfering to the standard Web address on 1st May. Thanks to everyone who has sent me their comments on the site - I'm currently working out how to do frames so they look good! To have a look at the frame-less version of the site, you can see it at http://www.zy.u-net.com/storm/index.html and this has the front page, latest news, latest NHL news and Guestbook pages working ONLY so trying to access anything else won't work. > WRITE TO GMR AND GRANADA TV If you enjoyed Battles On Ice on Granada TV and want to see it back next season, write a quick note to Granada TV to tell them! If they don't know, they'll assume that no one is bothered. I've forgotten the address at the moment - I'll send it out with the next Storm Blitz! If you want to hear Storm games on BBC GMR 95.1FM next season and for the forseeable future like Sheffield Steelers fans get on Radio Sheffield, then write to them and let them know! If they don't hear anything then they will not bother - say you've got lots of friends who would listen if they did commentaries (especially away games, as most fans would be at the Nynex for home games and any live coverage could affect the crowd in theory) - write to : Head Of Sport - BBC GMR Talk, PO Box 951, New Broadcasting House, Oxford Road, Manchester, M60 1SD. > DOWNLOAD BACK ISSUES OF STORM BLITZ All previous issues of Storm Blitz are still available. If you didn't get them, or want them again, you can now download them from the Internet in a .zip file. The URL of these will be confirmed soon. If you don't have web access, I can e-mail you the .zip files. > HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE TO STORM BLITZ Easy! Send an e-mail to inter.the.storm@poboxes.com telling me that you don't want Storm Blitz any more. Also use this address if you wish to change e-mail addresses or if you have any comments. *** END OF STORM BLITZ ISSUE #37 *** INTER THE STORM can be accessed at: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/3859/storm.html ---------------------------- Storm Blitz sponsorship will hopefully be secured over the next couple of weeks ----------------------------