STORM BLITZ ISSUE #52 Thursday 7 August 1997 If you have any comments on Storm Blitz, please feel free to e-mail into.the.storm@poboxes.com any time. --------------------------------------------------- In this issue : * Work permits issued at last * Panthers refuse pay cut * Season ticket details confirmed * Streatham Redskins back as ED1 team * Superleague announce farm system * Minor fixtures amendment * WNIR up for sale * Belfast Giants to join Superleague * Download back issues of Storm Blitz * How to unsubscribe to Storm Blitz --------------------------------------------------- > WORK PERMITS ISSUED AT LAST The work permits that were being refused by the Department of Employment to Superleague players including seven from Manchester Storm have now been approved meaning that the players will arrive for pre-season training with no permit worries. > PANTHERS PLAYERS REFUSE PAY CUT Nottingham Panthers players have refused to take a pay cut as a way of helping the team with its money problems. The team is due to be sold in the near future if a suitable buyer can be found. > SEASON TICKET DETAILS CONFIRMED Season ticket holders have been told in a letter that their ticket gets them into thirty games - confirmed as 14 Superleague games, 5 Benson & Hedges Cup games (ie. the group games), 3 EHL games, 3 play off (group) games and 5 cross-channel cup games. If the cross-channel cup fails to happen then it is likely that there will be additional Superleague games. > STREATHAM REDSKINS BACK AS ED1 TEAM It is reported that the Streatham Redskins will be back next season playing in the English League Division One as London Redskins. > SUPERLEAGUE ANNOUNCE FARM SYSTEM The Superleague has announced a formula for increasing the number of British and European players participating in Superleague. This new plan will have far reaching implications in the development of young talented British players and will ensure continuity in the standard of play that followers of the sport have come to expect since the inception of the Superleague. The ISL's Board of Directors have for some time been developing ways to introduce a farm system of teams throughout the country where youngsters can be nurtured for positions within the professional clubs, when their strength, stamina and fitness is suitable for them to achieve regular full time employment in Superleague. Generally these teams will be owned and managed by the Superleague Clubs themselves, but in some cases players may be seconded to other National League teams through a commercial arrangement with their affiliate Superleague Club. The Superleague's committment to change goes even further than that, with an undertaking from all eight member clubs and from Leeds Lasers, who join Superleague in the 1998/99 season, to commit themselves to a first choice from players within the EU. To effect this the Clubs have agreed to hire two thirds of their players from the European Economic Area by the start of the 1997/98 season and by the beginning of the 2000/2001 season at least one third of the players in each team must be eligible for GB duty. The Superleague will manage this process through its own secretariat, working with the DfEE to establish clear procedures from the outset. (This report was taken from the BIHA Web site). > MINOR FIXTURE AMENDMENT There is a minor amendment to the fixture list sent out in Storm Blitz #51. The game at Sheffield on Saturday 15 Movember will face off at 7.00pm and not 6.00pm as was stated. DATE OPPONENTS F/O VENUE COMPETITION Sat 15 Nov Sheffield Steelers 7.00 Away Superleague > WNIR UP FOR SALE The Wales National Ice Rink, the home of Cardiff Devils is up for sale. The rink, in the centre of Cardiff, is a prime site in an area close to the Cardiff bay development. Paul Guy of Celtic Leisure said any sale would have to involve a commitment that the Devils could train and play there until the new arena is ready. > BELFAST GIANTS TO JOIN SUPERLEAGUE The Belfast Giants from Northern Ireland are expected to join the Superleague in the 2000/01 season after Ice Hockey Enterprises (London) purchased the franchise and put plans into place for a 100 million pound indoor arena with backing from the Millenium Commission. The strip and logo for the proposed Belfast Giants have already been designed and they have secured 1 million pound per year for players' salaries. The outcome of the bid should be known early September. > DOWNLOAD BACK ISSUES OF STORM BLITZ All previous issues of Storm Blitz are still available. You can download all of the back issues from the Storm Blitz page on Into The Storm. If you do not have Web access, then if you e-mail me, I'll forward the issues that you require on to you. > HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE TO STORM BLITZ Easy! Send an e-mail to into.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 #52 *** INTO THE STORM can be accessed at: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/3859/storm.html OR http://www.poboxes.com/into.the.storm