STORM BLITZ ISSUE #73 Sunday 9 November 1997 If you have any comments on Storm Blitz, please feel free to e-mail simonsm@intothestorm.co.uk any time. There are currently 196 subscribers to Storm Blitz --------------------------------------------------- In this issue : * Disappointment as Storm crash out of B&H Cup * Saturday's Express Challenge Cup games * Superleague to crack down on stick offences * Storming The Net no more * Devils through to B&H Cup final * Nottingham thrash Bees to go second * Express Cup fixtures confirmed * Into The Storm updates * Latest Superleague table * Latest EHL Division F table * Latest Express Challenge Cup table * Forthcoming Storm games * Directions to away games * TV and Radio News * Download back issues of Storm Blitz * How to unsubscribe to Storm Blitz --------------------------------------------------- > DISAPPOINTMENT AS STORM CRASH OUT OF B&H CUP Storm lost 4-2 at Ayr in the 2nd Leg of the B&H Cup semi final at the Centrum Arena on Saturday night. In front of approx. 2500 fans and quite a few of us watching back at The Arches (the game was live on SKY with full commentary broadcasted on BBC GMR), Storm went behind after 5 minutes from a goal from Jeff Hoad. After 12 minutes Ryan Kummu and Hilton Ruggles picked up where they left off last time with a bit of a fight - both got a 2 minute minor. After 15 minutes Storm levelled the game with a goal from Mike Morin. With just over a minute left of the first period Jeff Hoad scored again and Ayr were gaining confidence. The end of the first period saw an evacuation of the Arena after a fire alarm, which was a false alarm. The second period got underway a little late and it wasn't good news for Storm as Montanari made it 3-1 to Ayr. Mikael Wiklander pulled it back to 3-2 on 28 minutes and with more than half the game remaining, everyone was still confident that Storm would come back and win. Two minutes later Ruggles and Kummu started again with Ruggles getting a 2+2 for roughing and Kummu 2+2 (roughing) +2 (unsportsmanlike conduct). The third period saw Storm attempt to equalise but they just couldn't do it. The netminder was pulled in the dying seconds but Purdie scored an empty net goal with 8 seconds remaining to condemn Storm to a semi final defeat by 8 goals to 6 on aggregate. Storm must immediately forget this game as they travel to Cardiff on Sun 9th and then face Sheffield Steelers on Tuesday 11th with this game also featured live on SKY TV and BBC GMR will be broadcasting full commentary from the Nynex Arena as well. > SATURDAY'S EXPRESS CHALLENGE CUP GAMES In the Express Challenge Cup group games on Saturday night, Bracknell Bees beat Basingstoke Bison 5-2 in Basingstoke. In the other game, Cardiff Devils travelled to Nottingham Panthers and won 3-2. > SUPERLEAGUE TO CRACK DOWN ON STICK OFFENCES The following is an official press release: Ice Hockey Superleague's Director of Sport, Richard Boprey, has issued a directive to all eight Superleague Club Coaches clearly stating ISL's determination to stamp out stick offences, and advising the Coaches that the Referees have been instructed to deal with these offences most severly. This follows an incident which occurred in the game between Cardiff Devils and Sheffield Steelers on October 18th 1997. The ISL Disciplinary Committee ruled that Sheffield's Mike Ware will receive a fine of 250 pounds for dangerous stick play. Ware was also given a warning as to his future conduct. This supplementary discipline relates to a two-handed slash on an opponent which happened shortly before he sustained a facial injury requiring approximately 40 stitches. At the time of the incident Ware was given a 2 minute penalty which was served by a team-mate due to his own condition requiring medical attention. > STORMING THE NET NO MORE For reasons best known to themselves, Ogdens Entertainments Ltd decided that the page that I write in the programme for them for nothing is no longer required. I don't know whether they didn't like what I wrote or whether they were just bored of it. They are of course well within their rights to do whatever they want, but I would have expected to at least have been fully informed as to what exactly I had done to upset them (if anything). I can only now pass on my apologies to all the teams and features that I had promised to include. If those that were preparing information to be sent to me (particularly Guelph Storm in Canada) can still send over the info, I'll try and see that it gets featured somehow anyway. Incidentally, I know that many people have been complaining about the match programme just about everywhere on the Internet - the two main points of complaint were the ridiculous lack of programmes for most games (I have made two official complaints about this, and received two letters back both promising to investigate further...surprisingly enough I'm still waiting). The other point of complaint from fans was about articles from a regular programme contributor, something that I have purposely not commented upon because I know the amount of work that goes into producing enough material for every home game. I am also aware that there have been official complaints about this made to Ogdens and people have been leaving their opinions on the Manchester Storm Message Forum on Into The Storm, something that they are perfectly entitled to do on a publicly accessible forum like that. When the debate has run its course I shall print and pass the batch of messages to Ogdens and they can take note of them if they wish. If you have any comments on the subject, either leave your message on the Forum or e-mail me direct and I shall pass everything on. Let me know if you wish to write anonymously. Of course you can always write to Ogdens themselves and make your points to them directly. > DEVILS THROUGH TO B&H CUP FINAL Newcastle Cobras did their best to upset Cardiff's seamingly certain path to the B&H Cup Final in the second leg semi final tie at Newcastle Arena on Thursday night. After the first period Newcastle had pulled the 6-2 first leg score back to 6-5 with three unanswered goals. However Cardiff kept them at bay for the rest of the match and McEwan scored after 34 minutes to give them a two goal lead once more. Newcastle pulled their netminder in the final minute and Malulik scored an empty net goal. Cardiff were defeated on the night 3-2 but went through to the final 8-5 on aggregate. > NOTTINGHAM THRASH BEES TO GO SECOND Nottingham Panthers moved into second place in the Superleague on Tuesday night with a 9-3 victory over Bracknell Bees. The first Panthers goal came after just 47 seconds from Randall Weber. Other goals were from Laxdal (2), Leach (2), Nienhuis (2), Knox and Morgan. > EXPRESS CUP FIXTURES CONFIRMED The Express Challenge Cup fixture between Sheffield Steelers and Storm has been confirmed as Saturday 20 December. DATE OPPONENTS F/O VENUE COMPETITION Sat 20 Dec Sheffield Steelers 7.00 Away The Express CC > INTO THE STORM UPDATES Storm Action Photos - now includes photos from Storm v Sparta Prague, Storm v Dynamo Moscow, Storm v Amiens (all by Roger Cook) and a photo of Kris Miller playing for Orlando Solar Bears (by Jeff Olsen). MISCONDUCT! - updated on 28th October Ice Hockey In Canada - updates from both Stephanie Wilde and Mike Vrooman About Into The Storm - now includes a photo of Roger Cook Ice Hockey Links - Added links to Kris Miller photos page, Dominic Maltais fan page, Ice Hockey in Swindon, Streatham Storm (unofficial) and Streatham Storm (official). Manchester Storm Discography - It has been pointed out that Stefan Ketola's song is not Wild Thing (The Troggs) but Wild Child (Iggy Pop)! Also, loads of new additions to it have been sent to me that I'd forgotten about - haven't sorted the clips out yet but I'm working on it. 20 Things Dave Simms Would Never Say - There are 5 new things he would never say bringing the total to 42! All the tables, results, fixtures, latest news etc have been updates as normal > LATEST SUPERLEAGUE TABLE Pl W D OL NL +/- Points Manchester Storm 7 4 2 1 0 +12 11 Nottingham Panthers 7 4 2 0 1 +6 10 Ayr Scottish Eagles 6 4 0 1 1 +7 9 Sheffield Steelers 5 2 1 1 1 +5 6 Cardiff Devils 5 2 2 0 1 +4 6 Basingstoke Bison 7 2 2 0 3 -4 6 Bracknell Bees 6 2 1 0 3 -12 5 Newcastle Cobras 7 0 0 0 7 -18 0 Win=2; Draw=1; Overtime Loss=1; Normal Loss=0 > LATEST EHL DIVISION F TABLE Pl W OW OL L +/- Points Moscow Dynamo 4 3 1 0 0 +17 11 Manchester Storm 4 2 0 2 0 +6 8 Sparta Prague 4 1 0 0 3 -9 3 Bolzano 4 0 1 0 3 -14 2 Win=3; Overtime Win=2; Overtime Loss=1; Loss=0 > LATEST EXPRESS CHALLENGE CUP TABLE Pl W D OL NL +/- Points Nottingham Panthers 2 1 0 0 1 +7 2 Bracknell Bees 1 1 0 0 0 +3 2 Cardiff Devils 1 1 0 0 0 +1 2 Manchester Storm 0 0 0 0 0 +0 0 Ayr Scottish Eagles 0 0 0 0 0 +0 0 Newcastle Cobras 0 0 0 0 0 +0 0 Basingstoke Bison 1 0 0 0 1 -3 0 Sheffield Steelers 1 0 0 0 1 -8 0 Win=2; Draw=1; Overtime Loss=1; Normal Loss=0 * point system not yet confirmed * > FORTHCOMING STORM GAMES DATE OPPONENTS F/O VENUE COMPETITION Sun 9 Nov Cardiff Devils 6.00 Away Superleague Tue 11 Nov Sheffield Steelers 7.30 Home Superleague Sat 15 Nov Sheffield Steelers 7.00 Away Superleague > GETTING TO STORM AWAY GAMES The following information is taken from THE STORM SHELTER (http://www.omen1.demon.co.uk/storm.html) Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm Sunday 9 November 1997 face off 6.00 Address Wales National Ice Rink, Hayes Bridge Road, Cardiff Telephone 01222 238 3451 Capacity 2500 Directions Take M6 south and then onto M5. At Junction 8 (Strensham Services) take M50 to Ross on Wye. Follow signs for Monmouth (A40). After Monmouth follow signs for Newport and Cardiff (A449). At M4Junction turn right towards Cardiff on the M4. At Junction 29 take the A48(M). At second roundabout turn left onto A4161 Southern Way). Turn right at the end. After 3/4 of a mile bear left onto the B4487 (Broadway). This becomes a dual carriageway. Approximately 400 yards turn left onto Fitzalan Place. Turn right at roundabout onto Adam Street. The rink is one the right hand side after the railway bridge. > TV AND RADIO NEWS SUN 9 NOV BBC GMR 95.1/104.6FM - Reports from Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm within normal Sunday night programming - 1800 - 2100 SUN 9 NOV BBC RADIO 5 LIVE 693/909AM - NIGHT EXTRA - Review of Sunday night's games including results as well as all the other sports results - 2320 - 2335 MON 10 NOV BBC GMR 95.1/104.6FM - Drivetime - Interview with Kurt Kleinendorst and Storm players following the weekend's games - 1755 TUE 11 NOV BBC GMR 95.1/104.6FM - GMR SPORT - FULL COMMENTARY of Manchester Storm v Sheffield Steelers live from Nynex Arena - 1900 - 2200 TUE 11 NOV SKY SPORTS - Ice Hockey LIVE - Full live coverage of Manchester Storm v Sheffield Steelers in the Superleague clash - 1930 - 2200 WED 12 NOV SKY SPORTS - Ice Hockey - Full coverage of the Manchester Storm v Sheffield Steelers game from the night before - 1030 - 1300 WED 12 NOV BBC RADIO SHEFFIELD 104.1FM - The Ice Line - Ice Hockey phone-in with Sheffield Steelers players as guests hosted by Gareth Hampshire - 1800 - 1900 FRI 14 NOV BBC RADIO LANCASHIRE 95.5/103.9FM - Lancashire Sport - Preview of Lancashire Hawks forthcoming games along with other sports previews and reviews - 1800 - 1900 FRI 14 NOV BBC RADIO SHEFFIELD 104.1FM - Friday Night Sport - Preview of Sheffield Steelers forthcoming games - 1900 - 2000 FRI 14 NOV BBC GMR 95.1/104.6FM - GMR SPORT - Interview with Storm personality and feature along with the night's other sports - 1900 - 2200 SAT 15 NOV GALAXY 102FM - Galaxy Sports - Interview with Kurt Kleinendorst and music - 1715 - 1730 SAT 15 NOV SKY SPORTS - Ice Hockey LIVE - Live coverage of a Superleague game - 1830 - 2100 SAT 15 NOV BBC RADIO 5 LIVE - NIGHT EXTRA - Review of Saturday night's games including results as well as all the other sports results - 2330 - 0000 > 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! Visit the Storm Blitz page on Into The Storm and post the "unsubscribe" form. Alternatively you can 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 #73 *** INTO THE STORM can be accessed at: http://www.intothestorm.co.uk