STORM BLITZ ISSUE #94 Tuesday 24 February 1998 If you have any comments on Storm Blitz, please feel free to e-mail stormblitz@intothestorm.co.uk any time. There are currently 301 subscribers to Storm Blitz ------------------------------------------------ INTO THE STORM IS SPONSORED BY SOUTHERN GRAPHICS http://www.southern.northwich.com ------------------------------------------------ In this issue : * Bees beaten in high scoring game * Other results Sunday * Storm thrash Steelers 6-1 * Other results Saturday * Express Cup semi final 2nd legs * Storm sign new netminder as Hrivnak leaves * Contracts - KK & players speak * Kurt Kleinendorst interviews * The Storm Shelter Web site updates * Into The Storm updates * The latest from Storm Audio * Final Superleague table * Forthcoming Storm games * Directions to away games * TV and Radio News * Download back issues of Storm Blitz * How to unsubscribe to Storm Blitz --------------------------------------------------- > BEES BEATEN IN HIGH SCORING GAME On Sunday night, Storm played the final Superleague game of the season against the visiting Bracknell Bees. Almost 12,000 fans saw a high scoring game that Storm looked to have sewn up early in the game, but almost managed to throw away. Eric Flinton scored after five minutes but Bracknell scored two goals from Brant and Crawford to give them a 2-1 lead. Then came a blitz on the Bracknell goal from Storm as they scored four times in four minutes around the half hour. Eric Flinton scored two of the goals to gain his first ever hat-trick. Stefan Ketola and Kevin Hoffman scored the other two. Ward scored for Bracknell on 36 minutes to make it 5-3. The third period saw two more Storm goals from Mike Morin and Craig Woodcroft. Bracknell then came back into the game with three goals in six minutes from Gomes, Whistle and Brant to make it 7-6. A tight finish was inevitable, but with just nine seconds left on the clock Hilton Ruggles wrapped it up with an empty net goal and Storm had the win 8-6. > OTHER RESULTS SUNDAY In other Superleague games on the final day of the Superleague regular season, Sheffield Steelers travelled to newly crowned champions Ayr Scottish Eagles. Steelers couldn't spoil the day as Ayr won the game 3-2. In Cardiff there was a shock result as bottom club Newcastle Cobras got a rare win over last season's champions Cardiff Devils. Cobras won 5-3. > STORM THRASH STEELERS 6-1 With netminder troubles still foremost in the minds of the Storm players and fans, the team took on big rivals Sheffield Steelers in Sheffield on Saturday night. Despite Sheffield looking strong early on, it was Storm who led after the first period from an eleventh minute Stefan Ketola goal. Storm put Sheffield under pressure in the second period as they scored three more times from Dale Jago (2) and Craig Woodcroft. With one minute of the game remaining the score was 6-0 following third period goals from Jeff Jablonski and Brad Rubachuk. Tim Cranston’s last minute goal that ended Grant Sjerven’s hopes of a shutout took nothing away from a great team performance that secured Storm the runners-up spot in the Superleague. > OTHER RESULTS SATURDAY In other Superleague games on Saturday night, struggling Nottingham Panthers travelled to Basingstoke Bison and won 3-2 after overtime. Cardiff Devils travelled to Express Cup finalists Bracknell Bees and were defeated as Bracknell won 6-5 after overtime. > EXPRESS CUP SEMI FINAL 2ND LEGS In the Express Cup semi final 2nd leg games, Bracknell Bees travelled to Sheffield Steelers with a 3-1 lead from the first leg. With three minutes on the clock, Pellerin scored a powerplay goal to give Bracknell a 1-0 lead. Two minutes later, Ken Priestlay equalised before Pellerin scored again after 13 minutes. Tim Cranston made the score 2-2 five minutes later and Bracknell led 5-3 on aggregate. Ward scored for Bracknell with 34 minutes on the clock and then in the final minute of the second period, Tony Hand scored for Steelers. Rob Wilson brought put Steelers 4-3 up on the night - 6-5 down on aggregate with two minutes left and then it was left to Brant to wrap up the game with an empty net goal that levelled the scored on the night at 4-4 but gave Bracknell a 7-5 aggregate win. In the second semi final, Ayr Scottish Eagles thrashed Nottingham Panthers 12-4 at the Centrum Arena. It was 4-4 from the first leg and Nottingham were expected to keep the game tight. Jamie Leach gave Panthers an early lead after 12 minutes, but this just encouraged Ayr. A minute later it was 1-1 from Purdie. Scott Young put Ayr ahead after another minute. Nottingham equalised on the powerplay with a De Angelis goal after 16 minutes and Shawn Byram then gave Ayr the lead just before the end of the first period and they led 7-6 on aggregate. Biette scored shorthanded for Ayr at the start of the second period and the fifth came just before the half hour from Biette. Another minute later it was 6-2 on the night with a goal from Parco. Groleau scored on 37 minutes to give Ayr an aggregate lead of 11-6 at the end of the second period. Premak pulled a goal back for Nottingham at the start of the third period from Premak. After 46 minutes it was 8-3 as Shawn Byram scored for Ayr. A minute later Byram got his hat-trick as Ayr now led 13-7 on aggregate. The next goal was for Nottingham as Hadden scored shorthanded on 52 minutes. It was 11-4 on the night as Young and Woolf scored for Ayr. The final goal of the game went in after 57 minutes with Biette scoring his hat-trick. This meant that Ayr won the game 12-4 on the night and 16-8 on aggregate. The two finalists meet in the Express Cup Final at Newcastle Arena on Thursday 26 February. > STORM SIGN NEW NETMINDER AS HRIVNAK LEAVES Early on Friday morning, news was starting to break of Storm’s ex-NHL netminder Jim Hrivnak’s departure. It was common knowledge that Jim was unhappy that he wasn’t to be offered a new contract before the end of the season. The rumours became reality as Port Huron Border Cats of the United Hockey League announced that their number two netminder John Lorenzo had been released to play in the UK for Storm. After the transfer deadline, you are only allowed to sign a netminder as cover for your current minder, so with Grant Sjerven still available, Lorenzo is unlikely to get any ice time. It turns out that Jim Hrivnak had threatened not to play any more games until he got a new contract - and so Storm decided that the answer was to release him. After watching Sunday’s game at the Nynex Arena from an executive suite, Jim has now returned to Canada for a week before he sets off to spend the summer in Florida. > CONTRACTS - KK & PLAYERS SPEAK The North Manchester Express newspaper has been following the contracts debate and printed a quotes from Kurt Kleinendorst and Mike Morin on the subject. Kurt said the following on the subject (before Jim actually left) "I've told the likes of Neumeier, Jablonski and Morin I'd like them back next season, but it is going to have to wait until after this season is over. They have all accepted it apart from Jimmy (Hrivnak). He's the one struggling with it. I'd like to think he'll be back next year, but at the moment I don't know." Mike Morin (having been told that he is wanted next season) said the following, "Talk of next year gets us a little off track. If you get offered a contract before the season's over, it's a huge bonus and shows great faith on Kurt's part. If you don't, you've just got to continue working hard to the end of the season when you should get the fruits of your labour in the form of a new deal. We all want to come back, this is our job, our career, and Manchester is one of the best places in Europe, you can't ask for anything better. But being asked about the future is only an added distraction. It worries me and affects me but I have to put it to the back of my mind and get on with playing. We're all coming together as a team now and second would be a great improvement on last year and something to be proud of, then we can go all out for the playoffs." Kurt is said to have totally and utterly refuted reports that he was leaving Storm and insisted that he'll be here next season. Craig Woodcroft said the following about the 2-1 win in Ayr, "There was no way in hell were they going to lift that trophy in front of us". > KURT KLEINENDORST INTERVIEWS Kurt Kleinendorst will be taking part in a one hour live radio interview on BBC GMR on Monday 2 March starting after the 7.00pm news. It is the first in a new series from GMR as they interview sporting personalities of local interest and play a selection of the guest's favourite music. Ian Cheeseman will be putting the questions to Kurt on the night. Kurt is also featured in this week's Providence Journal-Bulletin, a paper based in Providence, Rhode Island in the United States. Earlier in his career Kurt Kleinendorst played his college ice hockey in Providence and the article has been written to update US fans on the whereabouts of Kurt and what he's been up to in Manchester. The article can be read at the Providence Journal-Bulletin Web site at http://www.projo.com - you should select SPORTS from the left frame and hit the GO button to find it. > THE STORM SHELTER WEB SITE UPDATES The Storm Shelter site run by Damian Webber (http://www.omen1.demon.co.uk/storm/index.html) has undergone a major update with a new Java-enhanced Index page. A Message Forum has been added to the site as well as a new page covering Storm Stats. Here you can view the latest player stats in any of the competitions. All game stats are now available (they will get linked from Into The Storm soon honest!) and they now feature netminder stats for each game. > INTO THE STORM UPDATES Manchester Storm Message Forum - Added link to new Storm Shelter Message Forum. The Guestbook - Updated link to Basingstoke Bison Guestbook. Ice Hockey Links - Amended link to official Nottingham Panthers site. Storm Action Photos - Amended some of the photo descriptions. Fixture List - Play-off games now added to the fixtures. Latest Tables - Play-off group table now added to the set of tables. All the tables, results, latest news etc have been updated as normal. > THE LATEST FROM STORM AUDIO Storm Audio has increased its storage capacity so there's more archive space available. STORM AUDIO now includes news and post match reaction from the following games: Manchester Storm v Bracknell Bees (Sun 25 Feb) - Kurt Kleinendorst talks about the game and Jim Hrivnak's departure. Manchester Storm v Cardiff Devils (Sun 18 Feb) - Kurt Kleinendorst's view on Dominic Maltais leaving, Jim Hrivnak's contract and Ayr's Superleague win. Ayr Scottish Eagles v Manchester Storm (Sun 11 Feb) - 7 minutes of commentary highlights from the vital Superleague clash with the GMR commentary team of Jeff Tomlinson and Andy Costigan. Manchester Storm v Basingstoke Bison (Sun 1 Feb) - Kurt Kleinendorst talks about Storm letting 4-0 become 4-3 and hot news about the summer plus Peter Woods on why the Bison had a bad weekend. Listeners should download the final release of Real Player 5 which is better than the Beta version that many people are using. The file is free to download from http://www.real.co.uk or on the CD-ROM on the front of .Net magazine. An edited version of STORM AUDIO appears each Monday evening on BBC GMR 95.1FM at 5.55pm. STORM AUDIO can be found on the Internet at http://members.aol.com/stormaudio > FINAL SUPERLEAGUE TABLE Pl W D OL NL +/- Points Ayr Scottish Eagles 28 20 1 2 5 +48 43 Manchester Storm 28 18 3 1 6 +43 40 Cardiff Devils 28 15 2 2 9 +20 34 Nottingham Panthers 28 14 3 0 11 -4 31 Bracknell Bees 28 14 1 1 12 -20 30 Sheffield Steelers 28 11 2 3 12 +2 27 Basingstoke Bison 28 5 4 6 13 -36 20 Newcastle Cobras 28 6 2 1 19 -53 15 > FORTHCOMING STORM GAMES DATE OPPONENTS F/O VENUE COMPETITION Sun 1 Mar Basingstoke Bison 6.00 Home Play Offs Group B Sat 7 Mar Cardiff Devils 6.00 Away Play Offs Group B Sun 8 Mar Bracknell Bees 6.00 Home Play Offs Group B Tue 10 Mar Basingstoke Bison 7.30 Away Play Offs Group B Sat 14 Mar Cardiff Devils 7.00 Home Play Offs Group B Sun 15 Mar Bracknell Bees 6.00 Away Play Offs Group B > GETTING TO STORM AWAY GAMES The following information is taken from THE STORM SHELTER (http://www.omen1.demon.co.uk/storm/index.html) Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm Saturday 7 March 1998 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. Basingstoke Bison v Manchester Storm Tuesday 10 March 1998 face off 7.30 Address The Playground, Basingstoke Leisure Park, Basingstoke Telephone 01256 355266 Capacity 3100 Other Info No telephone bookings on day of match Directions Take M6, M42, M40 south. At Junction 9 take A34 South. Follow signs for Newbury. Approx 11.5 miles through Newbury take the A339 to Basingstoke. After Mini Roundabout the road turns into a dual carriageway, take the right hand lane on the approach to the next roundabout. Follow the signs to the Leisure Park. There is a large free car park. Bracknell Bees v Manchester Storm Sunday 15 March 1998 face off 6.00 Address John Nike Leisuresport Complex, John Nike Way, Bracknell. Telephone 01344 860033 Capacity 3100 Directions Take M6, M42, M40 south. At Junction 9 take A34 South. Follow signs for Newbury. At M4 turn left heading East. At Junction 10 turn right, take A329M and then A3408. Follow signs for Skating Rink. > TV AND RADIO NEWS WED 25 FEB BBC RADIO SHEFFIELD 104.1FM - The Ice Line - Ice hockey phone in hosted by Gareth Hampshire with Steelers players as guests. THU 26 FEB SKY SPORTS 3 - Ice Hockey LIVE - Live coverage of the Express Cup Final - 2000 - 2230 THU 26 FEB PICCADILLY KEY 103FM - Storm news, game preview and interviews - 2030 - 2035 FRI 27 FEB SKY SPORTS 2 - Ice Hockey - Full coverage of the Express Cup Final shown earlier in the evening - 0130 - 0400 FRI 27 FEB SKY SPORTS 3 - Ice Hockey - Full coverage of the Express Cup Final shown the previous evening - 1430 - 1600 FRI 27 FEB BBC GMR 95.1/104.6FM - GMR SPORT - Interviews, previews and news from Manchester Storm along with other sport - 1900 - 2200 SAT 28 FEB GALAXY 102FM - Galaxy Sports - Interview with Kurt Kleinendorst and music - 1715 - 1730 SAT 28 FEB BBC RADIO 5 LIVE - NIGHT EXTRA - Review of Saturday night's games including results as well as all the other sports results - 2330 - 0000 SUN 1 MAR BBC RADIO 5 LIVE - NIGHT EXTRA - Review of Sunday night's games including results as well as all the other sports results - 2325 - 2335 MON 2 MAR BBC GMR 95.1/104.6FM - Drivetime - Interview with Kurt Kleinendorst and Storm players following the weekend's games - this is an edited version of STORM AUDIO - 1755 - 1800 MON 2 MAR BBC GMR 95.1/104.9FM - Sport Extra - Full one hour interview with Kurt Kleinendorst including his favourite music - 1900 - 2000 > 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 stormblitz@intothestorm.co.uk 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 #94 *** IF YOU HAVE ANY NEWS OR COMMENTS, E-MAIL STORM BLITZ AT: stormblitz@intothestorm.co.uk INTO THE STORM can be accessed at: http://www.intothestorm.co.uk