Around the EIHL: Edition 8

Welcome once more to your weekly round-up of transfers in the EIHL as the season starts in earnest, two months from now. Whose signed where, well your one stop article has it covered right here. Read on and find out.

All transfers correct as of Saturday 30 June 2018.

We start as always with the Belfast Giants, and just one transfer this week. Arriving in Northern Ireland for the Giants blue line is defenceman Curtis Leonard who is acquired from ECHL side Fort Wayne Komets. Next up are of the Braehead Clan and they have been busy with two in and two out. A new face at the Clan is forward Liam Heelis who joins from rivals Fife Flyers and Matt Beca returns after spending last year in Manchester. Leaving though are defenceman Josh Grieveson who has joined the Solway Sharks, and promising Brit Jordan Buesa for pastures yet not confirmed.

Two more players for the Cardiff Devils 2018-19 roster and again, and in a familiar pattern: these are re-signings as captain Jake Morissette and Italian internationalist Sean Bentivoglio commit for a sixth and third season respectively. One in, four out for the Coventry Blaze though. Norwegian defenceman Nicolai Bryhnisveen arrives from HC Dukla Jihlava whilst Dorian Peca, Alex Barron, Vojtech Kloz and Adam Courchaine will be all playing elsewhere next season. One transaction for Dundee Stars and it'll be a new face in between the pipes as netminder Travis Fullerton heads south of the border to join Guildford. Two departures for the Fife Flyers and crucial departures too; Liam Heelis swaps the East Coast for the West as he joins rivals Braehead whilst fellow forward Shayne Stockton has decided to retire from the sport.

One player in and one player out for the Guildford Flames as Travis Fullerton arrives at the Spectrum to form one part of a goaltending triumvirate but Slovakian blueliner Tomas Nechala heads across the English Channel to join Remparts de Tours in the second tier of the French hockey structure. Just the one movement at Manchester Storm as Matt Beca re-joins the Braehead Clan, and a single transfer for the Milton Keynes Lightning as they acquire former NHLer Tim Wallace from the Sheffield Steelers.

Two more clubs complete the list as always. Firstly, the Nottingham Panthers and Rich Chernomaz's roster continues with its rebuild as Kevin Henderson, who played four games for Nashville in "The Show" during the 2012-13 season, arrives from Danish club SønderjyskE but heading to Denmark are Mark Derlago who joins Esbjerg Energy and GB internationalist Evan Mosey who becomes a Herning Blue Fox. Finally, the Sheffield Steelers. One in and two out there with experienced centre Evan McGrath arriving from EC Kassel Huskies of DEL2, but Tim Wallace and Miika Franssila joining Milton Keynes Lightning and Dunaújvárosi Acélblkál respectively.

Join us next week for more transfer updates....

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Around the EIHL: Edition 7

Welcome to the seventh edition of "Around the EIHL" which at the moment is keeping you up to date with the transfers in and out from the 11 members clubs. Time then to sit down, pour yourself a cool drink and relax.

Transfers up to and including Saturday 23 June 2018.

We will of course start with the Belfast Giants and it's two players in and one out. Arriving from the University of Saskatchewan are defenceman Kendall McFall and forward Josh Roach. Leaving Northern Ireland though, is towering defenceman Ryan Martinelli who is reunited with former Giants team-mate Jackson Whistle at rivals Sheffield Steelers. Now time for Braehead Clan and they too have had two in and one out on this latest update. Arriving for Pete Russell's men are Dane Rasmus Bjerrum who comes from Odense Bulldogs and youngster Mac Howlett who was at SaiPa Under-18's in Finland last season. Departing the Clan though is defenceman Cameron Burt who heads off to MAC Budapest.

One signing for champions Cardiff Devils and it's a re-signing too as former NHL draft pick Gleason Fournier returns for his third full season. Busy times at Coventry Blaze this week as they announced four signings, defenceman Trey Lewis joins the roster from the University of New Brunswick whilst youngsters Matthew Maurice, Edward Knaggs and Oliver Lord join from NIHL sides Solihull Barons, Bracknell Bees and Milton Keynes Thunder respectively whilst there's an absence from the blue line as Gaelan Patterson decided to hang up his skates. No further additions yet from Dundee Stars but we can be re-assured that Omar Pacha will be working hard towards to bolster his roster.

After announcing their first signing of 2018-19 last week, Fife Flyers make it two with the re-signing of Carlo Finucci who joins for a third campaign. Just one transaction at Guildford Flames and it's an exit as former Sheffield Steelers play-off winner Geoff Walker chose to hang up the skates to become Head Coach of the Hinton Wildcats in the Western States Hockey League. Two in and out at Manchester Storm as forward Shane Bakker re-joins and former NHL draft pick Harrison Ruopp arrives on the blueline from Balgonie Bisons of the Qu'Appelle Valley Hockey League. Leaving Altrincham are last season's captain Jay Rosehill who has decided to retire and Andrew McKinney who moves into the NIHL with Telford Tigers.

We start the final summaries with Milton Keynes Lightning and they have brought in Finn Joonas Huovinen from Polish club GKS Tychy in their only transfer move of the week. Two in and one out at the Nottingham Panthers in the week they also launched their new jerseys for 2018-19, someone remind the people at Warrior to give Josh Tetlow one that actually fits him...Anyway re-signing in the Lace City are forward Luke Pither who impressed in his short spell last year and in a welcome return; cult hero Guillaume Lèpine who was at ECHL side Wichita Thunder in 17-18. Leaving though, is the abrasive forward Jeff Brown who has joined Ligue Magnus side Gap De Rapaces. 

Last but not least it's the Sheffield Steelers and they've had a busy week too. Joining them are energetic forward Tanner Eberle (cousin of NHLer Jordan) who is acquired from ECHL side Jacksonville Ice Men and no-nonsense defenceman Ryan Martinelli who is obtained from EIHL rivals Belfast. No longer at the House of Steel are playmaking defender Ben O'Connor who joins Swedish Allsvenskan side Leksands (Steelers' first pre-season opponents ironically) and in a huge loss Mathieu Roy who has had to retire due to persistent injury problems.

Join us next week for a further update as the start of the season inches that bit closer.

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Around the EIHL: Edition 6

Welcome again to "Around the EIHL", edition number six this week. As usual we're bringing you the latest signings and departures from all eleven Elite League. All transfers listed are up to and including yesterday, 10 June 2018.

Read on...

We start this as always with the Belfast Giants, and since last week's update there's been no further additions or departures there. However, they'll be working as hard as everyone else to find the right players to don the teal in 2018-19. Next up Braehead Clan, and they've found their starting netminder as Joel Rumpel arrives from the Utah Grizzlies. Wonder if the Purple Army will burst out into a rendition of "Let's Get Ready to Rumpel!" as part of their repertoire of songs next season? Think about it. One arrival at league champions Cardiff Devils, and it's a re-signing as utility man and GB internationalist Josh Batch commits himself to an eighth season in South Wales.

Still no new additions at Coventry Blaze since 16 May, but they've got to be pleased so far who they have on board at the moment. Two re-signings at Dundee Stars, as local boys Kris Inglis and Ben Edmonds are added to Omar Pacha's roster for the season ahead; taking the number signed so far to eleven. Finally though a signing at Fife Flyers, and what a re-signing it is as Evan Bloodoff returns for a second season in Kirkcaldy. A re-signing too at Guildford Flames as Jez Lundin signs a new two-year deal which will on conclusion take him to eleven seasons with the Surrey side.

A new face at Manchester Storm as Ryan Finnerty brings in American Rob Linsmayer from Ligue Magnus side Gap de Rapaces. A new face too for Milton Keynes Lightning as forward David Norris arrives from Arizona State University. Three in and one out at the Nottingham Panthers. Highly rated youngsters Joseph Hazeldine, Josh Tetlow and Jordan Kelsall return for a second campaign whilst defenceman Daniel Spang leaves the Lace City for DEL2 side Löwen Frankfurt. We finish with the Sheffield Steelers of course and it's one in, one out there. Joining is defenceman Josh McFadden who arrives from the University of Guelph whilst there is a major departure in winger Levi Nelson (more on him in another article) who has decided to hang up the skates.

Join us next week for more transfer updates...

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Around the EIHL: Edition 5

Welcome to the fifth edition of "Around the EIHL"; your one stop shop that tracks the transfer movements in and out for the upcoming 2018-19 season. Who has signed where and who has moved on, well read on and find out...

Transfers up to and including 9 June 2018.

As always we start with the Belfast Giants, just one signing again in the week just gone. The latest new face in Northern Ireland is GB internationalist Paul Swindlehurst who joins the Giants from fellow Elite League side Manchester Storm. Next stop Braehead Clan, and it's two in and one out for the West of Scotland side. Re-joining is backup netminder Gary Russell and joining them is forward Scott Tanski who signs from ECHL side Reading Royals. Leaving the Clan is power forward Jacob Doty, signed by fellow Neil Black owned club: the Nottingham Panthers.

It's the same for the current Elite League champions Cardiff Devils, that is two in and one out. The signings are returnees in the shape of netminding duo Ben Bowns and Thomas Murdy but there is a massive hole to fill on the defence corps as Andrew Hotham leaves Cardiff after four hugely successful seasons for pastures new back home in North America. Still no further activity at Coventry Blaze but one transaction at Dundee Stars where Cody Carlson leaves to join ASC Corona Brasov in Romania who have earlier this season also signed former Stars, Clan, and Blaze defenceman Craig Cescon.

Fife Flyers still haven't announced a player signing; and to be honest they never really rush into these so no change in the status quo there in Kirkcaldy. One in and one out for the Guildford Flames, and the signing is a huge re-signing too as impressive offensive defenceman Calle Ackered pens a new two year deal but Mikael Lidhammar departs the Elite League to become yet another signing for ASC Corona Brasov. Manchester Storm have been involved in one transaction though, but it's a departure as Paul Swindlehurst leaves for the Belfast Giants after two and half seasons in Altrincham.

Two more departures from last season's Milton Keynes Lightning side as Kyle Essery returns to Ligue Magnus with Lyon and Carl Hudson goes to Germany and DEL2 with Eispiraten Crimittschau. Two in and one out for the Nottingham Panthers. New to Lace City are Jacob Doty who joins from Braehead, and Jon Rheault who is acquired from EBEL side Klagenfurter AC. Leaving though is GB internationalist Evan Mosey who leaves for pastures unknown halfway through a two year deal which he signed last summer. Finally Sheffield Steelers have made their first brand new import signing of the season ahead as Josh Pitt (no relation to Braehead's Scott) who is acquired from the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL.

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Around the EIHL: Edition 4

Welcome to the fourth edition of "Around the EIHL" which brings you the latest movements for the 11 team strong EIHL in 2018-19. Want to know who is playing where next season? Well, this is your one stop article for just that.

Transfer dealings up to and including yesterday, 2 June 2018.

Let's start as always with the Belfast Giants. Just one addition to the team, taking the total signed to eight. Netminder Tyler Beskorowany joins the Giants from the now defunct Edinburgh Capitals. One player departs too, as veteran Brit Ashley Tait leaves to become the new player-coach at NIHL South side Basingstoke Bison. Next stop is of course the Braehead Clan and they have signed defenceman Matt Stanisz from fellow Elite League side Manchester Storm for their blue line. Two players have left Clan though, both defencemen. Félix-Antoine Poulin leaves for, wait for it, Manchester and Craig Cescon moves to Romanian Erste Liga side ASC Corona Brasov.

League Champions Cardiff Devils have re-signed Brit defenceman Craig Moore for 2018-19, Moore's first season since joining from Dundee last summer had been cut short with a serious knee injury. However fellow defenceman Drew Paris has moved to Sweden to join Karlskrona HK who were relegated from the SHL to the Allsvenskan at the end of season. We can confirm no further movements to report at Coventry Blaze yet. Two in and one out for Dundee Stars as Omar Pacha continues with his team building. New arrivals are defenceman Mike Sullivan and forward Charles Corcoran turn up on Tayside from HC Asiago and Brown University respectively; whilst Riley Stadel moves onto Ryan Finnerty's Manchester Storm.

No team announcements yet still from the Fife Flyers but Todd Dutiaume and Jeff Hutchins will again be behind the bench. One arrival in Surrey for the Guildford Flames, with Kevin King joining them from Milton Keynes. Four players signed up for the Manchester Storm since we last reported. There are new deals for Dane Byers and Declan Balmer whilst Félix-Antoine Poulin and Riley Stadel arrive in Altrincham from Braehead and Dundee respectively. Defenceman Matt Stanisz is a departure though, he's joined Braehead. 

Next stop Milton Keynes Lightning and plenty of activity since we last updated. Four players in, two out. Arriving in Buckinghamshire are Italian internationalist Patrick Killeen from Ritten/Renon, Czech forward Radek Meidl who joins from Orlik Opole and young Brits Owen Griffiths and Cole Shudra who arrive from Peterborough Phantoms and on loan from Sheffield Steelers respectively. Leaving are last season's captain Kevin King who has joined Guildford, and Denny Kearney who departs for Ligue Magnus side Grenoble.

Nottingham Panthers up next, and they have been busy as well with four signings and one only departure. Leaving the Lace City is forward Zack Phillips who has joined Fehérvár AV19 of the EBEL. Yet icing for the Panthers in 18-19 are Tim Billingsley who joins for a second season, and in a huge re-signing: GB internationalist Brett Perlini. New faces are on the blue line are Tommy Hughes who is acquired from AHL side Hershey Bears and former NHLer Dylan Olsen who signs from Adirondack Thunder again of the AHL. Olsen follows in the steps of his father Darryl who had a season in the black and gold way back in 1996-97.

Last but by no means least, the Sheffield Steelers. Plenty of movement there too with Jordan Griffin joining the Club as their latest apprentice; acquired from Bradford Bulldogs U16 and new deals for Cole Shudra and Mark Matheson. Departing for new pastures are the afore-mentioned Shudra who joins Milton Keynes on a season long loan deal and in a huge transaction: GB internationalist Ben O'Connor who has linked up with KHL side Barys Astana.

More transfer updates next week.

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Trio make Re-Signings

Over the last few days, three of the Elite League teams have made re-signings of important members of last season's rosters for the new season ahead. Here we look at all three with my own opinion on them. Happy reading.

First up, Manchester Storm and their re-signing of Dane Byers. Byers was a huge hit for Ryan Finnerty and the Storm in his initial season at Altrincham. One of the reasons that Storm achieved second place in the overall standings; and now he's back for a second campaign.

My thoughts: When Dane Byers first arrived in Manchester, like most I had a keen interest in his statistics. The 32 year old came with the resumè of over 500 games in the AHL which is impressive by all accounts but coupled with over 1200 penalty minutes in the same. Screamed goon to me at the start. However, the guy can actually play hockey and chipped in with 27 goals and 78 points overall which put him third in the Storm's ranks behind the more established Matt Beca and Mike Hammond. Shades of Colt King to me, especially with the previous reputation. This is a smart re-signing by Finner and Storm fans are of course delighted; I would be too if I was one. I expect Dane to build on last season's impressive effort and put up some equally good numbers in 2018-19 as the Storm look to also build on last year's second placed effort.

Secondly, Nottingham Panthers and re-signing Brett Perlini.  Perlini came to the Lace City with a firm hockey background, after all his younger brother plays in the NHL and his father Fred is well known in this country after spells at Nottingham and Guildford where the young Brett made his initial start.

My thoughts: Another smart re-signing by an Elite League and to tie him down with a multi-season contract is even more impressive by the Panthers. It's clear he has become their franchise player in my eyes. Their clutch player. Brett was head and shoulders the best player that the underachieving Panthers had, and it was a no-brainer that Pete Russell wanted him in the GB team and what tournament he had in Budapest with 4 goals and 6 points which led him to be named as the tournament MVP. I was, and am sure some Panthers fans will nod in agreement too, confident that the Panthers would lose him and he'd be in Europe this season. But they've kept hold of him, great decision. A massive boost for the Panthers and GB hockey as well. Can only get better in my view, and is still young at just 27.

Finally, the Steelers and their retention of defenceman Mark Matheson. A well travelled defenceman with experience of playing in various different leagues worldwide. Mark was seen to be that steadying influence on a new look Steelers blue line, but could he transfer that in his first look at hockey over here.

My thoughts: I first met Mark, like most Steelers fans, at the pre=season shirt launch event and immediately got a connection with him because we share the same nickname "Mad Dog" so much so he yelled out to Paul (Thompson) that "We got two Mad Dog's in the building!" which had the Steelers GM/HC in stitches. However, this is one articulate hockey player and you can tell he has such a great career when he speaks. To me, he was clearly the best defenceman we had last season (the fact he literally cleaned up every award he was up for at the Club's end of season function confirms this) and probably the best one in the league too. A player who goes about his business with the minimum of fuss, a bit like Darrell Hay in his time in Sheffield, but the consummate hockey pro. Steelers have made a lot of their fans happy with this. It would have been criminal if they had let him go.

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Around the EIHL: Edition 3

It's been a busy couple of days in the Elite League with plenty happening. So I bring you a round-up of what has happening before I jet off to Poland for a family wedding. Needs must and all that.

Let's go back to yesterday, and the announcement that the 2018-19 Elite League season will comprise of one league and no Conferences. Personally I think this is a great decision, even if the numbers are reduced by one this season. I've never been a fan of the conferences myself to be honest despite certain people championing like it is the best thing since sliced bread proverbially speaking. Under the new structure for 2018-19, each team will play the others three times home and away. A couple of gripes I have about this, is that the Conference titles apparently still remain as does the Challenge Cup. I would have binned them both.

Also happening yesterday; was an announcement by the Manchester Storm and what a great gesture it was. Yesterday, as you sadly remember, was the first anniversary of the tragic bomb incident at the Manchester Arena (G-Mex in the olden days): a place that I have visited many times for concerts. Storm deserve great kudos for the decision to retire the shirt number 22, the number of lives sadly lost. Whoever came up with this idea, deserves a massive pat on the proverbial back. 

Today saw one of Team GB's stars from Budapest leave for pastures new. That player is Sheffield Steelers defenceman Ben O'Connor, and he has joined KHL side Barys Astana after three and half seasons at the club he calls "home" but has stated that he doesn't "..think he has played his last game for the Steelers..." It's a huge blow for the Steelers for sure as regards their team building for 2018-19, but on the flip side another sign that British hockey is going in the right direction when one of their best players is set to showcase his talents in the second best league in the world. Good luck with it Ben, you leave Sheffield (for now) with my best wishes and I'm sure most Steelers fans will echo it.

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Around the EIHL: Edition 2

Welcome to the second edition of "Around The EIHL", the regular piece covering the Elite League itself as opposed to any member club in it. Like the first edition we are going to see who signed where and who has also left where. Another transfer round-up so to say.

All transfer activity is up to and including Monday 21 May 2018. Read on then...

We will start of course with the Belfast Giants, and they have been busy in their team building with six players announced on one day to take their 2018-19 roster up to eight. Five of the six are familiar faces though. Long time servants Mark Garside, Colin Shields and Stephen Murphy are all back in teal with Murphy being awarded a testimonial for ten years service to the Giants. Back for a second year are Jonathan Ferland and Dustin Johner, Johner hoping for a better season than last after an injury plagued dèbut one. There's also a new face in the shape of promising British forward Lewis Hook who joins from Milton Keynes. One departure has been confirmed though, netminder Jackson Whistle leaves for EIHL rivals Sheffield.

Braehead are up next. Back for another season are defenceman Zach Sullivan and forwards Craig Peacock and Matthew Haywood; Haywood being the sole player who has been with the Clan since its inception in 2010. There's a new face too in former Hull Academy player Jack Musil; Jack joins the Clan after spending eight years in North America. Leaving Clan Towers for pastures new, but not known at the moment, is Bari McKenzie. Since we last updated there has been no transfer movement for the Cardiff Devils but we expect the Devils are actively working behind the scenes as always.

Two additions for the Coventry Blaze roster of 2018-19; with Kevin Nastiuk re-joining for a second season and British defenceman Alex Forbes making the short journey to the Sky Dome from Milton Keynes. One new face signed at Dundee Stars as defenceman Connor Cox arrives on Tayside from the University of Saskatchewan where he has played for the last five seasons. No arrivals reported at Fife Flyers but netminder Jordan Marr has departed Kirkcaldy; he's joined NIHL South 1 club Peterborough Phantoms. Three re-signings for Guildford Flames with Jesse Craige, Kruise Reddick and Brett Ferguson returning to last season's surprise packet.

Like Cardiff there has been no further additions to the Manchester Storm roster yet. One in and three out though at Milton Keynes Lightning, with former Coventry Blaze netminder Adam Goss arriving from Mercyhurst University yet Lewis Hook, Alex Forbes and Matt Nickerson are moving onto Belfast, Coventry and TUTO Hockey respectively. No further movements in and out at the Nottingham Panthers as new head coach Rich Chernomaz gets ready for his opening season as Corey Neilson's replacement. Two arrivals to finish with at Sheffield Steelers, netminder and GB internationalist Jackson Whistle arrives from Belfast and he is joined by his younger brother Brandon who joins from Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the British Columbia Hockey League.

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