Posted by Graham Goodman on 24th May 2005 at 08:13 GMT
Posted from 82.32.86.97 (82-32-86-97.cable.ubr01.chap.blueyonder.co.uk)
In reply to Re: British elite league take some notice posted by Bob on 23rd May 2005 at 22:21 GMT:
Bob,
I've been watching British hockey since 1986, so I have seen games in the UK. You are trying to dismiss other's opinions on the assumption that they haven't seen any. But, have you seen any league games from the leagues being mentioned to witness just how big the difference is? I have...
You mention Moborg, and I agree that he is one of the best players to have played in the UK in recent years. But, although he went to Germany, he didn't go to their top league, the DEL. He only went to the Oberliga, their 3rd league (they have since been promoted to the Bundesliga, their 2nd league). So, if one of the better imports in the UK regards going to the German 3rd league as career advancement, then I'm afraid that all of the criticism in here of the British league is entirely justified.
Similarly, Adam Calder, an EIHL All-Star this season is not going to the Swedish Eliteserien. He's going to the 2nd tier Allsvenskan. That's how good the best netminder in the UK really is...
Interestingly, Stephen Murphy, Britian's national team number 1 netminder this season, is also going to be in that league next season. But because Calder has a Canadian accent, he's automatically assumed to be a better player in the UK. I think it is appalling that Murphy has to go abroad to be given a fair chance...
The wage cap is only £180k, so we don't get good players (ignore the NHL lock-out players this season, that's an unusual circumstance that is not a true reflection of the players that the UK, or France, Hungary or Italy, really attract). We take players straight from the OHL (as Sheffield did in 2003-04, and both those players were still in the EIHL last season) and parade them as if they are superstars.
"you can't compare such different styles of hockey, and the quality stems from the lack of money available in the UK leagues."
Of course you can. They are both playing the same sport, so you can easily compare. One is successful, the other isn't. And you have to ask why.
You seem to think the only reason we can't compete is because we can't afford European salaries. I would agree (partially at least), but you have to remember that this thread was started by a Coventry fan who was trying to claim that British hockey is one of the best in Europe.
But, I would also say that the main reason we can't compete is because our embarassing attitude towards developing our own players forces us to compete with the rest of Europe to import players, a battle we ultimately always lose. Sweden, Russia, Czech Republic, Finland, etc all have something in common, other than money, with each other but not with us. They produce the best players in the world and they let them play.
And what do we do? Every time any money comes into the sport, we increase our spending on the import market. In the 19 years I've been watching this sport, not once have I seen any money invested in our own youth set-up...
Graham.
LINK Great Britain Supporters Club
