EPISODE 80 – Episode 80 – Blue and Yellow

Last week, Danny Stewart of the Coventry Blaze found himself in hot water for his actions during and after a game – which found him banned and fined by the EIHL in what is (or at the time, was) the latest debacle from the Blaze camp. If nothing else, its entertaining to watch teams go through their ‘moment’ in the spotlight.

The EIHL itself however hasn’t been without controversy this last fortnight – with Playoff 2022 tickets going on sale, for a remarkably inflated price and with no options for concessions – meaning you and your kids will all cost the same for three competitive games and one where 30-something grown men try not to barf on the ice ahead of the grandstand final…to say fans are not impressed is an understatement!

Meanwhile in Belfast, Patrick Mullen is back in teal after his first season with the team was cut short due to the covid curtailed 2019-20 season…he’s just in time for a couple BIG games…such as:

The 2022 Challenge Cup Final is set! The Belfast Giants will host the Cardiff Devils on Wednesday 16th March. some of the Cardiff contingent are unhappy at a midweek final – but come on folks – the next day’s a public holiday here…IT’S PADDY’S DAY – ‘mon and have the craic!

Penalty Box

Following various multi-year suspensions in the EIHA last podcast around – the league has now in fact reduced these bans – but certainly some questions remain around the ‘mitigating circumstances‘ and how the reduction has come around.

Starting things on a light note – the Minnesota Wild will this weekend retire Mikkou Koivu‘s jersey to the rafters in a move worthy of the franchise’s first retirement.

Events in Eastern Europe have been in the forefront of many peoples minds in recent days – and the hockey community is no different, but the NHL this week took the step of severing ties with it’s Russian league counterpart, the KHL and with several sponsors from or linked to the country following its invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, two teams attached to the Kontinental Hockey League have themselves withdrawn from the competition.

In North America, more ripples have been felt as NHL Hall of Fame Dominik Hasek has called for the immediate suspension of all Russian players, and has even suggested that Russian players donate their salaries to humanitarian causes in Ukraine.

Big Phil keeps us in our hockey wheel-house in P2, with the story of the ‘Yotes not only ensuring that his Ironman run continues, but that he could maintain it whilst also making it back home in time for the birth of his child thanks to a charter jet!

Ukraine continues to dominate the news, even in Hockey News – but there’s good coming out of the hockey community as a result of the terrible situation there.

Former NHL Superstar Jaromir Jagr moved his team’s last game from a c.5ooo seater rink to Prague and a 15,000 seater arena to raise funds in a fantastic effort.

Closer to home, we saw various teams don special jerseys and raffle them for local Ukrainian centric charities such as by the Sheffield Steelers, with more plans coming from the Nottingham Panthers and the Basingstoke Bison.

We love a good jersey too – no matter what the occasion, and a charity jersey from the Glasgow Clan (in our humble opinion) has the dubious honour of topping their recent rebrand! What a jersey and a great cause too!!