Carpo
Post-Happy
Posts: 596
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Post by Carpo on Nov 21, 2005 1:01:00 GMT 1
Unfortunatly, it appears as if the rumours are true and London have folded with immediate effect.
" London Racers have quit the Elite League with immediate effect due to serious safety concerns over the Lee Valley rink, which has been their home for two years. The Racers say they cannot continue playing at the venue and have nowhere else to go.
Nottingham Panthers player Blaz Emersic suffered a bad facial injury during a match at the rink two weeks ago after colliding with an advertising hoarding protruding from the barriers, and a Racers game was halted last Sunday after a shot shattered the Plexiglass surrounds to the ice.
Racers owner Roger Black said: "We have exhausted the possibilities. We have played at Alexander Palace and Lee Valley and there is nowhere else in London. Money is not the issue; we simply have nowhere to play."
Reports the Daily Telegraph.....
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robbiec45
Wow, I Can Post
Bad Move letting the Hip Check Legend go
Posts: 113
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Post by robbiec45 on Nov 21, 2005 14:42:03 GMT 1
Erm.....
Guildford
Basingstoke
Bracknell
Rink Share until problem sorted out
There is more behind this story than Mr Black is letting on i am thinking.
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Post by Dave on Nov 21, 2005 16:02:50 GMT 1
It's not quite that easy just to rink share.
Especially when you consider how cost effective it would be, for a club like the racers who already struggle with getting bums in seats.
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Post by covunistudent on Nov 21, 2005 16:33:21 GMT 1
Assuming this story is true, what happens with London results. How would it affect Coventry Blaze etc.
I would assume that all Londons results are wiped out, its the fairest way to do such things.
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robbiec45
Wow, I Can Post
Bad Move letting the Hip Check Legend go
Posts: 113
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Post by robbiec45 on Nov 21, 2005 16:37:23 GMT 1
It's not quite that easy just to rink share. Especially when you consider how cost effective it would be, for a club like the racers who already struggle with getting bums in seats. If they moved to Guildford they would probably get some of their fans go to the games. |
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Post by Rich on Nov 21, 2005 17:26:52 GMT 1
The only fair thing they can do is wipe all Racers results, and carry on without the Racers although this does mess the whole thing up. The start of the season teams will have been expecting to play 48 games in the league and now it will only be 42 plus games already played with London which will mean a loss in gate receipts for all. Also it will mean that everyone in the league will now make the playoff so there could be a little bit of competitness taken away from teams near the bottom at the end of the season.
Hockey is a great sport to watch and I always feel I get value for money when I go to games, but when things like this happen it does annoy me, how come Landan have only realised now that their rink aint safe? If its not safe now surely it wasn't safe back in the summer.
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Carpo
Post-Happy
Posts: 596
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Post by Carpo on Nov 21, 2005 17:39:46 GMT 1
London Press Release....
Racers call ‘time’ on Lee Valley
It is with deep regret and with a heavy heart that the Board of the London Racers Ice Hockey Club and sponsors, in conjunction with the Elite Ice Hockey League, announce that the capital’s top-flight ice hockey team will cease playing operations for the 2005/06 season with immediate effect.
We would like to sincerely thank all of our fans, sponsors, off-ice officials, volunteers and every single player that has pulled on a Racers jersey.
Whilst in some respects the decision we have taken is a very difficult one, ultimately it was the only decision available to us. It has become clear that the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority through the Lee Valley Ice Centre are unable to provide a suitably safe venue for ‘elite’ level ice hockey. The Club, its investors and sponsors are simply unwilling to put commercial interests before that of the safety of players and fans. The decision taken at the Racers board meeting this afternoon was therefore an inevitable one.
In the past two weeks visitors to the Ice Centre have witnessed two incidents which have dramatically highlighted fundamental safety failings. In the Racers match versus Nottingham on the 5th November, Panther player Blaze Emersic sustained a serious facial injury as a consequence of a protruding object in the barrier boards; and in the game versus the Sheffield Steelers on the 13th November, the ‘safety’ glass behind the goal shattered in an ‘explosive’ manner when hit by a puck and a fan sustained injuries. At practice the following Tuesday, the same section of glass shattered once again.
Fortunately the glass injury was not major because the fan was watching the puck and able to jump out of the way. Club officials are however gravely concerned that such an incident is likely to reoccur with people less mobile sustaining very serious injuries. It has therefore become impossible for the Club to continue playing at Lee Valley knowing the danger fans and players will be facing.
Whilst the Club has explored all other avenues, we are in the end left with the stark reality of being an ice hockey team with no ice upon which to play. London, the largest conurbation in Europe, simply does not have a suitable ice sport facility. Streatham, Alexandra Palace, and Lee Valley are simply not good enough.
The Club has been advancing for some considerable time, proposals for modern arena facilities in two separate London locations, however bringing such facilities to life takes time, yet time has run out on Lee Valley. Work on these plans will continue and professional hockey will return to the Capital, hopefully within a season or two.
Dennis Maxwell, player, coach and member of the management team is saddened by the decision the club is forced to make, however he is adamant he will not put any of his players or the fans at risk.
“This is the toughest decision I’ve ever been a part of, however I know we can’t keep playing if people are in danger. It’s the right move for the Club to make. I’m now turning my attention to assisting all of our guys in finding new teams this season. Each and every one of my players will be an asset to any club; they’re hard working, skilful and most of all, loyal.”
It is important that we stress, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Club is not folding. It is simply ceasing to be play this season. All existing contractual commitments to players, fans and suppliers will be met.
The London Racers have been blessed by a truly dedicated group of fans, and the tremendous London Racers Supporters Club. We thank each and every fan who has watched the team grow the past three years. They will of course be as disappointed as ourselves with the premature ending of the season, however they have all proven to be very understanding and appreciate the very difficult conditions at Lee Valley.
All season ticket holders will be refunded the un-played balance of the season, and are therefore asked to telephone the Racers office to make arrangements for their refund. Those ticket holders wishing to put their money to work can elect to have their refund redirected to the London Ice Sports Trust, a charity focused on creating new facilities in London and introducing young people to the pleasure of ice sport.
We have many great memories and a few scars too.
Most of all though; we have a lot of friends.
We thank you all.
LONDON RACERS
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Post by JP on Nov 21, 2005 17:46:34 GMT 1
Sad news, but it's looks as if it was the only option at the end of the day.
Anyone fancy seeing Dennis in a Blaze jersey?
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Post by Lee Francis on Nov 21, 2005 17:53:00 GMT 1
I would like it to happen, but it ain't going to.
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Post by shyfx on Nov 21, 2005 18:14:46 GMT 1
Besides depending on how he felt,he may not want to go back to being coached.
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Post by covunistudent on Nov 21, 2005 18:19:54 GMT 1
Of course I suppose Blaze should refund all season ticket holders any games remaining against London racers. (Although as I'm not a season ticket holder it doesn't affect me anyway.)
And how many teams make the playoffs this season? Is it 6 (like last year.) Or 8?
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Post by shyfx on Nov 21, 2005 18:22:36 GMT 1
well i think it be 6 wouldn't it as i know the bottom team wouldn't go through. So that would of left 8 but now london ain't here,that leaves 7 teams minus 1,the one team that didn't go through thats 6.Please feel free anyone to re-type that in a way that makes more sense.lol
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on Nov 21, 2005 18:54:58 GMT 1
Not the most pleasant of venues amenities wise, but sad to see the Racers suspend playing for a bit. They had as a team come on great bbounds in the past 2 seasons and were starting to be a good threat to anyone.
So the Racers join Manchester on the mothballed bench
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Post by covunistudent on Nov 21, 2005 19:26:46 GMT 1
Please feel free anyone to re-type that in a way that makes more sense.lol Could agree more.  ;D The playoff teams would be fixed at the start of the season and wouldn't be affected by teams folding or quitting the league. Unless of course so many teams folded there was a shortage of playoff teams which hasn't happened yet. |
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debz
I'm A Regular Now
What about Oscar?
Posts: 264
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Post by debz on Nov 21, 2005 20:30:23 GMT 1
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