Post by JP on Jun 23, 2008 20:45:26 GMT 1
From the Coventry Telegraph:
Blaze boss Paul ponders life after Martin
Jun 20 2008 By Antony Hopker
CASSIDY Coventry Blaze head coach Paul Thompson is preparing to make possibly his hardest decision of the summer - how to replace Neal Martin.
Martin quit the club at the end of last season to play in Demark, leaving a gaping hole on the Blaze blue line.
With British players Ben O'Connor, signed from Edinburgh Capitals, Leigh Jamieson, brought in from Belfast Giants, and the returning lynch pin Jonathan Weaver, Thompson has many of his building blocks in place.
But the only import defenceman signed so far is Mathias Soderstrom. And Thompson, who admits it is virtually impossible to get a like-for-like replacement for Martin, has already seen one likely recruit - David Cullen - opt to play in Austria instead.
Despite having a regular contributor of points in the form of Weaver, Thompson has ruled out bringing in a defensive defenceman.
"I want a rounded guy that can offer a bit of everything. I don't want a stay-at-home player who just clears the puck.
"What I really need to replace is Neal's mobility. He gave us a lot of energy and fluidity and we need to keep that."
Martin, who had played at the highest level in Germany and Austria, was one of the most experienced players in last year's double winning side.
But Thompson said he isn't necessarily looking for that same amount of experience this time round.
"Neal played as if he was 10 years younger and we need vitality like that. I might go for someone who hasn't got such a pedigree but can bring us the components we need.
"We need someone who can log the minutes and keep it simple. We want to be able to get the puck through the neutral zone to the forwards and then support them. Ideally, I would like someone with a right shot, but most of Europe seems to be looking for a right-shot defenceman at the moment and they're not easy to find. I have a few possibilities in the frame and we'll have to see where they lead us."
Blaze have been handed a plum draw as they bid for European glory next season. They have been seeded directly into the third round of the Continental Cup and will play hosts Bolzano in Italy, Stavbar Maribor from Slovenia, and the winners of an earlier group between November 21 and 23.
Despite finishing bottom of their group in last year's expedition to Denmark, the progress Blaze have made as a side and the standing of the Elite League as a whole have been acknowledged by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
"I'm flabbergasted," said Thompson. "This gives us a real chance of making the Super Final in Rouen in January.
"It's a really exciting time ahead for us and the city, and it's going to be busy as well," said Thompson. "We have this tournament at the end of November and at the beginning of the month we will have the Olympic qualifiers, so there is going to be a lot of big games, particularly for those in the GB squad."
Blaze boss Paul ponders life after Martin
Jun 20 2008 By Antony Hopker
CASSIDY Coventry Blaze head coach Paul Thompson is preparing to make possibly his hardest decision of the summer - how to replace Neal Martin.
Martin quit the club at the end of last season to play in Demark, leaving a gaping hole on the Blaze blue line.
With British players Ben O'Connor, signed from Edinburgh Capitals, Leigh Jamieson, brought in from Belfast Giants, and the returning lynch pin Jonathan Weaver, Thompson has many of his building blocks in place.
But the only import defenceman signed so far is Mathias Soderstrom. And Thompson, who admits it is virtually impossible to get a like-for-like replacement for Martin, has already seen one likely recruit - David Cullen - opt to play in Austria instead.
Despite having a regular contributor of points in the form of Weaver, Thompson has ruled out bringing in a defensive defenceman.
"I want a rounded guy that can offer a bit of everything. I don't want a stay-at-home player who just clears the puck.
"What I really need to replace is Neal's mobility. He gave us a lot of energy and fluidity and we need to keep that."
Martin, who had played at the highest level in Germany and Austria, was one of the most experienced players in last year's double winning side.
But Thompson said he isn't necessarily looking for that same amount of experience this time round.
"Neal played as if he was 10 years younger and we need vitality like that. I might go for someone who hasn't got such a pedigree but can bring us the components we need.
"We need someone who can log the minutes and keep it simple. We want to be able to get the puck through the neutral zone to the forwards and then support them. Ideally, I would like someone with a right shot, but most of Europe seems to be looking for a right-shot defenceman at the moment and they're not easy to find. I have a few possibilities in the frame and we'll have to see where they lead us."
Blaze have been handed a plum draw as they bid for European glory next season. They have been seeded directly into the third round of the Continental Cup and will play hosts Bolzano in Italy, Stavbar Maribor from Slovenia, and the winners of an earlier group between November 21 and 23.
Despite finishing bottom of their group in last year's expedition to Denmark, the progress Blaze have made as a side and the standing of the Elite League as a whole have been acknowledged by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
"I'm flabbergasted," said Thompson. "This gives us a real chance of making the Super Final in Rouen in January.
"It's a really exciting time ahead for us and the city, and it's going to be busy as well," said Thompson. "We have this tournament at the end of November and at the beginning of the month we will have the Olympic qualifiers, so there is going to be a lot of big games, particularly for those in the GB squad."
