Nhl

[mjp]

The problem with the 4-nations (for me):

1/. As a 'new' hockey fan, I can't appreciate the standard of play 'enough' to say whether it's better or worse than a 'normal' NHL game. I mean, I watched Canada put 2 on Sweden in 20-minutes (watched the replay last night) but it didn't seem any better than really any other game I've watched in the last 2-months.

2/. I don't know the players well enough to be able to do the oohs and aahs...it's not like Bontempelli is kicking it to Charlie Curnow for example...it's just 2 blokes in red shirts passing it around.

Basically, I am too dumb to be able to comment and now I just want the 'normal' season to come back. Soz.

[SonofScray]

Biggest problem seems to be that we can’t watch USA v CAN here in Australia, disgrace.

[mjp]

Biggest problem seems to be that we can’t watch USA v CAN here in Australia, disgrace.

Yeah - what happened there.

i watched Sweden vs Finland and they talked about “there’s another game tonight” but I can’t find it…

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Biggest problem seems to be that we can’t watch USA v CAN here in Australia, disgrace.

Yeah what the hell. What is going on? Every other game but the main one?

[SonofScray]

Yeah what the hell. What is going on? Every other game but the main one?

If you have the ESPN app and foxtel, you could watch it on your device. I don’t understand why just that game wasn’t made available ON Kayo whilst all others have been. Crazy.

caught the 2nd and 3rd.

it was a high quality, tight, physical game. The go ahead goal was off a bad change and USA jumped on the chance, ripped a centimetre perfect shot and in. Canada looked a bit toothless at times.

[SonofScray]

The AIHL has its finals weekend in Melbourne starting today with the two play in games, or qualifying finals between Melbourne Mustangs (boooo) and Perth Thunder this afternoon and then Brisbane Lightning v Newcastle North Stars this evening.

Prelim finals are on Saturday and today’s winners will come up against 2nd place Canberra Brave and our Premiers this season Melbourne Ice.

Grand final Sunday.

Saturday and Sunday games will be streamed on ESPN so many of you will have a chance to tune in. Check the TV GUIDE.

[mjp]

Can you give those of us who haven't been following a brief run down of each team and what to look for?

I'll certainly be trying to watch...have some WAFL stuff to do next couple of days but there's always the record option on ESPN!!

[SonofScray]

Can you give those of us who haven't been following a brief run down of each team and what to look for?

I'll certainly be trying to watch...have some WAFL stuff to do next couple of days but there's always the record option on ESPN!!

With pleasure..

Melbourne Ice the team to beat, all season. They’ve built themselves up over three seasons and been dominant across the the season prior and this one. We’ve rolled out David Booth, a 500+ NHL veteran who has scored at a ridiculous rate. Not exactly a one man show, but we’ve lost a few players along the way and will be leaning on him heavily. Stop Booth and the cup could go anywhere.

Mustangs have been competitive all season and with their long term import pair in Timmins and Wishart are always a chance. They just haven’t looked as strong as they have and seem off the pace compared to other finalists.

Canberra Brave have had a really strong back half and are the form team. They bay deeper than the rest and have won 3 cups across the past ten years. Expecting a brutal final should it be Ice v Brave.

North Stars the Smokey. They have a physically strong squad and quality on every line. Pushed us in every outing

Brisvegas will struggle on the big ice. Again, they’ve been able to get a grip on teams this season with Hopps and their giant Mongolian import absolute stars, but just don’t see them getting in done against teams that will challenge their goal tending.

Perth - my second favourite team and the only I’d be happy to see win outside of my Ice. Their Japanese import Hikosaka is a freak and can carry them all the way if he gets going and keeps his head. They are a real blue collar, honest team playing high level hockey.


its going to be a competitive weekend. Obviously not the NHL but it’s even, red hot and absolute grass roots passion.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

With pleasure..

Melbourne Ice the team to beat, all season. They’ve built themselves up over three seasons and been dominant across the the season prior and this one. We’ve rolled out David Booth, a 500+ NHL veteran who has scored at a ridiculous rate. Not exactly a one man show, but we’ve lost a few players along the way and will be leaning on him heavily. Stop Booth and the cup could go anywhere.

Mustangs have been competitive all season and with their long term import pair in Timmins and Wishart are always a chance. They just haven’t looked as strong as they have and seem off the pace compared to other finalists.

Canberra Brave have had a really strong back half and are the form team. They bay deeper than the rest and have won 3 cups across the past ten years. Expecting a brutal final should it be Ice v Brave.

North Stars the Smokey. They have a physically strong squad and quality on every line. Pushed us in every outing

Brisvegas will struggle on the big ice. Again, they’ve been able to get a grip on teams this season with Hopps and their giant Mongolian import absolute stars, but just don’t see them getting in done against teams that will challenge their goal tending.

Perth - my second favourite team and the only I’d be happy to see win outside of my Ice. Their Japanese import Hikosaka is a freak and can carry them all the way if he gets going and keeps his head. They are a real blue collar, honest team playing high level hockey.


its going to be a competitive weekend. Obviously not the NHL but it’s even, red hot and absolute grass roots passion.

Booth plays here!? Didn't know that.

I don't follow hockey in Australia but sounds like I should!

[mjp]

Obviously not the NHL but it’s even, red hot and absolute grass roots passion.

Don't talk it down mate - LET'S GO!

The "ICE" is a dumb name so I can't see myself pulling for your guys...the "THUNDER" is also a dumb name and whilst I wanted to support the Perth side this year the fact they play around a 60-minute drive from my house makes that a challenge...interestingly the National Girls Hockey league team from Perth operates from an arena 5-mins from my house...

In terms of other nicknames:

"BRAVE" = dumb

"MUSTANGS" = ELITE.
"LIGHTNING" = DUMB
"NORTH STARS" = ELITE

So...since I've lived in Melbourne and only visited Newcastle, I'm happy to throw my support behind the 'stangers...Let's GO MUSTANGS!!

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Don't talk it down mate - LET'S GO!

The "ICE" is a dumb name so I can't see myself pulling for your guys...the "THUNDER" is also a dumb name and whilst I wanted to support the Perth side this year the fact they play around a 60-minute drive from my house makes that a challenge...interestingly the National Girls Hockey league team from Perth operates from an arena 5-mins from my house...

In terms of other nicknames:

"BRAVE" = dumb

"MUSTANGS" = ELITE.
"LIGHTNING" = DUMB
"NORTH STARS" = ELITE

So...since I've lived in Melbourne and only visited Newcastle, I'm happy to throw my support behind the 'stangers...Let's GO MUSTANGS!!

I won't ask for you criteria, but why are North stars elite? I mean you can't see the north star from Australia!

Minnesota's original team was the north stars before being moved to Dallas. I just don't get it in Australia!

[mjp]

North Stars is elite as:

- It is something real
- It is something to chase

My favourite nickname in all of sports is the "Trail Blazers" - I mean, what more could you want to be than blazing a trail. I kind of put the 'North Stars" in that same category as in people reaching for the North Star. The new Minnesota team name (WILD) fits into a category below.

My most hated nicknames ore of concepts (Victory, Glory - basically every single A-League team) and the generic "Thunder/Ice/Lightning/Suns/Wild/Geography" etc type names.

Animal names are fine though I like the animal to be specific (Timber Wolves > Wolves, Tiger Sharks > Sharks, Bulldogs > Dogs) and I am also a fan of names like 'Dockers' and 'Packers' and 'Steelers' which are used to represent the traditional activities of the area the team is from...

So...

[SonofScray]

Don't talk it down mate - LET'S GO!

The "ICE" is a dumb name so I can't see myself pulling for your guys...the "THUNDER" is also a dumb name and whilst I wanted to support the Perth side this year the fact they play around a 60-minute drive from my house makes that a challenge...interestingly the National Girls Hockey league team from Perth operates from an arena 5-mins from my house...

In terms of other nicknames:

"BRAVE" = dumb

"MUSTANGS" = ELITE.
"LIGHTNING" = DUMB
"NORTH STARS" = ELITE

So...since I've lived in Melbourne and only visited Newcastle, I'm happy to throw my support behind the 'stangers...Let's GO MUSTANGS!!

Brutally accurate assessment.

Ice is a terrible nick name for the reasons you’ve posted, the only saving grace are the colours and it just being shorthand for Melbourne Ice Hockey Club.

My favourite club names in AUS history are:

Footscray Pirates
Glacarium Golden Bears
Rhodes Top Liners

[SonofScray]

Booth plays here!? Didn't know that.

I don't follow hockey in Australia but sounds like I should!

[mjp]

Brutally accurate assessment.

Ice is a terrible nick name for the reasons you’ve posted, the only saving grace are the colours and it just being shorthand for Melbourne Ice Hockey Club.

My favourite club names in AUS history are:

Footscray Pirates
Glacarium Golden Bears
Rhodes Top Liners

The "Top Liners"?

I have no idea what that even means but I am IN!

I guess if they were a fiscally responsible club they would have been called the "Bottom Liners" - always raising entry fees and screwing down wages for their best players??