STORM BLITZ ISSUE #95 Tuesday 3 March 1998 If you have any comments on Storm Blitz, please feel free to e-mail stormblitz@intothestorm.co.uk any time. There are currently 314 subscribers to Storm Blitz ------------------------------------------------ INTO THE STORM IS SPONSORED BY SOUTHERN GRAPHICS http://www.southern.northwich.com ------------------------------------------------ In this issue : * Storm open Play-offs with win * Other Sunday results * Cobras beat Steelers after overtime * Ayr win Express Cup Final * Stormforce Player Awards * Ketola banned from driving * Bees site goes official * Kleinendorst in US article * Into The Storm updates * The latest from Storm Audio * Latest Superleague Play-Offs Group B table * Forthcoming Storm games * Directions to away games * TV and Radio News * Download back issues of Storm Blitz * How to unsubscribe to Storm Blitz --------------------------------------------------- > STORM OPEN PLAY-OFFS WITH WIN The Superleague Play-offs got underway for Manchester Storm on Sunday night at the Nynex Arena. Struggling Basingstoke Bison faced a Storm team that were on a long unbeaten run. In front of just over 7000 fans, Jeff Jablonski scored the opening goal of the game for Storm on the powerplay after five minutes. The second was also a powerplay goal, scored on 11 minutes by Brad Rubachuk. Grant Sjerven kept Storm’s net and probably expected to have little to do, but couldn’t stop Patrick Scott pull one back for Basingstoke on 34 minutes. Craig Woodcroft immediately replied for Storm, but it was clear that this was not a good Storm performance. Six minutes into the third period, Blair Scott scored past Sjerven to make it 3-2. Bison tried their best to take the game to overtime as they pulled netminder Racicot. In that tense final minute, Bison held the puck as they had several shots with Storm not even having a chance to shoot at the empty Bison net. Storm were fortunate to hold out and however tight it was, the scoresheet shows that Storm began the play-offs with a 3-2 victory. > OTHER SUNDAY RESULTS In the other game in Group B, Cardiff Devils faced Express Cup finalists Bracknell Bees in Cardiff. The Bees could not shock the Welsh as they were defeated 7-2. In Group A, Ayr Scottish Eagles beat Newcastle Cobras 3-2. In this game Rob Trumbley was allegedly arrested for assault following an incident with a young fan where Trumbley is said to have swung his stick and hit the fan. In the other game, Sheffield Steelers defeated Nottingham Panthers 3-2 after overtime. > COBRAS BEAT STEELERS AFTER OVERTIME In the opening Superleague Play-off game on in Group A on Saturday night, Sheffield Steelers travelled to Newcastle Arena to face the Cobras. In the fourth minute, Scott Allison scored two goals to put them on course for the expected victory. Majic pulled a goal back after 32 minutes but Nicky Chinn gave Sheffield their two goal lead back on 36 minutes. Shortly afterwards both teams had a large amount of penalties dished out. For Sheffield, Ed Courtenay got 10 minute minsconduct, Nicky Chinn got a 2+2+game for leaving the bench and Scott Allison 5+game for spearing. For Newcastle Cobras, Ross lambert for a 10 minute penalty for misconduct and Vani received 5+game for excessive rough play AND 2+2+twenty for leaving the bench. That saw the end of Sheffield's scoring, but Newcastle weren't finished. Stewart scored after 43 minutes and La Scala scored two minutes later. With the score 3-3 the game went to overtime. After 4 minutes, Stewart scored the winner and Cobras scored an unexpected 4-3 win. > AYR WIN EXPRESS CUP FINAL In an attempt to win the ice hockey Grand Slam, Ayr Scottish Eagles faced Bracknell Bees in the Express Cup Final at Newcastle Arena on Thursday night. It took just 36 seconds for Ayr to stamp their authority on the game with an unassisted opener from Mittelsteadt. It was 2-0 four minutes before the end of the first period as Groleau scored on the powerplay. Just into the second period, Ayr looked to have sewn up the match when Groleau scored again to put them 3-0 up. The second half of the game saw a transformation by Bracknell Bees as they pulled a goal back on 33 minutes from Ferraccioli. On 38 minutes Bracknell scored again with Burke getting the goal to set up an exciting last period. The Bees could not get the third goal though and Ayr secured yet another trophy. > STORMFORCE PLAYER AWARDS In the absence of Jim Hrivnak, Kris Miller won three awards at the awards night run by the Storm supporters club, Stormforce. The full set of awards, with the majority voted for by members of Stormforce, are as follows: "Galaxy 102" Player Of The Year - KRIS MILLER "Key 103" Defender Of The Year - KRIS MILLER "NM&R Express" Players Player - KRIS MILLER "Ice Line" On The Road Player - KEVIN HOFFMAN "BBC GMR" Forward Of The Year - STEFAN KETOLA "M.E.N." Most Improved Player - STEPHEN COOPER There was also the confusing Magnificent Seven Media Award, which gave awards to the media for promoting Storm. No mention of all the Storm Web sites of course for 24 hour FREE up to the minute (well nearly) news and information. And my fantastic (honest) weekly newspaper articles didn't get a mention. So, everything as expected there then! The awards did go to: BBC GMR Sport (for their news and coverage of Storm) Chris Brierley - Manchester Evening News Storm reporter Paul Anthony - Galaxy 102 (for doing some interviews presumably) Andy Costigan (for commentating on GMR) Andy Costigan (for talking on the expensive Ice Line) Andy Yates - Manchester Evening News photographer Keith Maddock - he's somebody else to do with the Ice Line > KETOLA BANNED FROM DRIVING Stefan Ketola is reported to have received a twelve month driving ban and a 400 pound fine (plus 40 pound costs) for drink driving. > BEES SITE GOES OFFICIAL One of the longest serving ice hockey pages on the Internet is the Bracknell Bees Unofficial Web site. This site was the inspiration for many of the regular UK sites with its entensive coverage of the Bees that must take up a great deal of Dave Qua's time. For some reason, the Bees management had felt it necessary to ignore the site - until now. The site is now known as the Official Bracknell Bees Web Site and is fully endorsed by the Bees management. The Web site address is: http://village.vossnet.co.uk/d/davequa/ > KLEINENDORST IN US ARTICLE Kurt Kleinendorst was featured in an article in the Providence Journal-Bulletin: Quest for NHL coaching job takes ex-PC star to England Former Providence College star Kurt Kleinendorst is taking a roundabout route that he hopes will eventually lead him to a coaching job in the National Hockey League. Kleinendorst, a 1983 first-team All-American forward for the Friars, is coaching in the land of soccer, tea and crumpets. He's the head coach of the Manchester Storm of the Great Britain Ice Hockey Superleague. Ice hockey? In England? "The level of play is a lot better than you'd expect," says Kleinendorst. "It's actually very good hockey. It may not be the NHL, but I'd place it somewhere between the International Hockey League and the American Hockey League." he last time Kleinendorst's name was bandied about in these parts was in 1994 when the head coaching position was open at his alma mater. He was rumored to be in the mix for the PC job that eventually went to Paul Pooley. Kleinendorst says he was flattered by the attention, but didn't feel he was quite ready. "PC got the right man for the job," he said. "Paul Pooley is an excellent coach, and he's done a great job. I keep as close track as I can on how PC is doing." Kleinendorst cut his coaching teeth in the East Coast Hockey League with the Raleigh IceCaps and the San Diego Gulls, then the Anaheim Mighty Ducks affiliate in the IHL. "I had been in the ECHL for five years, and it's a great place for coaches as well as players for development," he said, "But I was ready for a change, and the Manchester job just happened to come up." American corporations with ties to the NHL are becoming major investors in British hockey. The Ogden Corp., a backer of the NHL's Ottawa Senators, is one of the major players in the UK. Senators president Roy Mlakar asked if he was interested in going to Manchester and the timing was right. After London, Manchester is perhaps England's next major city for sport. The Storm may take a back seat to the soccer clubs Manchester United and Manchester City, but they are creating their own niche. The Storm play their home games at a 17,300-seat arena. They are averaging more than 10,000 fans per game, and occasionally fill the building, which most resembles Chicago's United Center. "The marketing people here are doing a great job promoting the team and the sport," said Kleinendorst, whose brother Scot spent eight seasons as an NHL defenseman. "When we play it's more like an event than a game. They make it so that people will enjoy themselves even if they don't understand or like hockey. It seems ... hockey becomes an instant love once people are exposed to it, just like it became in the South of the U.S." The singing, spirited crowds that are commonplace in European soccer matches have been making their way to the rinks, with one major difference. "These fans are amazing," said Kleinendorst. "They'll all get up at once and will sing and dance together. I've never seen anything like it. It's just like you get at soccer matches, but they're not alcohol-induced, like you find in Germany." The Storm have given their fans something to shout about this season. They are in second place in the two-year-old Superleague, behind the Ayr Scottish Eagles. Manchester also earned Britain's first points in the European Hockey League, which features only the best teams from the different leagues. The Storm competed in a European Division F, finishing second behind Russia's Dynamo Moscow and ahead of Sparta Prague of the Czech Republic and Bolzano of Italy. "No one expected anything from us, but we beat Sparta Prague twice, split with Bolzano and lost two games in overtime," said Kleinendorst. "It was a tremendous experience." In addition to the Superleague and the Euro League, the Storm simultaneously compete in the Express Challenge Cup and the preseason Benson & Hedges Cup, a round-robin competition that the Storm won. "Oftentimes we find ourselves playing games in different competitions in the same week," Kleinendorst says. "It can be difficult to follow, but there is always plenty of competition." The Storm roster includes players from Canada, the United States, Sweden, Germany and just one from England. The goalie is Jim Hrivnak, formerly with the Washington Capitals, and a center, Davey Morrison, also has NHL experience with the Los Angeles Kings. Kleinendorst, his wife Deon, and their four children, Ryan, 13, Kollin, 10, Kaitlyn, 6, and Jake, 2, are enjoying their stay in England. "I've been loving every minute of it, and my family is enjoying being here, as well," he said. "The kids are hockey-crazy, and they are involved in the youth programs here." Kleinendorst, who has a two-year contract plus an option for a third, expects to be in England for two more years before returning permanently to the States. "I want my kids to experience what I did growing up," he said. "That is the big reason why we will eventually move back." At the present, he is pleased to be part of hockey's tremendous growth in the United Kingdom. Next season the Los Angeles Kings will have a team in London and the Colorado Avalanche may back a new team in Birmingham. "When you start getting American investors with NHL backgrounds involved, that shows the real potential of this league," said Kleinendorst. "Coming here is not going to hurt me get a job when I go back. In fact, it could turn out to be a help. Either way, it has been a great experience." Copyright - The Providence Journal Company Produced by www.projo.com > INTO THE STORM UPDATES Manchester Storm Message Forum - February Forum archived and March Forum created. The Guestbook - February Guestbook archived and March Guestbook created. Added link to Fantasy ISL Guestbook. Ice Hockey Links - Added link to new Fantasy ISL site. Amended URL of (the original) unofficial Newcastle Cobras Web site. New unofficial Altrincham Aces site will be added shortly (I've temporarily lost the URL). Fixture List - Fixtures list amended. All the tables, results, latest news etc have been updated as normal. > THE LATEST FROM STORM AUDIO STORM AUDIO now includes news and post match reaction from the following games: Manchester Storm v Basingstoke Bison (Sun 1 Mar) - coming soon! Manchester Storm v Bracknell Bees (Sun 25 Feb) - Kurt Kleinendorst talks about the game and Jim Hrivnak's departure. Manchester Storm v Cardiff Devils (Sun 18 Feb) - Kurt Kleinendorst's view on Dominic Maltais leaving, Jim Hrivnak's contract and Ayr's Superleague win. Ayr Scottish Eagles v Manchester Storm (Sun 11 Feb) - 7 minutes of commentary highlights from the vital Superleague clash with the GMR commentary team of Jeff Tomlinson and Andy Costigan. Manchester Storm v Basingstoke Bison (Sun 1 Feb) - Kurt Kleinendorst talks about Storm letting 4-0 become 4-3 and hot news about the summer plus Peter Woods on why the Bison had a bad weekend. Manchester Storm v Sheffield Steelers (Sun 25 Jan) - Daryl Lipsey and Jim Hrivnak talk about shutouts. Listeners should download the final release of Real Player 5 which is better than the Beta version that many people are using. The file is free to download from http://www.real.co.uk or on the CD-ROM on the front of .Net magazine. An edited version of STORM AUDIO appears each Monday evening on BBC GMR 95.1FM at 5.55pm. STORM AUDIO can be found on the Internet at http://members.aol.com/stormaudio > LATEST SUPERLEAGUE PLAY-OFF GROUP B TABLE Pl W D OL NL +/- Points Cardiff Devils 1 1 0 0 0 +5 2 Manchester Storm 1 1 0 0 0 +1 2 Basingstoke Bison 1 0 0 0 1 -1 0 Bracknell Bees 1 0 0 0 1 -5 0 > FORTHCOMING STORM GAMES DATE OPPONENTS F/O VENUE COMPETITION Sat 7 Mar Cardiff Devils 6.35 Away Play Offs Group B Sun 8 Mar Bracknell Bees 6.00 Home Play Offs Group B Tue 10 Mar Basingstoke Bison 7.30 Away Play Offs Group B Sat 14 Mar Cardiff Devils 7.00 Home Play Offs Group B Sun 15 Mar Bracknell Bees 6.00 Away Play Offs Group B > GETTING TO STORM AWAY GAMES The following information is taken from THE STORM SHELTER (http://www.omen1.demon.co.uk/storm/index.html) Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm Saturday 7 March 1998 face off 6.35 Address Wales National Ice Rink, Hayes Bridge Road, Cardiff Telephone 01222 238 3451 Capacity 2500 Directions Take M6 south and then onto M5. At Junction 8 (Strensham Services) take M50 to Ross on Wye. Follow signs for Monmouth (A40). After Monmouth follow signs for Newport and Cardiff (A449). At M4Junction turn right towards Cardiff on the M4. At Junction 29 take the A48(M). At second roundabout turn left onto A4161 Southern Way). Turn right at the end. After 3/4 of a mile bear left onto the B4487 (Broadway). This becomes a dual carriageway. Approximately 400 yards turn left onto Fitzalan Place. Turn right at roundabout onto Adam Street. The rink is one the right hand side after the railway bridge. Basingstoke Bison v Manchester Storm Tuesday 10 March 1998 face off 7.30 Address The Playground, Basingstoke Leisure Park, Basingstoke Telephone 01256 355266 Capacity 3100 Other Info No telephone bookings on day of match Directions Take M6, M42, M40 south. At Junction 9 take A34 South. Follow signs for Newbury. Approx 11.5 miles through Newbury take the A339 to Basingstoke. After Mini Roundabout the road turns into a dual carriageway, take the right hand lane on the approach to the next roundabout. Follow the signs to the Leisure Park. There is a large free car park. Bracknell Bees v Manchester Storm Sunday 15 March 1998 face off 6.00 Address John Nike Leisuresport Complex, John Nike Way, Bracknell. Telephone 01344 860033 Capacity 3100 Directions Take M6, M42, M40 south. At Junction 9 take A34 South. Follow signs for Newbury. At M4 turn left heading East. At Junction 10 turn right, take A329M and then A3408. Follow signs for Skating Rink. > TV AND RADIO NEWS WED 4 MAR BBC RADIO SHEFFIELD 104.1FM - The Ice Line - Ice hockey phone in hosted by Gareth Hampshire with Steelers players as guests. THU 5 MAR PICCADILLY KEY 103FM - Storm news, game preview and interviews - 2030 - 2035 FRI 6 MAR BBC GMR 95.1/104.6FM - GMR SPORT - Interviews, previews and news from Manchester Storm along with other sport - 1900 - 2200 SAT 7 MAR GALAXY 102FM - Galaxy Sports - Interview with Kurt Kleinendorst and music - 1715 - 1730 SAT 7 MAR SKY SPORTS 3 - Ice Hockey LIVE - Full live coverage of Cardiff Devils v Manchester Storm in the play-off group B game - 1830 - 2100 SAT 7 MAR BBC RADIO 5 LIVE - NIGHT EXTRA - Review of Saturday night's games including results as well as all the other sports results - 2330 - 0000 SUN 8 MAR BBC RADIO 5 LIVE - NIGHT EXTRA - Review of Sunday night's games including results as well as all the other sports results - 2325 - 2335 MON 9 MAR BBC GMR 95.1/104.6FM - Drivetime - Interview with Kurt Kleinendorst and Storm players following the weekend's games - this is an edited version of STORM AUDIO - 1755 - 1800 TUE 10 MAR BBC GMR 95.1/104.9FM - GMR Sport - Full live commentary on Basingstoke Bison v Manchester Storm in the play-off Group B game - 1900 - 2200 > DOWNLOAD BACK ISSUES OF STORM BLITZ All previous issues of Storm Blitz are still available. You can download all of the back issues from the Storm Blitz page on Into The Storm. If you do not have Web access, then if you e-mail me, I'll forward the issues that you require on to you. > HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE TO STORM BLITZ Easy! Visit the Storm Blitz page on Into The Storm and post the "unsubscribe" form. Alternatively you can send an e-mail to stormblitz@intothestorm.co.uk telling me that you don't want Storm Blitz any more. Also use this address if you wish to change e-mail addresses or if you have any comments. *** END OF STORM BLITZ ISSUE #95 *** IF YOU HAVE ANY NEWS OR COMMENTS, E-MAIL STORM BLITZ AT: stormblitz@intothestorm.co.uk INTO THE STORM can be accessed at: http://www.intothestorm.co.uk