➡️ Monday Review Part 1: The Big Catch-Up
All the news in the last ten days from Belfast to Fife
Welcome back to Elite! After a short holiday, we’re back to get you up to speed on the goings on around the Elite Ice Hockey League and there’s been quite a lot.
In fact, there’s been so much, we’ve had to split today’s newsletter into two parts to make sure we haven’t missed anything.
For this one, we’ll cover what’s been going on as Belfast Giants joined the signing party, a young prospect swaps Fife for Cardiff and a couple of weddings too.
We’ll stay with Belfast, Cardiff, Coventry, Dundee and Fife here, but don’t forget to check out our Monday Review Part 2, which will cover the activities of Glasgow Clan, Guildford Flames, Manchester Storm, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers.
You can find it by clicking here.
Before we go Around the Rinks, check out this post by Eugene Kolychev, a sports marketer, who posted on LinkedIn on how leagues in Europe, including the Elite League are more popular than the KHL. Quite the interesting read - Eugene Kolychev on LinkedIn
🍀 BELFAST GIANTS
✍️ On the day of our last newsletter, Belfast Giants finally joined the signing arena and it was a big one as forward Scott Conway confirmed his return to the Elite League champions, kicking off their recruitment news for the summer - Belfast Giants website
📝 And that was just the beginning for Adam Keefe’s side as another title winning returnee was announced just 24 hours late. David Goodwin was back as a Giant - Belfast Giants website
📢 Another announcement soon followed as Giants completed their top line, re-signing 29-year-old JJ Piccinich on Tuesday, to the excitement of the Belfast fans - Belfast Giants website
👋 As Piccinich checked back into the SSE Arena, one player leaving was Joe Cassetti, who has agreed to join ESV Kaufberen in DEL2. Cassetti’s year in Belfast was heavily curtailed by injury, which saw him play only four times in teal - ESV Kaufberen website (translation needed)
🤙 The Giants also put out for any companies looking to partner with them in the upcoming campaign and with a team who won two out of three trophies last season and about embark on a European adventure, what’s not to be attracted by - Belfast Giants on X
🏒 Adam Keefe’s men also confirmed some pre-season plans when they announced they would take on Norwegian side Stavanger Oilers in a home double header, taking place on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd August - Belfast Giants website
✍️ And one for the road. One more signing brings us up to speed with the Giants as Ben Lake agreed to another year in Belfast, confirming his sixth campaign in teal - Belfast Giants website
👹 CARDIFF DEVILS
📺 Cardiff Devils TV sat down with their coaching team, Paul Thompson, Niklas Hovivuori and Euan King for this interview last week
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ Cardiff Devils were in attendance as the city celebrated Pride a week past on Saturday and what an occasion it was - Cardiff Devils on X
✍️ There was also some signing news in South Wales and the Devils kept it British when they announced young Scottish defenceman Brodie Kay from Fife Flyers - Cardiff Devils website
👋 Ending his second spell at the club was netminder Mac Carruth, who bid farewell to the Welsh capital to begin a new chapter in his career with French side Rouen Dragons - Rouen Dragons on Facebook
📝 And the Devils started the weekend just finished with the best possible news with the announcement that forward Cole Sanford is set to return for fifth season with Cardiff - Cardiff Devils website
🐉 COVENTRY BLAZE
✍️ Coventry Blaze didn’t waste any time in shoring up their blue line options when they announced the capture of American defenceman Ivan Chukarov, who joins from ECHL side Jacksonville IceMen - Coventry Blaze website
🗣️ Chukarov also sat down with Ed and Stu on the Blaze Pod to talk about his move to the Skydome
💒 We want to extend our congratulations to Blaze photographer Scott Wiggins, who married his partner, Claire in a ceremony last week. Scott’s work appears on this page quite regularly - Coventry Blaze on X
👋 After just a season, Blaze’s top scorer last season, Chase Gresock has taken the decision to move on, taking up an offer in France with Rouen Dragons. Gresock picked up 78 points (39 goals + 39 assists) in 66 games in all competitions for Blaze - Coventry Blaze on X
✍️ Blaze ended last week with another addition to the roster as Belfast Giants forward Grant Mismash traded the SSE Arena for the Skydome. Mishmash scored 43 points (15 goals and 28 assists) in his 66 appearances for the Giants - Coventry Blaze website
⭐️ DUNDEE STARS
👋 Forward Philippe Sanche ended his second spell with the Stars to make the move to Saint Hyacinthe Bataillion in the LNAH. Sanche also spent a season with Glasgow Clan during his time in the UK - LNAH on Facebook
🎒 Dundee spent a day teasing a signing a week past on Friday, really getting the juices flowing among the fan base. At last, the news was revealed… - Dundee Stars on X
✍️ Of course, that was just a tease and they followed it up with a signing that really did get the Stars faithful salivating and counting the days down until next season. Spencer Naas was returning to Tayside for a third season - Dundee Stars website
🗣️ Naas joined Stephen Swann on Dundee Stars TV following the news of his return for this lengthy interview -
💒 There were also wedding bells for forward Brendan Harms, who married his partner, Amanda after getting engaged in Scotland. Congratulation to the happy couple - Dundee Stars on X
📆 The Stars also announced they would be taking on Concordia University Stingers in a pre-season contest, taking place at Dundee Ice Arena on Saturday 30th August - Dundee Stars on X
📺 And in the week Netflix released season three of popular show, Squid Game, Dundee reminded us of the time they released their own version - Dundee Stars on X
🪽FIFE FLYERS
💪 In a move that’s proved popular among the Flyers fanbase, the club announced they would be strengthening their ties with Kirkcaldy Kestrels and Junior club, to help create a pathway for local players, with Steven Wishart appointed as Head of Player Development - Fife Flyers website
✍️ The club continued to rebuild as they looked to the new season and brought back talented Scottish forward Ben Brown for another campaign in Fife - Fife Flyers website
📱 Brown himself tweeted his delight at being confirmed as a Flyers player for another season - Ben Brown on X
📝 Flyers cranked things up a little when a familiar face pledged his return to the club. Jonas Emmerdahl is back for a sixth season - Fife Flyers website
✍️ Fife ended the week with a brand new face as 26-year-old defenceman Ryan Nicholson signed on the dotted line, joining the club from RoKi in Finland’s second tier league, Mestis - Fife Flyers website
😔 There was sad news from Kirkcaldy when it was announced former Flyers centreman Josh Boni had passed away at the age of 50. Boni joined the club in 1994/95 and also played for Durham Wasps, Milton Keynes Kings and Telford Tigers - Fife Flyers website
😲 YOU WANT MORE?
We’re not done yet. We told you there was much more to come.
Part 2 of the Monday Review is also available now as we catch up with the news around Glasgow Clan, Guildford Flames, Manchester Storm, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers so check it out now.
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Please note this is an unofficial newsletter and not in any way affiliated to the Elite Ice Hockey League or any club.
Thank you for reading, enjoy your week and we’ll catch you on Thursday!