Belfast Datsyuk

[Noir]

Our UK hockey season has just kicked off, and what a first home game it was ^,^

Two (already) season highlight assists were created by Christopher Higgins, he played with us 2 seasons ago when he earned the nickname the Belfast Datsyuk for his unbelievable plays, and in the home season opener he pulls out these two gems 0:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8EjvwF5BBY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[jimnyc]

I watched this prior to logging in. He definitely has the skills! Are they a pro team, or semi-pro? I love going top hockey games live, just too damn expensive anymore.

[Noir]

I watched this prior to logging in. He definitely has the skills! Are they a pro team, or semi-pro? I love going top hockey games live, just too damn expensive anymore.

They're a pro team, we normally get players at the start or end of the carriers - like this year we have former NHLer Kris Beech, and a few years ago we had had (should be NHL hall of fame-er) Theo Fluery. Though occasionally we pick up players in their prime that just didn't hit the big stage in America for reasons unknown, Higgins is one of those types.

Also so this year we're hosting the "belpot", four NCAA teams playing each other for points in Belfast which has been regarded as a bit of a coup within the league.

[sundaydriver]

Recent addition to the valley is the PPL Arena for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, a farm team of the Flyers. Opens next week with preseason Flyers vs Rangers.

[Motown]

Our UK hockey season has just kicked off, and what a first home game it was ^,^



I had no idea you had pro hockey in the UK. Is it popular?

[Noir]

I had no idea you had pro hockey in the UK. Is it popular?

Very much so.
Our leauge is a little lopsided, as some teams play out of arenas and some teams play out of rinks, and about 10 years ago the 'arena teams' had a bit of a spending arms race that messed up the whole league.

but we have since recovered and at the moment have a stable and skillful league thats improving year on year.

My local team play out of the SSE Arena, and regularly get 4000-5000 crowds, with max capacity around 7000 which we have hit a few times over the past several years.

http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7751&stc=1

[Motown]

I just checked the roster for your team and holy crap, Mitch Ganzak is on your team. You are going to love watching that guy play, he is a very good offensive defender and the power play should be fun to watch. I always wondered what happened to him, he was a CCHA all-star a few years ago but then he kind of dropped off the map.

[Noir]

I just checked the roster for your team and holy crap, Mitch Ganzak is on your team. You are going to love watching that guy play, he is a very good offensive defender and the power play should be fun to watch. I always wondered what happened to him, he was a CCHA all-star a few years ago but then he kind of dropped off the map.

Yeah form what i've seen so far Ganzak looks solid, though with a bit of a hothead given our most recent match
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j176/jonathan-mcc/Screen%20Shot%202015-10-06%20at%2015.42.57_zpsbj5yxqu7.png (http://s80.photobucket.com/user/jonathan-mcc/media/Screen%20Shot%202015-10-06%20at%2015.42.57_zpsbj5yxqu7.png.html)

In fairness the weakest aspect of the league by far is the refereeing, they are simply underfunded and there are not enough of them. The lack of training and busy schedule means they're liable to be make mistakes that just shouldn't be happening.

[Motown]

Do they run the clock from 0 up to 20 instead of 20 down to 0 over there? So you had three players go after the official at the end of the game? I have to admit it might be a little difficult for Mitch to anchor the PP when he's receiving game misconducts.

[Noir]

The Belfast Datsyuk strikes again, this time taking the puck round or through every Coventry player on the ice, none too shabby.

https://twitter.com/avftb/status/684789388488912896

[jimnyc]

The Belfast Datsyuk strikes again, this time taking the puck round or through every Coventry player on the ice, none too shabby.

https://twitter.com/avftb/status/684789388488912896

Is the rink the same size as the NHL? It looks larger, or that he's in slow motion - which is a compliment I suppose, as he just danced around those guys way too easily to score!

[Noir]

Is the rink the same size as the NHL? It looks larger, or that he's in slow motion - which is a compliment I suppose, as he just danced around those guys way too easily to score!

Most of the Arenas/Rinks here are Olympic size, I'm not sure if that's bigger than NHL or AHL arenas, but it's certainly bigger than a lot of ECHL/CHL etc

[Noir]

Much good news
at tonights home game Higgins was the shirt of the back (a raffle held every home game to win that players shirt after the game) and i done a good and won ^,^

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j176/jonathan-mcc/5AAB0DAF-BE29-4BCE-918B-FD83D1486A81_zpsbfzljz9o.jpg (http://s80.photobucket.com/user/jonathan-mcc/media/5AAB0DAF-BE29-4BCE-918B-FD83D1486A81_zpsbfzljz9o.jpg.html)

[jimnyc]

Much good news
at tonights home game Higgins was the shirt of the back (a raffle held every home game to win that players shirt after the game) and i done a good and won ^,^

Is that Higgins there? Shirt right off his back and you got it? That's frickin awesome!!! Hell, i'd give my right nut just to get onto the ice at MSG... but imagine it's me and Messier, or Lundvquist? Or similar at an NFL game!!

Congrats ya lucky bastard!! Looks like you're wearing the same jersey you just won. No? The jerseys look cool over there as they're filled with all the graphics and adverts. I want me one! I'm not coming all the way to effing Belfast though! :)

[Noir]

Is that Higgins there? Shirt right off his back and you got it? That's frickin awesome!!! Hell, i'd give my right nut just to get onto the ice at MSG... but imagine it's me and Messier, or Lundvquist? Or similar at an NFL game!!

Congrats ya lucky bastard!! Looks like you're wearing the same jersey you just won. No? The jerseys look cool over there as they're filled with all the graphics and adverts. I want me one! I'm not coming all the way to effing Belfast though! :)

Yeah they literally skate over, and hand it to you before they go off the ice. I've been able to get down a few times, have won 2 other shirts off the back, and got to present man of the match 2 or so years ago. But we've been lucky this year, my partner won the shirt of the back of our star forward, Mike Forney, a few weeks go (he's the player in the OP who scored from Higgins' pass).