2009/10 Season

October 3, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment 

Welcome to the 09/10 edition of ‘In the cockpit’. Last year, I rightly predicted that we would consolidate our position in Division 1 despite being favorites for relegation. This year, I will make the same prediction – even though our recent performances versus Coventry, Manchester, and Whitley would suggest otherwise!

The summer has seen some significant changes to our team with four departures and three arrivals. Outgoing players include former Hull Stingrays and Great Britain forward Mark Florence who has retired from hockey due to family commitments. Patrik Zgibor is another who will not be returning this season. Patrik had a massive impact on the outcome of last season, and the lads will miss seeing his postgame ritual of downing multiple shots and then ripping up the dancefloor in his favorite white body warmer! Other departures include the Elliott brothers: Adam is taking a break from hockey while his older brother Craig has joined the Sheffield Spartans.

Incoming players include former Coventry forward Chris Bryniarski and former Newcastle madman Andrew Wile! Pete Gennery has also returned and should make his debut later this month. Moreover, several junior players are expected to break into this season’s team with debuts planned for Ben Sayer, Jordan Fisher, and Tom Ralph. There may be further additions to our lineup because three senior players, who have been practicing with the team, have expressed an interest in signing for the Jets.

Many people expect us to pick up our first win of the season in this weekend’s game versus Blackburn. Like ourselves, the Hawks have made a slow start to the season, but by no means will it be an easy game. Blackburn have become somewhat of our bogey team in recent years, winning six of our previous 10 meetings. However, we have been working hard in practice and we feel better prepared for this game than any previously. Team confidence is at its highest point this season and we will be looking to play confidently against the Hawks. It should be an entertaining game, so why not come down to the Hanger and cheer us on!

Ben Spurgeon
Jets 4 Life

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Get ready for take off

September 11, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment 

This summer has been filled with speculation regarding potential departures, but we have managed to keep the majority of players from last season. Those players that have departed include puck-dodger Andy Jaszczyk, defenseman James Robinson (most famous for missing an open net from inside the crease), and enforcer Sam Cooper.

To replace Jaszczyk, we have signed both Karl Holmes and Tristan Rodgers. These boys have returned to the Jets after a few seasons away: Karl spent the previous season with Grimsby, whereas Tristan took a break from ice hockey to concentrate on pig farming. Seriously.

Other signings include forward Jamie Cobley, who spent the previous season with Newcastle Vipers ENL; and former Grimsby defenseman Stuart Head, who will become our new enforcer!

These signings (coupled with a more slim-line Ben Milhench) give the Jets a much stronger team than last season. We will need this strength due to the new league structure, in which we will be competing with the top teams in the north and midlands. Relegation has been introduced this season, and I believe that we will be the favourites to go down – based solely on the fact that we finished lower than any of our rivals did last season. It will certainly be a difficult season, however, I do not believe that we will be involved in a relegation dog-fight. On paper, we have one of the best teams in the league; and if we play to our ability then we should finish at the top-end of the table!

Once again, we will be competing in the ENL Cup. Last season, we reached the semi-final, in which were marginally beaten by the Peterborough Islanders. We did not play a competitive match for six weeks prior to this semi-final, whereas Peterborough had been playing regularly in the playoffs. If we had similar match practice, I believe we would have won the semi-final and gone on to lift the cup!

Ben Spurgeon

Jets for Life

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