The start of a new season

September 12, 2008 by clint · Leave a Comment 

Welcome to today’s game; the first league game of our 2008-09 season.
The season ahead will see us play at least 36 games, with 8 of these in the cup competition.
The league (ENIHL North 1) will see us play away twice, and home twice, against each of Whitley, Sheffield, Nottingham, Newcastle, Blackburn, Billingham & Coventry.
Here’s how the season will work…

ENIHL Championship - to be awarded at a one game final to be played between the winners of the two Division 1s; that game to be played at the EPIHL Play Off weekend in Coventry scheduled for Saturday
and Sunday 11 and 12 April, 2009.

ENIHL Play Offs - to start on Saturday 21 March and end on Sunday 5 April; format to be N1vN4 and
N2vN3 in the North Division 1 while the same (S1vS4 and S2vS3) in South Division 1. The winners of N1vN4 and N2vN3 to meet in one of the semi-finals (see below) while the winners of S1vS4 and S2vS3
to meet in the other semi-final.

ENIHL Play Off Weekend - to be held on Saturday and Sunday 18 and 19 April at Coventry Skydome -
Saturday to see the two North teams meet in the first semi-final while the two South teams meet in the second semi-final, thus guaranteeing a North v South final on Sunday 19 April. The U18 championship
game will take place on Sunday 19 April as a leader to the ENIHL Play Off final.

Promotion/Relegation between Conference Divisions 1 and 2 (to be applied to both North and South Conferences) – the winner of Division 2 be automatically promoted to Division 1 and the team finishing last in Division 1 be automatically relegated to Division 2; in addition, the team placed 2nd bottom in Division 1 and the team finishing 2nd in Division 2 play home and away to decide who plays the
following season in Division 1 and who plays in Division 2.

So, as you can see, the ENIHL now have our own Play Off Weekend…get the dates in the diary. The long hard season has given us eleven weekends with 2 ‘back to back’ games. And there are just three full weekends with no game.

The season opener today is against Blackburn Hawks, and on behalf of everyone at KJIHC, we extend a warm welcome to players, officials & supporters.
The game will see the return of our friends The Arnones & The Slaters.
Andy Slater has taken over as Manager, and sons Carl & Wayne are expected to be in the line-up this evening. I’m pretty sure they’ll be joined by my curry partner Anita too.
You’re always welcome here…all of you.
This game will be a really tough opener. The Hawks will have ex-Kingston player Tim McKay, a recent signing from Solway Sharks in the squad, along with Jonathan Tindall. Ex-Sheffield player Jonathan has long been regarded as one of the countrys’ best young netminders, and is well known to many in Hull.
Our games with the Hawks last year were all lost, although we eventually progressed in the Cup at their expense. The Hawks are always tough and hard hitting, we’ll need to be at our very best to take anything from the game.

We have had a few shuffles across our squad.
At this early stage, Tristan Rodgers and Carl Holmes look set to return as our goalies, following Jasczyks’ move up to The Stingrays.
‘Jash’ has enjoyed his years with us. Often the source of dressing room banter, he’ll be missed. We thank him for his efforts, and all the lads wish him a successful season at the top of the British game.

We have signed Stuart Head from Grimsby Redwings, and most of last years’ team have returned.

Dunny has returned to the line-up. It’s great to see the former captain back in a Jets shirt, after a difficult year on the ice (& personally) last year. Today will be his first game for us since he broke his ankle in the Manchester rink back in December.

Sam Cooper has not re-signed. As part of the small group of junior players who stepped up to Jets some years ago, 18 year old Sam had probably his best season so far last year. Sam listened to Andy Daintith and grew as a player. The penalty minutes dropped, and Sam worked hard on his fitness. However, he has just left school with a clutch of A levels, and has spent the summer months with BBC Radio Sheffields’ sports team. Desperate for a permanent sports reporter position, Sam feels he cannot give the club his full commitment, particularly at weekends. He really is upset to be walking away from hockey, having first played (for Sheffield) aged just five. He then moved into Hulls’ Sunday morning sessions, and transferred across. We’ve spoken with him long and hard about trying to move things around to make practise and games, but Sam himself has decided that (as ever) it’s full commitment or nothing…and Carole & I know that we need to support that view.
So, at least for the time being, the boots are hung up.

The pre-season practise has gone well, with several players looking very sharp indeed. However, several teams in the league have made big signings and this year sees us start as many peoples’ favourites for the drop. However, there were many who wrote us off last year at their peril…and we love it when they do.

So, thanks for joining us…enjoy the game!
Go Jets!

Clint.
Ps…we’re in Nottingham tomorrow against the league title holders. Face off 7.30pm

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