EIHL, NHL, and a missed opportunity due to Sod's Law...

This season is weird. Due to a combination of a lack of Phoenix and an increased workload at the Uni, I've only made it to one hockey match this season. If I wasn't playing with the Aardvarx, my contact with hockey this season would be practically nil, and that's something that makes me shudder.

My time spent perusing the forums and the hockey news pages isn't as great as it used to be, due to time constraints and the lack of Phoenix. But I've been trying to keep up with things by 'lurking' in the background and not posting as much as I used to, but the current situation in the EIHL can't pass by without comment as far as I'm concerned.

Am I the only one who's regretting the fact that Phoenix had to take a season out?

I know it probably would have been commercial suicide to try to play out of the MEN Arena for another season, and I know it would have been very difficult and very stressful for all concerned to try to play a season on the road - having worked behind the scenes for Phoenix from the start, I can tell you it's no picnic. But one of the major differences this season in the EIHL has been a result of the NHL lock-out. EIHL teams this season are finding themselves presented with the opportunity of signing NHL players for a year. Eric Cairns has arrived in London to play for the Racers, the Blaze are in the process of sorting out a work permit for Wade Belak of Toronto, and Phoenix are sitting out the season.

Some of the mail that comes in to the Phoenix office comes via my inbox, so I know that we've received requests for roster spots from NHL players and agents (I'm not saying who), and I can't help but wonder how powerful Phoenix would have been this season if we were on the active teams list...

All I can hope for is a return to the ice for Phoenix next season, and for the NHL lock-out to continue long enough for us to get some truly top-level icers!