Its the first Face Off!

Its arrived. The new hockey season is just around the corner. And for the Manchester Phoenix are at the dawning of a new age, with their debut coming up in the EPL. There are huge differences between the EPL and the EIHL. For a start, in the EPL, you are only allowed 4 players who did not learn their trade in the UK. The UK, of course, with its labour laws, will not allow an employer to discriminate against someone just because they have a European passport. This makes it harder for Canadians to get in, but since they can trace their family to Europe, they can usually claim one. However, the EPL gets round this by introducing a rule that limits the number of people on a team who learnt their hockey outside the UK. No mention of nationality.

Anyhoo.

This year sees the Phoenix taking on a whole bunch of new teams. Gone are the days of taking on the Steelers, the Panthers, the Devils and the Stingrays, and in is one "old" face in the Basingstoke Bison, and the new adversaries in the Sheffield Scimitars, Guildford Flames, Bracknell Bees, Romford Raiders, Swindon Wildcats, Milton Keynes Lightning, Slough Jets, and Peterborough Phantoms. A whole bunch of teams I have not seen in a long time.

The Phoenix sport a new team sporting a mix of young and old.

First of all, led by Tony Hand. A veteran player who leads the team as coach, and being an amazing player. Capable of racking up the points and making the plays the team needs.

Tony is joined by Ed Courtney, almost as old as Mr Hand, but still more than capable of finding the back of the net. And with his experience, is no-ones fool.

Andre Payette is another veteran player who is joining Tony this season, getting on a bit, still capable of living in the EIHL, but at EPL, will more than likely be one of the leagues stand outs. Capable of bagging the points, he is not expected to be a scoring machine. His job is to be a physical presence on the ice. Scoring goals is but one part of his game. The rest, he will be expected to stand up and back up his team mates.

Jaakko Hegelberg hails from Finland, as set to be another tough-nosed forward willing to grind it out. Which is good, as the EPL promises to be a league that may be short on skill, but high on the tough stuff.

On the blue line, Tony has brought in Andre Mattsson. A Haitian born Swede. He will be expected, as the "old man," to lead the line. Bringing his experience. He will be expected to protected the net.

Up front, the Phoenix have signed many exciting young players.

Adam Walker is a returnee from last year. A player who improved in leaps and bounds and will bring his improving talent to the front line.

Iain Bowie is a new player who comes highly regarded from Edinburgh, coming through their system, which has generated many excellent players over the years.

James Neil and Robert Lachowicz both came through the ranks at Nottingham, and are in Manchester on 2 way deals. Playing for the Phoenix, and maybe on occasion suiting up for the Panthers. Though, given the Panthers desire to sign Canadians, we will see.

Greg Wood completes the front line, after coming in from Coventry.

The defence is also packed with a lot of exciting new players.

Carl Graham and Luke Boothroyd both developed over the last few years for the Phoenix, and are shaping into excellent, dependable defencemen. Good to see them back.

Joe Graham has also joined from Nottingham, and comes highly rated.

Ben Wood is another local player making the step up from the ENL team to the top team. Good luck!

In net, Summerfield returns as backup, and is a reliable nettie, with good speed, and learning all the time. However, the signing of Steve Fone has excited people. Steve may not be the top goalie in the land, but when he played for Manchester as cover, he did very well. Now he gets to work as the leading man, with the crease as his domain! Good luck to him.

So, there is the Phoenix. Some old heads, and lots of exciting young talent. If Tony can get them together and playing well, then this team can be expected to do great things, all the while playing some good hockey. Tony has taken a risk signing a lot of young talent, it could prove a master stroke, or it could explode in his face. However, Tony is a master tactician of the game, so there is a chance it will blow up, but less than the chances of success.

Whilst in the EIHL, Tony always built teams that could live with the Big 4. The only reason we did not have more success, was the fact we where simply out-budgeted.

I personally think that the Phoenix will pick up some sort of silverware. The league will be a tough stretch as we will have to maintain the teamwork and effort over the whole season, not just in one-off games. It will be hard. But the team can. I expect to see Basingstoke up there with us, and the usual suspects of Guildford and Slough. Both have excellent teams, with a settled core of players. Peterborough may do something, but looks like they are suffering a little like McClaren. Last years successes has left them stretched and not able to afford a similar push this year.

To round it all off, the Phoenix are sporting a new look! A new season, new league, and a new look!

4 new shirts, all for the new season. A natty red number at home, blue for away, an interesting one for the cups, and a warm up kit.

So, it is the re-birth of the Phoenix! Again. For the second time...

We have to stop doing this...