Belfast Giants
The Northern Irish side claimed the EIHL playoff title just last month, however, they were almost immediately rocked by the news that the stalwart of that truimph, player-coach Steve Thornton, was quitting to return to Canada. The Giants frantically began searching for a coaching replacement, and by the time Doug Christiansen had crossed the Irish Sea to join the side as player-coach from fellow EIHL side Edinburgh the organisation had already re-signed the base of last seasons playoff winning squad in British netminder Stephen Murphy, defencemen Graeme Walton and Tim Cook, and forwards Evan Cheverie, Robert Peacock and Colin Shields. Having lost Thornton, George Awada, Shane Johnson and Mark Morrison joined the Canadian in retirement, and Nathan Craze and Kevin Phillips departed for France and Braehead respectively, leaving the Giants with big holes right across the board. Nevertheless, the perennial title contenders began to fill the gaps with the standout signings of AHL defenceman Jon Gleed from Bridgeport Sound Tigers and GB international Mark Garside, who followed Christiansen from Edinburgh. Should the Christiansen continue signing in the vein that he has in April and May, the Giants will be early favourites for the title.
Braehead Clan
The Clan were struck with an unexpected dilemma in late April as new player coach Adam Calder, the all time EIHL leader in goals, quit the club as rumoured, however, the Glasgow based side moved quickly to replaced him with Nottingham's determined former captain Bruce Richardson. The 32 year old immediately set about recruiting a solid set of Brits as D men Kevin Phillips and John Connolly joined from fellow EIHL sides Belfast and Edinburgh, and young, hopeful EPL forwards Sam Bullas (Swindon) , Matt Haywood (Sheffield), former Stingray Shaun Thompson (Basingstoke) and Adam Walker (Manchester) signed from the English Premier League (EPL) after eye catching seasons. He completed a busy first month in the job with the signing of Derek Patrosso, his first import, from Port Huron Ice Hawks where the American registered 70 points in 71 games, and former teammate and defensive defenceman MathieuWathier, from French top flight side Tours.
Cardiff Devils
The Devils, who finished runners-up to the Giants in the season ending EIHL playoffs, have been the second busiest side in the early off-season with the signing of no less than 14 players. Coach Gerard Adams has returned to full-time defenceman for the Welsh side, following the loss of Mike Hartwick (retirement), Scott Romfo and British veteran Jason Stone (EPL), however, joining the player-coach on the blueline is returnee GB international Mark Richardson and Canadian Mark Smith, who has signed after a wholly successful season in Edinburgh. In the hope of developing some homegrown netminding talent, Adams has already signed four British goalies, Michael Crisp, Joe Myers and prospect Martin Clarkson, all of whom will back up hometown hero and starting keeper Stevie Lyle. Upfront they have managed to retain a core of forwards, including Brad Voth, Max Birbraer, Ryan Finnerty, Phil Hill and Tylor Michel, adding point-scoring CHLers Stuart McRae and Jon Pelle to the mix, while losing just Mark Smith and Matt Towe to retirement and Guildford respectively.
Coventry Blaze
Following their fourth EIHL title the Blaze have had a steady but progressive summer so far. Although they have lost a couple of players to former player Tom Watkins and his new EPL side Telford Tigers, including Joe Henry and Jack Watkins, as well as Danny Stewart, who is the new player-coach of Newcastle, GB and Blaze coach Paul Thompson has, like many of the top sides, re-signed a majority of his best players from last term in Jonathan Weaver, Brian Lee, Greg Owen, Russ Cowley, Greg Chambers and Luke Fulghum, four of which are GB internationals. He has built on those key squad members with defensive defenceman and big hitter Brad Zanon and standout Edinburgh forward and NHLer of three games Owen Fussey, who have presumably been signed to replace the voids left by Jason Robinson and Adam Calder respectively. Danish international and championship winning netminder Peter Hirsch has confirmed he is leaving the side however and, while Thompson has confirmed there is a 'head turning' signing on its way, signing a quality netminder will now be seen as a must.
Dundee Stars
Understandably the EIHL's newest side have made just three signings since their admission to the league at the end of April. The first signing of their EIHL era, prior to the announcement of their new coach, became Dundee born forward John Dolan, who has served the club so well since it dropped out of the BNL. The signing all Stars fans were waiting for, however, was the appointment of player-coach and on 25 May, 36 year old former Nottingham, Sheffield and Bracknell forward Dan Ceman was announced as their second signing. Since leaving the Elite League in 05/06, he has spent four seasons in Denmark with Sonderjyske recording 168 points in 160 games and he is now charged with the task of making Dundee competitive in their first season of EIHL play, a challenge many start-up teams have struggled with. Since the announcement of Ceman as coach, another former BNL Star has rejoined the club with forward Gary Wishart re-signing to the club ahead of its first season in the EIHL.
Edinburgh Capitals
The loss of Doug Christiansen was a massive one for the Caps and since his appointment as Belfast player-coach it has been almost exclusively out-goings from the Scottish side as Mike Beynon (France), Mark Smith (Cardiff), John Connolly (Braehead), Ben O'Connor (France), Owen Fussey (Coventry) and Mark Garside (Belfast) have all exited Murrayfield. It's not quite been all bad news for the coachless Caps as general manager and acting head coach Scott Neil has managed to keep hold of import forward Jeff Hutchins and GB defenceman Kyle Horne, adding just Solway Sharks forward Bari McKenzie to the side. Nevertheless, he is left with the massive task of bringing the Caps up to speed by both signing a coach and getting said coach into a position to sign a competitive squad before September.
Hull Stingrays
Even quieter than the Caps this off-season have been the Stingrays, who have yet to make a signing this summer. While admittedly both player-coach Sylvain Cloutier and Stephen Burns were signed on two-year contracts and will return in 10/11, the noises coming from the Hull Arena have been reduced to silence since the departure of player-assistant coach Curtis Huppe. Indeed, since his release both James Hutchinson (EPL) and Adam Knight (CHL) have signed elsewhere, although admittedly, it is only a matter of time before the Rays summer kicks into gear.
Newcastle Vipers
Upon arriving on Tyneside Vipers new player-coach Danny Stewart was hit with the news that the core of Newcastle's British contingent was departing for pastures new. David Longstaff (EPL), Ben Campbell, Dean Holland (EPL) and Richie Lawson left the club, however, Stewart reacted speedily to their loss with the signing of backup netminder Liam McAllister, and forwards Jamie Tinsley and Nathan Salem before adding experienced North East native Paul Sample to the mix after a year away from the sport. Joining himself on the import front so far is big utility defeceman Blair Stayzer, from IHL side Fort Wayne, and forward Jamie Carroll, who has 205 points to his name in a three year, 221 game stint in the IHL. During the month it was also confirmed that American defencemen Jerrmaine Domish (Sheffield) and Ryan Mahrle, and forward Matic Krajl (France) would not be returning to the Vipers.
Nottingham Panthers
Having re-signed Corey Neilson as player-coach, the Nottingham Panthers, as usual, shot out of the gates re-signing nine of last seasons semi-successful squad while adding a further six players to replace the departing Nick Toneys, Geoff Woolhouse, Mark Hatley, Bruce Richardson (Braehead), Kevin Bergin (France), Marty Gascon (France), Sean McAslan (retirement) and Cameron Mann (retirement). Defensively, Kevin St-Pierre retained his place between the pipes and in front of him British defencemen Tom Norton, Stevie Lee and Danny Meyers all returned to be joined by backup netminder Dan Green and offensive defenceman Jonathan Zion from fierce rivals the Sheffield Steelers. Upfront GB internationals David Clarke and Marc Levers re-signed as did experienced imports Jade Galbraith and Jay Henderson. Joining those familiar faces is tough guy Alex Penner from Colorado in the CHL, goalscorer David-Alexandre Beauregard, last seen in the UK with Manchester but signed after a brief spell in Italy and the CHL, Robert Lachowicz, who rejoins the club after a season of development in Manchester, and Billy Ryan, a former New York Rangers draft pick with experience of the ECHL and AHL.
Sheffield Steelers
Finally, the Sheffield Steelers, who, despite finishing in an all-time low 5th position last season, have re-signed seven of their squad as well as adding two former players who just left over a year ago. Forward Ashley Tait (Italy) and defenceman Steve Munn (Japan) have rejoined the side they won the double with in 08/09 and they join re-signees Mark Thomas, Kevin Bolibruck and Rod Sarich on D, and forwards Joey Talbot, Robert Dowd, Jason Hewitt and Jonathan Phillips in the squad for next term. The Steelers have also added Latvian national team stopper Ervins Mustukovs and Newcastle defenceman Jerrmaine Domish to the fold after releasing Andrew Verner, Dan Green (Nottingham), Ben Morgan (EPL), Scott Basiuk, Randy Dagenais, Mike Sgroi, Doug Sheppard (EPL) and Robert Farmer (EPL) from last seasons side.
