Macho-Macho Maaaan!

Get your calendars ready, the fixture list for the forthcoming EIHL season is but days away. And if you have the cash to spend on the higher priced tickets, the higher priced beer, the lower standard game and the extortionately high price of fuel to travel, then you’ll be one of the few this season making the long trips to various rinks around the league.

Rumours abound that there is to be a reciprocal double header taking place between Newcastle and Belfast, with the Vipers fans certainly making their way to Belfast in January for back to back games, while the Belfast fans are, possibly, making the same type of trip to Tyneside, earlier in the season for a double header.

As we go to print, the ticket prices have gone up in Newcastle, Manchester and Edinburgh. But one thing all three have in common is the “Walk up” price. The fact that you will pay that little bit extra by buying your ticket at the box office on the day of the game. Edinburgh is the worst in TSP’s* opinion, £16.50 to sit in a broken wooden seat in a freezing cold rink, where they don’t allow you to bring beer into the arena on penalty of Bagpipes!

While in Manchester they are pushing the £17 mark, probably in order to pay for the plasma screens. Would you pay £17 a game to watch Hockey on TV?

And in Gerordieland, the “Mincoff” (I’m leaving that one, it speaks for itself, I mean look at the shirt!) Vipers have upped their door price too. Goodness knows why, if they want to save money that old electric heater used to heat the players bench can now be replaced by Andre Payette. The arrival of “Big Mac” has certainly made him surplus to requirements. But I guess Rob Wilson can’t let his old mate go eh?

Funniest news of the last week or so, however, is that the Nottingham Panthers are off to train with the Army to up their fitness.

“Who Do You Think you Are Kidding Gary Moran!
When You’re in Hull Watching Your Son,
The Panthers are off training with the Army Corps,
But we all know what part of their bodies will be sore,
So Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Gary Moran!
Your league chances are already done!”



*Well we at The Plough have decided to mock.. I mean.. jump aboard the “initial” bandwagon of “TCW”.. What “TCW” can actually stand for in real life, we’ll let you decide, comments please.