EIHL schedule

[zamboni]

We have been complaining for years about our players having to play 3 games in 3 consecutive nights
Who is responsible for agreeing to this as nobody wants it
Surely we can structure fixtures to avoid this
The owners need to have more of a voice
What fun is there in watching guys that are on their 3rd night getting run over by these big budget clubs.
It’s an easy 2 points
All the 3rd night does is invite injuries to players throw in a bus trip down south or a ferry journey to Belfast it does nothing for team moral
Extend the season or play less games
Scrap the Challenge Cup and have a different play offs like across the pond
For next season there should be no 3 in 3
Thoughts ?

[Billkmc]

Feb 5, 2023 22:02:36 GMT zamboni said:

We have been complaining for years about our players having to play 3 games in 3 consecutive nights
Who is responsible for agreeing to this as nobody wants it
Surely we can structure fixtures to avoid this
The owners need to have more of a voice
What fun is there in watching guys that are on their 3rd night getting run over by these big budget clubs.
It’s an easy 2 points
All the 3rd night does is invite injuries to players throw in a bus trip down south or a ferry journey to Belfast it does nothing for team moral
Extend the season or play less games
Scrap the Challenge Cup and have a different play offs like across the pond
For next season there should be no 3 in 3
Thoughts ?

Wasn’t there an interview in the preseason that we were told Todd was our representative at the fixture meeting as part of his GM role. I’m sure it was said he tried to get more Friday games instead of midweek as it would hopefully mean better crowds.
The downside to that would be it could lead to more chance of a 3 in 3 weekend.

[Billkmc]

Here’s Todd’s quote.
“Friday nights would be an attractive option but due to ice constraints it is not a possibility. I snuck one in against Manchester in February and I hope to prove that this may be a viable option rather than a Sunday.
Mid weeks are obviously a non-starter so I avoided those at all costs.”

[flyerdown]

Other EIHL teams manage it fine, so do ECHL/AHL clubs, and the other Euro leagues. Many of the imports I've spoken to have no issue with 3 in 3, due to the bus trips being "a cakewalk" compared to their trips in the States for their 3 in 3s. We know our main issue, Todd refuses to ice all our players regularly to balance workloads, and is very happy to run Owen into the ground and keep playing him for the full 60 even for complete lost causes. (Such as last night!)

I don't think we as a club have a right to moan about it, when the man in charge only regularly uses 2.5-3 lines out of 4 and 1 goalie of 2.