30.05.2002 Dome to be 20,000-seat arena
The Millennium Dome is to be turned into a 20,000-seater arena. Dome minister Lord Falconer said the deal would create tens of thousands of jobs and up to 7,000 new homes, many of them "affordable".
He announced in the House of Lords that the Meridian Delta consortium would be taking over the Dome. Lord Falconer said in negotiating the deal the Government had focused on getting value for money, regeneration of the area, deliverability, and a proper use for the Dome. The development of the Dome would be subject to planning permission and until granted it would remain the responsibility of English Partnerships. Lord Falconer stressed there was no commitment from the Government to any new river crossing as part of the deal.
Lord Falconer said it was estimated that over 20 years the deal should generate up �550 million to be shared between English Partnerships and the Millennium Commission. Its new US owners say it will feature "world-class entertainment" and sporting events.
AEG, owned by billionaire US oil magnate Philip Anschutz, is investing �135 million in the Dome's redevelopment. It promises to attract international performers of the calibre of Madonna, Britney Spears, U2, Sir Paul McCartney and Barbra Streisand. The Dome will become home to the London Knights ice hockey team and a host of other sports will be played there.
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30.05.2002 Moria Named Bison Coach
After days of waiting the Basingstoke Bison finally announced Steve Moria as their new head coach, last night. Moria leaves the Panthers after just one season but did make a good impression on fans during his stay.
Moria will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jamie Leach and Robert Nordmark, who are both enjoying their coaching careers after leaving the Panthers at the end of season 2000-2001. |
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28.05.2002 ISL Rule Changes
At the Superleague Board meeting held on 22nd May, the following rule changes were adopted/amended:
Fighting
Last season, players were subject to an automatic 1 game suspension and referral to the Disciplinary Committee after their sixth 5-minute Major for Fighting. This season, from their sixth offence onwards, players will receive an automatic review and a 1 game suspension after every subsequent 3rd offence. However, heavier fines will be given in accordance with the following tariff:
1st offence No further punishment
2nd offence Level 3 fine (�100)
3rd offence Level 4 fine (�200)
4th offence Level 5 fine (�250)
5th offence Level 5 fine
6th offence Level 5 fine, plus 1 game suspension
Game Misconduct�s
Fines and suspensions for Game misconduct�s have also been amended as follows:
1st offence No further punishment
2nd offence No further punishment
3rd offence Level 3 fine
4th offence Level 4 fine
5th offence Level 5 fine
6th offence Level 5 fine, plus 1 game suspension
After their 6th offence, players will receive an automatic 1 game suspension for every subsequent 3rd game misconduct.
Netminders - Broken Sticks
A goalkeeper whose stick is broken must drop the broken portions immediately, or he will receive a minor penalty. Until now, netminders had been allowed to continue playing with the broken stick until the next stoppage of play or until they had been given a replacement.
Combatant with Face Mask
Currently the rules state that if a player penalised as an instigator of an altercation is wearing a visor and jaw mask, he shall be assessed an additional unsportmanlike conduct penalty and a game misconduct penalty. The words �visor and jaw mask� have been replaced with �full face mask� as players in ISL wear half visors and jaw masks only to protect injury.
Charging at Officials
Any player that charges at an official in a threatening manner will be subject to a minimum 2 game suspension. Previously there has been no tariff for this offence, which happened several times last season. |
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28.05.2002 ISL & BNL Officials to Meet!
As part of the overall game plan officials from the FBNL and Superleague will meet tomorrow to discuss ways in which to move the sport forward and to coordinate a united front for the future of the sport in general. It is expected that a release will be issued by the end of the week defining the way forward for the two Leagues who have committed to working more closely together for the coming season.
Rumour has it that part of the plan, might see the BNL's top three sides (Dundee, Coventry & Guildford) take part in this season's challenge cup competition. The Challenge Cup is due to start at the beginning of the season. |
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22.05.2002 Dampier to Return to Newcastle!
FORMER Nottingham Panthers coach Alex Dampier is forming a new team in Newcastle, along with Clyde Tuyl - his partner at Sheffield Steelers when they scooped all the major honours in the British game, Unfortunately it's not an ISL side they are to play in the British National League.
Dampier, 52, is the most successful coach in British ice hockey, with 15 major trophies alongside three gold medals with the Great Britain team. He left the Panthers just before the end of last season following a run of poor results. |
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22.05.2002 ISL Bring Back Overtime
After listening to the views of players, coaches and fans, the Superleague has welcomed back overtime as a way of deciding tied games.
From next season, in all Superleague, Challenge Cup and Play-off games, if there is a tie at the end of regulation time, then sudden-death overtime will be played. This sudden-death overtime period will be played with four skaters from each side, for a period of five minutes.
The winner in regulation or overtime will receive 2 points, the loser no points, with one point for each team if scores are still tied after 65 minutes.
Superleague�s Chief Administration Officer, Brian Storey, commented. �The re-instatement of overtime to the League is a welcome addition to the overall entertainment package provided by ISL Clubs. There were many matches last year where a late equaliser was scored and the game cried out for more!� |
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14.05.2002 Earthquake Shakes Hockey Game
A substantial earthquake shook stadiums Monday night during an NHL playoff game in San Jose and a major league baseball game in San Francisco. Play did not stop at either game, and no injuries or significant damage initially was reported in the San Francisco Bay area.
The quake, preliminarily measured at a 5.2 magnitude, rattled the upper level for about 10 seconds at the Compaq Center in San Jose, where the Colorado Avalanche beat the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in overtime in Game 6 of their conference semifinal.
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7.05.2002 Superleague Plans for New Season
The same seven teams will compete in Superleague again next season, league chairman Martin Weddell has confirmed Friday.
"We are not going to go through the nightmare of last summer again," vowed Weddell, referring to the 2001 off-season which league officials devoted to trying to resuscitate three clubs that collapsed with heavy debts, including the grand slam-winning Sheffield Steelers. "We will be issuing the fixtures towards the end of the month."
The professional league is going into its seventh season with a new man at the top - former secretary Brian Storey - and a new determination to work more closely with the semi-professional Findus National League and the governing body, Ice Hockey UK.
"We need to start burying hatchets," said Weddell. "In particular, we have to stop the nonsense of a stand-off between ourselves and the National League. Someone like Brian can open up and develop relationships." As an earnest of their goodwill, the league invited the FNL to enter three of their top teams into Superleague's Challenge Cup next season and Weddell confirmed that the invitation has been accepted by the league's general manager, Gary Stefan.
FNL winners, Dundee Stars, runners-up Coventry Blaze, and the wealthy Guildford Flames are the likely candidates.
The league is aware that many fans will be disappointed at the thought of having to watch the same seven teams throughout the season. However, Weddell said that the German DEL has confirmed its commitment to a second round of games in the Ahearne Trophy and that some Russian teams have also expressed an interest in competing. These games will be played during the official IIHF breaks in November and February.
There will also be scepticism that competition between Superleague and FNL teams can be meaningful as the leading FNL sides work on barely half the 400,000 (sterling) wage cap that Superleague clubs are allowed. The chairman said that the league will be "reviewing our entire structure, everything over the next few months, but they will not change their wage cap this season. If and when we do decide to make a change," he declared, "it will be at least a year in advance so the clubs can plan properly."
Of the many stories of new franchises, Weddell said an announcment will be made shortly that Dublin Druids will be joining the league in 2004-05. "The papers are being signed now," he said. The team, which will play out of a planned 15,000-seat arena on the outskirts of the city, will provide an intriguing north-south rivalry in Irleand with the Belfast Giants.
However, there will not be a team in Newcastle, one of the franchises that caused the league so much heartache last year. The league received bids from former owners, Fablon Investments, and Scot Tom Stewart, who has been linked with numerous ice projects in Europe and North America. "Our due diligence processes have gone on forever," sighed Weddell, "but there is nothing solid for us to work on. It's a shame because the arena has promised help to a successful bidder."
Report By STEWART ROBERTS - Faceoff.com correspondent |
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4.05.2002 Gage Goes to Sweden!
Despite rumours that Joaquin Gage would return to the ISL and even join the Nottingham Panthers, Gage has decided that his future lies elsewhere after joining Swedish side Djurg�rdens IF.
Djurg�rdens IF, finished third last season in the Swedish Elite league and their roster at the beginning of last season included GB international Dave Longstaff who joined them after leaving Sheffield. |
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