Coventry Blaze Ice Hockey Club

ENL FEATURES

Keep on growing

11/10/2011

Joel and Reg look forward to the new season

16/09/2009

The three amigos

12/03/2008

Blaze ENl - Joel and Reg interview (remix)

02/01/2008

Young goalies

10/10/2007

Unreserved progress

17/09/2007

Keep on growing

11/10/2011

Coventry ENL Blaze passed their 100th game recently and are confident about the season ahead. Marion Frankland runs the rule over what’s in store.

It’s going to be our best year yet.” That’s what ENL Blaze coach Reg Wilcox keeps telling everyone, and as we know, if you hear something often enough you believe it. Last season was the most successful ever for the ENL team, finishing third place in the league, just behind rivals Nottingham Lions – and it was the results between the two teams that made the difference. They then went on to the final of the ENL North playoffs, holding Whitley Bay Warriors to a draw at their place but losing out by one goal over both games.

This year brings new teams and new challenges. Solihull Barons return to the league having taken the ENL2 by storm last season and are hoping to continue their winning ways. Trafford Metros managed to avoid relegation when two new teams joining ENL2 meant they stayed up to keep the leagues even, and Northern Stars, who lost ice time during the season, have moved to the newly re-opened Billingham rink along with a name change to become the Billingham Stars. That in turn has impacted on Whitley Bay Warriors with some movement between the teams up in the far north of the country. “It can only work in our favour,” says Mark Rainbow, team manager. “Whitley have been a strong team for a while now, but they’ve lost some key players and that has to have an impact on their performance on the ice.” The extra team in the league means that the ENL Blaze will have to play four more matches this season than last.

There have also been changes to the team. “We wanted a three year programme for the team,” explained Reg, “so we’ve tried to keep as many of the players as possible, but it’s inevitable that some of them will move on. Losing Josh Nicholls and Ryan Selwood to Telford Tigers was a bit of a blow for us but it’s a fantastic opportunity for them, and they will of course be playing alongside other former ENL Blaze players.”

There are just two new faces this year, D man Ashton Jenion joins us from a year out and Chris Gill, who has played some games with MK Thunder in the ENL South, will be minding the net. Reg is also keen to help the under-18s develop and will have Rhys Gillatt and Jake Larkin on the ice when they are available, as well as several others who have been training up over the summer.

“Our junior sides are developing well and are the future of this team. It’s important to get the players training and playing with us so that they learn from guys like Gizmo and Peasey who have a lot of experience. Rhys and Jake both impressed me last season and I’m looking forward to seeing who else is coming through the ranks.”

Off the ice Craig Newton has stepped up as assistant coach and is looking forward to the season. “It’s going to be a good season, we’ve got a strong team and I think the changes that we’ve made are for the better. Most of the team have been training or playing through the summer, so we’ve no worries on match fitness. They have been working hard in training over the past couple of weeks and the first game of the season against Telford was a good one.”

That game against Telford was the 100th competitive game for the team, and Kieran Papps has played in all of them. Since moving to the blue line during last season his game has improved no end. “To be honest,’ he said, “it doesn’t feel like I’ve played 100 games! It’s been good fun and I’m looking forward to winning something this year.”