It’s all change in the Elite League, with a constant trickle of players joining and leaving clubs across the land. And we have some questions.
The Guildford Flames lost star defenceman Jamal Watson over the summer, forcing head coach Paul Dixon to dip into free agency on the lookout for an offensive blueliner.
Meanwhile in Altrincham, the Manchester Storm promoted Ryan Finnerty to general manager, with retiring netminder Matt Ginn stepping up as head coach.
There was also a rebuild in the East Midlands, with the Nottingham Panthers hiring Omar Pacha as CEO and appointing Gary Graham as head coach.
To the north, the Sheffield Steelers are aiming to bounce back from a disappointing end to last season.
Elite League Questions: Flames, Storm, Panthers, Steelers
With that said, British Ice Hockey has a burning question for Guildford, Manchester, Nottingham, and Sheffield. Let’s dig into it.
Guildford Flames: Can Paul Dixon Build on Last Year’s Success?
Guildford upset the Panthers in the quarterfinals to punch their ticket to Playoff Finals Weekend last term.
Dixon’s challenge, then, is to build on another successful season in Surrey, but he will have to do it without Watson – who produced 51 points (14 goals, 37 assists) in 54 appearances in 2021-22. The Canadian joined HC Innsbruck over the summer, leading the Flames to recruit Team GB blueliner Ben O’Connor as his replacement.
Elite League Questions: How will the Guildford Flames cope without Jamal Watson? (Image: John Uwins)
“We want his ability in the line-up of course, but we also want to be able to use his rich experience, domestically and internationally, to enhance our dressing room culture as we look to challenge a little harder against some of the league’s top teams,” Dixon said of the two-time Elite League champion.
Daniel Tedesco’s arrival could also be a game-changer for Guildford: the Italy international notched 68 points (24 goals, 44 assists) in 39 Alps Hockey League appearances last season and adds spice to Dixon’s top-six.
It’s a big year for the Flames: will they make further progress or slip back?
Manchester Storm: How Will Matt Ginn Adapt to Coaching?
Ginn is part of the furniture in Manchester. He joined the Storm in 2018 and went on to make 121 league appearances for the club.
However, the Canadian was forced into retirement by an injury and approaches the new season from behind the bench.
“I’m excited, it’s a tremendous opportunity and I can’t wait to get started: I couldn’t say no,” Ginn said shortly after his promotion was announced. “I love it here, love Manchester and the fans are awesome so it was easy to keep coming back.”
Elite League Questions: How will Matt Ginn fare as a rookie head coach? (Image: All Sports Photography)
But last season wasn’t positive for the Storm. They finished six wins outside the playoffs and are desperate to rebound this time around.
“It was tough, it was disappointing all round… it just wasn’t up to our standard,” Ginn explained. “We’re looking to put that in the rear-view mirror and move forward. We’re hoping to bring a winning culture this year and make it a fun team to watch, fast and exciting and very successful.”
He talks the talk, but will the 31-year-old walk the walk?
Nottingham Panthers: Will Omar Pacha’s Rebuild Pay Off?
It has been a busy summer at the Motorpoint Arena. Pacha’s fingerprints cover every aspect of the franchise, with Nottingham adding strength and depth across the organisation. But will the rebuild pay off in year one?
The Panthers have endured a topsy-turvy preseason. Sheffield beat them twice (4-5, 3-4) to start the campaign, but they bounced back at the Skydome Arena with a 4-1 win over the Coventry Blaze.
Elite League Questions: How will Omar Pacha’s new-look Nottingham Panthers progress in year one of the rebuild? (Image: Scott Wiggins)
“Of all the years I have coached I have never seen a crowd like that in an exhibition game,” Graham said of his home debut. “I came away very impressed – the energy and the excitement was great. And also to hear there were a lot of new fans in the building means a lot to us.”
Nottingham were disappointing last season. They finished fourth with 55 points, a whopping 17 wins behind Adam Keefe’s Belfast Giants.
While it will take a herculean effort for them to reverse the deficit, the Panthers are in better shape this time around and should at least be in the title hunt. In Bolero Square, the mood is lifting.
Sheffield Steelers: Will Aaron Fox’s Side Lift Silverware?
Sheffield’s last campaign was upended by injuries in the second half of the season, unsettling Aaron Fox’s squad down the stretch and in the playoffs. But they should be better this time around.
Elite League Questions: Will Aaron Fox lead the Sheffield Steelers to the promised land in 2022-23? (Image: Mark / All Sports Photography)
The Steelers retained most of their core, but also added quality in 31-year-old winger Daniel Ciampini and 30-year-old defenceman Matt Petgrave. Fox also reformed his netminding department, replacing Rok Stojanovic and Barry Brust with Matthew Greenfield and Oscar Östlund.
There is a sense of quiet optimism in Sheffield, especially after opening preseason with back-to-back wins over Nottingham. But is this team a true title contender? Time will tell.
