28th Oct
OK, more news on the Spring Cup. It seems it's going to be sponsored by the Daily Express, although that is no supposed to be released until Monday. However, the fixtures have been released by the club, and they can now be found on the Fixtures Page. There is also now the confirmed date for the re-arranged Steelers away league match.
Some other news I forgot from the weekend. Jim was absent on Sunday, as he had to fly back to Canada due to family illness. And Wayde Bucsis is also absent in Norway, whilst his wife is pregnant. Jim should now be back, I believe, but I think Wayde will be in Norway a wee while more.
27th Oct
In a move designed to part fans with yet more of their cash, the ISL have introduced the "Totally Pointless Around Christmas Cup". In a radical move, it will involve all the ISL teams playing....each other....again. Teams will play each other home and away, with semis and a final to follow. The games must be fitted in between November the 8th and February 5th, and replace the "Spring Cup", the planned competition involving french teams. With fans already choosing the games they attend, surely this totally pointless competition will prove a flop?
27th Oct
I now have more details about yesterday's game. Apparently we were pants.
The Bees are expecting some news on the sponsorship front soon. However, don't get all exciting, as it's apparently only a few little things, with no advance made on finding a major team sponsor. Bracknell are the only team now in the ISL without a major spoonsor, raising question marks over the effectiveness of the management. Indeed, even most of the teams from the National League (with much less marketability, thanks to not being on Sky, or making national papers, etc.) have major sponsors. Makes you think....
26th Oct
The Bees were blown out tonight by the Storm, losing 6-0 at the Hive. More details will appear on the Fixtures Page when I get them.
20th Oct
Mixed fortunes for the Bees this weekend, firstly going out of the B+H cup with a close 5-4 loss in Manchester, to lose 7-6 overall. However, the disappointment was lessened greatly by a very sweet 5-3 defeat over the Moo-moos. Hurrah!
12 Oct
Bracknell travelled to Cardiff tonight, and finished on the wrong end of a 6-3 score-line. Devils went one up within just eight seconds. More details will appear on the Fixtures Page.
11 Oct
Bracknell met the Storm tonight in the first leg of the B+H Quarter-Finals, at the Hive. After a tense and very close match, the two teams finished even, final score 2-2. Bracknell's goals came from Tom Gomes and Dave Whistle. The game looked set to be cancelled when, during the second period, a series of power surges put Bracknell's lights out twice. However, the problem was solved and play resumed. More details will be found on the Fixtures Page tomorrow.
5th Oct
Bracknell drew with the Panthers on Sunday night, the final score being 2-2 after OT. More details when I can get hold of them.
Also, a bit late now I know, the Express ran a big 4 page pull-out special on Hocky on Saturday, which included a half-page interview with John Nike. In it, the Hive was laughingly referred to as an arena. Ha! Can we have a real one, now, please?
2nd October
OK, I apologise for getting so far behind with the news. Here's a roundup....
Following Bracknell's pathetic capitulation at the hands of the Moo-moos, they played and beat Peterborough 6-2 in a disappointing match. Presumably they were saving themselves for the match in Nottingham on Tuesday, but even so this was a very bad performance, by all accounts.
On Tuesday Bracknell travelled to Nottingham, needing a win to finish above Basingstoke in the Group. After a stormy match they finished as losers, the final score being 4-2. So, all in all, a very disappointing finish to the Cup group matches. Bracknell finish fourth overall, and therefore take the last place into the next round.
More details of both games will appear on the Fixtures Page when I get hold of them.
The Quarter-Final set-up sees Bracknell play Manchester, who won their Group convincingly. The 1st leg will be played at the Hive on Saturday 11th October, with the return game in the Nynex the following saturday.