BOSTON ICEMEN HOCKEY

# OK Mick, who shall I play tonight - Nathan or the guy standing beside you?

JORDANS JOTTINGS

Chieftains squad has changed dramatically in the last two weeks by the arrival of three top players - import Andy Hannah and British boys Nick Rothwell and Gary McLaughlin.

But gone are Scott Gough, who returned to his old stamping ground of Oxford, apparently not liking all the travelling to Chelmsford - while Martin Ashcroft, Stuart McIntosh and Ben Acquah have been 'released' by the club.

Andy Hannah is a 22 year old Canadian from Vancouver who looks certain to become a crowd favourite.

Andy is essentially a forward player who says his idea of a rest is to drop back and play defence.

This is the first experience of English hockey and indeed England and is looking forward to helping the Chieftains obtain promotion to Heineken hockey next year.

Nick Rothwell is aain a forward whose physical presence will undoubtedly strengthen Chieftains forward line.

Nick is a high scoring left-winger who played for Solent Vikings and Sheffield Steelers last season as a duel-national, scoring an impressive 71 points.

He is now classed as a British player and is hoping for a successful and lengthy stay with the Chieftains.

Nick is currently living on the Isle of Wight and says he does not mind the ferry and distance as he will be attending a college in London anyway.

Gary McLoughlin is a rugged, attacking defenceman from Cleveland.

Gary lives in Chelmsford and has already had a successful spell with Chieftains, playing 34 games and scoring 34 points.

Due to work committments, however, Gary has been unable to play hockey - but is now eager to help Chieftains with his no-nonsense style of play and his renewed appetite for scoring goals.

MICKS VIEW

Three memebers of the Chieftains squad were recently put forward to the BIHA with regard to their possible inclusion in the Great Britain team.

Mark Stokes was hopeful of making the full GB squad while Mark Hazlehurst and Dave Greenland were looking to play with the GB under 21s.

Without apparent reason all three players have been turned away.

Chieftains supporters will verify that the players involved are in great form this season and surely are worthy of consideration.

But now, the BIHA it would seem have discriminated against the talent that lies within ELD1.

Not one ELD1 player will be involved with the full British squad that will travel to Denmark and France.

This clealry seems unfair as any hockey fan can see that the gap in standard between top ELD1 sides and the Heineken Division One sides is minimal (eg Chelmsford's record against Lee Valley this season)

The problem is that the people involve simply do not see what is happening in ELD1, afer all, where do you think the likes of Humberside Seahawks and the Sheffield Steelers sprang from - certainly not with a silver Heineken can in their mouths!

It's a zamboni!

My sister and Ryan drove down for the night to go to the Predators/Islanders game. I always forget how much I love hockey until I see it live. (I can't wait for the Pens/Preds game in January!)

Tonight's game was great, the Preds won 1-0, and our seats were next to the Cell Block where all the season ticket holders sit, so the crowd was rowdy.

Alex Ovechkin is still number one in my heart, but I think I'm developing a crush on Ryan Suter, too.