Thread starter
#1
Taken from the Fire and Ice Forum:
In brief and this isn't everything that was covered:
Rules clinic was the same as Nottingham event although we asked why linos weren't mentioning to refs that player A has for example X-checked player B but the ref has only seen player B slash in retaliation and will only call that. Answer was the linos should raise it with the refs. We also raised as to why things are not being called such as the lack of protection Jaeger got prior to the brawl. Simon Kirkham agreed that IIHF referreeing is far stricter on protection offered to netminders. Andy French said he would like to return to the 4 man system if nothing else to bring new refs through with an experienced ref to build the pool of refs, the only reason it was dropped before was cost.
Wage cap being reviewed in the summer. It will be hard to police it. We did ask why no action was taken on teams that are breaking the cap and even if someone buys in action as a new owner why wasn't taken. Basically it went along the lines of, "Well what can you do?" the new owner has inherited that team. It was mentioned that Paul Ragan inherited a team over the cap when he bought Cardiff last year although they are now under, presumably he'll have Sheffield under next season. Andy French admitted there is a lot of discussion at board meetings on the wage cap and there are a lot of ways around it which I'm sure most of us already can think of. Teams do have to disclose to the league what they are paying players to the league at the start of the league but as he said, there are a lot of ways around it as you're not going to admit to paying more than the cap are you.
Suspension tariffs will be reviewed to see if any changes need to be made in terms of length of suspension. Also likely to have a change in application as at present a mandatory tariff when called as a match during the game can be different to what will be applied if a supplementary review is held. Looking to standardise this and make them both the same. Andy French stated Sawyer got 3 games the same as Brad Cruikshank got despite what the website said it was equally applied. Andy said the initial tarrifs were drawn up between himself, Thommo, Rob Wilson, Mike Hicks and a few others a couple of years ago and as said will be reviewed this year.
They hoped the league would run with at least 10 teams in it. No word either on any potential new teams or if the existing ones would all be taking part.
Also with regards contracts the generally assumed 2 week contract is just that... an assumption. Clubs have some players on that, others may have season long contracts or have a months notice instead of 2 weeks, whatever they think works best for them and may perhaps entice a player to come.
Most amusing moment was Mike Hicks explaining the levels you go through to be a ref going from level 1 to 2 then 3. Question from the floor, "So when are you doing level 2 then?"
A question was raised with regards Blaze and Stingrays and James Pease stated that the two clubs were operated entirely separately in terms of budgets and Clouts made the player signing decisions within the budget he had available, much the same as Thommo does for the Blaze. The only sharing was really in terms of back office staff, although they had taken on staff to cover Hull, the playing side is entirely separate.
Looking to hold more roadshows at various spots around the clubs and I would encourage any fan to go to one.
i'm sure someone else can flesh the other bits out.
I honestly never thought the Devils were under the wage cap. It's amazing to think Adams pulled off the signings he did really.
In brief and this isn't everything that was covered:
Rules clinic was the same as Nottingham event although we asked why linos weren't mentioning to refs that player A has for example X-checked player B but the ref has only seen player B slash in retaliation and will only call that. Answer was the linos should raise it with the refs. We also raised as to why things are not being called such as the lack of protection Jaeger got prior to the brawl. Simon Kirkham agreed that IIHF referreeing is far stricter on protection offered to netminders. Andy French said he would like to return to the 4 man system if nothing else to bring new refs through with an experienced ref to build the pool of refs, the only reason it was dropped before was cost.
Wage cap being reviewed in the summer. It will be hard to police it. We did ask why no action was taken on teams that are breaking the cap and even if someone buys in action as a new owner why wasn't taken. Basically it went along the lines of, "Well what can you do?" the new owner has inherited that team. It was mentioned that Paul Ragan inherited a team over the cap when he bought Cardiff last year although they are now under, presumably he'll have Sheffield under next season. Andy French admitted there is a lot of discussion at board meetings on the wage cap and there are a lot of ways around it which I'm sure most of us already can think of. Teams do have to disclose to the league what they are paying players to the league at the start of the league but as he said, there are a lot of ways around it as you're not going to admit to paying more than the cap are you.
Suspension tariffs will be reviewed to see if any changes need to be made in terms of length of suspension. Also likely to have a change in application as at present a mandatory tariff when called as a match during the game can be different to what will be applied if a supplementary review is held. Looking to standardise this and make them both the same. Andy French stated Sawyer got 3 games the same as Brad Cruikshank got despite what the website said it was equally applied. Andy said the initial tarrifs were drawn up between himself, Thommo, Rob Wilson, Mike Hicks and a few others a couple of years ago and as said will be reviewed this year.
They hoped the league would run with at least 10 teams in it. No word either on any potential new teams or if the existing ones would all be taking part.
Also with regards contracts the generally assumed 2 week contract is just that... an assumption. Clubs have some players on that, others may have season long contracts or have a months notice instead of 2 weeks, whatever they think works best for them and may perhaps entice a player to come.
Most amusing moment was Mike Hicks explaining the levels you go through to be a ref going from level 1 to 2 then 3. Question from the floor, "So when are you doing level 2 then?"
A question was raised with regards Blaze and Stingrays and James Pease stated that the two clubs were operated entirely separately in terms of budgets and Clouts made the player signing decisions within the budget he had available, much the same as Thommo does for the Blaze. The only sharing was really in terms of back office staff, although they had taken on staff to cover Hull, the playing side is entirely separate.
Looking to hold more roadshows at various spots around the clubs and I would encourage any fan to go to one.
i'm sure someone else can flesh the other bits out.
I honestly never thought the Devils were under the wage cap. It's amazing to think Adams pulled off the signings he did really.
