I will start this post with the statement that I am a Blaze fan. I am not a chav, a yob, a goon or any other word that is thrown around to describe the hockey watching population of Coventry. I will follow this by saying I commonly use your MNL service and I find it very enjoyable (if not a little biased).
Now having seen the decisions of the EIHL, I can understand that the fans of the Devils feel aggrieved and mis-treated, however, as grown men/women, are you all genuinely sat on a forum contemplating appealing to get a man a criminal record and put himself and his family through a lot of stress all because of one ice hockey game? Are you all seriously suggesting boycotting your away games because of one high-tempered affair? The rivalry between Blaze and Devils is by far the strongest in the league and this is a fixture every Coventry fan looks forward to, hard-hitting, fast, goals, scraps, the lot. During the game, I will admit all your travelling fans, and your home fans when I have been to the BBT really wind me up but I am positive that us lot instigate the same reaction from your fanbase but after the game it's all in the bar and everything is forgotten! Our club will miss your revenue, but your fans will miss the atmosphere, the buzz that only a Blaze vs Devils game brings.
There is no room for debate that the fan that approached Olson was quite clearly in the wrong, however put yourself in the position of Benn Olson. You are walking home after work in a rough area where you are unwanted and disliked. If someone faces up to you then you have no idea how much they have drank, what they are in possession of, what they are going to do. Would you stand and do nothing? If you would then you need a safety lesson. The guy is a genuine, polite man who loves his hockey and leaves it all on the ice, the only guy I know he has a problem with is Sestito!
As for Mike Egener and Francis, well I believe Francis got his extra games for the fact that he clearly has a strong word to say to Benn Olson, initially instigating the Olson vs Didiomette fight and also he leaves the bench and then re-enters to confront Egener. He could have stayed where he was and been the so-called 'bigger man'. I believe he is a strong instigator in a lot of what went on.
Admittedly, Blaze are not completely innocentt and I was surprised to not see a ban slapped on one of our players but it isn't us that decides this. It is the league but by boycotting it to cut their funds, how do you propose the league improves? Training, education, procedures, all cost money, money that we as fans pump into the league. If you want change then you need to show that no matter what, you will stand by your side. You have a strong fanbase, I am one of thousands that love our games against yourselves and would be very disappointed to not see any fans come to the SkyDome.
At the end of the day, we are all one big hockey family. We dislike Didiomette in Coventry but I would never wish to make such a horrible mark on his life by trying to enforce police charges when it has already been resolved. And I definitely wouldn't boycott games in an attempt to stand up for my team. I would be there roaring them on so that no matter how bad the officiating and decisions, we spur our team on to defeat anything as I feel our teams have done over the years (not Blaze the last 2 years but this year).
I hope you value and act on this post. I know some will pick it apart, call me a chav, a scumbag etc. but I for one value our rivalry and would rather get behind my team as a stand than some of the crazy ideas on here.
Stand strong, you are a strong team, a strong fanbase and the league would be a worse place without you.
A loyal Blaze fan.