Welcome to the first edition of the Elite League Mailbag here at British Ice Hockey. This column will allow our writers to answer your questions about any topics related to the top division and its former players.
In the first edition of the mailbag, we answer your questions about the summer signings that have caught our eye, the title race, and Liam Kirk’s situation in the ECHL. There’s a lot to discuss.
Which summer arrivals have impressed you the most in the Elite League?
There are countless impressive debutants in the Elite League this season, but none have been more impressive than netminder Matthew Greenfield. Since his move to the Sheffield Steelers, the American has burnished a reputation as one of the league’s best puck stoppers and leads his peers in every statistical category.
While there is still plenty of hockey left to be played this term, Greenfield’s 13-4-0 record immediately catches the eye. He can also boast a .933 save percentage (SV%) and 1.76 goals-against average (GAA) in league play.
The 27-year-old has posted four shutouts, too, and has quickly developed into a netminder his teammates can trust to bail them out of trouble on the rush, forecheck, or cycle.
Gabe Bast has made quite the impression on Adam Keefe’s Belfast Giants. In addition to a run of solid performances in the Champions Hockey League, the 25-year-old defenceman has 21 points (four goals, 17 assists) in 17 league appearances this term.
Bast was viewed as a defensive specialist during his time with KalPa and the University of North Dakota, but has flourished into a serious two-way threat for the Giants.
Canada-born Italian international Daniel Tedesco is our final pick. The 28-year-old forward has 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 19 league appearances for the Guildford Flames and has played a key role in his team’s title tilt.
Will the Guildford Flames be able to sustain their title challenge?
Guildford’s form has been the story of the season, but their fast start shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as the shock to end all shocks. Paul Dixon’s squad finished last season on a high at Playoff Finals Weekend, which put them in a solid position to recruit new talent over the offseason.
The Flames lost prolific puck-moving defenceman Jamal Watson, but softened the blow of his departure by deepening their roster with the arrivals of Ben O’Connor, Ryan Tait, and many more.
Guildford are five points clear at the summit with a 16-2-1 record. They are trailed in the standings by the Steelers, who have two games-in-hand, and the Coventry Blaze, who have played once more. However, the most important fact to consider is how they have fared versus their direct title rivals.
- Guildford versus Belfast: 3-0-0
- Guildford versus Cardiff: 1-0-0
- Guildford versus Sheffield: 1-2-1
- Guildford versus Coventry: 0-0-0
So, yes: the Flames have every chance of sustaining their title challenge. Dixon’s side are legit.
It’s not really about the Elite League… but what’s the story with Liam Kirk and his situation in the ECHL?
Liam Kirk missed most of last season, the first of his three-year entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes, due to a knee injury.
He returned to the ice in the offseason, participated in Arizona’s rookie camp, and was later reassigned to the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League (AHL). Unfortunately for Kirk, that’s where the situation unravelled.
He was healthy scratched for the first month of the season, made a single appearance (in a 4-1 loss to the Coachella Valley Firebirds), and was then demoted to the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators.
Bluntly, it was bizarre for the Roadrunners to scratch Kirk for a month. If he didn’t fit into their plans, they should have quickly reassigned him for the good of his development. It’s that simple.
Thankfully, though, Kirk is in a much better situation in Atlanta. He has four points (two goals, two assists) in four appearances for the Gladiators and has already built a positive relationship with the fans in Georgia.
If he continues to produce offence at a point-per-game rate, he could force his way back into the AHL. It’s a situation to monitor.
If you would like to feature in the next Elite League Mailbag, tweet your questions to @BritIceHockey.
