The 2013/14 Coventry Blaze – Season Preview
Take a step back in time to the end of March this year. The season is winding down for the Coventry Blaze and plans are being made for the 2013-14 campaign. New coach Matt Söderström is discussing with current coach Paul Thompson and the rest of the Blaze management team what went well and what could be improved going forward. A lack of depth at the start of the year caused issues with injuries for the whole season; the resulting problem from there was that there was never really a settled line up for the roster. However bringing in key signings midway through the year like Matt Beleskey and Adam Henrich gave the side some firepower they desperately needed.
The obvious remedy for this was to ensure a complete team was signed and ready to go come the end of August. Henrich and Mike Egener were re-signed before the playoffs had finished as the club looked for stability. More re-signings quickly followed with Mike Schutte and Benn Olson committing for the upcoming year as well as Egener being confirmed as the new captain with Shea Guthrie leaving for Sweden. With four imports on the books, the focus shifted to securing the British players with key signings of Russ Cowley and James Griffin joined by Steven Chalmers, Ross Venus, Matt Selby, Dale White and Adam Goss.
A core of a side that were familiar with each other had been established and it was time for the newcomers to be announced. Mike Zacharias was perhaps the biggest surprise, the American netminder joining from Gap in France and replacing the outgoing Peter Hirsch. Michael Henrich, Adam’s brother, was strongly rumoured to be joining and this was confirmed as shortly after. Forward Ryan Ginand was then announced after being courted by Thompson and former player Brian Lee. Sean Erickson completed the defensive corps and the roster really began to take shape.
Perceived lack of depth and experience was addressed with the re-signing of Ashley Tait, returning to the club from Sheffield. Brian McMillin and Kevin Harvey were then announced; the former having just been named MVP of the Central Hockey League playoffs which he won as part of the Allen Americans squad. Harvey brought toughness and points in that often desired combination and the roster stood at an impressive 18 strong all before the end of June. Stability – check. Roster – check.
Then it all went wrong. First Schutte pulled out due to getting a job offer that he couldn’t refuse back home in Canada. He was replaced by young Swede Kenny Källström; the move gave the Blaze a little more flexibility and Cale Tanaka from Hull was brought in to add depth to the third line. And within the last week, the club announced that Egener wouldn’t be joining due to needing time to recover from a serious illness, leaving some well laid plans in tatters.
Where does this leave the Blaze for the imminently approaching season? Defensively it had been looking good but both Schutte and Egener were key parts of this – particularly Egener with his stay at home style. He will be difficult to replace and any player requiring a visa will not make the start of the season and given his role in the team, it is likely to be a North American player that will replace him. Källström could be a great pickup with potential but his lack of experience could show in the EIHL although he has played at a considerably higher level back home in Sweden.
Chalmers may well not be fully fit for the start of the season depending on how his rehab on his leg injury has gone which means the Blaze could be entering into the season in exactly the position they wanted to avoid – lacking depth and overplaying key players with just four fully-fit defencemen. In the interim, Selby could be expected to get some shifts on defence to help out. It is his more natural and preferred position and he has impressed playing there for both Basingstoke and the Great Britain U20s. There is also the option of moving Michael Henrich into defence to cover but thus reduces the fire power up front and may not be the preferred option. Zacharias has the CV to suggest that he will do well in net although he has never played as many games in a single season as he will be expected to in the UK and consistency will be something to look out for.
The forwards are less of a problem. The Henrichs may well be the 1-2 punch that other teams are most scared of across the league and they will be backed up by Ginand who looks to be more direct in his forward play which will be a welcome addition to the Blaze playbook. Harvey looks to be a forward in the Brad Cruikshank mould, scores a few points and ruffles feathers and it wouldn’t be a Blaze team without that type of player on board. McMillin was highly trumpeted with his playoff MVP but he was largely a third line player who stepped up in big games. Good teams need those players but his role will be to provide secondary scoring alongside Harvey and Tait. The third line will look to be defensively solid but also very quick; Cowley and Tanaka both have good speed and are likely to try and draw the opposition into taking penalties.
Tactically, Söderström may be slightly different to Thompson but as he has spent all but three seasons since 1999 working for and with him, there is unlikely to be a mass departure from the Blaze blueprint that has been created in that time. The biggest test will be whether he can bring together a collective that might not have the most talented players in the league and develop a team greater than the sum of its parts, particularly with the immediate difficulties the side will face at the start of the campaign. Certainly Söderström will need time to develop himself as a head coach as it is likely that this will not be an instant change and patience from the fans might be needed.
The hopes and expectations of the Blaze going into the season are two very different things. They will hope for being able to challenge for the league title but with the rosters and resources amassed by the arena sides; this seems unlikely. Cardiff have also brought together an impressive side and so the Blaze may well be left fighting for 5th place with the likes of Braehead and Edinburgh. Where they may lack in depth over a season there is enough talent in the roster that will be able to compete with all of the sides in the league on a given night and as such trophies such as the Challenge Cup and the Playoffs represent a more realistic expectation. In particular, a strong showing in the cup will generate much needed ticket revenue for the side which might help more long-term development.
As a bare minimum, the Skydome crowd will expect the team to show up and make it difficult for all visitors to the Midlands and will voice their anger if this does not occur. If the Blaze can stay fit and injury-free then they have a chance of causing a few upsets. If they get mired in troubles from the outset, it could be another long season for Coventry and their fans.