The Printed Word

  When you are not in control of your own destiny, it’s hard to make any headway. The EIHL’s bid to run the 2020-21 season has always felt like a journey to be made more in hope than expectation. Social distancing, restrictions on numbers rinkside, and the threat of possible local lockdowns were all serious roadblocks - and all completely beyond their direct sphere of influence Factor in trying to adhere to  the different approaches of four devolved governments, and you have the ultimate nightmare scenario. Moving the start date from September to December certainly pushed the whole season on wheels and shunted it down the tracks in the hope of buying some breathing space - and clarity. But the sport still needs two clear, stable months to get everything, and everyone, in place for the puck dropping. As August expires, that still feels less than certain. The league has said very little, with most of its PR output focusing solely on social media engagement - endless polls to fin...

Add caption Mid-Au g ust is usually peak pre-season time for British ice hockey. This year there is silence and uncertainty. And with the  entire EIHL season stuck on wheels and rolled  down the tracks until December,  player movement is very much away from these shores and into Europe and beyond. The list of imports taking their kit bags and skates elsewhere seems to be growing by the day, and that places a huge question mark over recruitment for 2020-21 as coaches and GMs get to grips with a delayed start, and the jitters now starting to surface among key figures within the sport. This week saw Mike Cazzola confirmed as leaving Fife Flyers for Italian club, Cortina, in the Alps Hockey League. The UK had been his hockey, and studying base, since making the jump from the ECHL back in 2017, and this move into Europe underlines the trend now emerging.. Cazzola is the fifth Fife import to depart the UK.  Kyle Just signed for Hungarian hockey club, Újpesti Torna Egyle, C...

August dawns and Edinburgh is incredibly quiet. Worryingly quiet. The festival season has been lost in its entirety. Venues which ought to be a hive of activity amid final checks right now are empty and locked up. This time last year we were half a dozen shows into the 2019 Fringe - the Assembly preview night firing the starting gun for three weeks careering from venue to venue, soaking up the atmosphere and spending a small fortune on food and drink. The city may have a love-hate relationship with the festival - and there is much to re-think and re-imagine  - but the bottom line is it brings huge numbers of people who spend heftily on tickets, food, drink and accommodation. Without it, everyone takes a major hit. Last August we packed in some 75 shows., This August - we have one; a walking tour in the company of Arthur Smith. The city’s emergence from lockdown has barely begun. It’s almost impossible to spot more than a handful of tourists. The escalators which spill...