Ice Hockey: Doing the right thing while navigating the roadblocks

 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 find the greatest forward, team, and so on.

Outwith that bubble, the signs remain worrying.

The large number of players opting to sign for teams across Europe, and beyond, is one indication things ain’t looking good. The very limited confirmed in-coming signings another.

Perhaps the turning point - the defining point - will be the announcement from Cardiff Devils today that their all-star player and captain, Joey Martin was off to Norway. 

Devils were up front in a detailed, informative and honest statement - the very sort this sport needs to adopt as standard.

 “We are not treating this as a departure from the club, but rather a year out due to the pandemic,” it said.

It underlined the player still had a two-year deal, but was moving with their blessing. Martin may be the first of many.

Significantly, the club also confirmed it had told all players - those signed, those in talks - they were free to do what was in their own best interests.

Todd Kelman, MD: “I told all of them that if they want to look around for jobs in other leagues that have confirmed they are going ahead before our league, then we would support them in their decision and would help them with references or finding agents.”

“I am pretty certain every team has had similar conversations with their players, whether they have announced guys or they have just signed guys but not made it official. 

“Nobody wants to see guys out of work and if that means we lose some players now before we know the fate of our own league, well, we still feel that morally it is the right thing to do.”

And it is.

The clarity from Devils was necessary for them, and for the sport.

But, one other point leapt from the statement. 

Could December’s start date may be about to be shunted that bit further down the tracks? Kelman’s comments suggested it was a possibility.

“There are teams in  this league, including us, exploring options if we have to start later than December whether that means starting in January or February and playing into May or June. We will pursue every opportunity to have hockey in Cardiff at some point over the next few months."

In effect a mini-series and, in all likelihood, minus some of the ten current EIHL teams.

Devils, and others, may well be pursuing every possibility to drop the puck and play. The problem is their options are increasingly limited and all hugely problematic.

The captains of the ship may be keen, but, right now, they are nowhere near ready to leave port.