Ice Hockey: Grants, loans, COVID bubbles and devolved governments - the first steps on a long road to hitting the ice

 

The devil is in the detail. It always is.

For ice hockey fans, the prospect of  the 2020-21 season taking place in some shape or form remains on the horizon - visible, but still lacking real focus.

The catalyst for hope came via the £4m emergency funding to the EIHL which almost felt too good to be true. For some, it was.

The money came from Sport England, so only applies to five of the ten members of a league that operates across all four UK countries, and now finds itself trying to navigate a clear path with devolved governments in Scotland, Ireland and Wales for further vital support for the other half currently on the outside looking in.

Suddenly knowledge of the Barnett Formula and consequentials is of more value than knowing a player's plus-minus stats.

And that cash? It came with conditions. It always does.

It was billed initially as a loan - which begged the question, would that be one only the five recipients would pay back or would it be split league wide? I'd love to be a fly on the wall in Tam Muir’s office when he was asked to chip in for a loan he got zero benefit from...

That then became a grant, but, one with a caveat. In order to get it, the league had to be up and running - and that, even in these early days of hope after the announcements of vaccinations, is a major challenge.

It's also one that remains wholly up in the air.

A 12-week season could start in January, or possibly February.

It could feature the five English sides, or possibly a sixth yet to be confirmed or, as far as I can see, named - the fact the plus one is being floated tells you there are folk talking behind the scenes.

This week, all ten teams were reported to have held a Zoom call to look at what kind of 2020-21 campaign was possible.

The talk is of a three-month schedule, lower import numbers - possible 10-11 per team - and more berths for Brits, although those numbers could all change depending on how many clubs sign up.

All things being equal it could even include play offs and a finals weekend with the possibility some fans rinkside for that Nottingham gathering.

But ice hockey, like every other sport, isn't in control of its own destiny.

A successful vaccine roll out will give them confidence to move ahead, but a post Christmas COVID spike will pretty much drive a nail through any return.

The protocols to make games happen can be adopted from the top tier of English football, and  the games behind closed doors streamed live.

Whether that ticks the box with every fan remains to be seen.

For many, it’s about being part of the crowd and soaking up the atmosphere. Watching it via a laptop just isn't the same.

The league is already on record as saying it takes six to eight weeks to prep and recruit a team.

The willingness of players to make transatlantic journeys at this time is a huge unknown.

Some have moved on to teams across Europe and North America, and may not be  able to wangle a move back to the UK, and others have simply gone home and left their skates in their kitbags until the pandemic recedes.

That 6-8 week timescale may need to be expanded in order to build adhoc rosters to play the most adhoc, curtailed of campaigns.

The desire to hit the ice is certainly strong, but it won’t be a normal season - or anything remotely close to one.

There is talk of regular testing but also of effectively isolating players in bubbles in hotels near to rinks. Life in an ultra secure, sterile environment thousands of miles from home pretty much rips the joy out of playing hockey and hanging around the dressing-room.

It will, however, be the quid pro quo for anyone who wants to lace up in the New Year.

And when the sport does return, it will be into a very different world ...