Let's put an end to the somewhat ill-feeling that appears to exist between some ex-Alty fans and some Phoenix fans.

When the new rink opens and the Phoenix are playing there, ALL fans will be welcome irrespective of their colours.

As someone who grew up watching the Aces, then Metros, it seems daft to me that their is ill feeling between two sets of people who are not a million miles apart. Phoenix fans want the Phoenix to be playing and Alty fans want a team in Altrincham... the new rink and the Phoenix will provide both sets of people withwhat they want and ultimately, once the junior programme is designed and implemented, EVERYONE gets what we all want... MORE local kids on the hockey ladder.

So, please, can we stop the ill feeling toward one another, it's not healthy.

And if someone cares to copy and paste this message on my behalf onto any other forum, you have my express permission to do so.

Andy C

>Link to the message<

Noble sentiments but neither Andy C nor anyone else can speak for everyone on either "side".

And it just isn't accurate to state that the scenario he paints is or will be what everyone wants. Ill feeling or not.

Sorry!

Icy, I know where you're coming from but as I've said elsewhere, Andy's comments do over egg the situation a bit.

We are all in agreement in wanting a rink back in Altrincham.

No pointless squabbling to follow, please.

OK I will say my last on it.

I notice on their site some of them are still saying if people are not happy/feel unwelcome and won't go, who cares. Which kind of proves my point about Andy presuming to speak for all of them. Anyhow I doubt they can afford to do without the custom, but fair enough. Maybe it will end up with a smaller crowd and an ENL type team in there one day. Not what they want, but what a lot of people feel is what a "community rink" should do.

Icy - don't have a problem with what you've been posting - you're entitled to a view like anyone else. It was more addressed to the numpty fraternity (not necessarily MP numpties) of whom we had one on here last night.

Fair enough.

I personaly dont feel it is ill feeling against the Manchester Phoenix in isolation.

I feel a lot of ill feeling is for a league that calls itself Elite.

A lot of promises made and a lot of none deliverance especially there ideas on development of ice hockey in this country which has failed to materalise rereading the elite league manifesto of farm teams and non contact styles of ice hockey to keep people interested in playing and development has not materalised. Yes some clubs have two way contracts omething the Phoenix have a poor reord of recinding contracts after only one game. In fact the actions of teh Elite League has led to the destruction of at least one development club in Haringey followed by the loss of the Elite League club.

It is great to see events go full circle and top level ice hockey return to Altrincham.

Unfourtunatley we will be probably faced with restrictive prices for families etc as was the case with the MEN and they will not get the support they require or deserve for there investment.

And even after Andys comments we are still faced with stereotypeing against Aces supporters

Mark - as far as the Telford two way contracts were concerned, I thought that it was Jay, Woz etc who didn't want to play in Telford admittedly amidst the background of what was going on at the Phoenix. Thommo was last week quoted as saying something like people shouldn't assume that he will be in a hurry to go back to Manchester.

As far as development is concerned, Thommo was named in the GB squad today (congrats to him) and Jay can't have been far away from being in there either. A lot of their progress is down to the development, ice time and responsibility they were given by Dennis Maxwell at the London Racers.

Unfortunately on Phoenix site we are still getting "there is a rink and there will be a team so what is your problem", "your opinions are not valid" etc. type remarks. I do wonder how some of them would feel if there was no Elite team going to be in there!

yes and some of them are bound to say it because its the basic truth that its their rink and people will have to get on with it.

The danger as I see it is this anti Phoenix thing gets built up so much in their minds that it harms the chances of getting an ENL team back within the structure.

That wont happen. There is a plan for a junior set up and obviously there will need to be a 'bridge' from the ranks of U16/U19 to the seniors, which is where an ENL level side would slip in nicely.

Just because there is no ENL side from the get go dosent mean that there will never be one. The Phoenix may run it themselves, and IIRC, Neil Morris has said before that if someone wants to run an ENL side from the new rink, then they will help in any way they can.

And, Icy Blast, I havent read any 'Your opinions are not valid' type remarks on the Phoenix forums. Sure, some folks are tired of the back and forth bitching from people on both sides, but I cant recall anyone haveing gone that far.

Robb Hitchen

Chairman of IHSAUK: 1 game, 1 Structure. All fans together. www.icefans.co.uk

Lets not fall into the same trap as certain sections on the Phoenix forum by stereotypeing them as the way they are streotypeing supporters of development ice hockey.

Lets raise ourselves above that

Yes Jason did state he did not want to play in that league but I was informed at the time that Larry and Mark Thomas were quite happy to play back at that level. Also Manchester canceled the two way contract on all players

Yes the lads got a lot of ice time and development at London but at what cost to the game we lost Haringey a development team and have lost one of the few clubs who did give a lot of ice time and development to British Players

Sorry to correct you Robb but there was one particular posting where it said that the Aces fans' *don't have a legitimate argument* without going back on there I think that was the phrase!

There is a world of difference between saying that an argument isnt 'legitimate' and say an opinion is not 'valid'.

I dont see them as meaning the same. If someone thiks your arguement isnt legitimate, then they might just think it is a weak one, or a poor one, or plain old nonsense. If they say your opinion isnt valid, then they are not even recognising your argument full stop.

But whatever. People on BOTH sides seem to want to believe that their position is the 'right' one, irrespective of what anyone else may say. Until we can get over this 'them vs us' attitude, real progress will not be made.

I should have used the correct quote although I don't see much to choose between the two terms!

Anyhow the same poster says something about it not mattering to your average person who knows nothing about the sport and that's the trouble because there are people who do (and on both sides)

From an Aces (local development hockey) point of view the major disagreement between Aces and the Storm/Phoenix is caused by “Overated Canadians”.
Everybody without rose tinted glasses knows full well that very few local players will ever be good enough to play for a team in the Elite League when it is dominated by imports.

It is plain and simple, Players want to PLAY, not watch!!

Many people who go on this site are Players (past,present) or are friends/family of players. Thats the only reason a divide exists and will exist until the facilities are there for local teams through all the age groups.
Nobody will then give a toss about how many thousands are spent bringing Canada’s “FINEST” to Manchester.
English hockey should be about players wanting to play for the fun of the game, meanwhile putting something back into the game, not just lining their own pockets, then going back home to club seals.

Every ex-player will tell you that 3 good imports and a team full of local lads was the best era in english hockey. Hockey was affordable for everyone from players to fans to club owners and it was far more entertaining than what is on offer now. Teams didn’t go bump as Storm/Phoenix fans know all about only too well.

If there is a “Full Development” structure in place from day one then I’m sure everybody will be happy!

Greg (assuming its our no 4)

Are you still injured?

And the best ice hockey in this country is still being played with only 4 imports in the English Premier League