British Hockey League

[WM]

can anyone tell me about this league that existed between 80-96. why was it so high scoring?

[Habs13]

..they don't have goalies in the UK.. they have 3 forwards, 4 mid-icers and 3 defensemen but no goalie..

[mikkoz]

What??

[PF]

Yeah they removed goalies to make the game a bit more like basketball. A more up and down high scoring game, you know.

[mikkoz]

Were they played this? In normal rinks? Anybody got some link to this?

[Gwyddbwyll]

Yeah here's a link to a picture:

British Hockey Pic

It happened because a goalie got injured by a slapshot and sued so teams were banned from playing goalies.

[WM]

that link doesn't work

[Chileiceman]

No Goalies!!!!!!! That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. No wonder the league no longer exists.

[Gwyddbwyll]

Originally Posted by WM

that link doesn't work

Try Right clicking on it.. copy the link location then paste it into your address bar.

[WM]

what does that prove, that could be any hockey game. i need a picture of the whole ice

[GB]

The reasons British hockey was so high scoring in that period are basically:

Teams had basically amateur players with 3 imports, who were the teams best players. They were normally 2 forwards and one defenceman (who played 55-60 minutes). Import goalies were very rare (and of course hockey in Britain was and is played with 1 goalie, 2 defencemen and 3 forwards).

Most of the good British players were concentrated on very few teams (Durham, Murrayfield, Dundee), and other northern and scottish clubs.

Teams didn't play defence at all.

Teams normally played 2-line hockey, so there were plenty of tired players making mistakes.

It was a very physical league, so there were lots of powerplays.

Like all leagues British hockey swung from def

That's basically it. Here's a picture of a game of hockey from Britain in the 60's played at Durham. At the time the rink was covered with a marquee, hence the pole in the middle of the ice:

[Gwyddbwyll]

See! No goalie in the crease..

[English Hab]

Originally Posted by Habs13

..they don't have goalies in the UK.. they have 3 forwards, 4 mid-icers and 3 defensemen but no goalie..

and don't forget the broomer... he is like a sweeper in football but instead he uses a broom in stead of stick and he sweeps the puck.....

[PRB]

The league has alot more imports in there these days and like hockey in general has tightened up alot. Back then you had british superstars like Tony Hand who had the ability to be a NHL superstar but due to homesickness stayed back here and dominated. Just for interests sake Tony Hand is still ripping up the league at the age of 38 for Belfast

[GB]

I don't think Hand would have been a NHL superstar, I think he would have had a career similar to Craig Janney's. If he'd been born in Canada and trained their from a young age there is no doubt in my mind he'd be an all-time great.

[PRB]

Its not what alot of players in Belfast said about his this year and other NHLers playing in the league this year said in comments about him in some magazine interviews. The consencus seems to be that he would have had a great career in the NHL. Ok maybe I was going a bit far saying a superstar but I think he would have had a very good career. Size might have been his only downfall but like some players said, he has the vision to see the game, not like other players have from ice level, but from a grandstand view that only a few players before him such as Gretzky and Lemiuex have had.

It is interesting to think what might have been. He was drafted by the Oilers in their dynisty days, he played with Gretzky in training camps and had good reviews, if not for homesick he might have a few stanley cup rings as part of them Oilers teams!!!

Great player tho

[GB]

I agree, he would have been a very good player. His stats in his limted WHL stint are amazing. Still, easily the most naturally gifted player I've ever seen in person.