28/3/00 – NO DAMPIER NEXT SEASON
Alex Dampier hasturned down a contract offer from next season. The offer was unable to match the 3 year contract which Nottingham have offered. It is now a very likely possibility that Glenn Mulvenna will be appointed assistant coach. He will be holding talks with Mike O Connor next week after the Playoffs. There have been rumours that Hilton Ruggles is also up for the role. Other rumours are that Rob Trumbley has already signed a contract for next season with us, as has Darren Mcausland and Jim Mathieson. They are unconfirmed as yet.

18/3/00 – ISL 2000/2001 SEASON DETAILS
The ISL have announced the details for next season, essential dates etc, here is what is going down…

The ISL have today confirmed that the format for next season’s League competition will be the familiar three home games and three away games against each of the other teams. With Belfast Giants making their entry into the League this means the league will be fought over 48 games.
…”It will be a challenge to schedule all the games but we will have to rise to it. There could be problems at venues that run successful Arena events”. Extending the season had been discussed by the ISL teams but the idea was shelved due to the increased costs involved.
Belfast Giants themselves will have no home ice until late this this year … well into the season. Its understood that the Giants are considering playing all their first games “away”, possibly on a revenue splitting basis. This is subject to negotiation in the coming months.
2000-2001 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY The season will run from 2nd September 2000 until 1st April 2001.
B&H group games will take place between 2nd September and 15th September (NB Belfast are NOT competing in the B&H).
Regular season games will run from 16th September 2000 until 4th March 2001. (NB The Challenge Cup qualifying games will follow a similar format to this season)
Play off games will be played between 5th March 2001 and 25th March 2001.
Finals weekend will be held on 31st March & 1st April 2001
2001 PLAY OFFS The team coming last in the 2000-2001 League season will not move on to compete in the play offs.
2000-2001 EUROPEAN COMPETITIONS The ISL have agreed that the order of merit for inclusion in European competitions next season will be: 1st place – League Champions (Bracknell) 2nd place – League Runners up (Sheffield) 3rd place- Play Off Champions (tbc) 4th place – B&H Champions (Storm) 5th place – ISL 3rd place 6th place – ISL 4th place
Some European events could be on an invitational basis which would supercede the above list. The ISL is hoping to host an international event in the UK that would feature two ISL clubs.

8/3/00 – JARVI RETIREMENT?
Top notch forward Iiro Jarvi has told journalists that he may be retiring at the end of the season to return to his native Finland and put his daughter through school there. He said that he has almost made up his mind but will not be making a definite decision until the summer. Mikko Koivunoro and Kim Ahlroos (Jarvi’s linemates) have both expressed an interest in returning for the club next season. Both rumoured to have said that they would return as long as the other would.

5/3/00 – PLAYOFF GROUPS
Wayhey, I’m proud of myself here, I got the groups. Before anyone else.

Group A Group B
Bracknell Manchester
London Sheffield
Nottingham Cardiff
Newcastle Ayr

29/2/00 – DAMPIER RETURN?
There have been strong rumours in the local press and around the whole of the uk ice hockey scene that Alex Dampier would like to make a return to the Riverkings next season. His contract at Nottingham expires at the end of the season and he would like to stay up here with his family, at the moment he commutes to Nottingham. He has expressed an interest in returning himself being quoted as saying he would love to come back to Newcastle. Joel Poirier has also stated that he would love to return next season and does not see any reason why he shouldnt be returning. A deal will be finalised in the summer. Joel won 3 awards at the end of season player awards, Player’s player of the year, Junior Supporters Club members player of the year and something else I think, no hold on, it might have only been 2. I dunno really. Anyway, he will pick them up at the start of next home game. Clayton Norris bagged the Petri Rautianen Defenseman of the Year award and Mikko Koivunoro got Forward of the year. I think thats about it. I’ll keep y’all up to date in the off season with movements and such like.

6/1/00 – NEW PLAYERS
Bit late this, but hey guess what, we have 2 new players. Which you already know about, theres Sami Wahlsten whos signed from Manchester, a forward by the way. Apparently its just till the end of the season tho. Then theres Hakan Galiamoutsas. Whos signed from somewhere, Huddinge according to Eurosommatorother.

15/1/00 – NEW PLAYER FOR SUNDAY?
The Riverkings are in negotiations with an un-named forward who could make his debut tomorrow night. Deals with both Dennis Chalifoux (or sommat) and Darren Hurley have fallen thru. So I better update the damn roster!

4/1/00 – HURLEY LOAN DEAL
It has been announced that Darren Hurley has signed for us on a loan deal from Manchester Storm until the end of the season. His stats are as follows…..

Darren Hurley Stats….

Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM
——————————————————————
1990-91 Belleville Bulls OHL 65 4 8 12 62
1991-92 Belleville Bulls OHL 66 15 26 41 138
1992-93 Detroit Jr. Red Wings OHL 44 6 11 17 96
1996-97 Basingstoke Bison BISL 42 6 7 13 74
1997-98 Basingstoke Bison BISL 34 8 6 14 66
1998-99 Manchester Storm BISL 41 6 8 14 50
——————————————————————

Apparently hes a big guy and can fight if need be but hes a good player too. Scored 16 goals in 21 games so far this season so I’m told. So there we go, I heard that he’s making his debut on Thursday against London away and home against nottingham this Sunday.

4/12/99 – SAMI GO BYE BYE
Sami Mettaunpronouncablesecondnameavaara has returned to Finland as he has been called up by Jokerit. God knows why, anyway, not me whos running them, or it would all be different I tell ya. We’re still trying to sign Gregg Gatto but he’s playing in the B&H Plate final for Basingstoke today, rumoured he’s coming here after that tho.

2/12/99 – NEW PLAYER TYPE PERSON
Why am I bothering? You all know that we have a new player called Jussi Eloranta. He’s supposed to be fast and physical, but he’s Finnish, so I doubt thats too true. Gatto is in some sort of discussions apparently, as though you didnt know that as well. I dunno why I bother doing a news thing in the season cos everyone already knows whats happening don’t you.

20/11/99 – DAMPS (DAMN!) AND TASKER (WHOO HOOOH!) GONE.
Ok so I keep falling behind with the news recently and everyone already knows that Alex Dampier has left for the Nottingham Panthers to replace Mike Blaisdell, who went to Sheffield. Apparently Alex found it very hard to leave but it was the best option for him. Michael Tasker has been released by the Riverkings and is expected to sign for the Hull Thunder (shock horror!).

6/11/99 – CARNEY LEAVES
After lots of rumours have been passed around about Dan leaving the club he finally has departed for Hull Thunder. He has secured a 10 game contract with them.
DAMPS STAYING
The Journal announced today that Alex Dampier is likely to be staying on with the Riverkings and not moving to Sheffield as it had been suggested after the resignation of Don Mckee. Alex has said that he is very happy in the north east and is enjoying working with head coach Jukka Jalonen.

30/10/99 – PLAYER SACKING THREAT
The IHPA has threatened the Riverkings for sacking crap players. Cos they obviously have nowt better to do with their time. Which is nice to know. Sorry its a bit late and all, didnt have time earlier and that, like.
TRUMBLEY MOVE?
The Riverkings have been making enquiries about the availability of Rob Trumbley from the Ayr Scottish Eagles. They now have the buying power to be able to bring Rob back to his home after Jokerit taking over the club. Rob has been unsettled at Ayr since his move and many rumours have spread. Well I have it that Rob is desperate to come back and should be back before Christmas.

23/10/99 – JOHNSON EXIT
Anthony Johnson is set to make a farewell appearance for the Riverkings this weekend. He is alleged to be playing his final game for the club in the home game against Manchester on Sunday. He will be leaving to make way for a new Finnish forward and is in talks with both Hull Thunder and Guildford Flames. The new forward, Sami Mettovaara, comes from Jokerit and has played for the Finnish national team, as well as winning a European Championship with a previous club. Don Dunnigan has been released by the club after playing only 4 games and picking up an injury. He is likely to fly home next week. Kevin Conway may also be making a return to the club after leaving in the summer for Hull. Their coach is looking to make changes and has asked the Riverkings if they would like Conway. Mike O’Connor said they will be keeping it under review.

19/10/99 – POIRIER POACHED?
The Journal today reported that Sheffield Steelers tried to make a straight swap of Frank La Scala for Joel Poirier. Which would be an absolute disaster. Frank is far from good really. Mike O Connor, however, was having none of Sheffields crap and told them where to shove their offer….Sweet!

16/10/99 – DAMPS RETURN
It was announced in the Ice Hockey News Review on Thursday that Alex Dampier will be making a return to the Riverkings bench against Nottingham on Sunday. He will now be working alongside Jukka Jalonen helping to make all the decisions. It is a possibility that Dampier will look after one section of the team and Jalonen the other. For example Dampier could be looking after the forwards and Jalonen the defence, or vice versa. Either way it should be a good thing that Dampier, the leagues highest paid program and merchandise seller, is making a return to the thing he does best.

2/10/99 – NEW PLAYER, ANOTHER FINN
On Thursday (ooops, sorry, I went back to uni, I’m lagging) the Riverkings announced the signing of Temmu Numminen from Phoenix Mustangs. He has a lot of experience playing for Turku and other teams in the american minor leagues.

Temmu Numminen stats…

Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM
——————————————————————
1995-96 TPS Turku FNL 20 4 1 5 2
1996-97 Fresno Falcons WCHL 62 31 27 58 41
1997-98 Mississippi Sea Wolves ECHL 56 4 12 16 18
1998-99 Phoenix Mustangs WCHL 63 19 22 41 26
——————————————————————

There is also a little more info on Temmu here. Anthony Johnson will ice his 500th game at the highest level in this country against Cardiff Devils tonight.

25/9/99 – STUFF HAPPENING, I NEED TO KEEP UP!
Right firstly, Mark Fox has left the Riverkings to join a club in Tenesse (however you spell it). Next, I seem to have fell asleep for days now, missing out on some of the news and stuff thats going on. Well The fixtures have now been confirmed for the B&H Cup, our home fix will be playe at the Hillheads rink in Whitley Bay on the 6th of October. The return in Bracknell will be on the 9th of October. Unless sky get their oar in, then it will be the 12th. Next topic of interest, Mr Robert Trumbley. He is definitely unhappy playing up in Ayr. Rumour has it that he will be staying there until he has payed off his advance then is leaving. Hopefully to us! Also Glenn Mulvenna may be out for a considerable amount of the season with his knee injury, he goes to see a specialist on Monday.

21/9/99 – B&H DRAW MADE
The B&H cup quarter finals have been made. Newcastle have been drawn against Bracknell in a 2 legged thingy. London will play Ayr. Manchester will play either Sheffield, Hull or Basingstoke. Whereas Cardiff will play either Nottingham, Peterbrough or Fife. See the Fixtures for Newcastle’s dates.

17/9/99 – DEBUTANTS BALL, OR SOMMING!
Yes its true, the Riverkings are officially icing 3 new players on Saturday. Firstly Clayton Norris, big fighting dude who apparently fights first then talks later. Next theres Eric Dubois from Nottingham last season, both now have clearance to play. Also Iiro Jarvi ex Quebec Nordiques forward will be playing his first game. There are a few rumours going around like, the fact that we’re signing even more players and are in talks with some right now.
Apparently Paul McCallion is gone, as is third goalie Steven (or is it ph?) Wall. Gordon Hestor is apparently trying out for someone else in the country.

14/9/99 – YET ANOTHER NEW SIGNING
Another new Finnish signing for the Riverkings. This time Iiro Jarvi who has a vast amount of NHL experience behind him. Playing 116 games with Quebec Nordiques.

Iiro Jarvi Stats….

Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM
——————————————————————
1986-87 HIFK Helsinki FNL 0 23 30 53 82
1988-89 Quebec Nordiques NHL 75 11 30 41 40
1989-90 Halifax Citadels AHL 26 4 13 17 4
1989-90 Quebec Nordiques NHL 41 7 13 20 18
1990-91 Halifax Citadels AHL 5 0 2 2 2
1995-96 HIFK Helsinki FNL 50 13 30 43 88
1996-97 Frankfurt Lions DEL 48 13 23 36 44
1997-98 EC Klagenfurter AC Aust 49 13 27 40 46
——————————————————————
NHL Totals 116 18 43 61 58

11/9/99 – NEW SIGNING
Another Riverkings new signing will be making his debut tonight against Manchester Storm in Newcastle. He is Roni Mesikammen, a 31 year old defender. He spent last season with Milano in Italy and has played in Germany and Norway too. Norris and Dubois are still waiting for work permits. Dunno what the hell has happened to McCallion. Gordon Hestor has gone home apparently, it was for one of 2 reasons, either, he couldnt hack the step up or he has some sort of problem with paperwork or something.

4/9/99 – NEW NEWS SECTION
Due to a bit of skillful rearrangement here, I have made a section for this seasons news and one for last seasons news, I guess when it comes to next season there will be a new one for that too! Also breaking news is that we have just signed a forward named Paul McCallion. Also we have signed Eric Dubois from Nottingham. As well as Clayton Norris who is apparently gonna kill Trumbley. Which is nice. He’s a mate of Glenn Mulvenna and played last season with the Orlando Solar Bears. Both Clayton and Eric are waiting on work permits before they can play.