Rumours 2025/26 Season

[ginger]

From a Giants fan on THF -

Conway
Goodwin
Piccinich
Bast
J Whistle

All returning.

Sam Jones to replace Pound
B Whistle to replace Long

Probably gives them the strongest Brit group in the league.

They'll have a fantastic Brit group, one that will be hard to match for anybody in the League.

Have to laugh when any accusations of buying the league are usually levelled at us.

Not that I have an issue with them signing those players, just find the one eyed hate hilarious/tiresome.

But yes, Belfast will be good again next year. I am surprised at Goodwin though - thought he'd want his usual 8 months summer.

What is interesting though, is who else they bring in, because if Conway/Piccinich/Goodwin are their top 3 forwards, I'm not sure they'll have the same level of success as they did this year. All 3 regressed points wise, so given Cardiff/Notts/Us will all look to improve, it might end up looking a bit different in terms of final tables.

Long way to go yet though and all just speculation at this point

[southernsteeler]

Ben O Connor from Dundee to Swindon Wildcats NIHL - confirmed.

[ginger]

Logan Neilson leaves Nottingham. Rumours seem to be either Glasgow or Sheffield. Could be our Whistle replacement.

[kivo1889]

Re the Kieran Brown possibility, I do remember at the shirt launch this past August, Tony Smith talked about Brown, saying he offers him a contract most seasons. He doubted he had the commitment of someone like Dowd to really want to be in the EIHL. The inference was that he preferred to be a big fish in a little pond up at Leeds. I wonder if his call up to the GB squad and experience working with those players will affect his thought process?

I'd be surprised if Brown would want to spend his entire career at NIHL level. Having a crack at the top level must be a temptation.
Or maybe Leeds want to take the step up!

[Al Murrays Hairbrush]

Re the Kieran Brown possibility, I do remember at the shirt launch this past August, Tony Smith talked about Brown, saying he offers him a contract most seasons. He doubted he had the commitment of someone like Dowd to really want to be in the EIHL. The inference was that he preferred to be a big fish in a little pond up at Leeds. I wonder if his call up to the GB squad and experience working with those players will affect his thought process?

I'd be surprised if Brown would want to spend his entire career at NIHL level. Having a crack at the top level must be a temptation.
Or maybe Leeds want to take the step up!

Brown has been on a few podcasts and that's been put to him. It sounds like with his earnings at Leeds, and I believe his family are involved in the Bradford rink where he works, the overall drop in his total income to get bottom 6 minutes isn't of interest to him.

[ginger]

Re the Kieran Brown possibility, I do remember at the shirt launch this past August, Tony Smith talked about Brown, saying he offers him a contract most seasons. He doubted he had the commitment of someone like Dowd to really want to be in the EIHL. The inference was that he preferred to be a big fish in a little pond up at Leeds. I wonder if his call up to the GB squad and experience working with those players will affect his thought process?

I'd be surprised if Brown would want to spend his entire career at NIHL level. Having a crack at the top level must be a temptation.
Or maybe Leeds want to take the step up!

Brown has been on a few podcasts and that's been put to him. It sounds like with his earnings at Leeds, and I believe his family are involved in the Bradford rink where he works, the overall drop in his total income to get bottom 6 minutes isn't of interest to him.

In one sense, can't blame him. Another school of thought would say he's never going to reach his potential and he shouldn't be anywhere near the GB team until he decides he wants to go pro.

I don't understand why Fife don't take a shot with him - new owners are probably going to get a free hit in year one, so why not offer him top 6 minutes and he either produces or he doesn't and either he works on his game to push on, or goes back to NIHL to be big fish in the little pond.

[ginger]

Updated rumour suggests B Whistle will now be re-signing with us! Hopefully this time it's true!

Also, official account confirmed signings this week. Sounds like at least 1 is new, a couple of people on X appear to think it might be Braden Christoffer. I really hope it is, as I've kept an eye on him for the last couple of years. Played on the Innsbruck team with Ciampini, Tansey and Sauce, but since went to Liiga and then back to ICEHL last year. 30 years old so still a good age

[ginger]

Brown confirmed back with Leeds.

Probably gonna end up one of the biggest wastes of talent we've seen. Could have moved up, especially with GB back in the WC next year, got his reps in and proved he could handle the defensive side of the game and been on the plane guaranteed. Shouldn't even get a second look now.

I get the financial aspect (to some degree), but I know kids who'd run through walls to have half his talent.

[ginger]

Tenuous possibly, but Golod posted a picture of him scoring for us late last night on his Instagram.

Fingers crossed that means he's today's signing! Certainly would soften the blow of potentially losing Watling.

[Morpheous]

Updated rumour suggests B Whistle will now be re-signing with us! Hopefully this time it's true!

Also, official account confirmed signings this week. Sounds like at least 1 is new, a couple of people on X appear to think it might be Braden Christoffer. I really hope it is, as I've kept an eye on him for the last couple of years. Played on the Innsbruck team with Ciampini, Tansey and Sauce, but since went to Liiga and then back to ICEHL last year. 30 years old so still a good age

Not seen anything about Christoffer myself. Decent enough stats on EP, He Seems to have high Pims what sort of player is he?