Who's the top fighters in the EIHL this season 13/14

[oneillthegiant]

                                                           


Who are the Top fighters in the EIHL this season 13/14

The EIHL has once again toughened up this season with the Erhardt teams all carrying recognized enforcers in their rosters, while most of the Gardiner teams have also brought in some tough individuals to their rosters as well.

The Erhardt will again be the tougher of the two Conferences this season and there should be a few good strong rivalries between the teams as they play each other night in and night out on a regular basis.
The Cardiff Devils have stacked their team with 5/6 willing guys, including a few who have played the enforcer role back in North America. While the other teams Belfast, Coventry, Nottingham and Sheffield have all gone with at least one or two enforcers. There's also quite a few new Enforcers in this Conference, while some of the tougher guys from last season are also returning as well. Here's my predictions at who I think will be among the top fighters in this Conference this season.

#1. Brent Henley - Not only is Brent Henley the biggest guy in the EIHL this season in terms of size (6'7'' 250lbs) he is also the guy who has the biggest reputation as a fighter. Henley comes to the EIHL having played and enforced in leagues like the ECHL / IHL / CHL / AHL in North America. During his time in the AHL in 08/09 season, Henley was rated as a top 10 fighter by fans on hockey fight sites like hockeyfights.com and dropyourgloves.com .
Henley has career wins over Trevor Gillies, Riley Emmerson, Reid Simpson, Mike Sgroi, Pierre-Luc Leblond, Josh Gratton, Paul Bissonnette and Justin Sawyer.ect

#2. Benn Olson - Olson lead the EIHL in fighting majors and was also the leagues leader in penalty minutes and voted by the fans on our Twitter site last season as the best fighter in the EIHL. He's a big guy at 6'4'' and showed last season he's very protective of his team mates. Olson will again be among the top fighters in the EIHL this season.
Olson has career wins over Frazer McLaren, Kevin Harvey, Tom Sestito, Adam Keefe, Gui Lepine, Bobby Robins.ect

#3. Tim Spencer - Steelers new heavyweight enforcer comes to the EIHL with a very impressive fight card filled with quality fighters. He's enforcer at a high level including 104 games in the AHL where he fought on a regular basis. Spencer will be the Steelers main go to guy this season and will be among the toughest guys in the EIHL.
Spencer has career wins over Luke Gazdic, Justin Johnson, Adam Huxley, Colt King, Jimmy Bonneau, Scott Fletcher, Harry Young.ect

#4. Adam Keefe - Giants enforcer for the 3rd season running and the guy voted by our followers as the toughest guy pound for pound in the EIHL. Keefe has the most extensive fight card of any player in this years EIHL with over 286 fights according to DYG hockey site. Keefe's played over 200 AHL games and averages 1 fight in every 3 games played. Not the biggest guy in the EIHL but certainly one of the toughest.
Keefe has career wins over Benn Olson, Phil Oreskovic, Kelsey Wilson, Brandon Prust, Krys Barch, Kevin Harvey, Jason Beckett, Derek Cambell.ect

#5. Leigh Salters - Panthers new heavyweight power forward is in just his 4th season as a Pro hockey player but in that time he's been making a name for himself as a tough guy in the ECHL. Salters also had a number of season's in the tough OHL Junior Hockey league where he fought some big name enforcers. He should be this season one of tougher guys in the Erhardt and the EIHL.
Salters has career wins over Richard Greenop, Tim Spencer, T.J. Reynolds.ect

#6. Kevin Harvey - Blaze's new tough guy comes to the EIHL with a reputation as an entertaining player to watch out on the ice. Harvey has been a fan favorite everywhere he's played in N.A including for the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL. Harvey in 117 games for the Crunch put up 479 PIM's & he will fight game in game out for the Blaze this season.
Harvey has career wins over Ryan Tobler, Phil Oreskovic, Riley Emmerson, Andrew Lord, Simon Ferguson, Brad Plumton.ect

#7. Andrew Conboy - Cardiff new tough Power forward this season Andrew Conboy played a number of season's in the AHL for the talented Hamilton Bulldogs team, before spending last season in the ECHL fighting 16 times in 49 games. Conboy has a reputation as a fiery hard hitting forward who will be well suited to the BBT in Cardiff.
Conboy has career wins over Steve Oleksy, Alex Plante, Andre Deveaux.ect

#8. Jeff Szwez - Giants tough power forward Szwez has a fiery reputation and although not his main role in the teams he's played for Szwez has shown he's more than happy to drop the gloves to protect a team mate, spark his team, or just because someone has pissed Szwez off. Last time Szwez was in the EIHL he was nearly a goal a game player as well as being one of the tougher guys in the league. Szwez has fought less during his stint in Germany but during his N.A career he fought many top names.
Szwez has career win's over Ryan Jorde, Drew Fata, Tim Jackman, Troy Bodie, Vladimir Mihalik.ect

#9. Tyson Marsh - Tough D.man Tyson Marsh returns to the Devils roster for another season. He may not fight as regularly as some of the Devils other tougher guys this season but Marsh is still one of the Devils better fighters when the gloves do come off. Marsh has played at ECHL & AHL level in N.A and fought some tough guys in them leagues.
Marsh has career wins over Dion Phaneuf, Steven Goertzen, Greg Stewart.ect

#10. Andrew Lord - One of Cardiff new tough guys this season. Lord has played in the ECHL and AHL in N.A and was a fan favorite with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers over 3 season's. Lord has fought a lot of familiar names to EIHL fans while in N.A and he will probable be along with Andrew Conboy the Devils main go to guy this season.
Lord has career wins over Bryan Jurynec, Trevor Hendrikx, Nate Kiser.ect

Others of Note..

#Drew Fata - Tough career D.man who sent a long time in the AHL.
Fata has career wins over Craig Weller, Mike Angelidis, Cody McLeod, Reed Low.ect

#Brad Plumton - Looks like a decent scrapper from watching some of his fights in the BCHL and when he fought Kevin Harvey Pre-season.

[oneillthegiant]

The Gardiner last season lacked the toughness of the Erhardt conference with only the Hull Stingrays who carried genuine toughness in 12/13.   It was noticeable in quite a few games i watched last season between Erhardt sides and the Scottish teams, the Erhardt teams would dominate the physical battles in them games. So it's no surprise to me to see most of the Scottish Gardiner teams toughening up going into the 2013/14 season. Cap's are the only team that have done nothing to address their lack of toughness compared to other teams in the league.
Hull Stingrays and Braehead Clan both have some decent toughness going into 2013/14 with both teams bringing in a few willing tough guys to their rosters. The Dundee Stars who where bullied in games especially against the Steelers last term have added some size to their roster, While the Fife Flyers are also rumored to be bringing a guy who will give them some protection this season as well. That just leave's the Caps with zero toughness. Here's my predictions at who I think will be among the top fighters in this Conference this season.

#1. Kevin Bergin - Tough power forward who was a fan favorite in Nottingham for a number of seasons. Showed his toughness by dropping the gloves with some top heavyweight fighter in the EIHL and in N.A over the years. When Bergin gets going he's a very good fighter on his day and probable the best in the Gardiner. Bergin, Frank and Moon should give the Clan some much needed toughness this season.
Bergin has career wins over Jason Rushton, Jonathan Bernier, Jason Kostadine, Derek Campbell, Grant McNeill, Andrew Sharp.ect

#2. Matt Suderman - Former Dundee Stars tough D.man has played the tough guy role in some tough N.A leagues including the CHL and IHL before joining the EIHL with the Stars in 2010. He's going to be a big part of the Rays team toughness this season and one of their go to guys if trouble kicks off this season.
Suderman has career wins over Mario Joly, Blair Stayzer, Dave Van Drunen.ect

#3. Matt Nickerson - Fife Flyers new signing comes to the EIHL with a big reputation as a fiery player. He's Tough and a decent hard hitting player who the Flyers will be glad to have in their roster when some of the tougher teams in the league line up against them this season. Nickerson will be one of the main tough guys in the Gardiner this season and should be among the leading fighters in that conference.
Nickerson has career wins over Patrik Lostedt, Ryan Donally, Guillaume Desbiens.ect

#4. Tysen Dowzak - Stars needed to add some muscle to their roster this season after being bullied in a number of games last term. Dowzak gives them a go to guy when trouble kicks off in 13/14 and he will also provide a big guy who can clear the crease and defend his net-minder. He's 6'5'' and played and fought in the CHL and ECHL the last few season's and has been called up to the AHL a few times as well.
Dowzak has career wins over John DiPace, Jake Riddle, Tyson Gimblett, Liam Huculak, Marc Rechlicz

#5. Chris Frank - Hard hitting player who's been notching up the penalty minutes in every league he's played in including here in the EIHL. Frank has previously played for the Cardiff Devils and Sheffield Steelers and lead the EIHL in penalty minutes in 2011-2012 with 357 PIM's. He's been a top 10 EIHL fighter the last two season's and should be among the toughest guys in the Gardiner conference this coming season, and the Clan's main go to guy when trouble kicks off.
Frank has career wins over Mitch Love, James McEwan, Dennis McCauley.ect


#6. Jeff Smith - Big Jeff Smith is has played the tough guy role at a high level including over 50 AHL games where he took on some of the toughest guys around. He's the most experienced fighter in the Gardiner this season, and has many big names on his fight card.  Smith has previously played for the Coventry Blaze and returns for his 2nd stint in Hull. The 6'6'' 230lbs tough d.man now likes to play the game more than looking to enforce like he did in N.A but he will protect himself and his teams mates when needed this coming season.
Smith has career wins over Mike Brown, Justin Johnson, Steve Crampton.ect


#7. Derek Campbell - Long time player in the EIHL and another one with a fiery reputation. Campbell has shown over the years he's willing to drop the gloves with anyone and will give the Rays a physical guy up front this season. Campbell is also a decent player who's averaging around a point a game at EIHL level.
Campbell has career wins over Sylvain Deschatelets, Adam Knight, Dominic D'Amour, Mark Nebus, Bryan Jurynec.ect


Others of Note..

#. Nathan Moon - Played the agitator role at a high level and willing to drop the gloves .