Israeli Prospects; New Rink Info; Gold Medal; Next Championship in Div 1 by Israel

[Vikke]

A few million dollars is a bit exaggregated, eh?

The cooling system is the "only" expensive part. You can just build a barn and get ice in it if you want to have somewhere to play. Cheap, not very good (of course) but still good enough to learn to skate on.

 

[futurcorerock]

What's a misprint. Think of the word iceland. It has two parts: "ice" and "land".

Where are you going with this? Sounds like you're buying into an ignorant stereotype about Iceland.

Amazing to hear all this news about Israeli Hockey. In given time, there's reasonable hope that the NHL can be very diversified.

 

[BCCHL inactive]

Still, you wouldn't expect a team that's that far north to be playing with Mexico, Turkey, Armenia and SOUTH Africa (also Ireland and Luxembourgh), would you?

And what's up with Ireland? They are a wealthy country now, so come on, throw a few million dollars on some 3,000-seat ice rinks.

And Luxembourgh is the wealthiest country in the world. Their top player is an immigrant (import for hockey purposes) from France. But their players have nowhere to play. Before World Championship games, they run to practice. That's right, they don't skate, they run.

Mexico, et al have an excuse. These 3 do not.

You can't be serious. Incase you are...

Iceland: Have you seen a map of this country, or read up on how many people live in Iceland? Incase you didn't, Iceland has two rinks. One in Reykjavik, and one in Akureyri. The population of Iceland is 280,000. Suburbs of major metropolitan cities around the world have more people than that. Do you really expect Iceland to be able to produce good teams?

Ireland. They may have the population, but just as in most of Europe, especially Great Britain, the main interest is soccer. Malcolm Glazer could have invested that $1.5B (that he did into Manchester United, unfortunately) into Irish hockey, and he'd still come out with nothing.

Luxembourg: Again, have you looked at a map, or read up on country information? 450,000 people live in Luxembourg. It is impossible for a country of that size to field a decent hockey team.

 

[deandebean]

I don't know if it's been written, but Eli Sherbatov comes from a real Soviet hockey background. His mother is a very well known hockey personality in this province, because of her Red Army background; she was one of their skating trainers.

She directed a famous hockey power skating school (that my son will attend this summer) near Montreal, called Perfectskater.

Her son is one of the best prospects coming from the pee-wee ranks in this province. He's not big, but you should see his skating skills. Simply amazing!

 

[deandebean]

I don't know if it's been written, but Eli Sherbatov comes from a real Soviet hockey background. His mother is a very well known hockey personality in this province, because of her Red Army background; she was one of their skating trainers.

She directed a famous hockey power skating school (that my son will attend this summer) near Montreal, called Perfectskater.

Her son is one of the best prospects coming from the pee-wee ranks in this province. He's not big, but you should see his skating skills. Simply amazing!

You can see young Eli skate right here:

http://www.perfectskater.com/html/fr/multimedia_list.php?start=16&line_page=16&cat=15&catquoi=2

And THAT'S when he was atom!!!

 

[Hellström]

Others, like Luxembourgh and I think Bosnia, lack a single stadium.

You´re total wrong here with Luxembourg.
They do play in leagues (Belgium, Germany) and they do have icerinks:

http://members.lycos.co.uk/eeuwes/icehockey/luxrink.htm

 

[deandebean]

Last month, as some have already discussed here, Israel won the Gold Medal in the Division 2 of World Championship. Both the Junior and the Adult/Senior teams are coached by Jan Perron, who led the Habs to the 1986 Staley Cup victory.

Israel currently has only 1 ice rink, in the northern-most village of the country with only 65 families. Most Israelis simply can't reach it, as it's too far. They are currently raising funds for a new stadium. The Israeli gov't may donate money, but only if sufficient support is shown for it. The team is looking for donations - anything, even small amounts is highly valuable as it will prove support and public desire for Israeli hockey.

Anyone wishing to help from a fundraisng standpoint can go to the Ice Hockey Federation of Israel web site, or contact Israel Hockey Chair Alan Maislin (514-993-5599) or Israeli Team GM Shlomo Levy (514-996-6656) by phone. [I am not personally affiliated with the team, just a fan of hockey and Israel]

I have been closely following Israeli hockey for over 5 years, and I am well aware of all the quality of all players, both adults and kids (from the age of 13 and up). Thus, I decided to provide more info for anyone interested:

Next year, it will move up to Div 1 and will play against:

Germany
France
Britain
Japan
Hungary

The best Israeli player, Max Birbraer, didn't play this year. He was drafted by the Devils in the third round in 2000. He's 24 and 6'2 200.

Unfortunately, he didn't play for Israel recently because Div 2 wasn't considered good enough for him. He may play in Div 1.

INFO FOR NEXT YEAR'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:

FORWARDS

Top line: 3 Eisenman Brothers. One almost got drafted last year, but didn't quite make it. He had a good year and may get signed by an NHL team to play for their minor league affiliate. He just turned 20 and may potentially improve to play in the NHL, but that's a long shot. But he's almost definitely good enough to play in the AHL, best league after the NHL.

Second line: Birbraer - Frenkel (10 points in 5 games in division 2 championship) - Oren Zamir (16 year old who had 17 points in 5 games for the Israeli junior team against older competition)

Third line: Belo (checker) - Bochner (talented, but small) - Michael Horwitz (small and only 17, but extremely talented. If he grows a few inches this year, he may get drafted by the NHL)

The top 5 players clearly belong in Division 1. However, Zamir and Horwitz are too young, Bochner too small and Belo is no more than a marginal 4th liner at Division 1 level. Others don't belong there at all.

Israel will need at least one good player. They are having try-outs for Israeli-borns who live in Canada now in June. Maybe they can pick up one player who belongs in Div 1.

DEFENSE

Spivak - very talented 16 year old. Played for the Israeli Senior Team this year despite his age, and had 2 points in 5 games (not bad for a D). Already he's 6-0 180, and he should get bigger (hopefully taller and definitely stronger).

Soreanu: 5-11 175, 3 points in 5 games in Division 2 last month. Marginal to avg player in Div 1.

Berman: 6-0 165. Very thin, but talented. Belongs in Div 1, but as a marginal player. 24 years old

Nobody else belongs in Division 1. They will need at least one more defenseman to compete effectively.

GOALIE

Gussin: aging, but very good. He was tutored by Tretiak in the past.

Amromin: don't know much, except that he has been Gussin's backup for a long time.

Ilan Kilimnik: played very well in the U18 World Championship.



2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION

It will be very tough for Israel. Germany will absolutely abuse it by a huge score (double digits). France will not be kind on Israel either. Israel may have a chance against England, and maybe an outside shot at Hungary and Japan due to Israel's superior coaching in Stanley Cup winner Jan Perron. Most people have Israel going back to Division 2, but hey, nobody thought it would make it to Div 1.

The progress made by both Junior and Senoir players due to Perron (his coaching and just the fact that he attracted players who used to play hockey before they moved to Israel from Russia, Canada, US, etc) has been amazing this year. But nothing great can happen without an ice rink in Tel Aviv (and in the future, hopefully, in Haifa, Jerusalem, Be'er Sheva, Eilat, etc). Israel needs to get more kids and Russian/American/Canadian immigrants involved in the game.



PROSPECTS AND UPCOMERS:

Eli Sherbatov: 13 years old. Had 9 points in 5 games in the U18 world champship where competition was almost exclusively 17-18 years old. Has NHL potential (maybe, as he's still only 13) and will almost definitely be drafted if he continues to progress.

Oren Zamir (OLD article at http://www.cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=5139): Playing in the best HS for hockey in Canada. 17 points in 5 games in U18 World Championship. Definitely should get drafted when he's 18.

Daniel Spivak: 3 points in 5 games as a Defenseman against adult competition at the age of 16. Already 6-0 180 pounds.

Raviv Bull: 18 years old. 3 points in 5 games. Big, tall and fairly strong. If he gets stronger, he should be able to play in the AHL, the top minor league.

Yogev Shamir: 10 points in 5 games in U18 World Championship as a defenseman. Extremely talented, but small at only 5-9 175 pounds.

Shlon Norman: 5 points in 5 games in U18 Championship at the age of 14 against 17-18 year olds.

Others with potential: Navot Kantor, Ayal Anava, Dan Erlich, Harel Harosh, George Pisha.



More articles on Israeli hockey:

http://cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=6176

http://www.dailygazette.net/Default...005/04/26&EntityId=Ar02401&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

http://www.jewishtribune.ca/tribune/jt-050421-23.html

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/News/2005/04/15/998998-cp.html


P.S. Anyone wishing to help from a fundraisng standpoint can go to the Ice Hockey Federation of Israel web site, or contact Israel Hockey Chair Alan Maislin (514-993-5599) or Israeli Team GM Shlomo Levy (514-996-6656) by phone. Remember, not only is the amount important, but also how many people show support by donating.

Since Eli will become (or is he already) a naturalized canadian citizen, I can see him play eventually for the canadian team, at a higher level of competition, rather than the israeli team. I mean, if you can play with the big boys at the worlds, why content yourself in playing in sub-level competition?

This kid will be a high draftee at the midget AAA/QMJHL; I can't see him going playing in a division 1/2 tourney, while he has the chance to represent his country of adoption in a major tournament.

 

[freeper]

Where are you going with this? Sounds like you're buying into an ignorant stereotype about Iceland.

Amazing to hear all this news about Israeli Hockey. In given time, there's reasonable hope that the NHL can be very diversified.

I am not saying people in Iceland should play on any piece of ice on the street.

But generaly speaking, northern nations play hockey, at least to some degree (Canada, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, even Norway, Denmark, Baltics, and Britain can put up a half-way decent performance. Any of them would beat Iceland by at least 50-0... without exaggerating.). It's surprising that Iceland doesn't.