History of a Number – 7

Starting from this month, we at On Fire will study the history of a number, Coventry Blaze style. We’ll track the number on the back of the jersey and who has worn it through the years going all the way back to the first season in Coventry (2000/01). And this month, the focus is the number seven.

Seven is the only number that has been assigned to a player in every season played in the Skydome. The first owner of the jersey was in fact our current assistant coach, Mathias Söderström. He did not start in Coventry what would be his now familiar 77 and only took this because his favoured number seven had been taken by another member of the existing squad when Matty returned to the side. With 189 games with ‘7’ on his back, you may spot the odd one or two replicas around the Skydome.

When Matty left for Italy in 2004, the number seven gained arguably it’s most infamous owner, Andre Payette. With 433 penalty minutes in just 50 games, Payette was hated across the league for his physical style. Some would argue that it was jealousy as he was part of one of the most prolific lines ever to ice in the Skydome, joining Dan Carlson and Adam Calder on the ice. It was his physical presence that allowed our dynamic duo to work their magic.

Alas, Andre left for pastures new in 2005 and the number seven moved again, this time to the back of young British prospect Joe Henry. At the time, Henry was playing up from the Blaze Under-19s side when they didn’t have a game and made the step up to the senior side full-time in the 2007-08 season. Joe continued with the senior Blaze until 2011 playing just four games whilst on a two-way contract with the EPL’s Telford Tigers, who he would join permanently in the subsequent season.

This left the number seven vacant once more and it found its way to the current owner and another young British player – Matt Selby. Born in 1995 and not yet 18, Matt is still improving with every game and has already notched up over 60 games for the senior side. The defenseman-turned-forward has found a spot on the 3^rd line this season ensuring that the number seven will be seen around Coventry for a few more seasons yet.

Top Ten EIHL Goalies

(co-authored with Rick Kriaun)

1. Jody Lehman. Won the Grand Slam in Coventry and in total was a two-time league and three-time playoff champion; Lehman was simply a winner. If need a big-time performance from your goalie, he is still the guy you’d pick.
2. Trevor Koenig. “TK” used to frighten the heck out of the Skydome with his own style of goalkeeping when he’d leave the crease and work the corners. Warmly remembered, Trevor won the league twice in Coventry also won the playoffs with the Newcastle Vipers.
3. Stephen Murphy. The Scottish netminder has plied his trade north of the border for nearly all the major teams. The only British goalie to win the EIHL, he has to be a role model for the aspiring goalies in this country.
4. Craig Kowalski. Four trophies in two seasons in the EIHL has clearly established his pedigree in this country but could the Michigan native be the first goalie to bring the big one back to the NIC?
5. Peter Hirsch. Now in his second spell, the Danish goalkeeper has a league trophy under his belt as well as numerous appearances for Denmark at the highest level, famously beating the USA 5-2 in 2003 World Championships.
6. Stevie Lyle. Despite spending the bulk of his career in the top half of the EIHL, Lyle only managed one Challenge Cup trophy with Cardiff. A consistent, non-flashy style was his hallmark.
7. Ervins Mustukovs. It’s not often a goalkeeper gets called up for international duty while in the EIHL, but Mustukovs got the call for his native Latvia whilst in Sheffield. For one season, he was dominant and now plays in the 2^nd tier in Sweden.
8. Mike Minard. By the time he reached Belfast, Minard was bringing an impressive career to a close but he still had time to squeeze in one more league title over in his two seasons spent in Northern Ireland.
9. Curtis Cruickshank. Only Lehman and Murphy have played more games in the EIHL than Curtis. Basingstoke, Nottingham, Newcastle and Hull all employed his services and he was the 1^st team all-star in 2003/04.
10. Ladislav Kudrna. Often remembered for being the netminder on the wrong side of Ashley Tait’s Grand Slam goal in 2005, the popular Kudrna bounced around the UK and Europe including spells with Hull and Dundee.