Blackhawk

Ice hockey began in Greece in 1984. It was started by players with Greek origin that came back to Greece from countries such as Czechoslovakia, Soviet Union, Canada and USA. Originally five teams were formed: two in Athens/Piraeus, Chalkida and Thessaloniki respectively. The first ever ice hockey game played in Greece was in 1985. In 1989 the first Greek ice hockey championship was held. The games took place at the Peace and Friendhip Stadium. The stadium featured a regular size ice rink, and was used for hockey games until 2000. Five teams took part in the competition, with Aris Thessaloniki becoming the first Greek champion. Aris also won the championships in 1990 and 1991, before Iptamenoi Athens captured their first title in 1992. They repeated that feat in 1993. However in 1993 funding was cut by the Undersecretary of State for Sports. As a result Greek championships were not held again until 2000. By that time all the hockey games and practices were held in the Moschato Ice Rink, which unfortunately closed down in 2003. The Greek championships were resurrected in 2008, with six teams taking part and Iptamenoi Athens claiming the title. Additional championships were held in 2009 (8 teams), 2010 (9 teams), 2011 (7 teams) and 2013 (11 teams). All were won by Iptamenoi Athens except in 2011, which was won by Aris Thessaloniki. Iptamenoi did not take part that year. The first Greek National Team was formed in 1990. It was a Junior national team, which took part in the 1990 World Junior Championships, Pool C held in Yougoslavia. The same team also participated in the 1991 World Junior Championships in Italy. The first Senior Greek National Team was formed in 1992. The team took part in the World Championships, Pool C held in South Africa, finishing in 3rd place. Due to financial problems, the national team did not play again until 1995, taking part in Pool C of the World Championships held once again in South Africa. In 1996 the national team took part in in Poold D and Olympic Games qualifying campaigns held in Israel. Despite beating Israel twice (4:1 and 10:2), and destroying Turkey 19:0, all games were forfeited by IIHF, since the team used ineligible players. The national team attended the 1998 and 1999 World Championships, but went on a long hiatus from international competition, because of a ban by the IIHF. The reason for the ban was the lack of proper size ice rink and lack of national championships in Greece. The ban was lifted in 2008, which allowed the national team to play in the 2008 and 2009 World Championships. In 2010 the World Championship Pool C was to be held in Greece at the new proposed ice rink in Nea Liosia. However that rink was never built, and the championships were switched to Luxembourg. It was there that produced the national team’s most successful tournament, by finishing in second place. The national team took part in subsequent World Championships in 2012 (Turkey) and 2013 (South Africa), but at the end of 2013 was once again banned by IIHF from future World Championships until an Olympic size rink is built in Greece. This development pretty much slowed down the progress of Greek ice hockey, with the future being uncertain. Greek Ice Hockey clubs throughout the years: Iptamenoi Athens Albatros Athens Avantes Athens Lefka Gerakia Mad Kows Athens Tarandos Moschato Warriors Athens Ermis HC PAOK Thessaloniki Aris Thessaloniki Iraklis Thessaloniki Huskies Thessaloniki Panserraikos Serres PAS Piraeus PAS Chalkida

The status of Ice Hockey in Greece is discussed in this interview with Dimitris Kalyvas: http://www.icehockey.gr/en/index.php/q-a-with-dimitris-kalyvas/

PAOK will travel to Serbia this Saturday to play a friendly against Partizan Beograd. Kick-off time is 20:30 Greek Time.

Marinakis with his Alter Ego company that recently got a license to run a TV channels offered to be the sponsor of Superleague!!!!!!

I don't think our big problem is the CF position. It's the midfield that can't create anything. If we had a creative midfield players, you could put a monkey as CF and score goals. There is no transition from defense to offense. It was so much evident in this game. Some low budget Mexican player managed all by himself to shut down our midfield. Charisis got a chance to prove himself, and was the worst player on the field. Cimirot's every touch on the ball resulted in a mistake. Big difference when Biswswar came into the game. Don't understand Ivic and his decision not to start him. Poor coaching decisions by him in this game. Why not start Kitsiou in his natural position, and instead go with Crespo?

Kickoff postponed again. Team owners say they won't start the competition until somebody offers them a TV contract.

My lineup for the game: ------------------ Brkic --------------------- Kitsiou - Crespo - Tzavellas - Leovac ---- Canas ------------- Charisis -------- Mystakidis --- Biseswar --- Rodrigues ------------------ Klaus -------------------

I have closed my TV Schedules web site, since it has become problematic maintaining it on the internet provider that I was using. For now I have created a Facebook page that deals with televised Greek soccer. If you are a Facebook user I invite you to Like the page I created. The name of the page is Greek Soccer on TV: https://www.facebook.com/Greeksoccerontv/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Let's see if Antonis plays for Veroia. Can't afford to drop points in this game.

Savvidis today paid the first of three down payments for the 4th TV license in the form of 20.5 million Euro. So far his attempt get a cooperation with either Alpha or Star have failed. Not only that, those two channels have started a mudslinging campaign against Savvidis. Reports out of Thessaloniki is that he will build a TV network from scratch and will most likely be based out of Thessaloniki.

Interesting fact is that PAOK will face PAOK ex-coach Aggelos Anastasiadis against Larisa, ex-player and ex-coach Georgios Georgiadis against Trikala, and if we end up playing Panelefsiniakos ex-PAOK players Thanasis and Christos Dimopoulos. Our cup schedule is as follows: October 26: PAOK - Larisa November 29: Trikala - PAOK December 13: Panelefsiniakos or Zakynthos - PAOK

Final score Liberec - PAOK 1:2 Inthe other game Fiorentina - Qarabag 5:1 Standings: 1. PAOK 4 2. Fiorentina 4 3. Liberec 1 4. Qarabag 1 Win at Qarabag and we are through.

Unbelievable. Rodrigues can't shoot into an empty net.

Klaus 2:1

Thiam in for Shakhov. Big chance by Mystakidis squandered.

Don't understand why we are just sitting back and taking the game to them.

We played much better after we tied the game. Clearly the better team on the field. The question is if can score the winning goal. I would put in Biswswar for Shakhov in the 2nd half.

And Klaus makes it 1:1

Penalty for PAOK

Almost 2:0

It was a nice gift by PAOK defense for the Czechs.

Losing 1:0 allready

The team we played was Puskas Academia FC in the UEFA Youth League (Champions League for U19 teams). The return game will be played on October 19 at Kaftanzoglio Stadium. BTW, Stathopoulos is the player that we got from Twente Enschede during the summer transfer period.

Ivan Savvidis will officially become the PAE PAOK President on October 17.

Will officially become the PAE PAOK President on October 17. Here is his press release concerning the matter: