Friday 31 January 2014

Game Preview: Belfast Weekend (1+2/2/14)

Apologies for the brevity, I'm writing this before I go to bed and I have no time to do it tomorrow.

Thank You Sirianni and Good Luck

So at 12:41pm on 31st January the Sheffield Steelers confirm that they had concluded negotiations with Val Pusteria two days after the Italian club had already announced the signing of Forward Robert Sirianni.

Thursday 30 January 2014

Midweek Victory for the Steelers v Caps: Match Report

Wednesday 29th January 2014 - Sheffield Steelers (20-11-3) v Edinburgh Capitals (10-25-2) @ Ice Sheffield. Face off: 7.30pm

One of Sheffield game in hands on the Belfast Giants on a Wednesday night and they came out of it with the two points but still leaves them 15 points of the league leaders going into the double header against Belfast Giants on Saturday and Sunday.

Frozen Steel Gathering? See what you think of this idea...

So I had this idea, when I started the blog, that I wanted to get to know more Steelers fans so I didn't just end up going to games, keeping myself to myself, and going home again. I want to meet you lovely people. The plan? A social gathering.

Frozen Steel Player Of The Month: January 2014

Welcome back to our second monthly award post, for the player that you, the readers of our humble little blog, deem to have been the best performer in orange.

Last month you gave the award to our superhuman netminder, Frank Doyle. I'm sure somebody told him and he took the award with great glee.....

This month's winner is illustrated by the superb photography work of Dean Woolley, the Steelers match night photographer. Find his work HERE.

Your winner is......

Rob Sirianni, He Plays Where He Wants

In typical Sheffield Steelers manner, last night the scoreline barely seemed to matter. A professional 2-0 defeat of the Edinburgh Capitals was completely overshadowed by the news that star sniper (and he of reportedly questionable workrate) Rob Sirianni had left the club.

Well, we say news. Sirianni's Elite Prospects page said he'd gone. Val Pusteria's website said he had signed. Even The Star said he'd gone. The Steelers? Couldn't be any more indignant in their refusal:
at the present time no player as left the club

Wednesday 29 January 2014

#DevilsOutside

You may have noticed that many Cardiff Devils fans aren't happy right now. Paul Ragan's ownership, and Brent Pope's...whatever he does...has come under intense scrutiny this season due to unpopular decisions being made.

It has reached boiling point, and tomorrow night Devils fans will stay outside of the rink at faceoff in protest at the running of the club.

We asked Paul Sullivan (@sullydevil) for some more information about the protest, and the ideas behind it.

Game Preview - vs Edinburgh Capitals (29/1/14 IS)

After 4 very professional periods over the weekend (and 2 we'd rather not talk about if its okay with you thank you very much) we sit second in the table, with the others having no games in hand on us. Sure, 4 teams are separated by a point and we're at the top of that pile on regulation wins, but we still stand second.

We'll ignore the fact that we're 9 points behind Belfast in the conference (same amount of games) and 17 points behind them in the league (albeit with two games in hand that are going to make the difference......)

We have two games against Belfast this weekend that could hugely help on the quest for second. But so will tonight, as we entertain my favourite team from Scotland (sorry everyone else).

Tuesday 28 January 2014

Rivalries: Do They Really Matter Any More?

All sports are based on rivalries - match ups between old enemies, arch-nemeses who know each other inside out, based on geography or competition. Being a Sunderland fan, we have our rivalry with Newcastle. Liverpool and Everton are even closer. Then you have Man Utd and Arsenal in the early 2000s. In hockey, the 'Biggest Rivalry In The Country' is that between our Sheffield Steelers, and those wonderful folk from Nottingham.

Over the years, lots of blood has been spilt, trophies have been shared and split, and fanbases have formed battlelines in the name of the Steelers/Panthers rivalry. Yet right now, fans from both sides are struggling to get motivated and psyched for a game against our biggest rivals. Why is that?

Sunday 26 January 2014

Frozen Steel Meets: Steve Munn

After the Aaron Murphy interview, I threw the floor open and asked who you wanted to see answer some questions on our little fansite. When one such reader tagged Steve Munn in to his response on Twitter, I thought to myself "never in a month of Sundays"...then I got the response "sure I'd love to."

There's two holes in my ceiling right now. The one that I made when Sunderland won on Wednesday night, and the one I made when my first ever favourite Steeler said yes.

So I come to sending the questions. I send them Saturday morning, expecting a few answers at some point, no rush, its Steve Munn, I'm not going to rush him.

I wake up Sunday morning to the answers. You'll see below. Wow. Just wow.

May I introduce to you, the one and only, STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVE

Brief Game Preview: @ Coventry (26/1/14)

So we won last night, a fairly convincing 5-2 victory/a lucky, referee-given fluke (depending which side of the Yorkshire border you live on). Another two points in the race for second, and onto a road game against the Blaze.

Captain Leads By Example As Steelers Down Panthers: Match Report

Saturday 25th January 2014 - Sheffield Steelers (18-11-3) v Nottingham Panthers (18-10-4) @ Motorpoint Arena. Face off: 7pm

So it was another Saturday hockey night in Sheffield and it was a big crunch match between the Sheffield Steelers and the Nottingham Panthers and it would be Sheffield that would come out 5-2 winners against the old enemy going into the business end of the season.

Thursday 23 January 2014

Game Preview: Them Lot...Again...(25/1/14 Sheffield Arena)

So by my working out this is game 7 of (at least) 12 against the outgoing Elite League Champions. If ever the argument comes up about the rivalry dying a death, there's your stat.

But on the other hand, it is still selling out the NIC, and giving us the largest crowds of the season. Maybe it isn't dying so much. A bit of retweaking with the league format....that's for another day. Now, we've got a game going on.

The Circus Show In Cardiff - Enough Is Enough!

For once, I've given myself a bit of time before typing this article. However, I'm still pretty brassed off, so there wasn't really any point in sleeping on it.

I honestly don't know where to start with this. There is nothing short of a circus show going on in Cardiff right now and the ring leader (sadly) is Paul Ragan. I'm amazed Brent Pope hasn't got him a hat for the role. Sheffield fans will know this guy though, he temporarily owned the club before Tony Smith took over. Thank Christ he did too. Cheers Tony!

Sunday 19 January 2014

Fallen Stars - CC 1/4F 2nd Leg Game Recap

A spirited fightback from the Dundee Stars brought the second leg to life, but in reality a comfortable passage into a meeting with the old enemy.

Murphy Shines in League Leader Win in Sheffield: Match Report

Saturday 18th January 2014 - Sheffield Steelers (18-10-3) v Belfast Giants (26-5-2) @ Motorpoint Arena. Face off: 7pm

Challenge Cup Brackets

Got asked to throw together a challenge cup bracket, for observers and such. Here we go.

Belfast 6
                                    Belfast
Hull 1

Cardiff 10
                                    Cardiff
Fife 5

Nottingham 10
                                    Nottingham
Braehead 7

Dundee (0)
                                    ???
Sheffield (4)

Game Preview: @Dundee (CC 1/4 Final 2nd Leg, 19/1/14)

Before we start, I want to say thank you to both the Steelers fans who did themselves proud with the response to the Stand Up For Randy situation last night, and the Belfast fans who joined in, didn't celebrate their goal until after the minute had passed and were generally just classy throughout. Top showing, and proof that hockey fans are pretty good eggs really.

Saturday 18 January 2014

Thank you Belfast

I just want to take a quick moment to thank the Belfast Giants team and their fans.

Obviously tonight was a very tough time for the Steelers organisation with the tragic news we heard of yesterday. They observed the minutes silence with the rest of us with absolute respect. Then, not only did their own bench stand during our ovation for Randy in which they also tapped their sticks on the ice, they also muted their celebrations when they scored their first goal during our ovation. The self same thing can be said for the Giants fans as well.

Class from top to bottom.

Thank you.

Do it for Dagenais!!

I think I speak for everyone tonight when all our thoughts go to the Dagenais family after the lost of their 16-month-old daughter Evelyne yesterday morning and also when I say that tonight is for Randy and his family with a minutes silence before the game as well as a standing ovation on the 12th minute of the game.

Steelers posted this link yesterday and explains everything so please read!!
http://www.sheffieldsteelers.co.uk/rip-evelyne-dagenais-p189882

Hopefully the minutes silence will be respected not just in Sheffield tonight but all along the league and it would be fantastic if the minutes ovation was also respected at every game tonight.

R.I.P to heavens newest little angel Evelyne Dagenais, thoughts go out to Randy, his wife and all their family once a Steeler always a Steeler.

Yesterdays news also puts life into perspective. Life's too short so make the most of everyday guys.

Tonight is for Randy!!

Tom
@TomWalkeden

Injury Blow for Woolhouse

So the news came yesterday that back-up goaltender Geoff Woolhouse will be missing for the remainder of the season. Woolhouse hasn't been available for selection since he got injured during pre-season while the team were on their pre-season tour of Slovakia. It's a big blow for the British goaltender as he was just days away from being available for selection by Doug Christiansen but Geoff says he is buoyed by the feeling that his Steelers team will be lifting silverware this season.

Woolhouse was in training and almost got through a whole training session when performing a butterfly save when he stretched a ligament which forced his tibia and fibia apart, re-tearing a membrane and it was also announced that surgery is needed to secure the bones. Woolhouse is probably the best back-up goalie in the league and is a blow to missing him all season but it gives Andy Jaszczyk the opportunity to keep improving and maybe get some ice time along with a contract for next season but I do believe we'll see the return of Woolhouse next season even though he hasn't played any games this year the good signs for him are that all his pre-season tests were as high as possible and he said apparently he couldn't have done anything more to be any fitter before the season started. I think we all know that Geoff will come back stronger than ever in a bid to get a contract for next season and I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we wish you a speedy recovery and hope to see you back on the Ice as soon as possible.

Thanks for reading guys. Any questions or comments please get in contract with the Frozen Steel Team on this article or via Twitter:-
@IAmMcCausland
@TomWalkeden
@AwkwardGinge
@FrozenSteelBlog

or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com

Keep Supporting The Boys!!

Tom
@TomWalkeden

Frozen Steel Meets...Aaron Murphy

As part of my cheeky asking of hockey personalities if I could grab interviews with them, I slyly asked the new voice of ice hockey in the UK, Premier Sports' Aaron Murphy if he'd do us yet another favour (after the silly amount of TV mentions) and answer us some questions. Because he's such a decent guy, he obliged.

Friday 17 January 2014

Game Preview - Vs Belfast (EC, 18/1//14)

Before we go any further with this today, I want to send out support and condolences from the team to Randy Dagenais and his family at this terrible time.

To show support, our idea (which seems to have garnered a little bit of support) is for a show of appreciation for Randy. At the 12th minute (matching with his old squad number), we want everyone to stand up in the Motorpoint Arena and give him a round of applause for a minute, to show that the Steeler family truly is a family, and that we are fully behind him. Chris Frank said in our interview that he understands the "once a Steeler, always a Steeler" mantra and tomorrow we have a chance to show that and get behind Randy. Please, show your support for a great servant to the club.

***Since writing this, the club have asked for a minute's silence prior to the game, and for the standing to be observed. Great move Steelers***

So after that, we have a game going on.

Simmsey crosses the line...again...

In case you weren't already aware, earlier on today Simmsey once again caused uproar on social media.

I'll give you a quick background story.

Doyle shuts-out Stars in the 1st Leg: Match Report

Wednesday 15th January 2014 - Sheffield Steelers (5-3-0) v Dundee Stars (5-3-0) @ Motorpoint Arena. Face off: 7.30pm

The Quarter finals of the Challenge Cup had begun and the Steelers would finish the 1st leg with a 4 goal lead before the second leg is played in Dundee on the the 19th January, the winner of the Steelers and Stars Series will face Nottingham in the Semi-final.

Wednesday 15 January 2014

CC: Steelers 4-0 Stars - Stellar Steelers Performance Puts One Foot In Semis

A commanding all-round team performance from the Steelers saw them take a 4-0 lead from the first leg of the Challenge Cup quarter final.

Only a Man Of The Match performance from Dundee netminder Dan Bakala kept the score down, producing highlight reel save after highlight reel save to prevent the Steelers from ending the tie tonight.

Goals from Jeff Legue (2:46), Rob Sirianni (25:02), Jason Hewitt (31:13) and Stefan Meyer (46:18) secured the win, and a solid D performance gave Frank Doyle another shut out.

We also managed to keep our discipline tonight, with only 4 minutes of penalties through the entire game, 2 for each side.

Max Lacroix remained the spare import, but its hard to guess what impact he would have had tonight.

Twitter has been full of praise for the team performance, which is lovely as there's usually one player being singled out, such as "great showing, apart from So and So" (usually Baldwin), so a show of unity is fantastic.

@RPHoyland
the best we've been all season. I'd say so. We attacked together and defended together. We played some lovely hockey!
@dreynolds96
 If we can keep this up we have a good chance of beating Belfast, now we're playing with a good defence and as a team.
 @mgppage
that was nice and comfortable forward play was good also praise for the officials tonight
@dawnrose007
good game dominated by Steelers especially 3rd period 
Steelman2712 on the forum
Bakala was outstanding in that gane I thought, it could have easily been a much higher scoreline. He were strong both offensively and defensively, almost certainly the best defensive play I've seen this season from the Steelers. 
Its good to see this kind of unity between the fanbase. What did you think?

Comment on the game thread on the FSForum HERE
Or tweet us @FrozenSteelBlog

A full game report from Tom Walkeden will appear here soon.

Tuesday 14 January 2014

MAX LACROIX CHANT UNVEILED

What started as a warm piece of banter to welcome back our long-term injured little wizard, turned into something of a fixation. I'd walk around work, humming tunes, trying to get words to fit in place, or squeeze tunes around words.

So, at least 3 weeks since I asked for your suggestions, I have something.

The tune is Que Sera Sera, made famous by Doris Day. If you don't know it, find it at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbKHDPPrrc.

It is only the chorus, because even I'm not that pedantic.

Ahem.

  • Max Lacroix, Lacroix
  • He plays on the left or right
  • He's Sheffield's dynamite
  • Max Lacroix, Lacroix
Look, I never said it was good. I'm just glad to have finally succeeded. He best not bloody leave at the end of the season now either, I want mileage out of that bad boy.

Think you can do any better?

Start a thread on the Frozen Steel Forum

Or tweet us @FrozenSteelBlog

Liam

Game Preview - vs Dundee (15/1/14) - Challenge Cup 1/4 Final 1st Leg

We leave the battle for second place to one side briefly tomorrow night, and welcome Jeff Hutchins' Tayside army into the Motorpoint for the first leg of the Challenge Cup quarter final. In Sheffield, we play our two-legged ties over two legs.

Monday 13 January 2014

The Good Hockey Etiquette Guide

A week or two ago we asked the people of both the Frozen Steel Forum and our followers on Twitter what they would consider to be good manners and behaviour at an ice hockey game. Through their input, and my own common sense, here's what we came up with.

Welcome to the Frozen Steel Good Hockey Etiquette Guide

Sunday 12 January 2014

Thoughts on last nights game - Beastly Baldwin

With the Steelers only playing one game this weekend I fully expected to see 60 minutes of hockey and effort from the boys last night.

I'm not going to lie though, after the first 10 minutes of the game last night I honestly thought I was going to end up having a really big moan in this blog. I'm still going to have a moan about one or two things, particularly something Mr Hicks did, or should I say didn't do, but damn that was some comeback and a thoroughly entertaining game of hockey in the end.

Ice Hockey vs Football

Seasoned pro wrestling blogger Craig Jarrett makes his Frozen Steel Debut, with a short but sweet article about the lack of media coverage the sport of kings gets.

Friday 10 January 2014

Game Preview: Steelers vs Blaze (11/1/14)

Only the one game this weekend, and one that will be viewable on the internet as the game will be shown on Steelers TV Live via webcast. The opponents? Coventry Blaze.

The Frozen Steel Interview - Chris Frank

So when we first started, I cheekily asked Braehead's former Steeler D Chris Frank if he'd do an email interview with us, never expecting him to agree to it. For reasons still unknown, he said yes. Unfortunately, we caught him right in the middle of the Muzzy for Money charity pull, and then christmas and such. So it has taken this long to get his responses. But today, the email came, and I am very pleased to bring to you our first proper interview.

Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Frank.

Wednesday 8 January 2014

Fans Of Steel: Jonathan Harrison

Our fan spotlight continues with Jonathan Harrison this time answering our questions. Send your answers to frozen.steel.91@gmail.com and see yourself here.

The Challenging Cup Is Dying - What's The Cure?

It seems every year that there's some kind of outcry about the parody of a competition that is the Challenge Cup. The team that wins it is always happy, but then the other 9 teams always find some way of making it out that its a pointless competition that just takes up game time and valuable materials.

Monday 6 January 2014

Fans Of Steel: Tricky

Another delve into the Steelers fanbase, and this time we have another elusive fan. Step forward Tricky, who once tried to get Liam in trouble with Jason Hewitt. It's cool though, we're all Steelers, we are all friends.

Sunday 5 January 2014

Shoot The Scheduler! Steelers Take 3 Points From Road Trip Weekend

851 miles.

Roughly 14 hours on a coach (may have been longer, I'm working off Google Maps)

3 points for the Sheffield Steelers.

Saturday night saw us take both points from the first leg of the trip, with a game winner from Stefan Meyer handing us a 3-2 win over Ryan Finnerty's Sheffield Ex-Pat Association.

Drew Fata (PP) and Jonathan Phillips gave the Steelers a two-goal lead, before Ash Goldie and a Joe Cullen shorthanded goal (looking at you, Danny Meyers and the Powerplay - rock band name right there) brought the scores level.

The Orange Bulldozer came good though, scoring the winner with 7 minutes remaining. The D held strong, and the Steelers headed down the M6 and into Devils territory with the W in the bag.

Sunday, the Big Blue Tent was the venue for what can only be described as a 2013/14 rare item - 3 powerplay goals. It wasn't to be enough though, as the Steelers went down to the T*** in the Hat and his Cardiff Devils.

Rob Sirianni decided he wanted to score tonight, cancelling out Ben Davies' early marker. Another rarity - a Phil Hill goal in orange - gave us the lead before that was cancelled out itself by a Jake Morrisette goal.

Mark Smith regained the lead for Cardiff, but Chad Langlais levelled things again early in the third. No goal in the remaining time, and misses from Sirianni and Jeff Legue meant just the one point in Cardiff.

3 points though, and at the end of a big road trip that has to be commended. With Belfast losing last night, the four would have been useful, but as most people have conceded the league...eh.

Onwards to Coventry next week.

Remember folks, we now have our own forum where you can discuss/condemn what we are saying, go to http://frozensteel.proboards.com/ and tell us why we're wrong.

Or just do it in the old-fashioned method (well, in the 7 weeks we've existed)

@IAmMcCausland
@AwkwardGinge
@TomWalkeden
@FrozenSteelBlog

Game Preview: @Cardiff 5/1/14

Last night saw us take 2 points from the Purple Army, with another Saturday night Stefan Meyer GWG giving us a 3-2 win. Tonight, the boys are in Wales for a meeting with The Man Of Many Hats.

The Devils were on the receiving end of the wrath of Nottingham last night, going down 9-2 in the cesspit. But when you think they were 8-0 down after 25 minutes, you could call it a spirited second half performance.

Team News
Steelers

  • Dustin Kohn serves the 3rd game of his suspension tonight, and will return in the next game.
  • Max Lacroix played last night, to much rejoicing. Expect him to continue tonight.
  • Steven Goertzen was absent due to Sam's impending popping, that will likely be the same.
  • Aaron Nell may return to Swindon, as they have an EPL game tonight.
Devils
  • Who knows who will start in goal after Pope swapped the goalies twice last night. Joe Myers was not impressed at being pulled at 7-0.
  • No new injury concerns.
Predictions
Well...a good win in Glasgow last night, followed by a long long journey to Cardiff, against a team who will be seething following a drubbing...it all smacks of disaster. I hope not. I certainly think it will be close, although sometimes it seems like Cardiff's only victories this season have come against us. Will we have enough? Maybe.

Cardiff Devils 2-4 Sheffield Steelers

Agree/Disagree?

@FrozenSteelBlog
@IAmMcCausland
@TomWalkeden
@AwkwardGinge

Saturday 4 January 2014

Fan Of Steel: Steelers Banter

In this feature we try to spotlight the fans of the Steelers. With this one, we'll have a job, as our mate at Steelers Banter remains elusive. One day...

Friday 3 January 2014

Game Preview: @Braehead - 4/1/14

3 wins on the bounce - not often we've been able to say that this season. It was a convincing case of job done on Thursday, with a 6-3 scoreline more a sign of us taking the foot off the pedal rather than Hull clawing their way back into it. But now we face two road trips, at two ends of the country, in not too happy hunting grounds. The first sees us take in Scotland's second city, and a rendezvous with Mr Finnerty.

Team News
Steelers

  • Dustin Kohn will serve the second game of his three game ban for not hitting Robert Farmer hard enough.
  • The Swindon Wildcats don't play until Sunday, so Aaron Nell may continue with the Steelers as part of his two way deal.
  • Will we see Lacroix? I still think it's too soon.
Clan
  • I looked for news on the Clan website about injuries and such...nothing. Some about Finner not having sentiment. So we get to say hello to him, and Chris Frank, and Lee Esders. If anyone sees Frank, tell him to check his emails (we're still waiting for answers).
Prediction
It's going to be a hard weekend. I dunno really. I expect at least two points, but I don't know where from. Stick my head out a bit.

Braehead Clan 3-4 Sheffield Steelers (After Penalty Shots)

Agree/disagree?

@FrozenSteelBlog
@IAmMcCausland
@AwkwardGinge
@TomWalkeden

Frozen Steel Player Of The Month: December 2013

The first time we've 'given out' this 'award' (no award is actually given), so its another first.

We asked the good people of Twitter for their nominations for the Steelers' player of the month, and there was a runaway winner.

Pictured here as a New Jersey Devil, your Frozen Steel POTM for December 2013 is Frank Doyle, for some superb performances home and away, capped off by the Boxing Day shutout against the dirties.

Congratulations Frank.

Thursday 2 January 2014

Match Preview: Steelers vs Hull 2-1-14

Sorry for the lack of updating, well as much as I'd usually do anyway, it's been a funny festive period for me. I'm back though, and in time to preview tonight's game against the Hull Stingrays.

Team News
New Year's Eve brought us the delightful news that Dustin Kohn had been suspended for 3 games following the cross check to Robert Farmer's face that was seemingly missed by Mike Hicks. Now is not the time and the place for an argument about it, but what did Makela get?

Robert Dowd's lovely hit on Jonathan Boxill also saw the penalty get upgraded to a 5+game, but fortunately that won't result in him missing any games.

Normally, an absence of an import would allow another to come in, but the suspension means we must play an import short. Which means the return of a certain French-Canadian sniper may have to be put on ice. It is possible that Lacroix returns for somebody else, but I wouldn't bank on it.

Hull travelled to Belfast on Monday night for their joke of a cup tie (2 legs over 60 minutes) that was also doubled up as a league game, and reported no new injury concerns. Pavel Gomeniuk returns having missed the game due to work commitments. Martin Ondrejs serves the last game of his suspension, and Sam Towner, Matty Davies and former Steeler Tom Squires remain injured.

Prediction
6 unbeaten at home. 2 wins over Nottingham. Should be easy? Hmm. Hull have been scoring for fun (except for their trip to Belfast) so it could be difficult. Keep them quiet and the job becomes easier though.

Sheffield Steelers 4-1 Hull Stingrays

Liam

Got an opinion?

@IAmMcCausland
@TomWalkeden
@AwkwardGinge
@FrozenSteelBlog

Fans Of Steel: Jason Ward

Our latest fan to step up to the plate is Jason Ward, GB international athlete! Look at us getting all famous. Find yourself here, fill in the questions and send your answers to frozen.steel.91@gmail.com

Wednesday 1 January 2014

Fans Of Steel: Helen Bolton

In this new feature we highlight the people who really matter at the Sheffield Steelers: the fans. Here, 17-year veteran Helen Bolton takes the spotlight.