This morning came the breaking news that of the best, well in many eyes THE best (mine unashamedly being one), British back-up netminders has had to retire. Geoff Woolhouse, who for the last five campaigns has backed up Ervins Mustukovs, John DeCaro, Frank Doyle and Josh Unice so admirably will no longer be putting on his pads on again. The likeable local lad has had horrendous injuries over the last two seasons, and coupled with a business opportunity outside of hockey, means "Wooly" will no longer ice for us.
To the newcomers this might be a surprise, but to experienced watchers of our hockey club it isn't. Frozen Steel now pays it's own heartfelt tribute to the man in number 40. Apologies it's a bit extensive.
Geoff spent his formative years down at Queens Road, like so many local talents. Starting at the age of 7, he progressed enough with his older brother Jon (two years his senior who carved a decent EPL and ENL career as a right shot centreman) and both Woolhouse boys made their U19 dèbuts in the 2000-01 season: Jon aged 16, and the flame haired Geoff aged just 15. However whilst Jon stayed in Sheffield with the Steelhawks, the younger sibling was picked up down the M1 by Nottingham Leopards; aka the Panthers junior team before the Lions. He posted up a decent save percentage of just under 89% in the 11 games he featured in with future Steeler Ben Bliss as a team mate, and Elite League stars such as Phil Hill, Matt Myers and Russ Cowley in opposition. The potential was already there.
The following season Geoff moved up to the next level, and was signed by the Lions as Nottingham continued to nurture his precocious talent. He didn't ice any games that season according to his Elite Prospects bio, but we're sure he probably did: just that the statistics will have been lost somewhere. Lions moved into the EPL for the 2002-03 season and it must have been a tough campaign if the stats are to be believed. It was this season that he got his first taste of national recognition; playing a game for the England Under 20 side. Progress was being made.
In fact it was good enough for Panthers to sign him for the forthcoming 2003-04 season (the first ever Elite League season as it was) as back up for Swede Niklas Sundberg. Geoff made his dèbut, a winning one at that, helping a Paul Adey coached black and gold team to a shootout win over Manchester Phoenix. All in all, he made 9 appearances that season and picked up a winners medal in the Challenge Cup after Panthers had overcome us 4-3 over two legs (3-2 in Steelers home, and decisive second, leg) thanks to an overtime winner from Finn Kim Ahlroos just 53 seconds into the extra period. Team-mates that year included modern day Panthers legend David Clarke, and imports Lee Jinman, Mark Cadotte and John Craighead.
Starting chances came and went as the seasons passed on, but Geoff picked up his second Challenge Cup winners medal in 2007-08 when he backed up Tom Askey as Mike Ellis' men triumphed 9-7 on aggregate against us. The damage had been done in the first leg as Panthers skated away with 6-3 win in the House Of Steel (a game noticeable for Jody Lehman's absence) and despite Steelers mounting a comeback in the NIC: it was just not enough as Ryan Shymr's goal gave them the glory. Corey Neilson succeeded Ellis for the 2008-09 season, and Geoff got more chances as new goalie Davis Parley failed to impress. However, Michel Robinson was brought in at the end of November and the opportunities got slimmer. Geoff knew he needed a new challenge in 2009-10.
When EPL side Swindon Wildcats offered him a starter role for 2009-10, it was the end of nine years in the Lace City. But the dream turned horribly sour when he was sacked by the Wiltshire outfit after 31 appearances. His crime? Reacting with an head butt to Ryan Watt after the latter had clearly agitated him. With Kevin St Pierre between the pipes back in Nottingham, Geoff saw his chances limited as ever but despite the playing 4 out of the last 5 games due to an injury to St Pierre, he left Nottingham for the last time at the end of the season.
2010-11 saw the dream finally come true, he signed for the team he had supported as a boy and it was welcome home as Steelers brought in him as back up to Latvian Mustukovs. Although starts were few and far between, Geoff capably stepped in when "Moose" was rested and picked up his first Elite League champions medal when Steelers pipped Cardiff on regulation wins. Even when DeCaro arrived for the following season, Geoff was living up the billing of the EIHL's best homegrown back-up, registering an absolute staggeringly low 0.91 GAA and 96.8% save percentage in the nine games he featured in. It was a fact not gone unnoticed by then national team coach Tony Hand as he named him in his GB squad for the World Championship qualifiers in Japan at the end of the season.
Although he made only six appearances the following year, again as back-up to DeCaro, he was still proving as dependable as ever when called upon. But 2013-14 proved to be a horror as injuries bit and he was forced to sit the majority of the season out after reconstructive surgery on his ankle. Steelers stayed loyal to him for the 2014-15 season, instilling him again as first choice back-up to Frank Doyle. A freak groin injury sustained in a game against the Sheffield Bears sidelined for a few months until Josh Unice was forced to leave the Panthers Challenge Cup semi-final in mid-February with concussion. Wooly shut them out for the remainder of that game (we were 3-1 down at the time) and kept his place for the next couple of games despite playing injured himself. His stellar showing in Belfast on 22 Febuary when we triumphed 5-4 in overtime was his last game as the groin injury got more serious and the season was over for him.
Which brings to us, the decision made today. He's been one of own, a local boy who did good, The dependability you could always get from him, and a definite fan favourite with his personable attitude. I personally used to love chatting to him, and get him talking about his beloved Sheffield Wednesday as opposed to United whom his godfather (whom I also know) supports. Geoff will always be a character and be welcomed into the Arena anytime. He lived his dream, and we wish him luck in the new direction in his life. All the best Geoff!
The following season Geoff moved up to the next level, and was signed by the Lions as Nottingham continued to nurture his precocious talent. He didn't ice any games that season according to his Elite Prospects bio, but we're sure he probably did: just that the statistics will have been lost somewhere. Lions moved into the EPL for the 2002-03 season and it must have been a tough campaign if the stats are to be believed. It was this season that he got his first taste of national recognition; playing a game for the England Under 20 side. Progress was being made.
In fact it was good enough for Panthers to sign him for the forthcoming 2003-04 season (the first ever Elite League season as it was) as back up for Swede Niklas Sundberg. Geoff made his dèbut, a winning one at that, helping a Paul Adey coached black and gold team to a shootout win over Manchester Phoenix. All in all, he made 9 appearances that season and picked up a winners medal in the Challenge Cup after Panthers had overcome us 4-3 over two legs (3-2 in Steelers home, and decisive second, leg) thanks to an overtime winner from Finn Kim Ahlroos just 53 seconds into the extra period. Team-mates that year included modern day Panthers legend David Clarke, and imports Lee Jinman, Mark Cadotte and John Craighead.
Starting chances came and went as the seasons passed on, but Geoff picked up his second Challenge Cup winners medal in 2007-08 when he backed up Tom Askey as Mike Ellis' men triumphed 9-7 on aggregate against us. The damage had been done in the first leg as Panthers skated away with 6-3 win in the House Of Steel (a game noticeable for Jody Lehman's absence) and despite Steelers mounting a comeback in the NIC: it was just not enough as Ryan Shymr's goal gave them the glory. Corey Neilson succeeded Ellis for the 2008-09 season, and Geoff got more chances as new goalie Davis Parley failed to impress. However, Michel Robinson was brought in at the end of November and the opportunities got slimmer. Geoff knew he needed a new challenge in 2009-10.
When EPL side Swindon Wildcats offered him a starter role for 2009-10, it was the end of nine years in the Lace City. But the dream turned horribly sour when he was sacked by the Wiltshire outfit after 31 appearances. His crime? Reacting with an head butt to Ryan Watt after the latter had clearly agitated him. With Kevin St Pierre between the pipes back in Nottingham, Geoff saw his chances limited as ever but despite the playing 4 out of the last 5 games due to an injury to St Pierre, he left Nottingham for the last time at the end of the season.
2010-11 saw the dream finally come true, he signed for the team he had supported as a boy and it was welcome home as Steelers brought in him as back up to Latvian Mustukovs. Although starts were few and far between, Geoff capably stepped in when "Moose" was rested and picked up his first Elite League champions medal when Steelers pipped Cardiff on regulation wins. Even when DeCaro arrived for the following season, Geoff was living up the billing of the EIHL's best homegrown back-up, registering an absolute staggeringly low 0.91 GAA and 96.8% save percentage in the nine games he featured in. It was a fact not gone unnoticed by then national team coach Tony Hand as he named him in his GB squad for the World Championship qualifiers in Japan at the end of the season.
Although he made only six appearances the following year, again as back-up to DeCaro, he was still proving as dependable as ever when called upon. But 2013-14 proved to be a horror as injuries bit and he was forced to sit the majority of the season out after reconstructive surgery on his ankle. Steelers stayed loyal to him for the 2014-15 season, instilling him again as first choice back-up to Frank Doyle. A freak groin injury sustained in a game against the Sheffield Bears sidelined for a few months until Josh Unice was forced to leave the Panthers Challenge Cup semi-final in mid-February with concussion. Wooly shut them out for the remainder of that game (we were 3-1 down at the time) and kept his place for the next couple of games despite playing injured himself. His stellar showing in Belfast on 22 Febuary when we triumphed 5-4 in overtime was his last game as the groin injury got more serious and the season was over for him.
Which brings to us, the decision made today. He's been one of own, a local boy who did good, The dependability you could always get from him, and a definite fan favourite with his personable attitude. I personally used to love chatting to him, and get him talking about his beloved Sheffield Wednesday as opposed to United whom his godfather (whom I also know) supports. Geoff will always be a character and be welcomed into the Arena anytime. He lived his dream, and we wish him luck in the new direction in his life. All the best Geoff!
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