Here’s our twelfth week’s Frozen Steel blog fan view on four or five hot topic items.
It’s time to get on your soapboxes people!
Contributors this week are: Mark Duell, Robert Newbolt, Eric Green (who may have been overdoing the medication again), Phil Beddoe and Bethan (back again after exam leave!).
The normal starting point – What’s your hot topic item from the EIHL this week?
Mark – Cardiff's relentless charge to the title. With both ourselves and Braehead failing to take advantage on the Sunday, Devils are now firmly in the driving seat. They still have that home and home series against us to deal with, but they're now many fans’ favourites.
Bethan - The title race. With teams at the top of the table gaining points one night and dropping them the next it remains a pretty tight, exciting finish to the season. Much more exciting than when one team is the clear winner for a while.
Phil - That second goal in Coventry. Whistle blows to stop play, Blaze continue and score and the goal is allowed to stand despite the whistle having gone. Would love to hear the refs explanation of that one although Thommo didn't seem too impressed with the answer when he asked the question.
Robert - Refereeing. I don’t want to go on about refs, leave that to Alan, but I believe they ought to get more support and not just from the EIHL. Linesmen, Off ice officials, goal judges, timekeepers etc. are all pretty au fait with hockey and could help solve awkward issues, IF the ref lets them. This could be an extra pair of eyes as it does not seem as though technology will intervene very quickly.
Eric - Hey, I'm a decent angler, but whenever I'm fishing, there's always some smarty pants on the bank telling me I'm doing it all wrong. Which is a bit like criticism of the EIHL ref's, who are always doing it wrong - but I know better because I'm a better angler and never go fishing on ice.
After a three point week-end, are the Steelers now back in title contention?
Phil – With Braehead losing we're not out of it yet but we're relying on Clan losing a couple this week and we also have to beat Cardiff in both our last two games against them. It's not over yet but if we finish first or if we finish second this year I'll be happy as it should mean more CHL which was good fun at the start of the season!
Robert - Last week I wrote them off but with Braehead on a losing streak (said they’d have trouble with Fife) everything has swung around again. Even so, I cannot see us overhauling Cardiff especially in the BBT but nothing surprises me in this league.
Eric – Back On? As a passionate Steelers fan, what sort of dumb ass question is that... Of course they’re back on. They were never off. Ask that Irish team - we whooped their asses! Oh wait!! Did anyone think to tell David Simms to mention it to Stewart and the Chav team, as they didn’t get the memo.
Bethan - I don't think so, with 3 recent losses to Coventry, a team we'd really expect to be beating, I don't think we can get enough points to make it count this season. Hoping for one of the other titles still though!
Mark - No, sorry but I don't think so. By the time the soapbox is up I will have done an article which explains why I think we won't retain the title. It would be nice but we are gonna fall short.
Tony – Quick one from me on this question – Statistically we can win it, but we need our top guys to start firing again, and they are cold right now. We are winning by the odd goal, whereas Cardiff are in fine form and scoring freely. Braehead’s title challenge gets such a boost from the conference system that I hope they don’t just sneak it.
Which team / player have impressed most in the last month - who is stepping up?
Phil – There will be people who say otherwise because we are not dominating games the way we were at the start of the season but considering how injury hit the team is I think everyone is stepping up to try and help their teammates out. Hewitt in particular has been excellent recently as has Jono and it's great to see Desbiens back, we've missed his presence on the ice.
Bethan - Jason Hewitt - haven't really noticed him for most of this season, but in the last couple of games I've been to see he's been impressing me more. He's never going to be a top scorer, but he seems to be taking more chances with his increased ice-time, and shooting with more confidence.
Robert - Manchester have impressed all season. Playing consistently short benched they have struggled defensively all season but when Grant Toulmin gets together with the two pocket battleships of Scarsella and Sisca there are usually plenty of goals to be had – ask Edinburgh. I cannot see them making the play offs but it would be just reward if they did.
Mark - Fife and Manchester. Really impressed how these two sides have stepped up their games. Both are still potentially leaky (especially Manchester with their short bench) but they're making a good run as we draw to the season conclusion. It's pleasing to see.
Eric - I have a problem saying the team, so let's say they are just off Junction 26 M1. They have been putting together a little bit of a run, and sneaking up, as only they would. Perhaps they are trying to become a stealth team. Needless to say they're on my radar and we need to shoot them down. I know!!! We can Exocet them using a low level ice pad, smaller crowd and not let any of their troops in... Sorted...
With Edinburgh struggling, do you think they will leave, and if they did how would the EIHL cope?
Mark - I don't think they will leave but if crowds continue to drop, who knows? Would EIHL cope if they did? Yes, enter Uncle Neil with his third team wherever he decides to go location wise.
Bethan - I really hope they don't! For a long time they've been propping up the table, but in the last few years they've really started to challenge the top teams, and they were flying at the start of this
season! Unfortunately they seem to have collapsed in the last month or so, losing almost all of their top players. Maybe it is time for them to step down to a lower league, but I'd really hope the EIHL can prop them up for a little while longer at least.
Phil - Well it would have to find another team to come and replace them if it is to continue with its preferred conference system although Caps have fought through adversity before and I'm sure they'll come through it. It would be great to see the Caps start next season as well as they did this one but maintain it next time (but not against Steelers obviously)
Robert - Don’t think they’ll leave. If, what I hear is correct, they are on a very stable financial footing. This must be down to the fact that they own their own rink and are not overly extravagant. This probably accounts for poor attendances and few top players being attracted and staying up there. If they did leave who would step up, if anyone. And don’t give me that London rubbish!
Tony – Another quickie – I think it also depends on Guildford and/or Telford. Both have the pockets and crowds to be low-level EIHL teams, but seems they like being EPL ‘big fish’ too much. If they wanted in, it would allow Edinburgh to step down and the conferences to be balanced out a little more.
Eric – But how will Scotland survive without their capital? If Scotland no longer exists then no more Glasgow, no more Fife, no more Dundee. Without the Scottish capital, all these teams are also doomed, and England becomes a bigger country with Hull re-appearing as the most northerly team in the EIHL.
What are your hopes for Team GB in the International games in Italy?
Robert - I hope they do well but I have to say I’m not that much bothered, sorry and all that, give me British ice hockey anytime, particularly Steelers.
Mark - Despite missing a few, the squad is a good one and one that can do well. Very pleased to see Ross Venus make it: that lad is coming leaps and bounds. I believe they can do well and get through to the next stage.
Phil - Qualification for the next round is a must but it won't be easy with the players currently out injured. I will be watching with interest.
Bethan - To be honest I've not seen a lot about this year’s international games, but we seem to be missing a quite a few of our top guys - with Dowdy and Murph being the ones that have stood out to me. As always I just hope the boys enjoy their time out there, play good hockey and don't pick up any injuries!
Eric - Well as long as they play hockey and not fishing, and stick to the plan : Don't mention it to David Simms, sink the opposition with an Exocet, and tell everyone they're from a bigger England, then hopefully they will have a good tournament with all the fans in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland supporting them all the way.
That’s all folks. Hope you enjoyed reading our thoughts, and we’d love you to get involved too.
Help set the agenda for next week with your questions, or even better get involved and give your views as one of the panel. We would love different views and different participants each week. Please contact Mark @frozensteelblog or Tony @Disgu15ed, or find us at the game.
- Brief Bios of those panellists you’ve just been listening to in the series so far :
- Alan is @frozensteelmnl for match night updates and @AwkwardGinge for everything else. Has been watching Hockey for many years, and given half a chance will regale you with tales of the London Knights. Catch him on the Breaking the Ice podcast too.
- Bethan represents the younger end of the fan base, after being dragged along to her first Steelers game in 2007 and has loved the team ever since. Follow her on Twitter at @bethan_4
- Eric is a season ticket holder and can be found shouting encouragement to our players and scorn at the zebras alongside three generations of his family in block 115. Views can be found @greenbunch257
- Mark is one of the main men behind the Frozen Steel blog, being the Editor and Podcast pundit, and has watched the club since its inception. Find him at @hockeybhoy
- Phil has been a fan since watching the final game of the London Racers at the Sheffield Arena back in 2005 and has adopted block 106 as his second home. He now wishes he had listened to Elliott Hall and had started watching earlier! Find him on @pbeeodd
- Richard is the big man with the big drum who until recently was to be found leading both the Rock the Block choir and his family in 218. Now looking for a new block to call home, his views, and invites to come join you, can be directed to @CaVaLiEr666
- Robert is chief architect of steelers-stats.co.uk, the go-to guy for Steelers history from days gone by, and the man behind one of the big White House spotlights! Robert is @steelersstats.
- Tony has been watching the Steelers on and off since Tony Hand arrived, and has been a regular for the last eight years or so. Enjoys contributing to the blog with his weekly five things and can be found @Disgu15ed
Thanks for reading guys. If you want to get involved please contact us on twitter or find us on Facebook and like us and leave a comment:-
@FrozenSteelBlog
@FrozenSteelMNL
@hockeybhoy
@Disgu15ed
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Or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com
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