Soapbox Eighteen - Run-in, Playoffs and retirements

Here’s our eighteenth week’s Frozen Steel blog fan view on some hot topic items.

It’s time to get on your soapboxes for the last time this season people!

Photo : @mickgta

After our play-off defeat it’s a reflective bunch this week, and we’ve got contributions from: Glynn M, Robert Newbolt, Mark Duell, Andy Roberts, and Alan Claringbold. You might not agree with, or even understand, their points of view, but let’s crack on...

Firstly, let’s reflect on your Big Steelers topic of the week – I guessing there’ll be only one subject to discuss…

Andy - Hewey and Leggy retiring. Thats some skates to fill on the PK, the dressing room, and when ya need that all important goal. All the best to them both. Thanks for the effort and the memories over the years! If I see either about this weekend there's a beer for the taking.

Alan - Hewitt and Legue's farewell at the arena and Vestberg getting recognition at the awards night.

Mark - The retirement of two absolute Steelers stalwarts, those being Hewey and Leggy. Both men are Steelers legends from the EIHL and have provided countless of memories which will remain in the club's history for years to come. Would have like to see Hewey get to 1000 EIHL games but alas no. Shirt retirements imminent? Wouldn't be surprised

Glynn - Well the retirement of two long serving legend will be #1 - Two great guys who love this club every bit as much as you and me. It's been their life for so long and if reports are right Hewey might not be permanently retired, I guess we'll see next season if he makes a surprise return to the team but it sounds like that will be a real emergency situation for that to happen. As for Leggy, all those goals, points and game / Championship winning ones at that. Hewey knew his role and he did it to perfection. Yeah it was sad we couldn't see them and the other Champions in the team parade the Trophy at home, but it seems it was their decision after the disappointment of losing the Qtr Final.

Robert – The fact that some fans were annoyed that the team did not celebrate the title win after the Coventry game. Some people felt left out but as was pointed out they were in a no win situation. The players apparently voted not to have celebrations post game and as was made clear only Nottingham celebrate after a loss. After all, the trophy was there for all to see and hold and have their photo taken with during the game. It was only a few years ago that you could not get near a trophy. In my eyes that is far better than any distant on ice celebrations. In any case it would have detracted from the main thing: saying goodbye to loyal servant Hewitt and Legue.

Now, who has been your personal player of the season.

Mark - Tough call. tough call indeed. Even though he's been here now 2 years, and we will have the pleasure of a third next: I'm going for Mosi. The guy has been phenomenal this season, it's a joy to see him play. The man never gives up and epitomes professionalism. What the others would give to have a player like him in their ranks.

Glynn - I'm so torn, Vestberg was so consistent, chipped in with vital goals & assists, he worked his socks of all year. Mosienko was that player who gave 100% every game and again racked up the goals/points. Finally Nelson, what a pickup, he was not supposed to be as good as he turned out from my understanding, Duco was supposed to be the hit, but Levi absolutely nailed it. Yeah he did have a sticky/quiet patch when Dowd was out but overall a great season. Nelson is also is the first Steeler I can remember to ever wear MY number 76, so I'm giving it a 3 way tie! Dessy deserves a special mention but since he came in late I can't give him a 1/4 share of my vote, but maybe next season!

Robert - The stand out payer for me has been Tyler Mosienko, not only for his goals but also for the 100% he gives every game. Without him, when Fretter and Dowd were injured, we would have been sunk as Roy and Nelson were playing injured at that time.

Andy - Tough one this. It's like someone asking me if I prefer Hobgoblin or Old Peculier. Can't split Mosienko and Vestberg. Both have been superb in their roles. Mosienko scoring them clutch, timely goals and never giving less than100% every night. Vestberg with his no fuss, minimal mistakes blend into the background style. Really hope we see Vestberg again next season.

Alan - Levi Nelson. Holy smokes what a run in that guy had. Took games by the scruff of the neck and wound up SO many opposition players. Absolute beast. He needs a contract extension. 2 or 3 years and I'd be doing Daffy Duck somersaults!

What do you think tipped the balance in the final league run-in.

Mark - The fact we never gave in and kept on believing, as simple as that. Championships are won on work ethic, as well as skill, and that saw us home. Was a pleasure to be in Fife to see it happen.

Andy - The game 7 approach to every game after the loss at the HOS to the Devils tipped us across the line. Everyone bought in and got rewarded with the League title.

Alan - Cardiff losing midweek in Belfast before the final weekend, but also us playing games like we wanted to control them and put them to bed inside the first 40 minutes. The performances against Nottingham were huge. Dominated the opening 2 periods of both games.

Robert - The fact that Steelers were able to string five wins together and play consistently well. This was no coincidence as Robert Dowd returned and the others seemed to have shaken off niggling injuries.

Glynn - Glynn - The never say die attitude in those last 5 or 6 games, yeah we got some help from Belfast with that win in the final week at home to the Devils, but we stayed firm and won some tough crucial games (2x Nottingham and the Blaze game in particular). Perhaps we can also give a mention to 1 Direction for giving us the extra night off earlier in the season and the subsequent win in Belfast in Feb!

Tony (Editor) – Big balls. We played consistently all season, had no right to catch the Devils, nor overcome the simple run-in of the Clan, nor the right to finish 10 points clear of the Panthers. No wonder the rest of the league hate us, we’re just like the Energiser bunny that keeps going whilst others falter.

What went wrong in the playoff Qtr Finals

Andy - That's easy...going 5-0 in the 1st leg. Ya can't go that far down and claw ya way back against a team that have been our bogie team all year, especially as it’s their one shot of getting anything from their dismal season. Have to give the guys credit though as they nearly did it, which when I was working my way through the real ales on tap in the Old Windmill, I wasn’t too sure we would. We won the main event so I am not too unhappy. Playoffs would have been the icing on the cake.

Alan - We didn't play for 120 minutes. We played for 90. We spent the first 30 minutes chasing shadows. We simply had NO answer to the speed and the aggression of the Blaze side. Not having Fitzy there was huge. We had no physical presence to clear the crease well and that enabled them to build screen after screen on Pinc. Despite some questionable officiating, we shot ourselves in the foot.

Glynn - Going 5-0 down, and a team that had no answer to Blaze for the first 30 minutes in game one was the biggie for me. (Although the lack of luck/energy in the 2nd period on Sunday to go ahead in the tie after levelling it played another big part.) That final period was ours to take but a breakdown in clearing the zone gave Blaze the lead in the tie again and the rest was just not to be.

Mark – Wasn’t there but the fact we were 5-0 down in the first leg on the road after 30 minutes was a mountain we never seemed to scale. We did well to get it to level but Blaze just kicked on and we had no response: the tank was empty. It's been a tough old season for us, but we have achieved something that others couldn't (unless you’re the Blaze) and that was back to back league titles,

Robert - The title push and those five impressive wins left nothing in the tank for the play-offs. Also I, and many fans around me, felt “underwhelmed by the play-offs after winning the title” so it wouldn't be a surprise if the players had similar feelings too, Yes it would have been nice to do the double but lets not be too greedy.

Tony (Again) - If only Coventry had played this hard in the regular season, then they wouldn't have finished eighth, and we would have had Fife or Dundee - and we were almost perfect against those two. Bloody Blaze!

Crystal-ball time, what are your Playoff Predictions for the three remaining games

Mark - Cardiff will overcome the Blaze, Pansies will overcome Fife, and Devils to win the Final. That's what I want to see happen. Will it happen? Who knows. Fife might shock the entire EIHL and win the whole damn thing. Now that would be a beautiful thing wouldn't it? See you in Nottingham! In a bar....

Andy - I will be at the finals weekend. I feel like I will be walking into bar that just sells IPA and Blonde beers when I walk into the NIC for Game one. Hoping we are going to see some good games this weekend, with the Blaze and Fife making the final. That means it will be a repeat of the CC final between the Devils and the Panthers! Sure Bunkers will make me feel better come Sunday night.

Alan - Nottingham to beat Fife. Cardiff to beat Coventry. Cardiff to win the final and get revenge for the CC final loss.

Robert - I am hoping Fife win it, but I cannot even see them getting to the final which I reckon will be a battle between Cardiff and Nottingham. As we are sharing things out I’d like Cardiff to win but I think they have put everything into the league and are hanging on now, so its Nottingham to win the championship for me.

Glynn - Panthers will win their Semi, and probably the final. I hope Devils win their Semi as I think they deserve another shot at a trophy. I'm not convinced they will beat the Panthers if they do get past the Blaze, but I hope they do. If it ends up a Blaze v Panthers final I'm not sure who I want to win it least, I don't want Blaze to retain it after last weekend's antics (eg Boris), but I don't really want Gary Moran spouting the "Double Winners" rubbish next season, so... #LetsGoDevils

Have a Great Play Offs, see you in Bunkers & other pubs & eateries, Have a great Summer and bring on the Champions League!

That’s all folks. Hope you enjoyed reading our thoughts during 15/16, 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.
• Andy is the big man with the big horn (or VuVuzela if you prefer) who can be found at most home and away games, and propping the bar up afterwards. Andy is @ic3creamman.
• 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
• Glynn can be found @glynnm76 has been watching the Steelers on and off since ‘91. Massive Ron Shudra fan and owner of an EIHL League Championship medal.
• 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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