Hockey Soapbox - Season 2 Week 4 - Penalised

Now that we’ve seen our team in a Champions Hockey League home game, here’s our latest Frozen Steel Soapbox where we’ll bring you some early views and thoughts from a selection of Sheffield Steelers hockey fans.

It’s time to get on your soapboxes people!

We’ve got contributions from: Nathan Turner, Mark Duell, Andy Roberts, Fergus Wright, Robert Newbolt and Tony from the editors chair. You might not agree with, or even understand, their points of view, but let’s crack on...

Now the initial fire has subsided, what's your take on the HV71 home game?

• Nathan - Will we never learn? To be fair though I thought the lads gave a great account of themselves and taking one or two silly minors aside maybe, just maybe, we could have at least taken them to O/T. No point moaning about the officiating. If we want CHL hockey, that's what we have to deal with.
• Robert - It was difficult to get excited about result as I thought; deep down, it was a foregone conclusion. Either the Steelers didn’t learn much from their trip, or maybe HV stepped it up. I thought the refereeing was ok, though I know a lot of people disagree; it was certainly better than all European officiating.
• Fergus - We are finally getting a top quality league and Sheffield have proven that with quality performances against a top Swedish side, shame we couldn't stay out the box, if we had done then it we could have won.
• Andy - For a good chunk of the game we played well and at various points we were more than a match for HV71. At 2-1 down I actually thought we could get something from the game. That said we once again fell in to the same penalty trouble we have in the previous two games which was disappointing. I know Fitzy got an after the whistle slash, which you need to show it isn’t acceptable, but there are ways of doing that without glove punching to the face which will be an instant 2 min sit down. Christoffer Persson of HV71 showed you can play hard and physical even in the presence of a whistle happy Italian referee. What a hit he made on Nelson (I think it was)!
• Tony – I thought we played OK – we were underdogs so it wasn’t a surprise that they had us pinned down at times. Five-on-Five we created a decent number of chances, and if it wasn’t for some naïve and reckless penalties it would have been close. Still a great experience being in the CHL, but the novelty of losing because we spend too long in the penalty box, and me then shouting in frustration at some of our players has worn off.
• Mark - We simply didn't learn the lesson that cost us so dear in Salzburg. Penalty problems and you can't afford to so in such a competition as the CHL. Sure some calls were soft but we didn't heed the warning.

What did you make of the away fans?

• Nathan - The HV71 fans were incredible. I was kinda wanting to go and join them at one point as their non-stop singing and cheering made me ever so slightly envious. Our fans are capable of emulating what they did but how do you compete against an over bearing P.A. system and the routine childish crap that comes out of it? Drowning out any sort of chant or song at every given opportunity? We've not played a single domestic game yet and I'm already sick of hearing Sweet Caroline!
• Mark - The HV71 fans were probably the best away support I've seen in the Arena in years. Always encouraging their team, a bit zany (seeing them cheer the zamboni was mental) but brilliant. Too many of our fans are just content to sit on their hands and show very little emotion. Support them, make noise, it makes a difference to the team: becomes a 7th skater on the ice in some respect.
• Tony – I enjoy it when we host continental hockey fans. They’re always up for singing and flag-waving, and remind me of the best bits of going to football back in the day. The legacy of our team’s success in the 90’s however seems to leave us with many older fans, and their families, who are less inclined to sing and do things like taunting the Zamboni driver!
• Fergus - The club needs to support the fans by creating a proper hardcores section, that will stop complaints from grumpy lot that sit on their hands as they can sit with others who refuse to chant, it needs to be better than RTB, and take that idea to the next level. All credit to them for their efforts but it is a joke compared to what it should be for the top team in Britain!
• Robert - That was a one-off for them and away fans tend to be more vocal whichever country they come from. So I don’t think anything can be learned or copied.
• Andy - HV71 fans were absolutely superb all night. Loud, friendly and when was the last time the Zamboni got a cheer? It was embarrassing at times that 20-30 HV71 fans were out chanting 4,000 Steelers fans. If only we could get the HOS rocking like several leagues in Europe. At away games we generally make plenty of noise but at home it is different. Is that because everyone is spread around the arena? Do we need to have the noise under the Whitehouse? The Blaze are certainly trying that this year.

Any players worth a shout-out for their performances?

• Nathan - Stand up and take a bow Robert Dowd! Two excellent goals and an all-round excellent performance. If he can keep that sort of form up we’re in for a great season.
• Robert - Performance of the tournament and the game is Ervins Mustukovs, largely because he dealt with so many shots very ably. Robert Dowd seemed to stand out for his shooting ability and Armstrong for his large presence.
• Tony - #21 Mattias Tedenby and #10 Martin Thörnberg!
• Mark - Moose for me. He didn't deserve to have 5 past him. Time and time again he bailed us out. The penalty shot stop was great especially when the shooter was a former NHLer in Tedenby who is usually successful in scenarios like that.
• Andy - Three players I thought had great games on Saturday. Firstly Moose had another great night and for me was our MOM. So glad he has decided to come back to Sheffield. Dowdy has another good game and seems more than happy playing against top quality opposition. Lastly Fretter had a good game showing skills to skate past HV71's defence on several occasions. Just a shame his target finder wasn't quite set on score.

Did anyone pay £7 for their parking, and how full was the car-park?

• Nathan - I didn't pay and I refuse to pay £7 to park in the arena car park. We got to the game at around 6:50pm and it was half full. It'll be interesting to see how it fills out for the first game against the Moggies, but a rip off it is and I for one refuse to put any more money into the Sheffield Arena.
• Tony – Nope. It’s an OK rate for an occasional concert goer, but not an Ice Hockey fixture. Hope they reverse it pronto, or start to offset the cost by giving out discounts against food etc. if you present your parking ticket.
• Andy - Not a chance! Haven't parked in the Arena car park for about 10 years and not planning to start any time soon. First and last pint bought at arena this season too. Wouldn't serve that slop to my non-existent dog!
• Fergus - Car park was pretty full, didn't pay £7 as we already had the parking season ticket (luckily)

Any other news from around the hockey week you'd like to discuss?

• Nathan - Not having much luck down the road are they? 1st one of your most influential and key players leaves and then your starting netminder decides to get injured. Not ideal preparation for the start of the season but that's life! Hope we smash ‘em in that CC game.
• Mark - All teams seem to be finding their feet and gearing up for the big start. However looks like some clubs are worried about early injuries (Panthers and Clan). Could be another tight season ahead.
• Tony – After seeing a few clips of the other EIHL teams in pre-season I wish the league started tomorrow whilst they are still way off the pace! Quite a few players around the league haven’t even arrived, a few are already injured, and as I type Dundee haven’t even played a game. Shame we start with the pointless Cup group – but that’s a subject for a different rant!
• Fergus - Not really, but am interested to find out about the whole 'cheating' scenario Mr Simms has been tweeting about!
• Andy – Can’t think of owt stupider than the 5 quid Clan clappers!

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.
• 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.
• Kevin and Fergus are a Father son duo that grew up watching and playing ice hockey in Europe (mainly Germany) who are both very opinionated and can be heard from block 115. Twitters are @SedgyFergus and @KevWright65
• 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
• Nathan and his Mrs have been going to games since Feb 2014 after getting fed up with football. Another season ticket holder in 115 who tries to get to away games and refuses steadfastly to join in with Sweet Caroline. He’s @NJT75Owl
• Robert is chief architect of http://steelers-stats.com/ 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

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