Change of format from now as part of “The Duell Report”. Instead of covering the Steelers first and then a summary of the other nine Elite League clubs, we are going to change it around.
As of this week, the weekly reports will be based on the Steelers and the Steelers alone; the end of the month one will concentrate on the Elite League itself and the Steelers. I think it’s better for me to compile and hopefully you will carry on reading.
Now for the Steelers analysis, seen through my eyes.
To be honest, I did not attend either of the two games played last week. Not even the one in the en-suite bathroom known as Ice Sheffield. I’ve never been a fan of watching the team play a game there, and I probably will take a lot of convincing otherwise. It’s fantastic for the Steeldogs but for us, I am not so keen on the idea.
The first league game involved a long trek up to Kirkcaldy to face the famous Fife Flyers, they even existed when I first started watching this great sport. Not the easiest barn to win in, but then again is any Elite League rink easy to come away from there with two precious points. Looking at the highlights on YouTube ©, it appeared to be a feisty old game. Mark Thomas (again) being the centre of attention early with a late, yes it was late, hit on that rink rat Danny Stewart which got a little bit tasty and a bit of pushing and shoving about.
Fife took the lead through a well taken strike by Josh Scoon but an equally impressive one by Darrell Hay ensure it stayed level after one. Apart from Phil Hill’s 2+10 for checking from behind, there seemed little to report until Mike Forney’s first ever goal in Steelers colours and Robbie Dowd (yes Mam and Samantha I’ve mentioned him) had us 3-1 up just three minutes or so left in the second - Forney’s being a short handed strike.
Auger made it a one-goal game early in the final 20, and the ever-dangerous Ned Lukacevic had parity restored at 45:20. Game back on! Another Forney goal seemed to be enough but with Regan (not him from the Sweeney) pulled - Jordan Fulton levelled it at 4-4 with just NINE seconds left on the clock. Overtime couldn’t spilt matters so it was down to penalty shots, us going first. Fretter missed but then Super Frankie Doyle denied Bobby Chaumont. Mathieu Roy scored and then enter Mr Doyle again, this time Scott Fleming thwarted. Forney then capped a Man of the Match award with the winning goal and we were successful after a hard thought battle.
With the team only getting in their own beds at 06:30 hours Sunday morning, you would wonder how they would cope Sunday evening. Of the two teams, Fife were the ones that looked jaded. Watching live on the webcast, it was just some sublime hockey from the lads and it appeared occasionally like viewing a training session. If I was Todd Dutiaume, I’d feel very let down by his team. Fretter and Forney both banged in braces, whilst Hill, Deeds, Latulippe and Baldwin chipped in too - Chaumont scoring Fife’s very scant consolation. The biggest cheer though coming at 47:03 when Geoff Woolhouse took to the ice; testament to a very popular guy who had been out over a season with injury.
This weekend and it brings another couple of hard ones, the on-going ice issue meaning we play at Ice Sheffield again on Sunday. Saturday brings a trip to war torn Beirut, namely the NIC, to face the team down the road. Of course that will not be easy, is it ever against them? Then Sunday, league champions Belfast roll into town. Again that will be far from simple. Thomas should return after his one match ban, let’s hope Pascal (Morency) has recovered from his minor concussion too to take part in one; if not both; games.
That concludes it for now, I’ll be back next week.
Yours in hockey, Mark
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