Right then who’s missed me? Come on don’t be shy! I’ve missed you guys too!
So the summer is finished, the ice is all frozen and ready to play on (well most of it) and the team is recruited, along with one suspension before the season is underway (but rules are rules and we just have to get on with it).
Hope everyone had a good summer and I hope you’re ready for 6-7 months of brutal Ice Hockey.
So Gerad Adams has recruited the class of 14/15 and I think it’s time to take my look on it, so here it goes:-
Goaltenders:-
#1 Frank Doyle – G
Super Frankie Doyle, who is returning for his second year on his university deal, and we know we have the second best goalie in the league - behind Nottingham’s Craig Kowalski of course - but Frank Doyle started last season slowly and at first we were like "hang on, what have we got here", thinking that he wasn’t up for job. But then we saw the real Frank Doyle and what a goalie he is, he finished the season with the most shutouts in the league and it’s safe to say that he single-handedly won us the playoffs back in April, not Drew Fata - all he did was score the goal but almost very nearly lost us it. No, it was down to Frank Doyle we won, with some absolutely fantastic top draw saves that seemed impossible. More of the same this season Frank and lets hit the ground running this year.
#33 Andy Jaszczyk – G
Last season’s back-up goalie in place of the injured Geoff Woolhouse, only saw about 5 minutes ice time in the whole of last season away too - Edinburgh in the 10-3 win and at home to Coventry in a 5-2 win, conceding 1 goal up in Edinburgh. I’m more than certain Andy has been signed as an extra body as I fully expect Woolhouse to be backup to Doyle this season, but if Woolhouse is fit this year it allows us to give Doyle a night off - which he didn’t have last season - and I think that is when we would see Jaszczyk on the bench backing up for Woolhouse. I expect Andy to see even less ice time than last season but I do think he is there purely as an extra body, and having three goalies gives your forwards three different things to think about in training.
#40 Geoff Woolhouse – G
Despite Woolhouse missing the whole of last season through injury last season, bringing him back was a no brainer for me as he’s probably the best back-up in the Elite League and deserves another opportunity. I'm just glad Gerad has given him a chance and I can’t wait to see him back on the bench as back-up to Doyle and look forward to seeing him play when we give Doyle a night off.
Defencemen:
#3 Gord Baldwin – D
Well, his season last year was definitely a story of two halves! First half of the season we all called him Bambi for a reason and then we got to the boxing day clash and then he didn’t look back. He was outstanding, one of the top defencemen in the league, showed his class and became a real leader on the ice. He’s your average stay at home defenceman, but he can join the powerplay and also can rack up some points from the blue line. I fully expect more of the same of him this year as he returns for a second year as another player on a university deal.
#6 Cullen Eddy – D
It’s not every day you sign a 25-year-old defencemen straight out of the AHL, he describes himself as a stay at home defencemen but given the opportunity he said he likes to join the rush. We're looking at a lad who hasn’t reached his prime yet, so we’ll be looking at a guy with a still improving game and I can’t wait to see what he has to offer, as I think he’s going to be an incredible player not just for us but in this league. I believe he’s going to bring that AHL quality to the ice and really help the team offensively and defensively.
#19 Rodney Sarich – D
He’s back and he’s one player I’m more than happy to see back. Sarich is returning for a 9th season with the Steelers after a year out, after Doug Christiansen didn’t re-sign him last summer, wanting to go in a different direction. Rod tried to stay fit in case he was ever called upon again. He had other offers from other teams in the Elite League but didn’t want to play for any other team. Now that's loyalty! Hopefully a year out has helped Rod to get rid of some of those injuries he was carrying, but we know exactly what we’re going to get - he’ll put points on the board, whether they're assists or goals as he can join the rush as well as help out on the powerplay. You can’t say he’s not good enough when as a defencemen he has scored 280 EIHL points in 375 games - that’s enough of a stat for me. Welcome Home Rod.
#22 Dustin Kohn – D
Kohn is another player returning for a second year on a University deal, unfortunately Dustin missed 20+ games last season through injury, but when he was fit we saw the ex NHL player on the ice. Yes its only 20 games in the NHL, but still more than a lot of people in this league. Dustin likes to join the rush, can get on the powerplay and is very confident in his own zone. He keeps his own game simple, worries about his own zone first before thinking about anything else, it's good to see him back for a second year.
#44 Mark Thomas – D
Mark Thomas returns for his 10th and his testimonial year. His testimonial is expected to take place around February, but what a servant he has been to the club and he more than deserves this. Mark is a stay at home defencemen, isn’t really one for scoring goals (he’s on a goal draught of about 4 years now since that overtime winner against Nottingham) but he can put points on the board as he likes to chip in with assists and is confident in his own ability. I still believe he has something to offer to the team and can’t wait for his testimonial to celebrate his time at the Steelers. One thing though Mark, take a journey up top for a bit and take a few cheeky shots - time to end that draught I think.
#74 Darrell Hay – D
Our sixth and final defencemen is Darrell Hay, who joins us as a first year elite leaguer. Looking at his stats I’ve noticed Hay puts up some big points for a defencemen as well as using his size to lay down hits and get physical in his own zone. As possibly one of the oldest players in the team, Hay brings plenty of experience and I think we’re going to see that on the ice, especially on the penalty kill and power play. I think he’s going to be a commanding voice on and off the ice.
Forwards:-
#14 Michael Forney – F
Mike Forney joins us after a small stint in Europe already, but having already spent most of his career in the ECHL. He joins Sheffield having scored 222 points in 253 games, now thats impressive. Forney is a fast skater, likes to get on the puck and go at the opposition, he has very good hands and looking at YouTube has a very impressive goal reel. A cracking signing for us I believe, and expect him to put up some big numbers.
#15 Mathieu Roy – F
Right then, the one that no one can pronounce yet! A left winger that I could have seen as captain for the coming season, he led the Florida Everblades to silverware and joins us with 446 ECHL games under his belt, scoring 337 points not including the post season. Gerad seems to have found himself a replacement for either Stefan Meyer or Jeff Legue and I can see Roy being a massive goal threat for our team, as well as a leader.
#17 Jason Hewitt – F
Jason Hewitt, another player that is back for his 10th season for the Steelers. Just like Thomas he will have a testimonial which will take place in the 15/16 season. We know what we’re getting with Hewey, we know that we're getting a forward that will get under the skin of the defence, draw penalties, put a shift in and is more than capable of putting points on the board and helping the team to win.
#18 Jay Latulippe – F
An Ex Devil is next up. Jay was a player you hated to come up against so I’m very pleased that he’s playing for us this year. He’s not the same Latulippe that we saw at the Devils 5 years ago, as while he was in Europe he had to change his style and he benefitted from it, putting up some big numbers in some good leagues, and we can only hope that he does the same for us and carries on where he left off at Cardiff with 60+ points a season.
#20 Jonathan Phillips – F
Re-instated as captain after a year off from the job, Jono is returning for his 9th year on a two year contract which will see him into a testimonial the year after. Jono is everything you look for in a captain; a leader on and off the ice, works harder than any other player on the ice, but is also a good skater with a lot of speed and always puts points on the board - always more assists than goals but points are points and if they're coming from your captain how can you complain? I'm hoping to see him lifting more silverware this season.
#21 Tyler Mosienko – F
Probably the most controversial signing we’ve had in a while, and one that I’m not going to go into as I’m sure we all know what he did was wrong. He knows and I’m fed up of talking about it, unfortunately though his past has come back to haunt him and he is going to miss the first five games of the season due to it, but looking back at the exhibition games I can’t wait to see him in action. He looks a very good addition and his line seemed to click instantly, so that’s a shame that we're going to miss that chemistry for five games but I’m sure come his debut at the arena against the Devils he’ll come out all guns blazing.
#24 Phil Hill – F
We also see the return of Phil Hill, who is going to fit into the third line alongside Hewitt and Phillips also known as the checking line. Hill isn’t known for his goal scoring or putting large amount of points on the board, he isn’t the fastest or the most skilful but he is known for his hard work and determination - something that he will bring every single night. He will play for the logo on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back.
#29 Luke Ferrera – F
Luke Ferrera, a young 21-year-old British forward who we have on a 2-way deal with the Peterborough Phantoms. I had never actually seen Ferrara play until I saw him in action against the Blaze in the exhibition game and for a 21-year-old I was massively impressed - a definite upgrade on Aaron Nell, who let’s be honest was a big let-down last year. Ferrara can skate, is good and very confident in possession of the puck and has got a good shot on him. I hope to see him in a Steelers uniform more than just mid-week games this season but he definitely has a bright future in the sport.
#55 Pascal Morency – F
The guy that was initially entitled “enforcer” - if you can call it that as we then went on to hire guys bigger than him - Pascal will go to those dirty areas and he won’t be afraid to drop the gloves to stick up for his team mates. I think Morency is like Spencer, everyone thought he was a pair of gloves but then last weekend he showed that he really can play, and I’m really looking forward to see what he can bring to the team - but I’m sure we’ll see him protecting Dowdy a lot this year, in my opinion.
#67 Colton Fretter – F
Colton Fretter, a highly rated forward who I think is more than capable to replace the goals we’ve lost from Legue and Meyer, although obviously not on his own with the help of Roy and Forney especially and of course Dowd. Colton knows how to score goals and put points up on the board, he will lead by example and has already said this team has to be successful and it’s the reason he came here - he wants to win. I fully expect Colton to be among the top scorers come the end of the season.
#75 Robert Dowd – F
Robert Dowd, also known as the Golden Boy - which he is! A certain fan favourite, he is going into his 5th full season with the Sheffield Steelers after extending his stay for another two years, and after his first year back in Sheffield - scoring an impressive 54 points in Regular Season and Post season combined (30+24) I expect more of the same from him this season, he skates well with a lot of speed, has fantastic hands and will cause plenty of problems in the offensive zone.
#84 Devin DiDiomete – F
Ex Devils man DiDiomete, a signing on a short term deal to help cover for the suspended Tyler Mosienko. It’s a signing that hasn’t been massively liked but it’s a signing I myself am looking forward to seeing. Not going to lie, he was a donkey a few years ago but Gerad has said he’s not that guy anymore and I believe him. Its time for Devin to show what he really can do. I still expect him to be that same tough winger who plays with a lot of grit and energy, getting into those dirty areas and who knows, if he does well we might keep him on as a spare import for the season.
Well that was boring ;) ha-ha
I think that just about sums that up. Now to wrap things up quickly - my hopes and expectations for the season are simple. I just want us to compete from the first puck drop and really challenge for silverware, as the team that has been recruited, I honestly think is better than what we had last year, and that is without a competitive game being played. I just want us to compete, not start like we did last year. The key to success is consistency and it’s something we didn’t have for large periods of last season. It’s going to be a good season guys!
Remember the action gets underway this Sunday with the Steelers away at Cardiff Devils in the Challenge Cup, after our home opener was postponed due to an Ice Plant failure at the Arena, so the home opener and the banner raising will now be on Sunday 14th September when we take on the Fife Flyers. Don’t forget for live updates follow me @TomWalkeden or follow the Frozen Steel match night live account @FrozenSteelMNL. Match reports return this weekend but it won’t be live until Monday as we are away in Cardiff so need to get home first.
Thanks for reading guys. Any questions or comments please get in contact with the Frozen Steel Team on this article or via Twitter:-
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Let’s Go Steelers!
Tom
@TomWalkeden
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