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The month of October is always an interesting one, especially for fans.
There are sometimes changes to personnel around this time, and not just players, after everyone has had chance to settle in. A full month of ice hockey has gone and some players and staff do not come up to expectations. Some, usually imports, have trouble adjusting and combining many new things so the powers that be feel it is in their, and the clubs, best interest to consider some alterations.
New faces need to be introduced to make up any shortfall and so a plan ‘B’ has to come into effect. This has been true through all the years, the first season I look at, 1994/95, was no exception to this.
OCTOBER 1994
Steelers all time top goalscorer Steve Nemeth, the top scorer and stalwart from formative years is brought back to the Steelers, after new import Paul Jackson was sacked by the club, coach Dampier admitting that the scoring partnership of Jackson and Ron Handy – who had smashed scoring records in the U.S. – was not suitable.
So, Nemeth was brought back, determined to prove the club wrong.
In the British Premier League they maintained a one hundred percent record winning, three games at home and three way and scoring 45 goals to just 17.
The month, hockey-wise, was a success beating the likes of Durham Wasps, Edinburgh Capitals, Basingstoke Beavers, Cardiff Devils, Bracknell Bees and Fife Flyers in the league and despatching Humberside Hawks in the Benson and Hedges Cup.
One of these games, the 5-3 defeat of Cardiff, was my debut game (gosh, I was once a steeler virgin) as I swapped the rainy terraces of football for Sheffield Steelers. I recall thinking ‘surely that’s a foul’ as a player checked someone.
Their record for the month read won 7 lost 0 drawn 1.
OCTOBER 1999
Sheffield Steelers hosted the Continental Cup this year but they played inconsistently and a French goal 16 seconds from the end gave Angers a surprise draw 4-4. The next night Steelers regained their self respect and gave themselves an outside chance of European glory with a plucky display against a skilled Norwegian side Storhamar, which finished 3-3. Steelers recorded a famous victory and sweat revenge against Avangard Omsk of Russia the team that beat Sheffield 5-1 last year were well beaten this time 4-2.
Earlier this month, they crashed out of the Autumn Cup to Manchester losing their home game 3-2 after drawing in Manchester.
Their record was four wins and three defeats until the end of the month, then after a horrendous 10-2 defeat in Bracknell, Steelers coach Don McKee was fired only 12 games into the new season. McKee paid the price for the big defeat and inconsistency throughout the season so far. It was a bold decision by Steelers with no replacement in sight until next month.
Their record for all the games of that month read: Won 5-Lost 5-Tied 3 Goals 43-45
OCTOBER 2004
Norton Lea was ready to quit the club after a scathing attack on his leadership by club captain Dion Darling. Darling lists a catalogue of complaints against the club but 77 year old Lea defended his stewardship of the Steelers who had had one of the most successful spells in the club’s history in his three year reign. Darling made claims over
- Poor equipment
- The absence of a doctor to treat injured players
- Bad organisation off the ice
- Unhappy, under performing players.
Darling also claims the star centreman, Mark Dutiaume, quit because he was fed-up with off ice problems at the club.
Norton Lea wwas again willing to discuss the sale of Sheffield Steelers, it was revealed as the championship winning club geared up for the new Elite League season. The ageing tycoon appeared ready to part company with the club in favour of a younger man. Lea was negotiating the sale of the ice hockey club with Chesterfield businessman Gary Apsley. The 41 year old father of two had been in secret talks with the millionaire owner for weeks. No details of the possible deal, worth around £300,000 were forthcoming and Apsley, a construction project boss, was not available for comment.
Steelers did not travel well that month, losing all three league games plus a Challenge Cup game at Coventry. They won their four home games, but only two of these were in the EIHL, the other two being Challenge Cup and Crossover Cup games.
In that month they were W5 L4 Goals 20-16
OCTOBER 2009
The Sheffield coach, Dave Matsos, prepared one of his most punishing training sessions of both pre and regular season as a gesture of his contempt at the recent form. Matsos knew the recent contract extension he signed with Steelers management wouldn’t be worth the paper it was written on unless his team started winning matches.
For the first time since he joined the club, taking them to a glorious double winning championship last year, he was talking about the fragility of his position.
In the early part of the month a novel Hockey Fest or 20/20 tournament was begun.
Ex Newcastle Viper goalie Andrew Verner was brought in to replace the injured Kevin Reiter (hurt on the eve of the tournament) who was sidelined for an estimated two months with a groin strain and hernia.
Also ex-AHL Defence man Stephen Wood was brought in to replace Scott Basiuk who was also out with an injury. Matt Hubbauer was the third new face to be introduced: a Centre who played the last three seasons in the German second tier would replace Jeff Hutchins, released by the club after joining in the summer.
They did well in the new tournament, a brief respite from the league, being winners throughout. In the inaugural game of this cup they beat Hull Stingrays 5-1, going on to overcome Welsh opposition in the semi final and finally capping it off with a 3-2 victory over Coventry Blaze.
I remember being confident at the outset as Steelers always won their first game in anything new.
Then it was back to reality. In the league their dismal form continued only losing all of their league games.
In the Challenge Cup they did only a little better, back to back games against Newcastle saw them coming out on top twice but at the end of this month they suffered a humiliating 6-2 reverse at Edinburgh Capitals.
Their record, without the 20/20 games read Won 3-Lost 5 goals 26-27
For anyone going to a game remember, even if the game is rubbish its probably not as bad as it was five years ago.
Robert Newbolt
@NewboltRobert
@FrozenSteelBlog
@CausyFSB
@TomWalkeden
@FrozenSteelMNL
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