Thank you to Robert Newbolt for
his contribution to FSB, All Credit for this piece goes to him so any queries
you can contact Robert on Twitter @NewboltRobert
The
conclusion to the regular league.
MARCH 1995 (20 yrs)
Wage-cap
spies have run the rule over Sheffield Steelers again. But
finance
Chief Steve Crowther confirmed “Everything is above board at this club as it
always has been.”
The highlight of the season, so far, came on the 25th March.
Nottingham were 5-2 ahead and cruising with twenty six minutes gone in this title decider, and the chips were down. When up stepped Ken Priestlay with five goals to turn the game into a stunning 8-6 victory.
In
that championship decider Priestlay got seven points overall with Steve Nemeth
getting a brace to bring Sheffield back in contention.
Marty
McKay kept his head despite being attacked three times in the first three
minutes.
Les
Millie got the insurance goal to round things of for Sheffield and allow
Steelers to become champions in just two years in the top division.
The
night after was an anti-climax as an exhausted and injury hit team went down
10-4 in Durham.
Even so the Steelers had clinched their first major trophy by a clear six points from nearest rivals: Cardiff Devils.
Nottingham
trailed in third place.
MARCH 2000 (15 yrs)
After
their semi-final opponents in the Challenge Cup had won the league they were
out to claim the cup as well but
Steelers
saw off Bracknell Bees to progress to the Alamo Challenge Cup Final at London
Arena.
They progressed through the play offs with four wins and two draws, the last one being a 5-0 shutout of Cardiff.
The
goals were shared by T. Wynne, Courtenay, McCosh, Ceman and Wilson
MARCH 2005 (10yrs)
Paul
Heavey had arrived too late to affect the league and the team finished fifth
overall, with just 58 points trailing champions Coventry by 19 points.
He
did steer them to the Championship Finals in Nottingham.
It took a near miracle, and self-destruction by Belfast, to get them there though. They only won two of the games but four draws saw them reach the semi-final.
MARCH 2010 (5 YRS)
On 16 March the club announced that fan favourite, league winner and two time playoff champion Steve Munn would return to the club after spending a year playing in the Asia League Ice Hockey
“I have genuinely been saddened by
the results the boys have had,” added Munn, who scored in last year’s 2-0
play-off final victory against Nottingham at the NIC.
“Coming off the two great seasons we
had was always going to be tough and knowing the guys inside the room I know
how much they will be hurting.
“I also know that they will die
trying come playoff time and I certainly wouldn’t write them off, they know how
to win.”
For Steelers’ head coach Dave Matsos, who has come in for some stinging criticism this season, it marks a second pivotal signing in readiness for the 2010-11 campaign, coming a short while after Rod Sarich agreed to a sixth season with the club.
For Steelers’ head coach Dave Matsos, who has come in for some stinging criticism this season, it marks a second pivotal signing in readiness for the 2010-11 campaign, coming a short while after Rod Sarich agreed to a sixth season with the club.
Munn’s return will also add the kind of on-ice presence which Matsos admits has perhaps been missing from his defence this year.
He added: “We have signed a real man,
a leader, a general and I couldn’t be happier to have him back on the ice and
inside our dressing room.
“You can’t describe what he brings to
a team, then again maybe you can when you have seen what we have been missing
this season.”
Unfortunately he was not able, in the short time, to replicate the success and Steelers crashed out of the championships at the knockout stage losing both legs to Cardiff Devils.
There
is not a British Ice hockey atmosphere anything like that of Sheffield Arena,
when it’s full to overflowing.
Saturday 20th March saw an Elite League record of 8,634 people cheering Steelers on to a rousing 8-2 win over rivals Nottingham Panthers for their final home league game. The gate was swelled by the ‘Ron Shudra factor’ the former captain returning to have his shirt officially retired.
The final table with the Steelers
eventually amassing just 55 points a full 22 behind winners Coventry.
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