Three games in the space of three nights awaited Paul Thompson and the Steelers this weekend coming, and it was all supposed to start with back to back games in the SSE Arena Belfast. This was to be the first of the two double headers until it was scuppered today (Wednesday) by the band One Direction leaving hockey fans inflamed. And who can blame them?
Disappointment aside, Giants will still be smarting from their losses over here. They have had decent success in the House Of Steel and quite simply didn't turn up for Game 1. A much closer contest for Game 2 showed us that they are a team we cannot underestimate lightly. However after picking up only one point last weekend against the Devils; they will be keen set the record straight in front of their own fans. Steelers go there with confidence coming back after a successful weekend of their own. Anything could happen..
Last Meeting: Steelers
last trip over the water came in February, and it resulted in an
incredible road win. With a equally clearly injured Geoff Woolhouse
between the pipes due to injuries to both import goalies Frank Doyle and
Josh Unice, few would have expected us to get something. However the
lads tore into the Giants from the get go and went 3-1 up at the end of
the first thanks to goals from Colton Fretter, Mike Forney and Robbie
Dowd - Craig Peacock with the sole Giants goal that period.
Fretter's
second made it 4-1 midway through the second and a few might have
thought that would have read game over but hell no. It simply woke the Giants
up from their slumbers and Nathan Robinson pulled one back a couple of
minutes later. Giants continued to press in the third, and forced
overtime thanks to further goals from Calvin Elfring and Peacock's
second. But cometh the hero 69 seconds into the extra session, Cullen
Eddy finishing off a superb solo breakaway to secure us the points.
Links Between The Sides: Quite a few
to choose from here as we have had a few who have donned the Giants
and Steelers colours. Defenceman Shane Johnson is one, and his number 4
is proudly retired by the Northern Irish team. Also featuring for both
sides are our very own Robbie Dowd and Mike Forney; the latter having
become a Giant after spending last season here on the famous FFR line.
Another who some might forget is Colin Shields who had an ill-fated
spell here in 2012 before going back to Belfast for whom he has now appeared
almost 400 times for. Scott Champagne, "Magical" Mark Dutiuame, Steve Roberts and Mark McCoy
have also served both teams too whilst Rob Stewart had an unsuccessful
spell as Steelers coach in 2004-05 before being relieved of his duties and replaced by Paul Heavey.
Colin Shields: Pictured here celebrating a goal whilst a Steeler
Overall Record: Saturday will be the 131st game between the sides since
the Giants started up in 2000. The first ever game between the sides saw
the Steelers win that one 6-1 in late September that year and that was
played over in Belfast too. Overall Giants hold the better record with
65 wins to 54 and 11 tied.
The Players To Watch: Colin
Shields (Giants) - As mentioned previously, the Glaswegian born winger
has featured for both sides but it's safe to say that he has more
success in Northern Ireland than he did in the Steel City. One thing is
for sure though is that Colin always seem to be on the scoresheet
against us whether it be actually lighting the lamp or providing an
helper for someone else. Very dangerous on the point on powerplays, he
will be keen to put one over us again. Won't you mate?
Tyler
Plante (Steelers) - I think that Tyler is the real key to how we do in
the SSE this weekend. He is going to face probably a great deal of
rubber from the Giants, and it's how he deals with that. If he is in top
form, and face it folks he has been incredibly good so far, this will
give us a way to win. It will then be up to those outskaters
to put the biscuit away. But Tyler's performance is going to be very
crucial indeed.
Prediction: Coming
off a bad weekend double header against Cardiff, Giants are sure to be
fired up for our visit and Adam Keefe will be the inspirational skipper
that he is. He is their flag bearer, the one that makes those around him
accountable for themselves. But Steelers had a good weekend of their
own after that mini-blip of their own so will feel confident that they
can get something out of their trip.
I
am going for a 3-2 overtime win to us despite the Giants being short on numbers, they will have a point to prove to themselves and their fans.
Thanks for reading guys. If you want to get involved please contact us on twitter or find us on Facebook and like us and leave a comment:-
@FrozenSteelBlog
@TomWalkeden
@FrozenSteelMNL
@hockeybhoy
Check out the Frozen Steel Podcast
Check out the Frozen Steel Match Night Talk Show
Or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment