Week 5 of The Elite Report

Another exciting week in the Elite League just gone by, and once more some quality hockey played. The teams are starting to settle down and some patterns as regards who will be challenging and who won't are slowly taking shape. Remember this is my own personal view so if you disagree then that's fine, I can't go around pleasing everybody out there.

Two of the league's hot teams locked horns at the Sheffield Arena last weekend when the Steelers and the Belfast Giants faced off in a double header of games there. Yet on the Saturday night, it was the Giants who were feeling rather embarrassed as Steelers routed them 6-1. The home side literally tore into them from the get go and it was 5-0 by the end of the second, Derrick Walser's anger was plain to see as he chewed moodily on a polystyrene cup. Giants did share the scoring in the third but the damage had already been done. As for Colton Fretter's goal, you will struggle to see a better one all season..

Fast forward 24 hours, and probably after a few harsh words in that away locker room, the teams played Game 2. Giants for the first period, were fully deserving of their lead even if again it came on a 5 on 3 play. They looked a bit more organised and more akin to what we were expecting. Yet Steelers dug in deep and in particularly Tyler Mosienko and skipper Jonathan Phillips led the fightback. As soon as Steelers took the lead, Giants again were left playing catch up which they simply couldn't find a way through the home defence. Frustrations eventually took over for Giants and for Mitch Ganzak, Craig Peacock and skipper Adam Keefe it really boiled over - Ganzak's anger seeing him pick up a one game ban for his troubles.

This Saturday sees Steelers take on their arch rivals Nottingham who are equally in as good form as the home team. Corey Neilson's team are really starting to click and a four point weekend is testament to that. Panthers hit six without reply in the first two periods against a hapless Coventry side before the Blaze hit two of their own for a bit more respectability. Like the Steelers on Sunday, Panthers did exactly the same in Altrincham: coming from behind to win against the spirited Storm.

Coventry's woes continue with another blank weekend. After that beating in the ever so fabulous NIC, they were defeated by a single overtime goal by Clan's former NHLer Ric Jackman in a game that was apparently as dull as ditchwater. Jackman's winner snapped a five game losing run for Ryan Finnerty's men which will be welcomed as they return home this week after Disney On Ice had claimed their ice. For Chuck Weber and the Blaze, the problems mount and they have released former Panther Chris Lawrence whilst bringing in Jordan Pietrus. Results need to change soon otherwise Mr Weber himself could be the one looking over his shoulder.

Andrew Lord's Devils enjoyed another good weekend with a maximum haul at the BBT over two nights. First of all, they overcame the ever improving Dundee Stars by the odd goal in five before shutting out Riley Emmerson's Capitals with four goals in the final 40 minutes. Emmerson will take heart from his team's performances last weekend though, a good 6-2 win over Gardiner Conference rivals Clan in the M8 derby followed by a decent first 20 in the BBT. The signs are there Riley that your team is slowly starting to buy into your hockey philosophy - good on you mate.

Manchester continue to work hard but only had a single point to show for their efforts. That came in a shootout loss in the "Auld Barn"; namely Fife but as stated above - they again led Corey Neilson's Panthers before succumbing to a 4-2 home loss. The lack of depth of such a rapidly assembled squad seems to really hurt them especially in the third periods of games against the league's powerhouses. Which is a shame but I am sure better things are around the corner for Omar Pacha's men.

Dundee had a split weekend again which shows they are heading slowly in the right direction and are a much tougher proposition than they were last year. Losing by a single goal at the BBT is very creditable indeed. The good sign for Marc LeFebvre is that they are winning at home; which helps. Consistency away is what they lack. Fife are in a similar position, and it makes the Gardiner Conference all that bit more interesting.

Well that's my take on the latest week of action. I'll be back again next week with a few more thoughts. Enjoy your hockey!
 

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