Hockey Soapbox - Edition Nine

Better late never as they say...

We present to you the ninth edition of the Hockey Soapbox, where you the fans - discuss the hot hockey topics. FSB is always after new faces on the panel, so if you want to take part then contact us as below. 

Taking part this week are Mark, Phil Beddoe and Robert Newbolt.

Q1: What was the main talking point of the latest EIHL week?

Phil - What is going on at the Caps?  After a great start they start going downhill then top players start leaving to sign somewhere else apparently having been put on 2 weeks notice. This season looked like we might finally see a competitive Edinburgh team that would compete night in night out but it hasn't worked out that way and it's a real shame.

Mark - Rutherford's ultimatum maybe which forced his move through to the Giants. But I'm going for Dundee's new goalie signing of former Vipers and Blaze goaltender Trevor Koenig. Koenig might be 41 now and we will soon see if this proves to an inspirational signing or a huge mistake.

Q2: What do you think of the rest of the EIHL reaction to us apparently poaching Ryan Hayes?

Mark - It's ridiculous to be honest. Hayes was unhappy, he wanted a move and Caps knew they were going to lose him for nothing unless he stayed in the EIHL. Notice how nothing was said about the Rutherford departure but if he had joined us then the hoo-ha would have started again. Everyone thinks it's our fault, if only they read the truth first...

Robert -To be expected. Its all gone quiet now anyway, but I didn’t hear a murmur from anywhere when Rutherford signed for Belfast.

Phil - As expected to be honest despite Hayes apparently leaving with the agreement of Emmo (unlike Rutherford who barely anyone complained about despite him apparently giving Emmerson an ultimatum forcing his coach to let him leave).  Things are always different when it's the Steelers involved it seems...

Q3: Who's your player of the season so far?

Robert -Levi Nelson closely followed by Tyler Mosienko. Their styles differ enormously but they are both effective. Especially like Mossy for his ability to hold onto the puck, thus running the clock down in pressure situations.

Phil - Mosienko, he's like the energiser bunny of the club skating rings round opposing players, never taking a night off and always giving it the full beans!  Get him signed up for another 2 seasons so no other team can nick him please Thommo!  Those Belfast commentators sure were big Mozzy fans on the two webcasts and rightly so in my view.

Mark - Obvious choices are Nelson and Mosienko; both seldom have a night off and I just love seeing them play for their 100% commitment every shift they take. But I'm going for Zack Fitzgerald myself. Eyebrows were raised by many when we signed but he's been an excellent addition. He can actually play some good hockey despite being noted for the fists. The kids love him and he's the perfect club ambassador on and off the ice. 

Q4: When Fretter is fit, we're going to have a glut of import forward options. Whom would you sit out?

Phil - No one in particular. I suspect Thommo will tailor it according to the team we are playing taking into account any niggling injuries that the team may have at any given time.

Mark - With the unfortunate injury to Desbiens I reckon PT's decision has been made a bit easier for the time. Fretter's injury has come at a very unlucky time too, particularly when he was playing exceptionally well. I hope he's back for the final few weeks of the season and finishes on a high.

Robert - I don’t think this will be a problem because I can’t see Fretter playing much for the rest of the season. Think PT will alternate between Hayes and Stromberg for import quota until Stromberg’s time is up.

Q5: Which is the worst performance you've seen us in?

Mark - I'm going back to 2011 for this one. Losing 7-1 at home on a Wednesday night in January to Cardiff. In Ben Simon's words: "We stunk the place out!" - he wasn't far wrong and Craig Weller (whom I would have loved to see in our team) was absolutely imperious all evening.

Robert - Any game with Coventry Blaze in it. They play so defensive and lack ideas up front, that the Steelers appear to get sucked in to their game and always have trouble breaking them down which doesn’t produce a very watchable game. Its not only Stewart but the whole defence seem to collapse in front of the net. Perhaps our defence could learn from that.

Phil - I try to forget those and concentrate on the good ones!

  

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