Thank you to Robert for his contribution to FSB, All Credit for this piece goes to him so any queries you can contact Rob on Twitter @steelersstats
FEBRUARY 1996 (20 years ago)
Steelers Alex Dampier persuaded David Longstaff to join them on loan to the end of the season.
Sheffield Steelers went into their game with Cardiff
Devils (their closest rivals) in mid February knowing a win would set
them up for the title and Ken Priestlay blasted four past Stevie Lyle in
a 34 minute spell to ensure this. When Newcastle held
Steelers to a draw in late February they had gone on a streak of ten
straight wins which saw them within two points off the title. Then
in front of a packed house of over 9000 Sheffield Steelers claimed the league and part two of The Grand Slam, beating Nottingham 7-2.
During this period they scored 55 goals conceding 23 with 8 wins and just one tie.
FEBRUARY 2001 (15 years ago)
Friday February 9th, an infamous day in ice hockey.
Some of most explosive scenes of violence seen in British ice hockey for years wrecked Steelers latest bid to confirm new ownership of the league title last night. Steelers were leading Nottingham 3-1 when aggro broke out on the ice. Barry Nieckar, whose blind side punch concussed Scott Allison, after he (Allison) appeared to cross check Dennis Vial in the side of the head. Vial looked groggy and slipped to the ice as Niecker continued to pound him, the officials declining to step in. Seconds later, Steelers cleared their bench, storming into the middle of the ice, Panthers bench followed suit and every player then took a sparring partner. Like a man possessed Scott Allison climbed over the penalty box plexiglass to join in. At one stage it looked as if Vial butted Nieckar. As a side show Scott Metcalfe beat up Chris Baxter and Adam Smith did the same to David Struch. A glass pane was smashed alongside the Steelers bench, slightly injuring a girl fan. Nottingham goalie Jordon Willis later described the scene as "ridiculous, dangerous, barbaric". It could lead to hefty suspensions for the main protagonists, including both coaches for failing to control their benches. When the dust settled, Steelers lost their poise along with their goaltender, and the match, and the chance to win the league on the night.
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Record Ban: Allison out for 14 games and fined £850. Vial out for 6 matches and fined £750, Coach Blaisdell get 2 matches, and £500 fine after Friday's violent scenes at Nottingham Panthers.
Five cars rented for Steelers players and staff were the subject of repossession action, while the championship stars were training. The latest embarrassment for owner Darren Brown came when a debt-collecting agent representing a car hire company arrived at the Arena stadium. Now the players, who say they continue to play only if they are paid on time, have decided to hit back at their management.
Steelers’ players have discussed a fresh strike plan aimed at turning up the heat on owner Darren Brown. But they decided against going ahead with a playing boycott after an angry confrontation with their team manager and coach. Sheffield captain Dennis Vial says the “feud” between players and ownership should end. "We should just sit down and talk this out. On pay and bonuses, all the players want is what they deserve, no more. We need to get on and play hockey".
Steelers clinched the league title on Sunday February 11th, two days after the Nottingham debacle, with a 6-1 win in London. Average crowds of almost 6,000 watched these league encounters.
FEBRUARY 2006 (10 years ago)
Dennis Maxwell's short lived career at The Star Sheffield Steelers has ended; he flies home to America
on Thursday. The parting of the ways was inevitable after the Canadian
criticised Steelers owner Bob Phillips in The Star last Saturday for
demoting him from his unofficial role as player-coach.
February was a particularly dismal month with Steelers
winning just one game and that was in the Ice Hockey Cup. They were shut
out no less than three times and scored only fifteen goals.
FEBRUARY 2011 (5 years ago)
Possibly the title-defining moment came in Cardiff in the middle of February.
The month previously, Sheffield had got pole position in the League as Cardiff’s record-breaking run of twenty two games came to an end. Back to back games, against their nearest rivals, saw
Steelers run out eventual winners in an overtime game which was settled
by a rare strike from Mark Thomas. This was after Scott Matzka had
equalised a Jeff Legue goal to tie the game at 4-4 and send it to
overtime.
The next night, at the Arena, Steelers saw off Cardiff 5-2 with Robert Dowd getting two goals with Jeff Legue getting the game winning goal. Coach Ben Simon said afterwards “A lot of guys stepped up this weekend, but the hard work has to continue”.
Jeff Legue was scoring at over a goal a game by this time and he scored seven overall in February.
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