Hockey Soapbox 16 - Clutch, Clan & Moran.

Here’s our sixteenth week’s Frozen Steel blog fan view on some hot topic items.

It’s time to get on your soapboxes people!

It’s a full house this week, with contributions from: Phil Beddoe, Glynn M, Bethan, Robert Newbolt, Mark Duell, Andy Roberts and Eric Green, so let’s get straight into it.

What’s your EIHL hot topic this week?

Bethan -Gary Moran. I'm sure he does a lot of good things, but the guy really gets on my nerves! Lifting the trophy with Clarkey annoyed a lot of people, and I can understand why. At the end of the day all members of the team - the players and the staff, worked towards the trophy. On Sunday though, it was the players who actually won the game, so it's the captain as the representative of the team who gets the honour of lifting the trophy, not the GM.

Phil - Pesky Panthers winning the Challenge Cup in our Arena when we weren't there, grrr...  Must be how Panthers felt when they don’t make the playoff final weekend and had to watch other teams going for it in their own rink without them.  At least if Devils had won I could console myself with the fact that Bownsy is a local lad, but the Devils performance was just not offensive enough to counter that of the moggy's.

Andy - Great to see an EIHL game available to all for free, albeit on the interweb. If only it had been available as a red button option we may have been able to increase the fan base of the Elite League with some 1st time viewers. Next time hey BBC?

Eric - Ok so this week I will start with a fact:- "The Banana does not grow on a tree!" It is, in fact a giant herb... and 7500ish Herb(ert's) attended the Arena game against the Gardiner conference challenger's  "The Fyffe Banana's” (Editor : That would explain the yellow on their kit!). The vast majority of these Herbert's were hoping the Steelers would not slip up. Well I can tell you this, the final score was Fife Two,  Sheffield Fyffe.  Yer see what I did there.... Oh and welcome back golden child... Missed ya!

Gylnn - Steelers wise it has to be the numerous re-signings made of key players. Thommo is really showing his hand very early, but I guess with Season Tickets going on sale these early signings will give fans confidence to stump up their money, safe in the knowledge that at least some of the flair players (Mosi & Dowdy) & Gritty players (Dessy, & Fitzy) join Roy & O'Connor in returning next season. As a whole the Challenge Cup final was the other hot topic, but turned out to be a bit of a Panthers dominated 0-0 chess game until Mosey finally put the Devils (and the Millions at home watching on the BBC website) out of their misery.

Mark - The pictures of Gary Moran, sorry I meant Gary Moron, lifting the CC with David Clarke. The guy is the John Terry of British Ice Hockey. Some slate Simmsey but this tool is the epitome of a douchebag. It's the players moment not his. Perhaps he was trying to brag but it just showed him up for the idiot that he is.

Did you watch the CC final, and what did you make of it?

Bethan - I didn't watch it because I had work to do, but it sounded like the stream wasn't very reliable anyways! Followed along on Twitter for parts - it seems like Bownsey stood on his head for the Devils to keep them in the game. I guess with neither side having the home advantage, and both being stronger at home, it was unlikely for there to be too many goals, but I wasn't expecting quite such a long game!

Phil - Well it wasn't exactly a goalfest but I enjoyed it nonetheless.  Panthers the better team but Devils more than holding their own and Bowns making some great saves, but when it went to OT it never looked like being anything more than a Panthers victory.  Also it turns out watching a hockey game as a neutral is quite a nice stress free experience!  What about Gary Moran not letting the Panthers captain raise the trophy himself though. Let the players who did the work enjoy the win first eh Gary?  Tut, tut..

Eric - Well I certainly wasn't doing much on Sunday, so I thought, "Go on then, how bad could it be not watching the Steelers in the final?". So I pressed the "red button".  Mistake Eric! BIG mistake.

Glynn - I watched it online, it was great being shown on the BBC, and although the Stream quality started poorly it did get better. The game itself was no classic, however Panthers were the better team on the day and got the Trophy back (Again). As for GM the GM lifting the cup whilst also presenting it....Why was he given that job, and why did he feel he deserved to lift it? Probably because he helped secure the win with all the Semi-Final fixture shenanigans!  It would have been great to see his face if he had been presenting it to the Devils though....

Robert - For a neutral it was a good feisty end to end game, but almost spoiled by some very inconsistent and at times baffling reffing. Having said that Cardiff do not seem to be the force they were in the last few weeks.

Mark - No I didn't. I was going to watch it online but I decided that going to the gym and seeing my Mam (since it was Mother's Day) was a better couple of options. By all accounts it was the Ben Bowns show, Swinton's finest! If Ben was North American, he'd be in the AHL as a bare minimum.

Andy - Only watched 1st period and a bit as I had to go to work. It reminded me of watching Geoff Boycott batting in yesteryear both in the excitement stakes and in picture quality. (Editor : Lol – nailed it!)

Which player needs to be ‘clutch’ for us in the next four games?

Andy - I believe we saw our 'Clutch' player return at weekend. I am hoping a little bit of Dowd skill and passion is going to get us through the next 4. Pinc standing on his head wouldn't be a bad thing either!

Mark - Tough call, but I will say Mathieu Roy. We really need Matty to be at his belligerent best and take us across the finishing line. That and some solid defending in front of our Marek.

Robert - Fretter when fit, and Dowd. Plus Legue can always be relied upon to turn up for big games

Glynn - I know it should be someone like Mosi, Roy, Nelson, etc, but the player I really want to be "Clutch" is Pinc. I won't profess to be a fan of his style - but if the guy can keep the Goals Against down (with the help of his Defence), then the more likely it is that we will get the points and ultimately (hopefully) retain the league title.

Eric - Roy! No wait.. Nelson, No, Desbiens! Hang on! What about Vesty.. Maybe his mate, old  Stromberg. What about cometh the game cometh the man! Legue.  Hold it.. Hold it.. I know PINC... Yes PINC...

Phil - Having Dowd back on his line with his best mate Nelson and Vestberg will definitely help us in these last few games as that line has been so good for us this year. So I’d say Dowd because of what he brings to the team, and what he brings out of others that he plays with.

Bethan - Mosi has been really standing out recently and stepping up to fill in for injured players, but I don't know how long he can keep it up. I think we need some of our top scorers to be hitting top form soon if we're to have any success - with Dowdy coming back and linking up with Levi again, hopefully those two can bring us those goals.

Who will win the Gardiner, and can the Clan win their last four against the Storm and Caps?

Bethan - Fife are currently top, with their Gardiner points already nailed to the board - leaving them with just Panthers, Belfast (x2) and the Steelers! The Clan have been on quite a losing streak recently, so they'd need to turn things around if they were to win. (Dundee only have 3 more games, so they can't make up the points they'd need.) I think the Clan will win it – all four games are winnable, and bringing back a title might turn the end of their season around with an easier Playoff Semi-final draw.

Phil - Fife as they have played all their conference games, whereas the Clan have to play the Storm twice and as they are fighting for their own playoff spot I reckon Storm will win at least one of those match ups.  Out of conference I hope Fife also take points from Belfast in their two games against them, and from Nottingham, to take the league down to just us and the Devils but that might be a big ask for the Flyers.  Either way I hope they tire themselves out before we play them again!

Eric - Easy Peasy!! NO... The Storm are the Banana's bestest mates so NO... The Clan will slip up... Got to have an outside bet on Fyffe to win the "Gardner".

Glynn - I think I'd go with the Flyers. I'm not sure Clan will win all 4 remaining games, particularly the Storm games.

Robert - Fife will win their conference because I cannot see Braehead being consistent enough to take maximum points from their games. 

Mark - Yes they can win all four, but Manchester could be the skid again that allows Fife to scoop the Gardiner. Omar won't tolerate a below par performance, and Braehead can be equally inconsistent. It's interesting watching that unfold as well as the actual main title race, and that for 8th place. I still think Fife might get it though, sorry Finner.

Andy - Fancy Fife for the Gardiner title. They have the points in the bag and the Clan are in catch up mode. Whilst there is a glimmer of hope for a playoff spot, the Storm will be hard at it and tough to beat. I fancy them to beat the Clan, which seals the deal for the Flyers.

Seems Thommo follows this blog with Mosi and Desbiens, so who do we want him to sign next?

Eric - Evening Sir, it's an honour to see you read all this Rubbish! It's all done "in the best possible taste" I'm pretty sure Thommo is old enough to remember who's punch line that was. My next signing would have to be Nelson, no wait, Vesty, no wait!!! Oh I don't know. Anyway, come on Steelers.

Andy - My next signing is still the same. Mr Vestberg. Make it happen Thommo!

Mark - Levi Nelson or Fred Vestberg, please. Both are quality players and match winners in their own right. Nelson would be my first pick of the two, and I wonder if Dowdy is having a few words in PT's ears as we speak about having his linemate signed up again. I wouldn't complain if these were signed next, then get the remaining Brits (Roddy included here) locked in before then spending the summer filling the gaps.

Robert - I know people tend to pick forwards but I think the next signing should be a defenceman such as Coyle. As a young player I reckon give him another couple of seasons and pair him with a stay at home defenceman he would be an asset.

Glynn – Like many others, I think Nelson &/or Vestberg, but not sure either will be the next one announced. I recall Simmsey saying something recently (I think of Periscope) about Vestberg needing to go home & sort a few things before he's even in the frame to re-sign. As for Nelson, I think that he will come back and team up with Dowdy again, but until he's signed you never know. I also think from another Simmsey Periscope snippet that we are likely to hear of some fresh blood being signed/announced in the next few weeks, presumably one or more of Thommo's new Brit kids to warm the bench for a season or two as they develop. 

Phil - Nelson and Vestberg please Thommo!  Package deal!

Bethan - Currently we've got 2 D re-signed (Fitzy and O'Connor) and 6 forwards (Jonna, Mosi, Roy, Dowdy, Desbiens and Ferrara). Personally I'd bring Levi back next, with 53 points in 57 games he's contributed a lot this season, and I really enjoy watching him play. I'd also love to see Frets back, but I don't know what's going on with his injuries, and that might be a season too far.

 

 

 

That’s all folks. Hope you enjoyed reading our thoughts, and we’d love you to get involved too. Help set the agenda for next week with your questions, or even better get involved and give your views as one of the panel. We would love different views and different participants each week. Please contact Mark @frozensteelblog or Tony @Disgu15ed, or find us at the game. Brief Bios of those panellists you’ve just been listening to in the series so far :

•Alan is @frozensteelmnl for match night updates and @AwkwardGinge for everything else. Has been watching Hockey for many years, and given half a chance will regale you with tales of the London Knights. Catch him on the Breaking the Ice podcast too.

•Andy is the big man with the big horn (or VuVuzela if you prefer) who can be found at most home and away games, and propping the bar up afterwards. Andy is @ic3creamman.

•Bethan represents the younger end of the fan base, after being dragged along to her first Steelers game in 2007 and has loved the team ever since. Follow her on Twitter at @bethan_4

•Eric is a season ticket holder and can be found shouting encouragement to our players and scorn at the zebras alongside three generations of his family in block 115. Views can be found @greenbunch257

•Glynn can be found @glynnm76 has been watching the Steelers on and off since ‘91. Massive Ron Shudra fan and owner of an EIHL League Championship medal.

•Mark is one of the main men behind the Frozen Steel blog, being the Editor and Podcast pundit, and has watched the club since its inception. Find him at @hockeybhoy

•Phil has been a fan since watching the final game of the London Racers at the Sheffield Arena back in 2005 and has adopted block 106 as his second home. He now wishes he had listened to Elliott Hall and had started watching earlier! Find him on @pbeeodd

•Richard is the big man with the big drum who until recently was to be found leading both the Rock the Block choir and his family in 218. Now looking for a new block to call home, his views, and invites to come join you, can be directed to @CaVaLiEr666

•Robert is chief architect of steelers-stats.co.uk, the go-to guy for Steelers history from days gone by, and the man behind one of the big White House spotlights! Robert is @steelersstats.

•Tony has been watching the Steelers on and off since Tony Hand arrived, and has been a regular for the last eight years or so. Enjoys contributing to the blog with his weekly five things and can be found @Disgu15ed