Here’s our seventeenth week’s Frozen Steel blog fan view on some
hot topic items.
It’s time to get on your soapboxes people!
It’s an excitable bunch following a four point week-end, and
we’ve got contributions from: Phil Beddoe, Glynn M, Robert Newbolt, Mark Duell,
Andy Roberts and Eric Green (who’s doing some blue sky thinking this week). You
might not agree with, or even understand, their points of view, but let’s crack
on...
Normal start point – What’s your hot
topic from what you saw this week in the Elite league?
Mark - The
fact the title race is still undecided makes for an interesting final weekend
of action, and to be honest I wouldn't have it any other way. Devils edged past
the Giants in two close-run games; whilst we did we had we had to do too. The
odds are still probably in the Devils favour, but we have given ourselves a
real shot should they crumble.
Glynn -
The Title race. An exhilarating Saturday night in Nottingham (and I’m not just
talking about Me & Ginge in Hooters beforehand, and Bunkers afterwards #PracticeForPOFW) . The game itself had
everything, a 3-0 lead, a fight back, a heavyweight tussle, and finally an
Empty Net Goal. It was yet another great Steelers night at the NIC, but then could
we grab all 4 points and score half a dozen past Stewart the following night?
Yes we could... for a change! Yes the
Devils took 4 points too, but I saw the end of that game and they looked
rattled by the Giants. Hopefully they will drop a point or two on Wednesday -
Fingers Crossed.
Phil - A
big round of applause for the liney who escorted Valabik off the ice on Sunday
when he wouldn't leave. The liney barely
came up to Valabik's shoulders but conga'd him out of the rink quite well. Best thing the officials did all night ;-)
Andy - I
would like to know why Panthers fans were in block 1 on Saturday? Things then
escalated and it ends with several stewards/security people handling an elderly
couple out of the arena. I hope mixed blocks at the NIC are not going to be the
norm in the future.
Robert
- Not really a hot topic, more of an observation. Are Edinburgh going for a
record in losses, or goals conceded? Twenty three goals against and only
scoring four in two games is dire, as is only having thirty shots - no wonder
Chubak decided not to go in goal this weekend.
Eric - "Hot
Air Ballooning". Now normally in this sport you may have a
"hare" that takes off first, followed by "the hounds" the
idea being the hounds follow the hare and try to land as close to it as
possible. Well after a 4 point weekend I think we have become the
"hare" but as yet the hounds are all falling by the wayside. First
hound: Panthers, as usual all the early hot air ran out before the finishing
line; as for the second hound: Cardiff, well I hope they deflate on
Wednesday...
Who, or what, gave us the edge over
Coventry this time?
Robert
- The play in front of Stewart by Roy and Desbiens gave O’Connor the
opportunity to rifle two early goals past an unsighted Stewart. This was the
difference from other times we played the Blaze. Roy is looking more like his
old self and his crowding of the netminder always pays dividends. However, it’s
a good thing O’Connor scored because defensively he’s a total mystery to most
people. And not to disappoint, (sorry Mark) but I did think Pinc nearly let Coventry
back in it with the third, but it wasn’t just him as the whole defence grew
very static after their second goal.
Phil - We
did what we should have done every game before this one which is to get under
Stewart's skin. Once he started losing composure, having a go at his D and the
home fans we knew we were in with a chance of this one. Also, despite a couple
of defensive lapses we gave it full beans all game and got a result because of
it. Should we be worried about winning
the league if it means we play Blaze again in our playoffs opener? Not if we play how we did on Sunday.
Mark - We
got in Stewart's face, we got him rattled. You only had to witness him smashing
his stick in anger to have proof of that. One of our "fans" claimed
he was injured, he wasn't - we just did what we have wanted to do to him all
season and get him to throw his teddies out of his pram. That and donkey
Valabik's indiscipline cost Blaze dear in the end.
Glynn -
Probably those bullets from O'Connor, and our forwards crowding Stewart a lot
more. It just looked to me that the Steelers knew it was a must win game and
after the win in Nottingham they were really up for it
Andy - Several
things were a factor to our win against Blaze. We shot high, moved Stewart
about and got up close and personal with him. The crowd played their part
getting on his back and in his head. Where has that arena atmosphere been for
most of season? More of the same please! We played at a high pace and were much
more direct going forward and didn't give Blaze time to set up.
Eric - What
gave us the edge? Easy we listened to a little bloke called "Pinc"
who told us to shoot high and we would finally shake a six foot five tall bloke
off our back. I wonder why Thommo didn't listen to the small bloke before now. That and shooting on the power play, sure
"popped" Stewart's balloon. Or was it "Valad the destroyer"
that also helped us get those goals?
Did Darnell lose control, or given the
excellent game we saw, did he judge the flow just about right?
Andy - Not
my favourite Tom Darnell performance. I wasn't sure what he was going to call
and not call. Fans got on his back with the Fitzy call. In fairness the call
was correct. For me it was the 2-3 blatant calls just prior that he didn't call
that got my back up. I understand he is trying to let the game flow and to be
honest I am all for that. It provides a more entertaining game but there are
some calls that just have to be made otherwise you teeter on the edge of
possibly losing control.
Robert
- In a tighter more feisty game it could easily have got out of hand. It’s
alright letting the game flow but there comes a time when authority is needed
or players take it upon themselves. As an example take the retribution sought
by Fitzgerald for the attack/slash on Mosienko. How no penalty was given is a mystery,
perhaps Darnell missed it but someone on the ice must have seen it, not just
those 5,000 spectators!
Glynn -
Didn't see too much wrong with Darnell on Sunday. Saturday however the 5 on 3
he gave the Panthers was dubious and Panthers 2nd goal should have been wiped
off for goalie interference. (Simmsey has since said on Periscope that Darnell
has reviewed & now agrees should have been disallowed).
Mark - Not
one for having a go at referees really, and Darns (he's a good bloke off ice
too) is the best stripey we have in the country. But yes he missed some calls as
he's only human. He allowed Valabik to get away with ragging Levi around the
neck though, some would have punished that. Was a cracking game mind.
Phil - I
think Darnell's intention was to let the game flow although for me he let the
Blaze get away with way too many holding and hooking plays. Even Stewart deliberately went for one of our
guys who was skating round the net and nothing called there either, but I guess
it's all about finding a balance. Call
too much and it effects the game, call too little and it turns into a free-for-all
but luckily last night didn't descend into chaos.
Eric - Did
Darnell lose control? Maybe! But it took me 2 periods to realise he hadn't got
his dog or stick with him. How many times Tom! For goodness sake man, always
bring them when attending the Arena! As for judging the flow! Well the way he
was chucking the puck around before the start of the 3rd, I think he was trying
to ascertain "which way it was flowing". Ask the dog next time Tom.
Will Nottingham dictate our fate this
weekend, and does that worry you?
Phil - Nottingham
don't worry me. If we lose the title it won't be down to dropping a game
against Nottingham, it'll be our inability to beat the Blaze (and for that
matter the Caps at times) this season.
We know we can beat the Panthers at the Arena when we play well so let's
get to it! We have no control over what Cardiff do but I'll definitely be
silently hoping for a Panthers win against the Devils on the Sunday! Now just need the Giants to win on Wednesday.
Come on Agent Forney, help us out and we'll let you off leaving!
Robert
- It doesn’t worry me because I think all teams in play off positions will want
to win to gain momentum for the close season.
I don’t think it will matter anyhow as we will win in Fife. (I hope)
Glynn -
Nottingham do have a big say
on where the title ends, which is a worry as I can't see them going to IAW and winning
in Cardiff on Sunday. Obviously we need Devils to be beaten by the Giants
midweek and make sure we take control of both our remaining games at the
weekend, including the one against the Panthers of course.
Mark - .
Of course they do, but we just have to do our jobs. It doesn't concern me
though, you can only beat what is put in front of you and if it means beating
them en route to another possible title then let's do it. They are no great
shakes, we proved that this weekend. I can't see them providing much resistance
on Sunday in IAW, but stranger things have happened.
Andy - Nottingham
are going to be a big factor in where the title ends up. There is no way they
are going to roll over on Saturday against us. Messers Moran and Simms just won’t
allow it. I am hoping they want to be the first team to beat the Devils in
their new home. With a bit of luck the Giants will do their 1 job and get a win
on Wednesday.
Eric - You
bet your sweet oxygen bottle they will , having run out of puff early, I pretty
damn sure Neilson and his team of hot hairdryer's would like nothing better
than blow us back to the hounds....
Will you twitter, or web-stream, or sit
on the loo this Wednesday for Giants v Devils?
Mark
- Twitter hockey for me, refresh refresh...
Glynn
- I will almost certainly be watching the Giants v Devils game on the Webcast.
I think it's probably going to be one of the most watched Webcast's in EIHL
history, with many Devils, Steelers and a few other teams’ fans watching (Most
neutrals cheering on the Devils I suspect!). Let's just hope this number of
viewers doesn't crash or slow the stream. LetsGoGiants !!
Phil
– Yes. Twitter or webcast, not decided yet.
Andy
- Wednesday I will be in doughnut heaven. Maybe that big doughnut Valabik can
visit and keep me entertained. It will be a glance at whatsapp on my break kind
of night.
Eric
- Me! I'll be sat on the "khazi" for a number of reasons a) I don't
like heights. b) if I do have to go to dizzy heights, I want power not gas. c)
at my age I can't run as fast as a hare. And finally if we lose this we will
all need a big gasp of my "laughing gas" to get over Cardiff landing
first. Evenin all.....
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
@FrozenSteelBlog
@FrozenSteelMNL
@hockeybhoy
@Disgu15ed
Check out the Frozen Steel Podcast
Or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com
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