Welcome to the third and final part of my player by player end of season assessment. In Part One, I looked at the netminders and defencemen. Part Two saw me look at the forwards from Mathieu Roy to Jonathan Phillips, and now in this final instalment sees me to cover the remaining forwards from Jason Hewitt to Phil Hill and Liam Charnock; both who featured in last season's CHL campaign.
Sit back and read on..
FORWARDS Pt. 2 (Hewitt to Hill)
Jason Hewitt - The British
Bulldog was the recipient of well awarded testimonial last season and proved to
be his usual rink rat self when winding up opponents. But then again; we wouldn’t
have had Hewy any other way. Although at times he was playing as a fourth
liner, Jason continued to give his all for the club that has been a massive
part of his hockey career. Like his captain, he picked up a fourth Elite League
winners medal in 2015-16 and then surprised us with his decision to hang the
skates a few days later. He will be seriously missed in orange. Good luck with the
new off-ice career mate.
Jeff Legue - The club’s
record Elite League points scorer enjoyed a bit of a revival since coming back
to the team halfway through the 2014-15 season. Whilst he’s a bit older, Jeff
seems to have a habit of finding crucial goals when it is needed. Some didn’t
want him but when you can call upon a man who has set a number of EIHL records
for us; he’s as useful as anyone on the roster. Like Jason Hewitt, Jeff called
it a day on the same day as the former and leaves as he ended his first season
here: an Elite Champion.
Luke Ferrara - Signed as
one to watch for the future in the latter part of the 2014-15 season, Luke
continued to develop well in his first full season at the top level. He didn’t
let the team down when called upon and has been rewarded with a new two-year
extension which should, after the retirement of Jason Hewitt, see him benefit
from more increased ice time. Definitely looks at home at Elite League standard,
and you can see him being a full GB international if he carries on progressing.
Already a two-time Elite League Champion at just 22; he has a big future ahead.
Mike Duco - Signed with
a reputation of being the offensive policeman, despite his lack of inches,
whilst Zack Fitzgerald sorted out the other end of the ice in front of the
Steelers goal. To be honest, he showed some decent touches but overall proved
to be a disappointment and eventually was gassed well before the halfway point
of the season. Ollie Betteridge of Nottingham won’t forget the pummeling Duco
gave him though in the game in the Arena though.
Guillaume Desbiens -
Duco’s replacement, and to be honest the team benefitted from his arrival. He
provides power, presence and professionalism which is what you would expect
from such an experienced campaigner with over 400 AHL games under his resume. An
absolute warrior of a guy who will stand up for his team mates when needed, and
hard as nails so much he played in a full cage and with a broken jaw after
Boris Valàbik’s callous act late in the play-off quarter final first leg. He’s
back for a full season next year which is a bonus. A great mid-season pick up
by Thommo.
Conny Strömberg - When
Thommo swooped to sign this 40 year old after Fretter broke down with injury
again, many thought what was he thinking of. But Conny’s experience proved to
be absolutely invaluable. The powerplay looked a bit more confident and
threatening, probably down to his input inm training which Thommo alluded to
many times. As for his workrate, he was phenomenal: chasing down pucks like
someone in his early years of playing hockey and creating plays for others to
benefit from just like his fellow Swede Vestberg. It was his assist that led to
the title clinching goal scored by Mathieu in Fife in case you needed proof in
the pudding.
Also involved:
Chris Lawrence -
Gassed by Coventry, picked up by Steelers when Fretter’s injury first happened.
Gangly and definitely lazy if you can put them in the same description, but he
chipped in with a few timely goals in his 17 game spell in Steelers colours.
Finished the season like he did last, as a Panther.
Ryan Hayes - Was supposed
to be the new scoring threat when we picked up him in January from Edinburgh
where he was leading the league points charts but really didn’t seem to fit in
with what the team ethic was about. There were rumours that he allegedly upset
the balance of the room, and Thommo had no option to release him. A flop,
basically.
Liam Charnock and Phil
Hill - Both featured in the Champions Hockey League as Steelers rolled a full
complement of forward lines, but that was about it. Charnock going back to
being a Steeldog and Hill to pastures new in Telford. Charnock certainly gave
it a good shot in his limited ice time and might be one to keep an eye out for,
whilst Hill was his usual unorthodox self but a good body to call on.
So that concludes this three part article, hope you enjoyed it.
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