From The Editor's Chair: Edition 3

Time again to sit back after offer my own personal thoughts, it's the edition three "From The Editors Chair". Views are mine alone, and no way connected to that our beloved hockey club. Disclaimer provided there and then.

Not much for me to talk about this week, so this will not be a long winded rant.

We had just one game to play the weekend just gone and that was the final game in Group P of the 2016 Champions Hockey League first round. To be honest, before game day I did have a bit of trepidation about it and that was me just showing, for once, a bit of nerves. Quite remarkable considering I look as cool as the proverbial cucumber on the exterior before every game we play.

Come game day, it was time to get the old hockey head back on.

Just like the HV71 fans, the EC RBS ones were equally as friendly. That's one of the things that can strike the unknown, hockey fans do certainly stick together whether it be friendly banter or as one when things ain't so good. You certainly won't get that a lot in football, some want to drop the mitts when seeing an opposing fan - seen that many times in my lifetime. Now what were my personal highlights from the weekend's game:

• The team commitment: You need to compete at any level that's for sure, and we had been told many times that this roster is probably the most equipped one ever. Sunday proved it. They took the game to their opponents and hounded them so onto the back foot that it was fantastic to see the hard work pay off.
• Jesse Schultz: Some around me don't obviously know their hockey, I can say. Prior to Sunday, they bemoaned that they thought Schultz is rubbish and should be gotten rid of already. Anybody would think he was a piece of trash. They'd obviously not read into his career, and Sunday saw him real light up. I just hope your hat-trick Jesse has given those doubters a large piece of humble pie to eat. Nice one mate!
• We learned: Yes we took penalties Sunday, but the thing was that the penalty kill was really starting to show improvements and it will continue to be one of the best in the EIHL this season. Perhaps we are "learning" as I say to deal with the European style of hockey, the more we get use to it and that's why you get results like Sunday. You have to adapt, else you're gonna land up on your arse.
• "I was there": Regardless of sport, whether it be hockey or not - when you get a result that nobody expected then you can say that "I was there" phrase. We can say that now, it's probably one of the best I've ever seen as a Steeler in all the time I've watched us. Hats off to all. It says everything when you read tweets from Panthers fans, congratulating. Makes you feel pretty damn good inside doesn't it?  

So after that, we go back to the bread and butter of the domestic league this weekend. Challenge Cup games against the Blaze and Panthers; the latter back in the House Of Steel. Hopefully the scoreboard will be working, apparently DS said it has been. I'd personally like to see the back of this competition, and not because we haven't won it for ages. Scrap it and replace it with a proper play-off series like they do in the DEL. 

 

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