Hockey Soapbox - Season 2 Week 10 - Return of the Moose

Another four point weekend leaves us 3 wins from 3 in the league, so no doubt the soapboxer’s will be in vibrant mood. Read on and find out! Here’s our latest Frozen Steel Soapbox where we’ll bring you some views and thoughts from a selection of Sheffield Steelers hockey fans.

Sourced from Amanda's twitter feed @ajt1971

It’s time to get on your soapboxes people!

We’ve got contributions from:  Mark Duell, Eric Green, Nathan Turner and Bethan

So let’s get straight into it - Was that what we were waiting for from Moose?

• Nathan - Confidence is a wonderful thing in sport, and conceding only two goals over the two games this weekend will have done Mr 92% the world of good. Not only did Moose put on a show but so did our D, and to say we were rotating 4 men at one point of the game I thought they played pretty damn good. Björklund and Ratchuk especially were outstanding and we seem to have found a way to keep that back door shut. Now if only we could find the key to lock it.
• Bethan - We definitely needed a big game from Moose after we lost Ben part way through the game, and I think he definitely stepped up. He seemed pretty solid, though there were still a few dodgy moments!
• Eric - I'm pretty sure the Moose would be the first to admit his recent form has been somewhat below his capability. Maybe his head has other issues. That said, people forget his game is centred round being a rebound netminder, he was last time. It's down to his D men to get to know that, compensate for it and position themselves accordingly. His form will and has improved and his skill level was never in doubt in my mind
• Mark - I don't understand why we would be waiting for him to start performing. He's always had the ability to be a great goalie and great goalies need a defence performing in front of him. If the defence is dialled in and playing well, the goalie will too. He certainly had a stand out game against the Giants, and if he keeps at it then we will all be happy (even the happy clappers) and agree that we've got the best import goalie in the league.

Thoughts on the Clan game, did we steal that one?

• Mark - Didn't go to Braehead, but by all accounts, yes we did a bit of daylight robbery. Less than half of the squad performed to a high standard against a desperate opponent. That could be worrying, but then again winning pretty isn't the be all and end all of it. Sometimes you gotta get the greasy dirty wins, especially on the road, and I think that's what we did on Friday. Two points on the board and more importantly in regulation too.
• Nathan - Didn't go to Clanger Land but by all accounts our netminder kept us in it for long periods of the game. There were plenty of Braehead fans on Twitter saying afterwards that we rode our luck etc but any road win is a good win and to limit the home side to a single goal is good going.
• Bethan - Yes, it sounds like one where Moose had a big influence on winning the game which is brilliant, especially when he's been criticised quite a lot recently. 
• Eric - I didn't go to the game. Coming from behind to win, conceding only one on the road, in a very difficult building, with a wounded animal like the Clan (who's form was decidedly iffy at that moment with only a 1-5 stat) is more a testament to how well we must have played. So did we steal this one? On the contrary, I believe this was a good road win and one that we need to win to drive us onto another championship

Thoughts on the Giants game, was it really a four goal game?

• Eric - It certainly wasn't a four goal game. Yes I believe we did enough to win, but only in the last 10 minutes when the Giants ran out of gas. To me it was an edgy affair. First period our netminder constantly kept us in the game. The second was a dull affair with two teams cancelling each other out, whilst still looking frail at the back. The third really started with us being unable to clear the zone - but then Schultz showed his sniping instinct, and from then on we killed the Giant!! Men of the game for me were Desbiens, the guy was massive, and Schultz.
• Bethan - I didn't think so, as we discussed after the second period I thought it would have been won or lost by a goal, but I think the Giants' goalie lost confidence after we'd put a couple past him, which led to the last few goals. (Editor - It's early doors but Whistle has lost goals in bunches a couple of times, and it may well be a confidence thing)
• Mark - For 50 minutes it was definitely not a four goal game, I was actually getting myself prepared for watching 3 on 3 EIHL OT for the first time ever. Both goalies were keeping their teams in it, yes young Whistle did excellent for Walser – and perhaps this might slowly see the end of Murphy's career - but in the final 10 we kinda kicked on to an extra gear and the tiring Giants just didn't have an answer. Two very welcomed points at home
• Nathan - Sundays game was probably a lot closer than the final scoreline would suggest. After a 1st period where both teams cancelled each other out, and goals aside a pretty drab 2nd, a back to basics sort of approach paid dividends in the last 10 minutes and I have to say simple hockey plays won the game. Valdix, Björklund, Ratchuk and Schultz the goal machine were all excellent and I think now we are starting to see what the impressive team on paper at the start of the season are beginning to look like on the ice. And that's without having Nelson play and losing Ben O'Connor for two thirds of the game. Ok Giants were short benched too but their keeper Whistle, (his mum’s called Penny btw), kept them in it until the Desbiens goal and then they seemed to run out of steam. Also, does Forney ever play well against us?

Early doors thought on who's likely to be our main competition?

• Eric - Main competition will still come from Wales and them down the road - every day and twice on Sunday. With the league being so competitive this season there also could be a banana skin at every corner, as early-doors there doesn’t look like there are any gimmies, and that’s before injuries start to come into play. Cardiff are still the team I fear, especially after the object lesson they gave us the other week and Nottingham showing the attitude to scratch out wins, especially on the road.
• Mark - I'm not ruling out either Cardiff or them lot down the M1. Cardiff are a deep squad with plenty of offensive options forward and back. We need to take a leaf out of Coventry's book and find out what got them the win in IAW haha. Of course you never discount them lot either, as whilst it's not the greatest team ever in black and gold - they're finding ways to win too. The key is taking points off them both and the rest of the Erhardt Conference, winning at the Gardiner Conference sides just adds the gloss. Simple as that really.
• Nathan - Until I've seen all teams in league games I can't really say who I think will be our main competition for the title, but I reckon Cardiff will be up there and maybe the Giants. Nottingham will be there abouts until the last month when they will plummet like a stone and make do with the Challenge Cup again. The surprise is that Braehead  look like mid table and might even miss out on their beloved conference title.
• Bethan - It's always difficult to say, especially in recent years as the competition gets increasingly tighter! However I think Cardiff are getting better year on year, and I reckon they could soon take a league title - this weekend should tell us if they are for real.

What else grabbed your attention from across the league?

• Eric – Fife’s net-minder getting a double shut out this weekend. They must be congratulated for that and show they’re not be taken lightly. It could be that this season is not about the imports or the Brit packs, this season will be won or lost on how well your netminder performs over the full season. So I'm saying every team has a chance but one man could win the championship, and maybe theirs is a good ‘un.
• Bethan - I think this week it has to be the various charity events that have been going on, fundraising for Scott Matzka & Adam Calder, and the Steelers' hosting young Blake and his family. Brilliant stuff.
• Mark - Fife! Four point weekend and two shut outs for Shane Owen! You certainly wouldn't see that coming in a number of years. The Flyers are having a great start of the season, and you can imagine how much confidence is flowing through those veins up there in Kirkcaldy. Whilst we know in all reality it won't last, it's something to surprise us all for now, Wonder if Danny Stew is feeling a bit jealous of them? After Sunday, I bet he wasn't a happy bunny rabbit!
• Nathan – Two things : My old favourite Chris Lawrence is going good down the road winning POTW - and who ever doubted him? Also, Braehead released Jeff Ulmer on Monday, after being  a healthy scratch for Sunday's game - not sure if he's been used as a scapegoat or anything, but with a 2-5 in the league something had to give and I'm sat here wondering if Finner is starting to feel the pressure in the shopping centre.
• Tony - What, no mention of the big retribution fight between 'sucker punched' Patrick Borderleau, of the Cardiff Devils and Garrett Klotz of the Coventry Blaze? Fight of the season billing. Loads of hype and build-up, but another bloody nose for Bordy followed by a circle hug didn't really fire up either side. Blaze skated off with the two points too.

• Nathan (again) - I promised myself I wouldn't moan about anything this week, BUT, is anyone actually bothered about the banner raising anymore? 5 weeks in from the start of the domestic season and we're waiting for Russ Moyer to show up? Why? Last season’s banner went up before the first game. A Challenge Cup game against Cardiff. Done. We didn't hang about waiting for Mike Forney to come back with Belfast or anything. First were told to wait for the first league game then this! Has the damn thing actually been made yet? Just do it already! (Editor – If I was a cynical man I might think that they feared the normal low turnout against a Scottish team in the Arena and moved the banner raising to put a few more bums on seats – and just used Russ as an excuse)

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, and has loved the team ever since being dragged along to her first Steelers game in 2007. 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.
• Kevin and Fergus are a Father-Son duo that grew up watching and playing ice hockey in Europe (mainly Germany) who are both very opinionated and can be heard from block 115. Twitters are @SedgyFergus and @KevWright65
• 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
• Nathan and his Mrs have been going to games since Feb 2014 after getting fed up with football. Another season ticket holder in 115 who tries to get to away games and refuses steadfastly to join in with Sweet Caroline. He’s @NJT75Owl
• Robert is chief architect of http://steelers-stats.com/ 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

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