Hockey Soapbox - Season 2 Week 12 - Another banner for the boys

Two wins, four points, eight goals for, only three against, and another banner for the boys should leave us a very happy bunch, but once again the team has left us a little bewildered and not quite sure what to make of our team. We keep racking up the points in true Steelers fashion, but somehow are doing it without being truly convincing, so read on to find out what we made of it all.

It’s time to get on your soapboxes people – and we’ve got contributions from:  Mark Duell, Eric Green, Andy Roberts, Nathan Turner, Fergus Wright, Nicki Blueitt and Shudra fan Sam.

So to try to sort out our thoughts on those two games, let’s have your five word summaries

Saturday:

A greasy but welcomed win

Particularly painfully pathetic power play

Stick gripping, nervous crowd, win

Only played Sweet Caroline once

Desbiens, one man wrecking machine!

Thanks God For Levi Nelson

Just what the fans deserved

Sunday

Clinical and ruthless away triumph

Good road win in Fife

Even the commentators liked us.

Dominant performance, perfect road game.

No sign of bus legs

Sounded like solid team performance

Good game, needed the win.

Played outstanding again, worthy winners

Lots of comments on our special teams on Twitter et.al. but what's your thoughts on our special teams at the moment?

• Nicki - The special teams are well erm not so special.... the PK is worrying with the amount we let in. They players still don’t seem to know who is meant to be where and who is marking who, leaving the back door open way too many times. The PP has gone back to how it’s been for the last few seasons. Your Sheffield Steelers on a waste of time, not the power play like Simmsy yells at us. Maybe Benny’s injury has knocked it but need much more shots on goals and looking for rebounds.
• Andy - The Powerplay is worse than rubbish at the minute. I think we were 0 from 10 this weekend including nearly a full 2 mins on a 5 on 3 PP followed by another man advantage that was stacked. Cardiff's PP last week was one touch passing and had us being pulled from pillar to post. Our PP on the other hand, seems very slow (trap then pass) as we try to walk the puck into the net. Unless Okie Junior lets rip with a trade mark bullet on the blue line, we look unlikely to score. On a positive note, we have gained a great PK guy in Markus Nilsson
• Fergus - Power play is temperamental but Penalty Kills have been brilliant so far, former needs improving to win the league.
• Eric - Our power play is still abysmal. I would like to see the special team move more, not look for that perfect pass. I would even go as far as to have a radical change of our top power play line with the Swedish contingent taking a more prominent roll. I don't actually think the PK is that bad now. We seem to have plugged some of the gaps at the back stick. That said, the more clinical teams in the league will still be able to show up our frailties in defence.
• Sam - What are they? Power play hasn't been good for a number of years, highlighted perfectly on Saturday. I know we're not going to score on every one but how long were we on the powerplay especially during the 1st period? Not good enough.
• Mark - We're still woeful on the PP, last time it was any good was in 2011 under Ben Simon. It's seriously under-performing for a team with so much scoring potential. PK is as mean as it gets though.
• Nathan - Trying to not be too critical here, after all who can complain about a 4 point weekend? The penalty kill seems pretty good to me and although I've not seen the stats I can't see much wrong with it. However, OUR POWER PLAY BLOWS! Too much dithering and not enough delivering. We seem to give opposition netminders an easy ride whereby we don't get shots on them early on and give them far too much time to settle down and see the 2 minutes out. Needs freshening up a bit. Try different lines and combinations.

Biggest moment of the weekend - incident or play that sticks out for you anywhere across the league?

• Mark - The inconsistency of results. Belfast losing and then beating Coventry, then the same thing happening for Braehead against Dundee. It proves that anyone can beat anyone if they aren't performing to full potential. The season is as topsy-turvy as ever, you couldn't make it up.
• Eric - The fight between Lord and Noble. It had been a long time coming but looking at the fight. Noble took a battering even after they had hit the ice. Lord was not a happy bunny. Good fight though..
• Sam - Our 3rd goal on Saturday was huge. If it hadn't been given Fife would've capitalised I think, and that would've meant a 2-2 scoreline. Game could've been very different if it wasn't given.
• Andy - Only hearing 'that song' once on Saturday night! Oh and a nice short and sweet Banner raising where it was great to see most Flyers fans applauding.
• Nicki - Biggest moment of the weekend has to be the banner raising. Really makes you stand up and stop for a minute to acknowledge what a fantastic hockey club we follow. We have been spoiled with all the memories and trophies won over the years with loyal warriors. Back 2 back champions, what an achievement. I’ve never been so proud to be a Steelers fan than I have recently.
• Fergus - Only thing that stuck out was once again the lack of ability and confidence within the officiating, very poor representation of what is becoming a very professional league.
• Nathan - Biggest moment for me was our 3rd goal on Saturday. Imagine if it had been the other way around?

Lastly, if you were to win a Steelers 'shirt off his back' who would you choose and why? Is there a true fan favourite, or is the team working so well that we could pick almost anyone?

• Sam – I'd go for Ferrara. I like British players, my two favourites are Dowd and Ferrara  (as those that know me know I'm sure). I was lucky enough to win Dowd's a few seasons ago so I'd add my other favourite's. If Ferrara wasn't available I'd go for Cole Shudra - I got a Shudra special shirt when #26 was retired so it'd be nice to have a father and son set.
• Nathan - I'm a big fan of Schultz atm so would probably choose his jersey. Although I'm also very pleased with the Swedish guys input so far so maybe either Björklund or Nilsson as well.
• Fergus - All depends on the game and who plays well but I think I'd have to choose Desbiens, I wouldn't want the typical Fitzy because everyone has him, but Dessy is becoming one of those players that personally I would like to see become a big name in the clubs history and if he keeps on the way he is I'd love to see him here long term.
• Mark - I'd go for Dowdy probably. Why - because I'd be in bother with my Mam if I chose anyone else! He's a good family friend that we've known since he was 17 or 18 and we've also sponsored his shirt a few years back.
• Eric - This question is fairly easy for me. As I have two half sleeve tattoo's depicting both Pisces fish (my wife and I's birth sign) encircled by a rattlesnake for protection. Something that strike fast and hard. So Mike Ratchuk is the obvious choice for me.
• Nicki - I would be torn between a few but I would either go ROY, because since he arrived the work he does and the hits he takes night after night shows that no one out there leads like he does and if we keep him for many years I can see him becoming our next legend. The other would be Dowd. For the 1st time I bought a shirt with a name on the back and I chose him. The guy is not only a poster boy pin up, golden balls and Mayor of Sheffield, but can play as good as any import on the team. Sign him up for years, give him whatever he wants, a house in Dore, gold leaf hockey sticks, a personal hair stylist etc etc I want to sing for many more years.... we’ve got Robert Dowd, we’ve got Robert Dowd...
• Andy - In the extremely unlikely event I won the shirt off the back I think my pick would be Desbiens. I was going to have his shirt at start of season but I have a knack of cursing players so went for Bjorklund. Desi is one of the hardest working players on the team and rarely has an off night.
• Tony - and we're forgetting Mosi, who has been a hero for the last two years, Valdix who has been on fire, Moose who might still earn his Mr 92% tag, testimonial boy Phillips, Puck bunny favourite John Armstrong, Colton Fretter, Levi Nelson, Ben O'Connor, etc... what a team we have this year.

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.
• Amanda is @ajt1971 and the other half of @NJT75Owl and she doesn’t mind Sweet Caroline!
• 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
• Nicki is a keen Robert Dowd fan, who’s been following the Steelers from the start. Transported by fate to live just outside Glasgow, and thus has to split herself between the Steelers and Clan. You will find her singing and shouting in RTB218, Section N, and via @owlsteeler
• 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.
• Sam is the one sat in 106 not partaking in Sweet Caroline and praying it's not played the following period. When not not doing that she can be found on @Sam_26
• Tony has been watching the Steelers on and off since Tony Hand arrived, and has been a regular for the last ten years or so. Enjoys contributing to the blog with his weekly five things and can be found @Disgu15ed