Hockey Soapbox - Season 2 Week 15 - Big Can of Whoop Ass

Christmas came early at the Arena – and we tucked into our After Eights and drank our 7-up, and then the boys followed it up with two points away from home, so it’s a happy crew of Soapboxers this week.

Thanks for the photos Amanda - you can see Roysy's grin from here!

We’ve got contributions from: Eric Green, Mark Duell, Nathan Turner, Andy Roberts and Amanda Turner.

So let’s have your five word summaries from those two games:

Saturday:

So then what's new pussycat!

Big Can Of Whoop Ass

More like Pandas than Panthers

Comfortable win over a poor side
Team more embarrassing than t'bear!

Bad! Awful! Rubbish! Negative & Clueless – the Panthers that is!

Sunday:

Squeaking home in a shootout

It’s all about the points

No Easy Games In Scotland

What the heck kept happening
Two points is two points

Workmanlike, Gritty, Good Transition, Timely Goals & The Moose

 (Editor : Above gets a five word foul – two minutes in the box)

Highlight from Saturday

• Mark - The way we kept going and going - as Ben O'Connor said to Phil Harrison: "We put our foot down and never let go." It could have, and should have, been double figures, some of the offence was a joy to watch. It was the Panthers getting the schooling which has been well on its way. All four forward lines contributed at least one goal and that's reyt pleasing to see.
• Amanda - A goal feast!! Panthers were poor though so while it was a good win I wouldn't say it was great win. Loved Roy as MOM and enjoyed his eddy! On the opposite side the panthers looked dejected!
• Mark (back for more) - You have to feel a bit sorry for Pacl though. Second time he plays here, and second time he ships a lot of goals because there's simply nothing to protect from a swarm of Steelers players. Neilson got everything wrong, including not calling a time out at three - but we can rejoice big time and it was a great response after what had happened just six days previous. Definitely one of them nights where you can proudly boast "I was there". Downer? I damaged my vocal chords a wee bit so sounded more like bleeding Johnny Vegas at the final hooter haha.

 What does GM the GM need to do next

• Mark - Swing the axe! Too many individuals in the Panthers roster, it's terrible recruiting on Neilson's part. Even Neilson should be not spared from his part in it. Place the under-achievers (and that accounts for at least 75% of them, including McGrattan who just skated around blaming everyone in his team) on two weeks’ notice to buck their ideas or they're out of the door. Speaking to a Panthers friend late Saturday night, she agrees entirely with this.
• Nathan - GM the GM needs to clear his desk out and take NB & CN with him. The Panthers/Bears are a mess. A big mess. In fact if you have a moment, they are a huge 10 storey high mess with big neon letters on top saying 'THIS IS A BIG MESS!' Depending on what you read/believe and who you hear it from the problems on the ice are just the tip of a huge inflatable bear sized ice berg and things need to change fast. The natives are getting restless and one has to wonder if another Challenge Cup will be enough to keep them happy for another term.
• Eric (back from his two minute penalty) - Well GM is very good at spin, he ought to think about a career change, maybe politics. But, no matter how much spin he puts on this, (injuries etc.) nothing can deflect from a team in crisis! 6 lost games on the bounce in the league. This Nottingham is worst team I've seen in years and certainly the worst team to grace the arena this season. I know we are pretty good, but the Bears (Erm Panthers) (Erm Pussycats more to the point) were clueless. Our guys dominated and if I'm honest the 8-1 result flattered Nottingham.
• Amanda - Look at getting some quality players in!
• Andy - The current team (albeit with a few injuries) is probably the worst Panthers team I have witnessed. No fight, no passion and no clue! Please keep it going! I am sure GM will be making sure that a couple more players are for the chop to ensure that the Panthers Cup returns it's regular home. Personally I would be using McGrattan's alleged large wage to bring in a couple who can put some points up.
• Mark (no stopping him tonight) – The Cage forum wants GM gone too. That might not be a bad shout haha. He's a dinosaur and doesn't inspire confidence in his fans. Time might be up then. As for the excuses given for Strachan to dole out (where was Neilson by way?), it was pathetic. "We played our best." "We had injuries." "We had two games in two nights, Sheffield had the Friday off." - come on Gary you have scraped a whole new barrel with this. Be gracious in losing, that's something you could learn off Thommo. GM is an embarrassment to Nottingham, I could never trust him EVER!

After seeing the Stars twice what do they do right against us?

• Mark - They play a system which we, and others, will find hard to break down. Furby is a smart cookie, he does his homework on his opponents. It's just a shame it didn't work out in Coventry for him. He plays his system and gets players in who will be ideal for it. Players will buy in and he gets results. Expect them to rise up the table sooner rather than later, clubs like Panthers need to be very wary soon.
• Andy - Can't comment on this weekends Stars game, but the previous week a great road game at home was played to perfection. We always seem to struggle in small rinks. Favor made sure it was kept tight at the back, with 5 behind the puck, and waited to unleash a well timed breakaway against our 4 D men. I don't assume they played any different this weekend but we found a way to unlock the twine.
• Amanda - Stars grafted right to the end - that's why we ended up losing a lead several times, and then going to extra time then penalties.
• Eric - I really don't think the Stars are doing anything right against us, other than playing a GOOD ROAD GAME at HOME. Putting 5 skaters behind the blue line and collapsing into their own crease is a good tactic by LeFebvre as is catching us on the rush. But it certainly makes for boring hockey from them. However on the up they have taken 3 points from the two games against our 2. So you could argue that his tactics are correct against his opposition. Us. We do have to keep finding a way to win against a stubborn side like Dundee.
• Nathan - Didn't see either of the Dundee games but it seems like they have a pretty decent team up there this season. Looking forward to seeing them in our barn.

AOB - what do we hope for next weekend?

• Andy - I am hoping that we secure a four point weekend especially as we have a day off between games against what looks like our biggest challengers (to date) for the title. If we have to split the weekend I would rather win against Cardiff and right some wrongs from our 5-2 home defeat earlier in season. At this stage two point weekend isn't a disaster.
• Nathan - Gonna be tough next weekend but it's going to be a big test of our championship credentials as Cardiff are, as we all know, a really good side and Belfast are no mugs either. Wouldn't like to predict either to be perfectly honest.
• Eric - As for next weekend, we will be up against our two main rivals this season. No doubt about it. Cardiff are one heck of a hockey team, and certainly as Belfast have shown this last weekend by beating Cardiff, they too are very capable. Our guys will need to be on their ‘A’ game for both games, if we are to get full points. My nagging doubt is our D frailties. So! I'm hoping, Yes hoping!! That we can get something out of a very, very difficult weekend. Best wishes STEELERS.
• Amanda - Both games will be tough for us but we’re hoping for a win win.
• Mark - Friday night is going to be probably the hardest game of the season. Win and we go three points behind with four games in hand, a regulation loss isn't needed at all though. If we play like we did against them Bears, Cardiff could be in for a tough night. Wouldn't be surprised if it went to overtime and give me my first sighting of 3 on 3 OT. On to Sunday, and it’s a case of which Giants team is going to show up? Giants ain't had a good record in recent times against us. It could be a cruise or a battle, there's no middle ground here. We should win but there's also the Shields factor; he's bound to score a point against us. In a nutshell, two professional performances needed and we have another four point weekend left to celebrate. Now where's this weekend's four point weekend cake?

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