It's been an eventful, shall we say, week(end) just gone in Steelerland. Off and on ice events that you couldn't script anywhere else but involving our beloved Club. It's the TWENTIETH edition of this particular column. No further ado, let's crack on and talk hockey.
1. Tony - and I don't mean my co-editor who sits in Block 115 and does a sterling job with his articles when or whenever I am not around, mate it's appreciated. No, it's the head honcho himself who comes from the Manor area and quite simply a local lad done pretty well. However up to last Friday, he was in some serious firing lines and not from our fans. Nationwide upset. But give him his dues, he's held his hands up and backtracked which is good for the majority of us but still some are unconvinced. Yeah you've raised a petition to remove him of the EIHL Chairman role; but who do you want as a replacement. You can't request summat and not have a solution ready-made.
Granted I do believe that it should be an independent chairperson, but bar Brock Wilson's comments - there's nobody really showing that much of an interest. The other clubs aren't exactly making any sounds.
2. Lights Out - I usually these days leave the Noose at about 6:20pm on a Saturday before a game, this Saturday was no exception. I'd seen the Final Scores come in again, again seeing a loss for Sunderland (which explains my insanity), had a couple of pints and also had a good laugh and joke with my usual sidekicks: namely Jo, Steve, Gibbo, James plus Andy and Becks with their daughter Erin (Sammi was babysitting so missed the game). As I crossed the road, I could hear a funny old sound. Get to the entrance doors, buzzing still around, turns out lights had failed and the Arena was on emergency power but limited lighting whilst the main system was sorted. Imagine if Meadz was also affected? Doesn't bear thinking about, well it does - absolute hysteria - but that's beside the point haha.
That leads conveniently onto...
3. Goal Fest - What a treat we bloody got when we did get the game underway, eventually Steelers won by the odd goal in eleven! Great for a first time goer, bit of everything with goals and some physicality from both sides but for a seasoned exponent and regular attendee: not that flipping good for your heart rate. It was like the Chuckle Brothers, Rotherham's finest export I will tell you now, playing hockey against each other. To me, to you as in you score, I'll score. Defences must have taken a night off that's for sure and both goalies statistics took a beating too especially Moose considering his record recently.
Still some some good goals from both sides, T J Syner and his nice breakaway at the start of the second and a couple of nice finishes from Ben and "Stretch" (John Armstrong, those of the older generation will know what I mean) especially the latter's last minute game winner when it looked certain to be overtime. Not good for the following guy...
4. "Outside Influences" - That's what Danny Stewart claimed in his post game interview, and why Blaze lost. Sorry Danny, any inch of respect I had for you has now started to materialise into nothingness. It's bad loser syndrome, you got beaten on the night - deal with it! Steelers had the same time as you, you were with Simmsey, when the game was announced as starting at a certain time. Why did your team get undressed? Surely the sensible thing would be to be still dressed and be sharp, you failed to accomplish that and as a coach you should be responsible for it. Stop mithering like a bairn who's had their toys taken away because of a strop. I hope the EIHL fine you under these new "regulations". Harsh but true Daniel.
5. Poor old Scorch - You gotta feel sorry for ol' Scorch haven't you? Getting hurt in the first period break entertainment at the SkyDome and then stretched off. Good thing, you ain't broken anything but bad thing is that you are on Injured Reserve for a bit. Like our own Steeler Dan, Scorch is an entertainer unlike Paws of Nottingham who doesn't impress me one iota. I hope Blaze have some kind of back up person to fill into the costume. If I didn't have Sunday commitments myself and Blaze would pay for me to be there and back - I'd do it! There you have it...Perhaps it was hidden revenge for the egg bet you had with Liam Stewart at the start of the season? We'll never know. Get well soon Scorch (Danny)!
6. Playing on the "edge" - One final thing, is that I noticed there was a fair old physicality in both games (obviously I watched Sunday's game via webcast) and that's seemed to creep in with some games against the Blaze. Certainly more physical than I have seen us against the Bears for sure. I think the intent if you can call it, maybe precedent is a better phrase, was set with the Nelson incident early in game one. Yes it was hard, but I think a match penalty was harsh at the time and I stand by that. Maybe call 5+game misconduct. And boiled over into Sunday too, I think we have ourselves a bit of a rivalry going you know if this is anything to go by. Devils certainly have one with Blaze, why can't we? Because face it folks Bears games are far from exciting unlike the olden days...
Congratulations on winning a sandwich tray Panthers by the way in Europe. Perhaps a smattering of egg mayonnaise with cress, ham and cheese will look nice on it.
Well that's my weekly thoughts ended. I don't expect you to all agree with me; life would be a damn sight boring if everyone agreed with everyone else. Until then, toodles...
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