Steelers are back in action on Wednesday night as they use up another of those games in hand. It's a team that will probably be feeling a lot more confident and better about themselves after picking a maximum four point haul weekend just gone. Can they continue it?
Visiting Ice Sheffield, yes we're over in the en-suite again, are this wee bunch:
Yes making the lengthy bus ride south from Kirkcaldy are the Fife Flyers. It's a Fife team that have had a very good season so far and look to, at the very least I think, make the final eight when it comes to sorting out those play-offs. There are no major stars in the roster but what they do have, just like every Scottish Gardiner Conference side, is a tremendous work ethic instilled into them by Head Coach Todd Duitaume (brother of former Steelers forward and captain Mark for those newbies out there).
One of the major reasons for why the Flyers are doing so well is the man between the pipes, Shane Owen. If this guy is on form then you are going to have work hard for your points; it's that simple. He's had three shutouts this season, and league leading save percentage of 92.00%. Plucked from Elmira Jackals of the ECHL, the 26 year old netminder seems to be a most sought after figure and one can only wonder where he will be next season. A number of teams are looking at him in the same way as they did with former Stars nettie Dan Bakala and we all know what he's on the brink of achieving...
In their defence they brought back the ever popular Kyle Haines and have former Stanley Cup winner Ric Jackman who had an ill fated spell in Braehead last season. Forwards to watch out for include the incredibly jet heeled Brendan Brooks, whom you wouldn't think is 38 when he gets them "wheels" going, Matt Sisca who impressed at Manchester last year, and more experience in Sèbastian Thinel who at one stage was rumoured by a few people to be joining us. We can't afford to sit back and relax.
Steelers will probably be giving a dèbut to right wing Geoff Walker (who played with Thinel at Missouri Mavericks) who joined the team from HC Fassa at the back end of Saturday night or early Sunday morning. I do expect him to start but who to drop becomes a bit of a conundrum for Messers. Thompson and Andersson. It could mean Mike Ratchuk drops back onto defensive duties then one of the existing three import defencemen sits. This being either Anders Franzon, Jace Coyle or Fitzy. I doubt it'll be the ever entertaining Fitzy, the only way he'd be missing is he's actually injured or serving a suspension. Which hints it will be either Coyle or Franzon and I'll be bold and call it as Franzon out of the two. But then again I'm not Paul Thompson or Jerry Andersson...
Prediction? Could be a tight one or a blow out depending on what kind of a mindset the boys are in. The drubbing of Coventry in their barn will obviously be a huge confidence boost and I expect more of the same offence on show Wednesday night, 6-1 to Steelers is my call. How about you?
In their defence they brought back the ever popular Kyle Haines and have former Stanley Cup winner Ric Jackman who had an ill fated spell in Braehead last season. Forwards to watch out for include the incredibly jet heeled Brendan Brooks, whom you wouldn't think is 38 when he gets them "wheels" going, Matt Sisca who impressed at Manchester last year, and more experience in Sèbastian Thinel who at one stage was rumoured by a few people to be joining us. We can't afford to sit back and relax.
Steelers will probably be giving a dèbut to right wing Geoff Walker (who played with Thinel at Missouri Mavericks) who joined the team from HC Fassa at the back end of Saturday night or early Sunday morning. I do expect him to start but who to drop becomes a bit of a conundrum for Messers. Thompson and Andersson. It could mean Mike Ratchuk drops back onto defensive duties then one of the existing three import defencemen sits. This being either Anders Franzon, Jace Coyle or Fitzy. I doubt it'll be the ever entertaining Fitzy, the only way he'd be missing is he's actually injured or serving a suspension. Which hints it will be either Coyle or Franzon and I'll be bold and call it as Franzon out of the two. But then again I'm not Paul Thompson or Jerry Andersson...
Prediction? Could be a tight one or a blow out depending on what kind of a mindset the boys are in. The drubbing of Coventry in their barn will obviously be a huge confidence boost and I expect more of the same offence on show Wednesday night, 6-1 to Steelers is my call. How about you?
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