Certainly a much happier soapbox this week for you all as the team pick up a four point haul that keeps those three-peat dreams still flickering away. Colton goes goal crazy in Coventry, and joins an exclusive club (more of which is below).
On the panel this week are your editors Mark and Tony, Fergus Wright and Andy "Mr Vuvuzela" Roberts. Enough of the introductions, here's what the guys had to say.
1. Five words to sum up Saturday
Not convincing, get two points
Gave up too many breakaways
Made an easy task difficult
Almost screwed it up again
2. Five words to sum up Sunday
Our forwards poured it on
About time we embarrassed them
A superb Sky Dome performance
Four goal Frettsky is unleashed
3. Dowdy was back scoring this weekend, what do you think might have caused his little dry spell in points production?
Fergus - Just incredibly bad luck and bounces not going his way, but now that line is back and better than ever.
Tony - Dowdy
has been streaky over the last couple of years: poor because of lots of
injuries last year then great with Andreas and Levi, then poor with
different line-mates, then hot again this weekend. I'd love this to be a
sign that he's back to being the premier British forward again, but I
fear it'll just be another false dawn. Good enough player but he's not
been consistently great since he had that breakout season in Belfast.
Andy - No idea if he has been carrying an injury, if he was suffering a mental
block or has just been unlucky in front of net. This weekend Dowdy seem
to be going for goal a little more instead of trying to off load a pass.
Whatever the reason it was great to see him bury the puck this week.
That goal in Coventry Sunday, more of the same this week please...wooof!
Mark - All players go through dry spells, even NHL superstars do, and unfortunately Dowdy had in the middle of a campaign when we needed that bit of magic which he is capable of so it could change the momentum of a game. Either defenders were getting blocks in on his shot or he was running into a goalie hellbent on denying him. But he's got the monkey off the back now, and I hope that stick stays hot for the rest of the season. After all, something similar happened last season and you know the rest...
4. Colton Fretter has come in for a fair bit of praise recently. Would you
like him back for a fourth season if we are able to talk him round?
Tony - I
love it when Colton turns it on, but we've got to let him go before age
catches up with him. If he's committed, and Thommo thinks he's still got
it, then I'm all in too, but otherwise I imagine we'd have a decent
budget left to attract another player of similar quality.
Mark - When Frets is on fire, there's no better player around. The guy can score, the guy can dish as good as anyone. I firmly believe he said to himself in the summer "I owe Steelers another season, I didn't feel as part of it last year with my injury problems" and after a slow-ish start; he's starting to motor. He's back with (Mathieu) Roy and those two just have chemistry. Will he return for a fourth campaign? It would be nice but does Colton think he can put himself through it? If he does, great but if not, he's signing off in style now. It's all down to the man himself but a few quiet words off-ice here and there might help sway his decision one way or the other. He did join an exclusive club with four others (Globke, Clark, Forney and Meyer) who have scored 4 or more in an EIHL game for us - surprisingly Roy hasn't made this list yet...
Fergus - Would love to have Frets back for a few more seasons, but sadly can't
see us hanging onto him much longer now that his degree is complete.
5. Which imports would you want back next season? At the moment we have Fitzy, Armstrong and Levi already signed up.
Andy - I
said earlier in the season that G Desbiens would be my first signing
and that would be closely followed by C Fretter. That hasn't altered in
the slightest. They are both game changers in their own different ways.
At the minute we are seeing, what looks to be, the fully fit deadly
Colton Fretter. Long may it continue...its a pleasure to watch! Two
players that I would also add to the list are M Nilsson and A Valdix.
We all saw at the start of the season how good a penalty killer Nilsson
was (must be something about players wearing 17 for Steelers and being
on the PK) but in recent times we have seen how skillful and how fast he
can play. This has been rewarded with a spot on the top line. Valdix
has shown how important he is without being too flash. I don't think it
is a coincidence that once he returned to the team after injury (and has
got his fitness back) that his line mates are now starting to find the
net.
Mark - There's a few I want to tied down to new deals. From the defence I'd go with Björklund, he's a good two way defenceman who does have his moments getting caught out but he's got a lot of potential and a very good skill set. Forwards: Ratchuk for his mazy runs that bamboozle everyone, Desbiens - a total warrior and leader, Nilsson and Valdix who are a couple of amazing Swedes and Roy as he always seems to be in the right place at the right time to score you those greasy goals.
Fergus - I'd love to see Desi, Ratchuk, Nilsson and Hagos, if we can then fill
the other slots we have with players that produce like these guys and we
will be back on top. (Looks like Theopoilus P Wildebeeste has a massive fan, google pics and you'll see why - Ed's note)
Tony - The
imports come and go, and whilst I'd like to keep our Brits at almost
any cost, or ideally swipe some from other clubs, I'd be happy to let
any of the imports go if their demands become too great. Roy is the
obvious first one to get signed up, and I hope Walker becomes the
second, other than that then I'm not too fussed. Björklund and Valdix,
Nilsson and Ratchuk, Moose and Desbiens in that order if I was pushed to
select - but I'd have to know of our budget each one wanted, as the
cheaper you are, the more likely I am to want you to stay. (I am an
Accountant after all!)
and finally...Are you going to POFW? If not, why not?
Mark - Yep, got the time off work unlike shades of 2014 when I got screwed over, and have sorted the hotel and tickets too. Gonna be a busy month of hockey for me as I've also got GB in Belfast to attend. POFW is always fun, having banter with other fans around the EIHL. I've not learned from last season's silly bet, where I had a Coventry pink shirt on for the Final. If you see me in anything that's not Steelers colours then assume I've lost the bet and ridicule me to high heaven.
Fergus - Silly question, someone get the drinks in!
Tony - Have
never been to the POFW, and have little intention of going. I'd rather
save the money and fund a trip to either the Friendship Four, or the
IIHF Team GB tournament in Belfast. The league is the only title worth
winning domestically, and for three games that might not involve your
team that's expensive hockey.
Andy - All set for the Playoffs. Hotel, tickets and train all booked. Just need
the Steelers to make it now! Think I would rather have a stressful Saturday rather than just being there for the beer! Must find some new
beer places for this year. A change is as good as a rest.
And those are the views of the panel. Want to join in? Get in contact as below, new panellists always welcomed.
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