From The Editor's Chair - Edition 31

In the second edition of what is usually my weekly column, I am going to talk about the forthcoming play off quarter finals. This means I won't be doing a match preview for our games against those down the M1 motorway, and also no predictions for out and out results from the FSB crystal ball which needs upgrading ahead of next season.

Let's chat play-off hockey then.

Quarter Final 1: Cardiff Devils (Seed 1) v Manchester Storm (8)

Make no bones about it Cardiff should win this one and should win this one convincingly. With the collective firepower they have, can anyone really stop them from making the final four? However, Manchester have won this season in IAW but can they repeat this? As much as I would like to see it happen, I just can't see the big red snowball being stopped. If Manchester come away from the first leg just a goal down, then they have a chance. Anything more comprehensive in terms of the scoreline, the mountain facing Pach and his men becomes more and more insurmountable. 

Key Players: Andrew Hotham (Cardiff), Mike Clemente (Manchester)

Prediction: Cardiff

Quarter Final 2: Braehead Clan (2) v Dundee Stars (7)

An intriguing West vs East Coast of Scotland battle. What it does mean in simple terms; is that we know we will have a Scottish representative at POFW no matter what and nobody can disagree with that. Whilst Clan won their conference by ten clear points, and ironically Dundee were second, they have been a wee bit up and down this season. Dundee improved markedly as the season wore on, winning games a plenty and fully deserving of their final eight spot. Clan have three of the top four point scorers in the league on their roster and if they are on it then Joe Fallon could be in for a hard weekend. But a Dundee win isn't beyond them as they have the dangers that are Vinny Scarsella; who has pace to burn; and Felix Antoine-Poulin who scored a remarkable 17 goals from defence.

Key Players: Matt Beca (Braehead), Vinny Scarsella (Dundee)

Prediction: Braehead

Quarter Final 3: Belfast Giants (3) v Fife Flyers (6)

To some, and me counted to a lesser extent, this has potential shock written in the background. Giants are good, but Fife are unpredictably good when on their game and in Shane Owen: one streaky netminder when on form who becomes hard to beat. Giants know full well they need to get a good result at home before making the arduous trip over to "The Auld Barn" in Kirkcaldy where they have come unstuck already in one encounter. I don't think Derrick Walser needs reminding of that third period collapse does he? Both have firepower, Giants have it in depth though. That could be the difference.

Key Players: Blair Riley (Belfast), Shane Owen (Fife)

Prediction: Belfast

Quarter Final 4: Sheffield Steelers (4) v Nottingham Panthers (5)

Second of two I realistically think could go either way. Whilst Steelers have the depth, you can never ever discount the Panthers in the play-offs as they always seem to come alive in them especially after having a season to forget in the league. Steelers know they need to exit the NIC on a Saturday night with nothing less than a one goal loss, more than that and it becomes hard work. For me, Panthers weak spot is their defence as it is easily exposed and then they have to rely on Wiikman to bail them out. If Steelers produce two solid games, they will be the ones who will celebrate. One of the big guns is gonna suffer pain Sunday night in S9. 

Key Players: Mathieu Roy (Sheffield), Stephen Schultz (Nottingham)

Prediction: Sheffield

So that's my insight in the play-off quarter finals. Will we see the four I've predicted in Nottingham on 8 April? Who knows, but whoever you support: strap yourselves in mega tight as the ride of emotions gets seriously pushed to the max. Enjoy your hockey...

Thanks for reading everybody. Remember if you want to be a part of Frozen Steel you can get into touch with us on Twitter or find us on our Facebook Page, remembering to like us and leave a comment. We will then get back in touch:

@FrozenSteelBlog

@FrozenSteelMNL

@hockeybhoy

@DISGU15ED

Don't forget to listen to our weekly podcast  Breaking The Ice

It's available on iTunes to listen and download, also on Soundcloud

Or drop us an email to Frozen Steel Blog

Hockey Soapbox - Season 2 Week 31 - Gearing Up For Play-Offs

Time once more for your Hockey Soapbox. This might be the final one of the season, might be one more, but that's dependent on what happens over the weekend against the Bears or I want to do one last but we wrap the 2016-17 season up.

We got a full panel this week airing their opinions. Alongside your co-editors Mark and Tony, we have Nathan (who's gone on a bit of rant), Andy "The Vuvuzela" Roberts, our Scottish Steeler in Nicki Blueitt and the ever lovable Eric who is still trying to find Tom Darnell's dog so he can take it for a walk now he (Eric) is retired. That's the introductions done, time to get on those soapboxes everybody.

1. Five words on Friday (yes, that's not a misprint)

Brad Should Start More Games

Bragging rights at the NIC

Always win dead rubber games

Won game twelve of fourteen

Upsetting the Bears once more

Brad Day has stellar night

2. Five words on Sunday

Average against an average team

Brian Stewart melt down lol

Big John was on fire

Outside Influences? What Outside Influences?

Yes... Stewart has another paddy!

Last Time We'll See Briiiiiiiaaaaan?

3. What was your performance of the season?

Nicki: Performance of the season has to be when we thrashed the Panthers. My God that game just clicked for the lads and every shot felt like went in.

Tony: The win at home against Salzburg in the CHL. We needed to win one after both Braehead and Nottingham grabbed one in the two previous years. Loved it and wonder if the combo of being occasionally competitive and having big crowds convinced the Champions Hockey League to give the EIHL a second berth after the panties won the InterToto plate. I will probably go to either Nottingham or Cardiff next year to catch the CHL next year.

Mark: It's a toss up between two for me. The Salzburg CHL game was extra special as it proved that on our day, we can complete with a team that has a budget way in excess of ours and turn in a polished performance over 60 minutes. The 6-2 home win this month against the Devils was equally sweet, yes they lost Bownsy to injury but we were relentless that night and solid as a rock.

Andy: Two performances have stood out for me. The first was way back in August when we visited HV71 Jönköping. The fact some of their fans were worried at the end of the 2nd period speaks volumes for our performance. I know we lost in the end but I can't say enough how proud of our boys I was. The second was the away trip to Cardiff in January when we finally won 4-3 having lost again a few weeks before. We really dug in hard to get the win. Amazing how empty the Devils bar was after the game that night!

Nathan: It's been a pretty unmemorable season for great performances but for me the one that stands out is the 1st win in IAW where we looked like a team that really meant business against the team that ultimately won the league. How and why we didn't maintain that level is anyone's guess and the only other game to come close was the 6-2 home win against, again, the Devils. A season of inconsistency and frustration which probably is flattered by our league position. 

Eric: If I'm honest, none really stand out, our early form brought some good games, of those our early game at the IAW must be up there. But as soon as Lord and Co. Worked out our game play, they pushed up ice on the forecheck and after that all the other teams read our weakness. So thereafter nothing stood out.

4. And on the flip side, your worst performance?

Tony: The double header at home against Belfast at the end of January. Fortunately I missed the first game, as it sounded like a stinker - and the second wasn't much better, and the combo sealed our fate in the league.

Mark: I missed the Christmas games and the 4-1 loss to Coventry so I'm going to go with the first game of the home double header against the Giants at the end of January. It was abject and had me literally pulling my hair out (not that I have much now) with rage. It cost us second place in the league and I have never left the House Of Steel in such a bad mood; I had to have copious amounts of alcohol to get back in a reasonable mood.

Andy: I can't think of a really disappointing team performance off the top of my head (joys of working nights this week). The biggest disappointments (bar losing our title at home and not winning CC) for me have been off the ice. We seem to have spent the entire season in the news for the all wrong reasons. Thommo blaming the fans, Tony trying to ban away travel and Simmsey with his latest faux pas to name three! One day our PR will not embarrass us...one day

Nathan: Where do I start? Boxing Day? The CC eve game against Coventry? Both bad team performances. Or what about our PP and PK performances? Poor to say the least? Or what about our woeful D all season? Or the bad coaching performances? I digress. I think Boxing Day was, as usual, over hyped and we stank the barn out big time but the Blaze debacle did it for me. I was fuming during the game, fuming afterwards and still pretty irked by it as I write this. We move on.

Oh I almost forgot, bad performance by our estate agent in residence for a variety of ill timed coments and newspaper dummy spitting episodes just because a few of us (PAYING CUSTOMERS) dare to question or voice criticism of his best mates methods such as his constant messing around with the lines or his painfully predictable and pathetic post game excuses or his bizarre reluctance to use a time out every now and then. 

Oh also the fact that he seems to be the only person this side of the Moon who see's anything at all in Jace Coyle other than his instinctive ability to be able to watch a puck for 60 mins.

Eric: Worst performance, where do I start, the Boxing Day game and the Coventry game. Dear oh dear. Woeful.... 

If we are talking on and off the ice. On ice:- 60% of the D, all season. Coaching staff 90% of the season. Off ice:- David Simms 10% of the season (but 80% with just one bad brain fart) and some dummy spitting between him and the owner about the fans opinions 40%.

Nicki: Worse has to be Boxing Day again. Once again when ever there is all the hype we never show up. Got the feeling it will happen again for the play off games

5. Should the Club re-instate the Ice Sheffield season ticket or not?

Mark: Because of work commitments, I can rarely attend an IS game. But I ain't the biggest fan of the place for Steelers games, so it's a no from me.

Andy: I have made my feelings known about Ice Sheffield in past soapbox rantings. For me we should be playing at the HoS for every game . With this in mind there would be no need for a season ticket. I understand there is a cost implication to the club but the HoS is our home. That said I am pleased we have the en-suite so when there is no available dates we can still play with out having a fixture pile up. 

Nathan: With most games being midweek at Ice Sheffield I can't commit to them due to work but it would be nice to give fans the option so yes I think they should.

Eric: As things stand I am not to fussed about ice Sheffield games, so I would certainly not pay anything extra over the current season ticket price, especially if we get served the same borefest, dross and inconsistent hockey offered up by Tom & Jerry.

Nicki: I'm not sure if it needs to be reinstated. Why don't they just offer cheap tickets. £10 adult £5 child and folk might make the effort on a school night or might get some newbies coming for a look???

Tony: I wouldn't buy an Ice Sheffield season ticket as so many games are midweek, so not for me thanks.

6. Have you ever won anything at games such as 50/50, SOTB?

Andy: I have been lucky enough to win the 50/50 twice in my time as a Steelers fan. Once at Ice Sheffield approx £750 and once away at Edinburgh approx £130. I have never been closer than 1 away from winning a SOTB.

Nathan: Nothing, Zero, Zilch. Don't expect to either as I think Eric has the monopoly on our block for such things! 

Eric: Yes. The GREENBUNCH have won a few quid on the 50/50 on a couple of occasions. Surprisingly both around the Festive/New Year period. Having said that I have to subsidise my money to buy the kids something off the car boot for them to open on Christmas Day.

Nicki: I've never won sod all on 50/50 or SOB. Closest I have been was 1 away form a Stefan Meyer's shirt on a Steelers away trip at the Clan a couple of seasons ago.

Tony: Hell yeah - won the SOTB in an Ice Sheffiled game against Fife. We chose Jono as it was very close to our 20th anniversary, and he was one of the few who played half decent that night.

Mark: Once, and only once as I've never won anything since. I won the 50/50 when we racked up that 18-1 scoreline against Edinburgh in 2011. Prize that night was a massive £300, how times have changed eh? Only saw £150 of it as I had to share with me Mam...and that's not changed!

And finally...name your final four and subsequent winners of the play-offs?

Nathan: Cardiff, Belfast, Steelers & Braehead. 

Although these are the sort of games where upsets happen so I wouldn't be surprised if Storm, Flyers and Stars all progress. As for the winners? Us of course.

Nicki: Play off 4 will be CARDIFF, BELFAST, PANTHERS & CLAN

WINNER CARDIFF. can't see anyone stopping that team. It's just massive and talented.

Just to mix it up I would like to mention how dodgy was that result on Sunday for the Cardiff v Belfast???! You could have put your house on Cardiff throwing that game and letting Belfast win. Most obvious match fix ever!!! Cardiff are not daft to make sure either the Panthers orSsteelers don't make play off weekend and effect the crowd attendance. They have a much better chance of winning without the pressure of our fans or Panthers fans against them. They would take Belfast every day with the few fans they bring. I just thought it stunk that result and got the result both of those teams would have wanted. I did win big on that game it was the safest bet all season. Mmmmm one to think about.

Mark: Going for Cardiff, Clan, Giants and ourselves to qualify. Fancy us to actually win it as well as complete underdogs since everyone will be expecting Devils to win their proper Grand Slam. It's time to stand up and be counted if you want a job next season in orange.

Eric: My four for the final weekend:- Cardiff (to win it) Nottingham (because I think we will choke) Belfast (but Fife may run them close) Braehead  (because they are marginally better than Dundee/Storm).

Tony: Final four should be Cardiff, Belfast, Sheffield and Nottingham - but the bizarre conference seeding means one Gardiner team is almost guaranteed a place every year, and you can normally bank on at least one surprise over just two legs. I'd love us to win it, and think we can, as that will get us into the Continental Cup next year. Cardiff v Sheffield in the final, and Fife v Braehead in the third/fourth.

Andy: My final 4 for the POFW are Cardiff, Sheffield, Belfast and Dundee. For the winner I fear we are going to see a real grand slam not one of those Bears ones. I hope it is us though. I fancy another European tour!

and that's the soapbox for this week!

Thanks for reading guys. If you want to get involved please contact us on Twitter or find us on Facebook and like us and leave a comment:-
@FrozenSteelBlog
@FrozenSteelMNL
@hockeybhoy
@Disgu15ed

Check out Breaking The Ice Available on iTunes to listen and download, also on SoundCloud

Or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com

From the Editor's Chair - Edition 30

Welcome to the first of two articles this week. Due to technical issues, basically my laptop is broken, I wasn't able to publish this piece earlier in the week like I normally do so. However I've got a laptop on loan from a kind hearted friend, yes I do have friends, so I can continue with the blog.

This first article is about the crowning of the new Elite League Champions, Andrew Lord's Cardiff Devils, and what we the Steelers have learned from this season going forward. Some of it will be self explanatory, some of it I might go into a bit of depth. Read onward then.

1. Different Styles: This season saw Steelers appoint Jerry Andersson as Paul Thompson's assistant; thereby ending Darrell Hay's sojourn with the Club. It also marked a change of playing style as Thompson refined his team's game to a more European style particularly favoured in Scandinavia. It was a break from the norm, and whilst it helped the team compete more at CHL level, it didn't really work out in my eyes back home. 

Cardiff play a typical North American style under Lord, and that's what has helped them win the title. It's what we are used to on these shores, but when things went pear-shaped with this tactic failure: there was no Plan B. That's why I think Paul got away from the tried and trusted methodology and attempted something new which we have not been accustomed to. It didn't work. That and not calling time outs to stop the bleeding at certain times when it was needed. Belfast home (1st game) was a prime example.

2. Too much chopping and changing: Another contributory factor to why we fell short was there was too much changing when it came to the lines. Granted injuries can force changes to be made but I think we changed the lines too much in game time when trying to force the issue. Mathieu Roy probably had numerous players on the top line with him which doesn't bode well for developing chemistry. Bar the second line which has pretty much not changed all season - injuries and suspension aside - we've seen a lot of offensive changes. As soon as you thought certain players look a good line; it got changed. Confusing, eh?

Lord has had few problems with his roster. Granted they've had a few knocks as well but obviously not as many as us. He's obviously told players: "This is the role I want you to play" and they bought into it so he doesn't have the need to tweak. That's chemistry building. We could look at this as well. 

3. Discipline: You look at the Cardiff roster and with players such as Mark Louis and to a greater extent, Patrick Bordeleau, and you would have expect them to accumulate lots of penalty minutes. However, at the time of me penning this, they've got 60 less PiMs in conference games than us. It might not sound a lot but it can make a difference. We've picked up a few daft penalties this season, so have Cardiff you say, but when you see what some of them have been for then you get to see the bigger picture. It's cost us points.

4. Consistency: The big reason why we have failed to make it a three-peat. All teams have dry spells but there's been games which we should have won and we haven't done so. The Christmas games against the average Bears from down the road, the January home double header against the Giants, Fife away when we lost 5-2. That's just five games and five games we should have won. Yeah it's wonderful in hindsight to say it now, but when we've been cold than a home game at Ice Station Murrayfield, we have failed to build on things. Cardiff to their credit have been consistent, they've not let a defeat get to them and dampen the locker room atmosphere (ours feel like it has): they've bounced back almost immediately.

So there's four, in my eyes, reasonable pointers to why we haven't ensured "Monty" stays where he is. There could be more, but I don't want to waffle on much longer. You might agree, you might not but hey these are just my own thoughts. Hopefully, we will unlock the key to success but the blue print set out by the Devils is something we should be seriously looking at. It's got a lot of potential that's for sure.

Thanks for reading everybody. Remember if you want to be a part of Frozen Steel you can get into touch with us on Twitter or find us on our Facebook Page, remembering to like us and leave a comment. We will then get back in touch:

@FrozenSteelBlog

@FrozenSteelMNL

@hockeybhoy

@DISGU15ED

Don't forget to listen to our weekly podcast  Breaking The Ice

It's available on iTunes to listen and download, also on Soundcloud

Or drop us an email to Frozen Steel Blog

What would the league table look like without conferences?

In a switch from my normal blogging, I'm getting back on my own personal soapbox, and taking a look at what the table would look like without the conference bias.

We all know that in the 16/17 season we play 8 games against our in-conference pals, but only 4 games cross-conference, and I wondered how the league positions might be impacted if we averaged out the results so that we played each team an equal number of times.

For ease I've just used the in-conference point % and cross-conference point % and multiplied by four or five dependant on how many teams we might face in the two conferences. I could have extended this to look at exact face-to-face records against each team, but that seemed like too much hard work.

So what does it look like? The first table shows the final table, and then in-conference, and then cross-conference results (e.g. Cardiff got 81 points, 45 in-conference, and 36 cross-conference)

The final table shows a re-stated table sorted by column 'B' where the points have been flexed based on a hypothetical even number of games against each other team based on conference point % - I've left the figures 'unrounded' to indicate their calculated nature.

It looks pretty similar,with Cardiff still winning the league (congratulations again, but no this doesn't further add to your trophy cabinet) but has some interesting twists:

• In my world Coventry make the play-offs, whilst Dundee lose out. It's a bit harsh that Coventry are the 7th equal best team and yet have to pack-up early don't you think?
• Also Braehead lose 9 points because of their poor record cross-conference and fall behind Fife in the league. Congrats to Fife, and shows the true value of those purple conference t-shirts doesn't it.

Looking at the points % in the conferences:

• Cardiff, Sheffield, Belfast & Nottingham (as expected) have much better records cross-conference than they do in-conference.
• Braehead, Dundee & Manchester have much better records in-conference than cross-conference.
• So everyone likes playing against Gardiner opposition then?
• Strangely no - it's pretty marginal but Fife, Coventry and Edinburgh all have slightly better records against the Erdhart's - but with much less of a difference from playing Gardiner teams.

We can all argue about the conference system pros and cons, and I get the travel arguments, and the benefit this systems gives to the Gardiner teams who generally don't have the budgets to compete with the Erdhart teams, but it shouldn't be allowed to bias our main trophy this much surely?

Braehead seem happy enough with their conference win, but does it spur them on to semi-final Challenge Cup, or Play-off final four appearances? The latter two ambitions are surely more valid - but even then they get a leg up with the play-off seedings!

It's time to drop this bizarre system before we need to award out the *'s to denote 'won under the conference system' or just go whole hog and just give out a handicap points deduction at the start of the system dependant on budget spend?

But with two new teams arriving, both with large travel, and probably medium or low budgets, then I guess we'll be sticking with it for another few years yet.

Anyway, enough ranting - enjoy your hockey!

Tony.

Game Highlight Links - March 2017

Thought I'd add up a rolling post where we can share links to Steelers highlights from across the league - if you want links, we've got you covered!

Running record for March : 5 wins, 3 losses
(bloody Blaze, the title decider in Sheffield, and that Cup Final in Cardiff) - shocking.


A home loss against the Blaze (here) in the League

An away loss in the Challenge Cup final in Cardiff (here)

An away win at Braehead (here) in the League

A home win against Cardiff (here) in the League

An away win in Belfast (here) in the League

A home loss to the Devils (here) in the League

An away win against the Panthers (here) in the League

A home win against the Blaze (here) in the League

That's it for March so far..

Thanks for reading guys. If you want to get involved please contact us on Twitter or find us on Facebook and like us and leave a comment:-

@FrozenSteelBlog

@FrozenSteelMNL

@hockeybhoy

@Disgu15ed

Check out Breaking The Ice: Our Podcast

Available on iTunes to listen and download, also on SoundCloud

Or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com

Elite Report - Week 30 Preview

Well it's the final weekend of the regular season. How time has flown by with that. Cardiff are the new holders of "Monty"; having done the deed in our barn of all places. Steelers are going to finish second or third overall, my gut instinct leans to the latter, but there's still one round of predictions to do.

I'll do the round up of last week in a post tomorrow night or one big final round up next week. Time to dust off that crystal ball again.

Due to technical issues, I'm using a temporary laptop this and probably next week so things ain't as good as they usually might be. 

Wednesday 22 March 2017:

Nottingham Panthers v Manchester Storm: As this has gone to press so to speak post game (it's Friday evening), you would have found my prediction on the blog's Twitter feed. I went for a Panthers regulation win.

Saturday 25 March 2017: 

Braehead Clan v Edinburgh Capitals: An M8 derby on the Saturday night on the West Coast of Scotland. Caps have nothing to play for, tune up game before play offs for the Clan. Clan in regulation it is then.

Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants: Champions against second placed Giants. With the title in the bag, will Devils ease up. Surely not at home? Giants want that Conference title. Still think Devils will do this, might need overtime though.

Fife Flyers v Dundee Stars: First part of a home and home series to finish off the regular campaign. Dundee need just two points to secure their place in the play off quarter finals. They could do it here, I fancy them to get it in overtime.

Sunday 26 March 2017:

Cardiff Devils v Belfast Giants: Second of the games between these two protagonists. With me thinking Cardiff will win Saturday, I'm leaning towards to share of the spoils over the weekend. Giants to get a regulation road win but part three of the "Grand Slam" will be complete.

Dundee Stars v Fife Flyers: Will it be spoils shared between these two this weekend? Could be, could be not. Stars will shine at home with a regulation win.

Edinburgh Capitals v Braehead Clan: Can the Clan finish with a flourish and a four point weekend against the Caps? Of course they can, but they won't as I think the home side will end on a high note by taking the spoils after overtime.

Manchester Storm v Nottingham Panthers: Manchester require just a couple of points to secure their place in the play-offs which will be a brilliant feeling for their superb supporters. Panthers have been disappointing in domestic action since winning the Continental Sandwich Tray, more misery as Storm reign in regulation.

And those are your final predictions of the regular season.

Thanks for reading guys. If you want to get involved please contact us on Twitter or find us on Facebook and like us and leave a comment:-

@FrozenSteelBlog

@FrozenSteelMNL

@hockeybhoy

@Disgu15ed

Check out Breaking The Ice Available on iTunes to listen and download, also on SoundCloud

Or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com

Hockey Soapbox - Season 2 Week 30 - no tasty gravy for us

Welcome one and all to this week's Hockey Soapbox. Another mixed, but ultimately disappointing weekend for the Steelers, as we scuppered Belfast’s chances, then failed in our #notinourbarn objectives, and had to watch Cardiff slurping down the tasty gravy right in front of us.

On the panel this particular week are the usual suspects. We have your co-editors Mark and Tony, Nathan, Fergus, Andy and Eric the magnificent. So what have the panel had to say this week? Read onwards...

Five words on Friday

Moose the magnificent on road.

Belfast pummelled, Moose stood tall.

Phenomenal Performance By The Moose

We are number one!

Still better away from home!!!!!

Five words on Saturday

White flag, congratulations to Cardiff.

Cardiff took our tasty gravy  

Relinquished Title With A Whimper

Here comes the Boom (Fitzy)

Okay maybe we aren't anymore

Still crap at the Arena,!!!!

As travel issues allowed Cardiff to arrive at our Arena before we did, do you think bad fixture planning contributed to the Cardiff loss?

• Mark - It certainly didn't help matters. Who in their right mind thinks of a schedule that plays Friday night away in Belfast and at home to Cardiff the next at the business end of the season? Certainly had an adverse effect on us, maybe just maybe have scuppered our hopes of finishing second.
• Mark - That said Cardiff have been hungry all season and are deserved champions. We need to look hard at ourselves and see where it went wrong.
• Andy - Whilst coming back from Belfast wasn't ideal for the game against Cardiff it is just an excuse for losing the game. Cardiff through the season have had to do similar things and have managed to get the result. This year wasn't our year. Hopefully Cardiff will keep the Montieth well-polished for us next season.
• Fergus - Yes it will have had an impact but we can't blame that, we just weren't good enough and league champions proved why they are.
• Eric - I've mentioned on other public sites that as a priority, Simms should concentrate on three things. Scheduling, Scheduling and Scheduling. Yes I know, about ice time availability, but is it just me that thinks some of this season's scheduling has been diabolical. I listened to Thompson's post-game interview against the Devils and he even mentioned it.
• Nathan - I don't think scheduling has anything to do with it. We weren't good enough or consistent enough on the night and haven't been all season. Before the season started we were told that this Steelers team would be fitter, faster, better etc. but I've not seen anything to convince me of this. Every team has to travel. Every team gets injuries. Every team gets fatigued. Every team play back to back games. Deal with it and stop making excuses Tommo, fans aren't stupid and they are starting to get bored with the same old BS coming out of your mouth.
• Tony - Yes. This was always going to be a tricky weekend and Cardiff had a great advantage by getting ahead in the fixtures race early doors this season. However, they probably have a tougher travel schedule than we do over the season, as do Belfast, and it wasn't this game that lost the title - it was defeats at Dundee, Fife, and dropped points against Braehead and Coventry recently that killed us. Competitive again this season, and that’s all I need from my team – winning is just tasty gravy.

 Is a massive shake up needed next season?

• Tony - There's always change in the import ranks and think that will be the case this year too, but no more than normal unless EIHL roster regulations change to accommodate Guildford and Milton Keynes. Move the focus from entertaining, to defensive a bit maybe, but unless we match budgets then we’ve got to recruit smarter or luckier next year.
• Mark - There's gonna be changes definitely. Can't see them happening off ice as we're stuck with Mr No Plan B and the cuddly Swedish assistant. (Face it, Jerry looks like a teddy bear.) On-ice, apart from those already signed up: there will be a lot of changes because of what's happened in the league campaign. We have to re-sign Moose, Desi, Jono and Roy for starters. Then it's horses for courses. Some of the others are playing for jobs now.
• Nathan - This team has proved it can compete with the best in this league as evidenced on Friday in Belfast, and last Sunday vs Cardiff. So what is the reason behind the inconsistencies and dullness of especially the home games? Well it's the Coach of course, and his sidekick Mungo. Our D has been awful this term, obvious to all, so why after 50+ games have the clueless twosome failed to sort it out? For me recruitment was the issue but seeing as PT seemingly has a job for life even if we did have a huge shake up I have no faith in him rectifying the situation. Pressure is on next season Coach. I'm watching you!!!!!!
• Andy - I am sure there will be a few changes at the end of the season. Some will be due to rule changes next year, some enforced where players move on, and some the coach feels need to be changed. If you look at our scoring and goals conceded for the season they are up there with the best. Special teams have let us down this year. This is something I hope the coach will be looking at. It has been hinted at having 2 regular goalies. The only way this works for me is if we carry a spare import and have a Brit back up with spare import sitting being the other goalie. If it isn't done this way then we are reducing the import strength in defence and the forwards. If we can source a J Whistle with an import this negates the problem but I would say this is unlikely.
• Fergus - Big time, new coaching team as far as I'm concerned! The tactics this season have been disgustingly poor and we haven't ever had a plan b. Tom and Jerry might know hockey but they don't know EIHL hockey as well as two part-time player-coaches!
• Eric - It's not a simple answer, and I'm sure Thompson is also deliberating, but on reflection I think I would keep two of the current D core, the two apprentices and maybe 4 or 5 of the offensive players - the rest for me, have either not fit the systems, not performed consistently, not added value for their salary, or have spent too long on the injury bench.
• Eric - Would I keep Thompson and Andersson - No! Would I keep the fitness coach - No! Waste of money and don't see anything he brings to the table. Thompson moans about travel etc. but I see teams that on the ice seem far fitter than us. As for keeping David. Hmm. Well No!! On that one too.

Moose made 50 saves from 52 shots on Friday, has there ever been a better goal tending performance than this?

• Eric - Moose for me would be the first name signed up. The guy is not the usual goaltender. He is more a rebound/deflection keeper and it's taken best part of the season for the D core to understand him. And they have still let him down constantly all season. The guy has stood on his head this season.
• Tony - Any shut out is better than letting in two goals! He's been on fire for sure against the big teams recently, which bodes well for the playoffs, but it's come too late in the season, and is instantly followed by conceding a handful in the next game. He’s not the messiah, but he’s decent enough for this league.
• Fergus - Proving what he can be when he has a defence playing solidly in front of him.
• Andy - Didn't see Moose's stellar effort Friday night so it is a little hard to compare it to any other goal keeping  wonder nights of the past. What I will say is Moose has made several saves this season he has had no business making! He is a sign him for next year for me!
• Nathan - In a word. NO. No there hasn't. In fact Mr Moose is the only thing stopping us from becoming a mid-table team this season. I only hope he'll be here next term.
• Mark - Definitely up there with the best. Best I can say was Christian Bronsard's debut though in 2004. The guy travelled almost all day from Siberia to Sheffield, had just 3 hours sleep then turned in a man of match performance. Some goalie.

If you were a hockey player, which shirt number would you choose and why?

• Mark - Depends which position: goalie, defence or forward. If I was a goalie I'd wear 30 because of Martin Brodeur, defence would be 4, Scott Stevens and forward (my preferred spot) would be 68 after Jagr. If neither were available then I'll go for 71, my birth year.
• Andy - Not that I will ever have a shirt number as I can't skate for toffee but it would be either 16 or 89. Simple explanation for the choice is that was my age and year my mother died.
• Fergus - 13 - just my lucky number, no reason not to really unless taken then I'd like a number in the 90's.
• Nathan - Number 75 for me. The year I was born.
• Tony - 15 - you can spot it hidden in my Twitter handle, but I don’t think Roysy need worry about me taking over that number, so any single digit would do nicely as I think they look neat.
• Eric - Simple answer. None. I'm ancient. So the only jersey I would pull on would be goal line judge. Even I can push a button.....

Congratulations if you read right down to here - you win a prize that can be collected from anyone of the panel members by using the passphrase "trigonometric parallax" and a bonus kiss from Eric if you can explain what it means to him.*

Thanks for reading guys. If you want to get involved please contact us on Twitter or find us on Facebook and like us and leave a comment:-
@FrozenSteelBlog
@FrozenSteelMNL
@hockeybhoy
@Disgu15ed

Check out Breaking The Ice Available on iTunes to listen and download, also on SoundCloud

Or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com

* Very small print : Note we have no intention to be legally bound by this term, and Eric may or may not choose to kiss whomever he likes at his, or anyone else's absolute discretion so there.