Looking back at the opening weekend

So hockey season is officially off and running, and how much have we missed it?

Steelers opened their preparations with a couple of exhibition games against All-Svenskan side Sodertajile SK. Both games were played at Ice Sheffield due to a combination of the Arena ice not being down and also the fact that Sheffield Comic-Con was on in the main building. With all imports safely in the country, and a full week of training behind, Steelers lined up with the following line up combinations at the start:

NM: Mustukovs (backed up by Day)

Defence: Matheson – Ronnberg, Aarssen – Fitzgerald, Phillips – O’Connor

Forwards: Roy – Westerling – Wallace, Nelson – Valdix – Dowd, Marquardt – Armstrong – Fretter, Phillips – Ramsay – Kirk.

Also dressed: Shudra, Brown.

Therefore, plenty of options to choose from for Messrs. Thompson and Andersson as they embark on their second season in charge of the good ship Sheffield Steelers. Plenty of familiar faces on show and also a first glimpse for those present in the en-suite bathroom known as Ice Sheffield at the new boys recruited for the new season ahead. The fact that we call IS what we do seemed apparently pretty damn apt as well because of ice problems on Sunday night, the amount of surface water that hadn’t melted could have quite have resembled a bathroom.

However back to the games, and over the weekend the honours were shared just as I thought it would be. Steelers winning game one by 4-2, and then Soderjatile winning game two 3-1. By all accounts, two very competitive games which can only augur well for both teams’ new seasons ahead. In game one, Steelers took a first period lead when the well oiled machine that is the second line combined like they had on numerous times last campaign, Robert Dowd lighting the lamp after great set up play from his fellow Bash Brother Levi Nelson and the ever talented Andreas Valdix. However that opening period ended level when the Swedish side equalised with 2:20 left in the period.

Sodertajile would score the only goal of the second period, Thomas Valkvä Olsen scoring his and his team’s second with 5:04 played. Despite being behind, Steelers weren’t out of the contest and in the third rallied to secure a well earned and deserved win. Valdix and Dowd setting the play-off final game winning goal hero twice to level and then to put the boys ahead. The Swedes were then behind the eight ball so to speak and in the final minute with the netminder pulled, Steelers put the icing on the cake when Ben O’Connor put the biscuit into the empty net and Valdix had his fourth assist of the night.

Sunday saw a different look Sodertajile team take to the ice, or was it swimming pool for reasons quoted above? Apparently they brought a roster of 36 players with them; enough to ice two different teams and a clear example to why the Swedish model is being attempted over here. By the 40 minute mark, Sodertajile had raced into a 3-0 lead and it took a superb snipe by Colton Fretter; beating the goalie high on the blocker side; to avoid the shutout. Yet the general consensus was that both games were very good workouts for the new look team and grounds for a lot of optimism ahead. Here’s what a few of you said:

Adrian Lee: “Good to win one, not too bothered that we lost last night (Sunday) because the performance was promising for the season ahead. I would also say that the D far more solid with Matheson and Ronnberg definitely good additions.”

Craig Day: "A very useful 2 games overall with plenty of positive signs. Initial impressions I like the look of most of the new signings, especially Ronnberg. Thought Ramsay (on Saturday) and Wallace were a bit quiet; that said both Kirk and Brown were not afraid to get involved."

Sarah Stephenson: "For me the D looks improved and a lot bigger in terms of size. By the end of the second game; it was noticeable that the team only had 5 days together in terms of passing and positioning but it will gel as time passes. Personally I'm liking the look of Wallace but the real stand out moment was Marquardt's penalty killing - holding onto the puck against the boards with three opposing players around him."

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