After the unexpected four point Challenge Cup weekend just gone, Steelers turn their collective attention to the Elite League this Saturday and Sunday. They face two tough tasks in front of them, and will be hoping to make an excellent start to what they hope at the end is the return of "Monty" back in S9.
Let's look at those games right now..
Saturday night, and with what promises to be another excellent crowd inside the House Of Steel, we entertain the following:
Yes it's the current holder of the Elite League title, the team that steamrolled all and sundry last season bar a certain event in Nottingham. We face Andrew Lord and his Cardiff Devils. Whilst the Devils have found it tough in the Champions Hockey League, one win in four (and yes, Big Man and I were there to witness it happen) most people are thinking that Cardiff are going to be in contention again when the domestic honours are handed out in March and April next year.
They have had a little bit of a reshuffle of the roster, but retained a lot of the team who did so well for them last season. However, coming into Ice Arena Wales are defenceman Drew Paris and forward Paul Crowder. Paris is as good as Andrew Hotham when it comes up picking up points, I believe he's actually Devils' top points scorer so far this season and has a rocket of a shot on him so he will be definitely one to be wary over. Crowder comes in after a season out but brings plenty of experience from the AHL and ECHL as a skilled playmaker. Of course, Ben Bowns is highly likely to be in between the pipes and will be as usual; tough to beat. The rest of the roster ain't too bad either.
Sunday sees the Steelers then make their first Elite League road trip of the season, and a trip down south to the team below:
It's a trip to Elite League newcomers, the Guildford Flames. It's also a trip that we cannot seriously underestimate. Flames have already lost narrowly to Belfast in the "O" and then 24 hours, played their first Elite League game against Saturday's visitors and skated away with a very impressive 8-4 home win. See what I mean by underestimating them at your peril, if they can beat Cardiff then they are more than likely to beat anyone.
There are number of experienced players in former Steeler Paul Dixon's roster, and one that stands out is the man in the net...Brian Stewart! Yes, the very same Brian Stewart who for the last three seasons was that big behemoth in Coventry and also the very same who is prone to losing his marbles proverbially speaking when you get him rattled. If you are going to Guildford and you've never seen a goalie tantrum then you could be in for a treat. Other notable include Ben Davies (ex-Braehead, Coventry and Cardiff), Davey Phillips' brother Kevin, former Dundee Star Mikael Lidhammar and Ben Campbell who played over 200 games in the EIHL for the much missed Newcastle Vipers. Oh and there's Liam...the son of Rodney and Rachel.
Two tough asks then. Told you it weren't gonna be easy at all.
My predictions: Steelers to overcome the Devils 4-3 after overtime and then despite a bit fatigued, they will do a professional performance in Guildford and come away with a 4-2 road win inspired by the Moose standing on his head.
How do you see them unfolding?
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