Big Match Preview - Manchester (away) and Nottingham (home)

The wait is over. Welcome to your Big Match Preview.

The exhibition games are done with, and it is safe to say that the season officially begins this weekend. Hockey is seriously back on the proverbial menu.

Steelers start their weekend, like many others too, in Challenge Cup action. Yes, this much-maligned competition is still going even though the Elite League has now expanded to 12 member clubs as opposed to 10. Personally I wanted to see the back of it, despite Steelers making the Final of it last season as it is meaningless competition that not many fans are really bothered over. The groupings have been changed as well, as we are in a group with Manchester, Nottingham and wait for it… BRAEHEAD! How that makes sense I don’t know but someone thought it did, and the clubs voted OK.

Anyway, back on topic with the fixture previews for this weekend ahead. On Saturday night, we are on the road to face this little bunch of people:

Yes, it’s Ryan Finnerty and his Manchester Storm, a team we faced just a fortnight ago on the banner raising night at the Arena which had more talking points off-ice than there were on-ice. Remember that night, it was a bit of an embarrassment if you were SIV and the amount of complaints they must have received must have been endless. Storm go in this game, having beaten the Steelers in the Silver Blades rink 4-2 and with a bit of confidence about themselves, and justifiably so. Ryan (Finnerty) has recruited a typical hard working blue-collar team which seems to be his coaching trait but also retained a few familiar faces from last season which we had seen either under him at Braehead or with Omar Pacha at the Storm Shelter.

There are a few players in the Storm roster capable of winning them the points on offer, and none more so than goaltender Mike Clementè who was good enough to play eight games in the AHL. That said Storm have GB internationalist Paul Swindlehurst helping shore things up on the blue line with the improving Dallas Erdhardt; who isn’t afraid to drop the gloves if need be. Up front, Storm have really upgraded with the recruitment of Matt Beca and Mike Hammond from the Clan who should form a potentially destructive line with the returning Matt Bissonnette. Then there’s the grit and determination of former NHLers Jay Rosehill, who has been awarded the captaincy by Finnerty, and Dane Byers. Luke Moffatt and ex-Fife Flyer Chris Auger are both capable of lighting the lamp regularly. It promises to be a tough opening road game.

Onto Sunday, and the first home game of the season. Opening the season in the Arena are none other than this little known team:

It’s those Bears from down the M1, the very same Bears that are surprisingly all and sundry in the Champions Hockey League with results that nobody thought possible. With these results in the bag, Corey Neilson’s much changed squad will come into the Arena full of confidence and who can argue with them for being so. Neilson seems to have got a roster this season that could do some serious damage in the domestic season if they play as well as they have done in the CHL and looks much more improved from last season’s roster of individuals who flattered to deceive in some game. Neilson knows probably full well that this is a make or break season for him again as Panthers go into the season having not won any domestic honours since the double Cup winning season of 2015-16. But Neilson, probably the best Panthers coach in the modern era (and I make no apologies for saying that), always seems to come up with the goods when the heat is on.

Looking at the roster, very few from last seasons have returned – in fact only Jeff Brown, Dan Spang and Erik Lindhagen have returned in terms of imports which shows how disappointing last season really was. Stephen Lee has been given the “C” from Neilson, succeeding David Clarke, a move which surprised me but does this indicate this season might be the latter’s final swansong: after all he is 36 and has had a few injury niggles over the last few seasons or so. Marc Delargo comes with the scoring reputation and I fully expect him to lead their scoring by the end of the season, whilst the rest of the import quota are in their early to mid twenties. Evan Mosey's return from his AHL stint will boost them even more.

Both games are going to be tough for the Steelers and their depleted ranks. As of the time of publishing this article, we are not sure who will make it out of the treatment room and who will won’t to sit in the stands, frustrated not to be part of it. One thing is for certain though, new Finnish right winger Juha Koivisto is set to début after agreeing to join on a four-week injury cover contract. A much-welcomed addition to the ranks at short notice.

My predictions: Saturday – Storm to defeat us 3-1, and Sunday – the Bears to skate away with a 4-2 triumph. I would love to be proven wrong as always but I just feel the depleted ranks might come up a bit short. Once the bodies are healthy again then we should be a match for anyone on any ice, anywhere. How do you see the games unfolding?


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