Hockey Soapbox - Season 3 Week 9 - Deveaux Delights

Welcome once more to the Frozen Steel Blog Hockey Soapbox; a platform for fans to talk about the hockey subjects you always want to know the answers about. On the panel for this week are principal Blog Editor Mark, Steel Talk co-owner Jay Smith, the ever popular Eric, the very opinionated Nathan (who is always good for a rant or two), Mr Vuvuzela aka Andy Roberts, and of course the wonderful Fay and Sarah.

Time to get on your soapboxes everyone.

1. Five Words on Saturday

André Deveaux a great addition
Dull win for the Steelers

Great crowd for a Saturday

Dull. Dull. Dull. Dull. Dull

Andre Deveaux ran the show!
Deveaux man on a mission
Deveaux the night's show stopper.

2. How bad did the ice look on Saturday?

Andy: The ice has looked horrendous all season with the dirty marks on it. Even the 1st game had brown patches on the ice. I remember when the brown patches only appeared late season or after a moto-cross event.

Eric: The ice looked shocking. It's not been good since they laid it. I'm pretty sure at some point a game will be stopped due to it being unplayable. I certainly think the ice plant must be on its last leg, any time we get a big crowd in the Arena it's obvious the ice plant cannot cope with the rise in ambient temperature.

Nathan: It looked shocking. The cynic in me would say it's comparable to the team currently. But seriously, it's a major concern. Especially if Mr Smith wants to bring tournament finals to the venue in the future. It doesn't look good on the Steelers or the EIHL so needs attention ASAP.

Fay: Awful. Can’t imagine the Disney on ice crew will have the same issue next week....

Sarah: That was the first thing that I said (to Mark) regarding the ice looking poor. It was more grey than my dads hair (the little hair he has left). The ice wasn’t cut properly during the period breaks either. Bring back Ice Ice Davey!

Mark: It certainly didn't look fantastic to be honest with more patches than it did at the start of the season. We've already had one EIHL game postponed due to ice problems, we could be the victim of another ourselves. Something needs to be done, and pronto. It's a problem we can ill afford to have.

Jay: Shocking, there clearly is an issue, rumour is a failing ice plant and it is 25+ years old, I have been told the reason and it wasn't the plant, but the on-going issues are definitely a worry...

3. Goal line technology, is it proving a boost to the game?

Eric: Goal line technology was a long time coming, now it's available I certainly think it's a good addition to the arsenal of the officials and fans alike. Yes I think it's a good tool and I am personally happy it has been introduced. I'm pretty certain Hicks, Pering and the rest of the stripeys are too.

Nathan: It's a very important part of the game and is in a long list of improvements that need focussing on. The only thing that is bugging me at the moment is how a lot of people don't seem to understand what it's for. 'Goal Line Technology' is just that. To see if the puck has crossed the line between the pipes. Not to see if there was Net Minder interference or if there was a slash on the play. It's not play review. We haven't got that far yet.

Fay: Yes.

Sarah: I believe it helps but I just hope we don’t get to the point where teams are demanding for a review for every goal or the refs second guess their original decision. 

Mark: Great idea, and long overdue. Sure it's in its infancy but there's scope to make it better. How about the referee explains to the scorers box why he/she has given said goal or not before making the signal? That way the fans know why the decision was made. But it's a welcomed addition all the same.

Jay: I would say so yes, it leaves no room for error, no matter what social media says afterwards.

Andy: GLT hasn't really affected a goal awarded by referee so far that I have seen, but has though clarified a couple. It could do with expanding a little in the future and ultimately have full goal review like we get in the NHL. That unfortunately is a long way off as we need so many more cameras catching the action. I know a few who think it isn't worth having at minute but I am sure that will change when an important goal is/isn't given.

4. Who would you pick if you could choose our Challenge Cup quarter final opponents?

Nathan: Due to my lack of interest in the 'Pointless Cup' it's a matter of supreme indifference but I suppose anyone but the Panthers would be my preference were I to choose. The entire competition has become stale due to the constantly same old group stages and same old quarter finals against the Nottingham Bears so any other team would be a more than welcome change.

Fay: Panthers!

Sarah: Definitely Dundee. We’ve got a good track record against them and we’d be silly not to pick them. Let’s make it 0-23 against Pacha.

Mark: Dundee! Sure they have beaten Cardiff, Belfast and Manchester this season but we seem to have an Indian sign over their coach. Beat them, and convincingly so Omar treats us to one of his infamous meltdowns which if you ain't seen them...are pure comedy gold!

Jay: The weakest possible team to progress to the next round, so Dundee would be my choice!

Andy: I would like to play a team we don't play every other week. I guess that would mean Fife, Dundee or Guildford. No doubt we will pick Nottingham so we can have a few weeks of over hype and a big payday.

Eric: Anyone!! Simples.... The Steelers could beat anyone of the others on any given night Cardiff, Dundee take your pick. They could, of course, lose to anyone on any given night. So just bring it on, whoever. We could get beaten by Dundee. We could set a marker and beat Cardiff. As long as it's a competitive, entertaining game and the guys leave it all on the ice, I'm not bothered who we face!

5. Would you have given Brad the start on Saturday or did Thommo make the right choice?

Fay: Can understand the decision. Think he wanted Moose to get a game in ready for the Continental Cup.

Sarah: I think he made the correct decision. Moose is not one who likes to miss games. If the game hadn’t been close I reckon he would have put Brad in for the last period. 

Mark: Tough decision to make but yes Thommo got it right. However if it had been a wee bit more convincing going into the third; I'm remain sure we would have seen Brad play the final twenty.

Jay: Netminders, especially starting ones, absolutely hate being rested before big games and tournaments, they thrive on confidence and game time, I would have started Moose, on this occasion I agree with PT.

Andy: I think PT was right to play Moose in goal this week. If we had a two game weekend then I would have had Brad in net against the Storm and then Moose in net for the other game. As it was a one game weekend Moose has to have the start. You don't want your number one netminder potentially getting rusty a week before a weekend in the Continental Cup.

Eric: No! I would suggest that coach Thompson got it right, and for the right reason too. We need the Moose to be on the top line, we need his reaction time to be match ready. Especially going into the weekend. The break on Saturday could quite easily have ruined his focus. So yes Thompson got it right. Sorry Brad, but I'm sure you would rather the team keep their number 1 netminder ready for the excursion that is the Conti Cup.

Nathan: Probably not. Playing Moose was the right decision as we only had the one game but it's a shame he doesn't get more ice time. I'd have played him in the Challenge Cup games and whatever happens happens. Use it as a development plan for him to gain more experience. 

6. How do think we will fare with the Continental Cup; can we make the top two to qualify for the Super Final (venue TBC)?

Sarah: I know very little about our opponents so it’s hard to say. If we play like we all know the team can then we’ll have a good chance. It sounds like there’s a few fans going which will help the guys. I’m really looking forward to it and hope the wins come home with us. 

Mark: Play to the best of our collective abilities and stay out of the penalty box. Hopefully the CHL lessons will have been good education as regards what to expect for officiating. Do this, yes we will take one of the two spots on offer without question.

Jay: If we play like we can do, I really think we could get through, but I have to be honest and say I don't really care too much, it is a bit of a distraction to our bread and butter domestic schedule and there is also the very real danger of coming back in worse physical shape than when we went... I can imagine PT giving his 100% effort to this and it being to our ultimate detriment further along in the year in a busy Christmas period with even more banged up bodies!

Andy: I think we have a very good chance of progressing to the Super Finals. It is a strong group but I feel as long as we play smart, simple hockey and stay out of the box, we can produce the goods and at the very least finish in second place. We know the reffing will be stricter than in the EIHL with certain things (slashing for one) but having played in CHL for last 2 seasons we should know what to expect and play accordingly. Many will disagree but it will be good to have Rönnberg back in the line up for the weekend.

Eric: I believe we could finish in the top two. But am I bothered? Certainly not.. For all that know my me and my views to European competitions, it will come as no surprise that I say anything European for a EIHL side is a distraction from the league, it causes the team to play a different way, Nottingham played the N. American way and for once it paid off. But we don't have that ethos with our players. Then there are injuries to consider. Nope... Not bothered as it may give us more problems on top of what we already have.. 

Nathan: Based on how we are playing now I'd say we gave 2 chances. Slim and none. Having said that it would by almost typical of this team to open out the taps and put a real show on. I doubt very much that anything will come of it though. 

Fay: Hopefully, it’s a tough group but I think we can manage it if we stay disciplined.

7. Who's your NHL team and what made you choose them?

Mark: New Jersey Devils, nobody else but. I first started watching NHL when the Islanders were in the middle of their 4 year run with Mike Bossy starring but I never actually got into supporting them. Only when I saw Scott Stevens and Martin Brodeur in action early 90s I thought that's the team for me. Won't follow anyone else.

Jay: I've always had a very strong liking for Detroit Red Wings, and New Jersey Devils, its not much or an interesting story but I have always been a LFC supporter and when I first started watching hockey I wanted to support a red team, so I used to pray for snow or rain so Grandstand would show the ice hockey and back then it seemed obvious that the Cardiff Devils was the only red team Grandstand would show on a regular basis. However upon searching out info at my school library I found another Devils team in the NHL, the New Jersey Devils.

So it was a natural step, as I got older I had an connection with goalkeepers, being one in football myself and also in defence when I later played hockey in the late 80's and early 90's and obviously Martin Brodeur was a firm favourite along with Chris Osgood and Dominik Hasek of the Red Wings. So my allegiance was born... and I have not changed them since... so I suppose its Liverpool's fault lol.

Andy: My team is the Calgary Flames. I went to Canada as a young 15 year old pup in November 1988. I didn't really understand what the rules were but I was hooked. The only season the Flames have won the Stanley Cup and I saw them play that year in the flesh at a new Olympic venue. A couple of seasons back I was at the Saddledome had the pleasure of seeing Joe Nieuwendyk have his shirt honoured. A good chunk of his 1988-1989 team mates were in attendance. I will be gutted if/when they replace the Saddledome in the coming years as it holds so many memories especially in last 10 years or so.

Eric: Washington Capitals.  Been supporting them for years, just keep hoping to win the Stanley Cup one year. Hate Penguins mainly because my daughter loves them and Crosby. As does Nathan... But then there's no accounting for taste... Sooner or later they will realise their mistake...

Nathan: Pittsburgh Penguins. Sheffield and Pittsburgh are sister cities and both have a huge history of steel making so it was basically that what made my decision. That and I'm a fan of the  Pittsburgh Steelers Football team.  I've also got a soft for the NYR too.

Fay: Pittsburgh Penguins, because of the Steel City link.

Sarah: I don’t watch much NHL to be honest, I keep an eye on the scores with the New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks. Can’t remember the last time I watched a live game. 

And that's this week's soapbox for you.

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
@FrozenSteelJr
@BTI_Podcast
@hockeybhoy
@Disgu15ed
@SedgyFergus
@georgefbarber

Check out Breaking The Ice Available to listen and download on iTunes and SoundCloud.
Or Email the team at Frozen Steel

You can also get involved in Steelers related discussions by joining the forums at Steel Talk