The Week In Steelerland So Far

Welcome to a special article compiled after Tuesday and today's events. Remember these opinions are not that of Sheffield Steelers IHC, they are purely my observations and as a hockey fan since 1980 plus a Steeler since 1991.

Disclaimer above out of the way, read on...

So we have decided on our Challenge Cup quarter final opponents in the new choose-your-opponent quarter final format. We've gone for the common sense option in my eyes by picking the Dundee Stars. This is a smart decision by the Steelers as either of the remaining seven all had varying degrees of risk involved. Granted no team has a divine right to win every game they play, despite people thinking differently, this choice represents the best chance of the Steelers at least making the final four in this much maligned competition.

We have of course to be solid in both games, we can't afford to face a second leg deficit regardless if that is played at home or away. It has similarities with last season's quarter-final match up when we faced Edinburgh over two legs. If the first leg is in Tayside, keep it tight or come away with a lead then finish the job on home ice here. Recipe for success that. A tasty semi-final against either Fife or Cardiff, both which will be difficult, to follow.

Also Steelers have announced that forward Andre Deveaux has been released with immediate effect. To some, it's a shock and a disgraceful decision but to me, I lean to it not being so. When he actually played hockey, he was a decent player with some good skills but unfortunately I personally believe that it all boiled down to a lack of self-discipline. Two incidents in the space of less than seven days in my eyes prove it. 

First of all, his reaction to Thommo in Denmark when he appeared to argue with him after his clash with Kurbads Riga's Janis Sprukts. Yeah sure Andre got an unwarranted gouge to the eye from the Latvian which was not punished enough, but to remonstrate with your coach isn't the way to endear yourself particularly when you're still virtually a newcomer to the ranks. Thompson then benched him for the rest of the game as a warning, maybe hinting at saying "Cool your jets Andre. I won't tolerate this type of behaviour" but unfortunately his MK ejection I believe was the last straw and as soon as the weekend was done with then he's out of the door and Steelers are looking for a replacement. Unless it now opens the door for the unlucky Brady Ramsay to cement down a permanent slot in the team with Jonas Westerling probably moving up to centre the third line.

We move on now, like Steelers hockey always does, and reinvent the wheel again. 

Today, Wednesday, DoPS (the new incarnation) decided after reviewing the Deveaux in MK incidents that the recently released forward would be banned for six games. Three incidents are referred and it's hard to argue against them. The problem we face from this is that because Andre is no longer a player of ours; the suspension then becomes a team one where we have to sit one import for each of the six matches. This, coupled with the fact we have a few injury problems again, is in my eyes going to make or break the season for us. If we can get through this spell without too much damage and stay in touch with those above then we will have done well. The realist in me thinks it will damage the title hopes and we will be playing a spot of catch-up. All because of one man who couldn't keep his emotions in check. Sad but totally true.

Those are my thoughts, how about you?

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