From The Editor's Chair - Edition 54

You've had the official Elite League awards where Cardiff managed to bag everything on offer; and to be honest I felt that there were other creditable candidates who could have taken away some of the awards. Obviously you're not going to all agree with that. Therefore I've decided to host my own end of season awards in one of the last articles I've penned for Frozen Steel.

Grab the smart frock and tuxedo ladies and gentlemen, it's the FSB End Of Season Awards Show:

Netminder of the Year: The EIHL awarded this to Bownsy, is that because he was the league champions netminder? Not that Bownsy is a bad goalie, he is quite good in fact but I'm awarding this to Steelers very own Ervins Mustukovs. Top of all the stats plus nine shutouts in a season where his team underachieved. Sure he's had a few dodgy games, all goalies do, but he gets my vote. Special props to Jackson Whistle of Belfast and Andy Iles of Fife who also had decent seasons and always looked to give their side a chance to win every night.

Defenceman of the Year: Again Cardiff won this one in the EIHL awards with them awarding it to Andrew Hotham for the fourth consecutive term, and once again I'm going to disagree with them. I've decided to award my version of it to a guy who shares the same nickname as me, Mad Dog, that being Steelers' Mark Matheson. Matheson was one of those players that was consistent every night and was comfortable at both ends of the ice; doing the simple things right which some don't notice. Pushing him close in my eyes were Guildford duo Jesse Craige and Calle Ackered as well as Storm's Dallas Erdhardt who is maturing into a dependable player so much he has been called up by GB.

British Player Of Year: Another one that went Cardiff's way and to Bownsy. I'm again going to go against that myself and award it elsewhere. I've gone for actually one of Bownsy's team-mates in Mark Richardson, who has been a stalwart of the Devils blueline and deservedly got a testimonial this season. Pushing "Rico" close are Ben O'Connor of the Steelers who enjoyed one of his best goalscoring campaigns, his Steelers team-mate Davey Phillips who has become a steady performer as well as the evergreen that is Colin Shields of Belfast.

Forward Of The Year: EIHL award went to a Cardiff player in the shape of Joey Martin, but yes I'm going against it. I've decided to hand it to Mike Hammond of the Manchester Storm, and he richly deserves that. Hammond has come back from a potentially career ending knee injury and topped the points charts, scoring an impressive 32 goals and 85 points. How can you argue against that? Also in contention for me would have been his Storm team-mate Dane Byers who was signed as a "policeman" but put up some incredible numbers, Flames John Dunbar and despite his hotheaded temper Giants Sebastian Sylvestrè.

Coach Of The Year: Andrew Lord scooped that at the EIHL awards for the second season in a row, well he did do the Panthers "Grand Slam" again didn't he? But he doesn't get my vote, mine goes to a guy who two seasons ago might have been on the verge of the sack and ending a long running love affair with a club that he joined in 1998. Step forward Todd Dutiaume of Fife. He recruited a team that at one stage might have challenged for the big prize but also made the final four weekend too. He is certainly building on a legacy there in Kirkcaldy. Statue in the town next? Also a big well done to first year EIHL coaches in Adam Keefe of the Giants and Paul Dixon of Guildford for me.

Goal Of The Season: There's been a few contenders but my vote goes to John Armstrong of the Steelers for his effort against the Flames in the first leg of the play-off quarter final. Picking the puck deep inside his own defensive zone, John went coast to coast like a knife through hot butter in the Flames defenceman before driving the net and finishing with the coup de grace over Brian Stewart. Now if that had been someone like Sidney Crosby in the NHL, they would be salivating and creaming themselves. 

Finally...My All Star Teams Of The Season:

1st Team 

Mustukovs

Matheson --- Ackered

Hammond --- Dunbar --- Byers

2nd Team

Iles

Craige --- Erdhardt

Vallerand --- Moffatt --- Sylvestrè

Hockey Soapbox - Season 2 Week 32 - End Of Season Awards

For the final soapbox of this season, we've been asking a few of you for your votes for the FSB Oscars so to speak with numerous polls on the Twitter account. Who's going to walk off the title of FSB Player of the Year, and which player impressed you enough from the other nine EIHL clubs?

Time to don the tuxedos and posh frocks literally. It's awards time here at Frozen Steel Blog.

Import of the Season: Almost 650 of you voted in the opening category. Winning the award with 47% of those votes, 11% clear of his nearest rival, skate forward GUILLAUME DESBIENS! Congratulations Desi.

Brit of the Season: Another 600 plus vote count for this but 59% of them went to ROBERT DOWD. So a round of applause for the Billingham-born winger who has been always popular ever since he broke into the Steelers team full time in 2008. 

Goal of the Season: This was another landslide win with the winner capturing 61% of the 645 votes; second only managing 23%. It was an unforgettable goal on an unforgettable night. Skate forward again GUILLAUME DESBIENS, for that game winner in the play-off quarter final second leg against the Panthers.

Road Win of the Season: We have had a few decent games on the road this season, and also some that we want to forget as well. Surprisingly enough, this winner picked up 55% out of 551 votes cast and was a clear winner too. For your effort in it, please skate forward BRAD DAY as it was the 3-2 win in the NIC on the final away game that sealed the deal.

Home Performance of the Season: Yet another clear cut winner. This winner took 52% of 568 votes cast. We've mentioned earlier; so there is only one game to mention. For the third time tonight, can GUILLAUME DESBIENS come forth to collect. It's that play-off quarter final second leg that won the hearts of the voters.

Most Improved Player: Much more closer contest this one, only 5% gap between the winner and the runner-up. Winning it with 38% is a guy who came unknown but pleased us no end with his tenacity and never say quit attitude whether it be 5 on 5 or on special teams. Your winner is MARKUS NILSSON!

Stripey of the Season: Back to the convincing winning treatment, there was only one clear winner and that shows how much you have this guy in high regard. The winner with a clear 74% of almost 600 votes cast, TOM DARNELL. Popular stripey with us all, and one that is not afraid to explain why he did this and that post game with a beer in his hands.

Most Consistent Player: We have had a few consistent players this season, one's who show up every night and refuse to accept more than putting 100% in every shift. The kind of player we want to stay a Steeler until the day he decides to hang up those skates. With 45% of the votes cast, he's in for a busy night tonight folks, yes the winner is our number 41...GUILLAUME DESBIENS!

Best New Signing: We have a few changes, like all clubs do, in the close season. The winner of the award captured 40% of your hearts and probably is a guy that a lot of our female support like..I've even overheard some call him "a bit of dish" which is for those not aware; he's bloody gorgeous. We'll get to see him next season as well, your winner is JOHN ARMSTRONG.

Worst New Signing: I'm not sure he would like to come back and pick this award up since he left before Christmas. Despite averaging a point a game, there were many games that he went missing and he was supposed to be our new sniper. With 44% of the winning votes, this goes to JESSE SCHULTZ.

Non Steelers Player of the Season: As much it would be nice, this award is going down to South Wales like most EIHL silverware in 2017. It might take a diversion via Swinton which probably tells you the identity of the winner. He says he hates us but that's just Cardiff PR we think; the recipient of this goes to Cardiff netminder BEN BOWNS. Ben took 58% of the vote, his closest chaser only had 16%!

FSB Player of the Season: So the big gong, who will win the Player of the Season? The battle was reasonably close, eventually 9% separated the winner from second placed. If he can summon one last bit of energy, it's the guy who gave me a nose bleed in Nottingham but for all the right reasons though. Your winner with 43% of 595 votes cast; LEVI NELSON.

Best Play-Off Winning Goal: To conclude tonight's awards, we have had 3 goal winners of the play offs in the last nine finals. So which one did mean the most to you? 59% of the votes went to the winner and what a winner it was. Again somehow struggle to stage for the award, your winner of the Best POWG is Robert Dowd's "Bash Brother" and linemate: LEVI NELSON!

And that's your awards....we might decide to run this monthly next season so watch out for developments on that train of thought. Then we might not.... We do appreciate every single vote cast for sure. Well done to all the winners.

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:-

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The Elite Report - End Of Season Awards

You had the bore fest that was the Elite League awards show; be honest how many of you enjoyed that? Having sat through one of these beforehand, I was so glad I found the bar afterwards. It's definitely as much as a snoozefest as the third/fourth place game, but don't get me started on that one.

Now it's time for the unofficial Frozen Steel awards for the 2015-16 season, purely fueled by my own decision making. Agree then fantastic; don't agree - well that's tough as my opinion here is just my own. Put the tuxedos on gentlemen, ladies glam up your poshest frocks, it's time to hand out some awards: 

BEST NETMINDER OF THE SEASON: The winner is Cardiff Devils and Swinton's number one, Ben Bowns. Bownsy has had another sensational season, his second in South Wales. In that time, he's become an international regular and GB's number one goalie. If any player in Cardiff deserved a winner's medal, Ben was one. He didn't deserved what happened in front of him in the POFW semi-final against Coventry.

BEST BRITISH DEFENCEMAN OF THE SEASON: One player for me, and I am gonna surprise you here and that's newly acquired dual national - Evan Mosey of the Nottingham Panthers. See you though I was going to say Ben O'Connor, weren't you? Dual Nationals count to this, and any other for that matter so stick that in your proverbial pipe and smoke it. Nah; seriously Mosey has been top drawer this season and Panthers fans will be delighted he's staying for another two years. I'd love him in orange!

BEST DEFENCEMAN OF THE SEASON: Ooh tough decision here, but it's going to be Andrew Hotham of Cardiff. Exceptional defenceman who is such a threat to any opponent. He's the supreme import offensive defenceman in the league at the moment, and you can see why Andrew Lord was happy to retain his services this season just gone. If Devils can retain him for a third season, expect him to put some more huge numbers next year.

BEST BRITISH FORWARD OF THE SEASON: This was a difficult decision to make as not many British forwards have a huge impact this season, all have had a season where the imports have outshone them. In fact no British forward features in the top 30 goalscorers for the league for all your stattos out there. So I'm going to plump for the first name that does, which means it's an award to David Clarke of the Panthers. If only we had him on the powerplay with that one-timer instead of stopping it...

BEST FORWARD OF THE SEASON: If I made my decision on points accumlated then I'd be going for Joey Martin of Cardiff here, but I am not. Tyler Mosienko and Levi Nelson have both had good seasons in Steelerland but I am plumping for Matt Sisca of Manchester Storm in this category. For a complete unknown, Sisca was one of the players in a Storm jersey that really impressed me and 34 goals in 61 games is some impressive feat. Only Guillaume Doucet scored more, and that was by one.

COACH OF THE SEASON: Normally this would go to the coach of the League Champions, but not here. Neither is it going to Corey "I'm going, no I'm actually staying" Neilson whom Gary Moron believes is the best in the League; he's actually the best you've ever had Gary - nothing else but. So who wins this? I'm choosing Riley Emmerson of Edinburgh Capitals here (I'm sure CapsBanterArmy will be pleased). Why? Anyone who keeps battling on with fate dealing bad luck constantly deserves this.

PANTO VILLAIN OF THE SEASON: Only one winner here folks, and he secured this award in the penultimate week of the season. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Boris Valábik of the Coventry Blaze. To say I've seen milk turn quicker than the giant Slovak is probably the nicest comment I could actually bestow on him. The sight in mid March of a lino pushing him off the ice was just pure gold. Boris picked up 346 penalty minutes (and sorry Blaze fans, if you look at the Desbiens incident: the intent is there) this season which proves this partial sentence rings true from his Elite Prospects profile, "...sometimes takes too many unnecessary penalties."   So what did he do to get 80 games in the NHL? Head scratcher that..

and finally...

COMEDY MOMENT OF THE SEASON: Looking back on the Douchebag of the Month awards I kinda handed out this season, one stands head and shoulders above them all. It's going to go to SAS and the baggage handlers at Heathrow Terminal 2. Whilst SAS were great for me during my mid-season trip to Estonia, doing everything to make sure I got my connection in Copenhagen after unexpected delays coming out of Tallinn, they were not so great for the league's premier official Tom Darnell. Collectively, they managed to mislay Tom's bag on his way back from Denmark and cause him to miss officiating on a Steelers-Panthers game. 

So there's your awards everybody. Just don't take these serious though, it really is a bit of fun and a lighthearted look at the Elite League. Seriousness will be frowned upon.

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

@hockeybhoy

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The alternative EIHL awards show 2015

We've had the Ice Hockey UK Journalists awards, and also the Official EIHL ones too. But who's gonna win the most prestigious ones around, the FSB alternative end of season awards. Time to put on that tuxedo, fasten the bow tie and announce the winners. Ladies, it's time for you to dig out that smart dress you only wear once a year in your case. Who's going to be the winners for 2015? Time to find out then....

The Bawbag of the season (as inspired by our good friend Caps Banter Army): Only one winner here, step forward Mr Joseph Grimaldi formerly of Edinburgh Capitals. Not only did you jab a fellow hockey player in the nuts, you dropped the mitts before launching your helmet in his face then setting about him. Shocking behaviour, ultimate bawbaggery.

The Most Biased award for services to hockey egos: Just for his "commentary" skills alone, the winner is none other than GM the GM. The man sounds like a manic depressive in his commentaries and never seems to give the Panthers opponents any due credit. With an ego this big, it's amazing how it can fit through the doors of the NIC.

Comedy gold tantrum of the year: Skate forward Brian Stewart of Coventry Blaze. Although you're a bloody good goalie, you certainly know how to chuck your teddies out of your pram when things don't go to plan. Your little rant after Steelers first goal in the POF was wonderful, perhaps if you had not bothered chasing after your stick then you might have saved that effort.

Biggest whine of the season: It's an award for the other ego in Nottingham here, Mr Corey Neilson. Not only does he see his Panthers side lose to every single Gardiner Conference side at least once this season, he blames the Conference system for it. Buck stops with you Corey, you are the coach. Deal with it.

The Paul Gascoigne I'm gonna burst out into tears at any moment Memorial Award: Has to go to our favourite meerkat himself, Robert Farmer. Interviewed by GM by GM after the semi-final second leg in the Challenge Cup, poor Rob was inconsolable. He somehow held it together but you could tell how upset he was. We wonder if mummy gave him a few hugs when he got home.

Beard of the season: Skating forward to receive this award is none other Steelers very own Mathieu Roy, what a beard. I bet even David Beckham never had a beard so perfect as this one. Special mention though to Matt Nickerson of Fife who gets an acknowledgement for growing the most stupid one around, it made him look an absolute dingleberry.

Best Import of the season (forward, defence or goalie): Runaway winner here everybody, and it's a second award for Mathieu Roy. What Norway missed out on, Sheffield and the EIHL won hands down with it. An 101 point dèbut season for the man from Amos, Quebec. And guess what, he's here for two more seasons. Defences best be ready, this man is capable of even better.

Best British players (defence and forward): Some tough decision making here, and we are going to go with the following. In defence, we've selected Ben O'Connor of Sheffield - an offensive defenceman who is as good as any import in the same position. Although we like the look of Zach Sullivan of Braehead, this kid has a big future and will improve year on year if coached correctly. For the forward, we're choosing Ben Davies of Braehead. Few thought he would make such a great impact in Braehead after all those years in Cardiff, but he did. Robert Farmer is the runner-up for being an absolute irritant but being good at it.

Unsung hero of the season: Bit of a surprise this one to most, but it wasn't to Steelers coach Gerad Adams as he chose this man as his player of the season. Step forward Phil Hill. The Cardiff native goes mostly under the radar when looking at Steelers championship winning squad, but puts himself about every shift he does. Great on the PK, one can wonder what else he wants to achieve now he's got the full set of Challenge Cup (achieved in 2006 with Cardiff) and the Play-Offs and League title in the last two seasons.

Lookalike of the season: Couldn't split this one, it is shared between two of Corey Neilson's Brits. To rapturous applause we award it to Aleksandr Orlov and Daniel Bryan. Yes a meerkat and a WWE "wrestler" no less. Actually to give them their real identities, Robert Farmer and Jonathan Boxill. Take a closer inspection and you will see why. In the words of Bryan Danielson's alter ego: "Yes, yes, yes!"

Self destruction event of the season: It has to be Cardiff Devils for their final 10 minutes of action at the House of Steel on 11 March 2015. From having no penalties called on them in the first 50 minutes of what was an absolute hammering it has to be said, Devils pressed the self destruction button firmly and lost their collective marbles. Three players ejected, of which DOPS took no action, and 100 minutes clocked in that mad spell. Crazy....

Coach of the season: We know that Andrew Lord did alright as a rookie player/coach but he ain't getting our award. Neither is Finner as he presided over a collapse that would be featured on "British Greatest Sporting Tragedies" if they ever made such a programme. No, it's only right to give to the coach of the Elite League Champions. Why would you give to someone who didn't get the big prize. It goes to G, that's all that needs saying.

The Quack Quack Oops Flop of the season: When he left the Most Versatile Arena for the Sky Dome, everyone expected Jeremiè Tendler to take his goalscoring talents there. However, bar a few games Mr Tendler has been doing a great impression of the invisible man. Many times he has been on the periphery, and a total of just 18 goals in 59 games (including play-offs) is testament to what a bad season the Viceroy native had in front of goal. There were signs in the POF that he was back to his best but one can only wonder will Chuck Weber give him another chance. Personally, I think leaving Hull was the biggest mistake Jeremiè made.

and finally, the Team Of The Season: Some good contenders here in every position so that's why we have picked a first all-star team and a second all-star team. Do you agree, what's your team(s) if you don't? Here goes:

First All Star Team:

Brian Stewart (Coventry Blaze)

Ben O'Connor (Sheffield Steelers)     Josh Batch (Cardiff Devils)

Leigh Salters (Braehead Clan)   Joey Martin (Cardiff Devils)    Mathieu Roy (Sheffield Steelers)

Second All Star Team:

Kyle Jones (Braehead Clan)

Cullen Eddy (Sheffield Steelers)    Tyson Marsh (Cardiff Devils)

Chris Lawrence (Nottingham Panthers)   Mike Forney (Sheffield Steelers)   Stefan Meyer (Braehead Clan)  

And that is that! Hope you enjoyed the 2014-15 season, we'll be back again ahead of the Champions Hockey League. See you later hockey fans...

Mark

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:-
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EOY Awards Competition Winner

You voted, you entered. Thank you to all entries, glad to have had such an uptake. We had 7 correct answers, and their names were put into a hat.

The answer to our question was that the Steelers beat the Coventry Blaze in the 2008 Playoff final. Jonathan Phillips and Dan Tessier got the goals.

And the winner is....

FROZEN STEEL END OF YEAR AWARDS 2014

You voted. We listened. Here are your winners.

Thank you to everyone who cast their votes, you're all scholars and shall be rewarded for your kindness.

Before we start I'd like to thank Dean Woolley for his kind permission to use his photos on this piece, and throughout the season on our articles. The man is a talent.

So without further ado...

Frozen Steel End Of Season Awards - Your Chance To Win A Goodie Bag

A month or so ago we reached 500 followers on Twitter, which quite frankly is ludicrous for some people ranting about Ice Hockey. A huge thank you to everybody who has followed us, you're all diamonds.

I promised you all a competition when we reached that mark. I haven't forgotten. I was just looking for a good excuse. And here it is.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the first annual Frozen Steel Blog End Of Season Awards.