What a weekend...PART TWO!

Welcome to the second part of "What A Weekend!"; the final weekend of the Steelers regular season as seen through my own eyes. The team had just won in the National Ice Centre, home of the Nottingham Panthers, on an emotional night. Could they finish the job in front of their own fans or would Cardiff spoil the party just like they had done just 13 days earlier in the Challenge Cup Final? Stay tuned in...

After the game Friday, it was time to unwind in the Lace City and despite the vocal chords being strained beyond belief, nothing was going to stop me. A couple of beers in Bunkers Hill were downed before heading off to the Pit and Pendulum just around the corner from the hotel. This pub reminds me of the Dove and Rainbow back here in Sheffield, similar ambience and playing the music I can often be found blasting through headphones. I would have gone to Rock City but when I saw they had a chart and dance night on; the P and P proved to be an inspired alternative. We got back to the hotel at almost 2:00am and nodded off by 3.

The good thing about the Ibis was that we could check out as late as noon which was excellent as it allowed us to have a lie-in and recover from Friday's exertions, The voice had almost returned back to normal, and so after a stroll around the superbly organised Continental Market in Market Square where I purchased some kangaroo burgers (seriously I did, just ask Alan), we headed back to South Yorkshire. There was a league title to be won for the first time since 2011 if we didn't freeze, so to speak, on the occasion.

Arriving back at the Arena at just before 6, I was astounded to hear some of my fellow Steelers fans saying how nervous they were before the game. Crikey, if they were nervous, how must have the actual players and Gerad have been - you could easily multiply that ten-fold. To me, it was just another game or as I kept reminding myself exactly that. I was trying to remain as cool as I could on the exterior with little emotion showing. I must have been one of the most calmest people in the House of Steel before the puck dropped at 19:06 hours from the hand of Reading based stripey Tom Darnell - whom I still maintain is the best official we have in the league, way ahead of Mr Hicks...

Cardiff knew they couldn't leave Sheffield without a win, and it was they who opened the scoring just after the ten and a half minute mark. Carl Hudson was the man who lit the lamp with a strike that caught Steelers on the hop after what appeared a bad line change. At the other end Ben Bowns was having one of those nights as he seemed equal to everything that we could throw at him: just like the Challenge Cup Final all over again. Josh Unice was proving equally good, bar the goal, and we finished the first twenty trailing by that solitary goal.

Steelers ramped up the intensity in the second and after banging on the proverbial door many times, it was my Mam and Samantha Dale's favourite who broke Bowns' resistance with a nicely executed leveller at 27:19. The irrepressible Mosienko and Phillips with the helpers. It was also the cue for the teddy bears to hit the ice and the delay affected us. The momentum swung back Devils' way and we had to be thankful for a combination of dogged defending and some solid saves from Unice to ensure we didn't go into the third period behind. The end of the second period hooter came as a massive relief.

Naturally the third period was a cautious one, with only nine shots registered in total by both sides as each looked for that all important breakthrough. My voice was waning again as the game progressed, and it took a modern day legend to break the tie. Former Devil (and Cardiff born) Phil Hill picked up the puck in the left circle after Bowns had saved from Jeff Legue, threw it across ice where that same number 12 had escaped the attentions of Tyson Marsh and he rammed in his 232nd EIHL Steelers goal into the gaping goal with Bowns stranded. The noise level went up another notch.

What followed was periods of pressure from Cardiff, but the Steelers were in no mood to let this slip. Defending like trojans and limiting the Devils to the outside, basic smart hockey when you are in front. Legue had scored with just over 14 minutes left so it was a long time to hold onto such a slender advantage against a team who have pretty good offence as much as you. But Adams' plan was executed to perfection and at 21:21 (the number 21 being so significant in many respects), time ran out on Cardiff and we celebrated. After 72 emotional hours, the Monteith Bowl returned back to Sheffield. It had been done "For Amy" and she could look down on us all and celebrate in heaven. Champions League hockey was coming its way to Sheffield. 

The following night, Cardiff went out and beat a Nottingham team (who simply had nothing to play for in the league, Steelers win against the Devils had given Corey Neilson's team the Erhardt Conference title) 6-2 but even that was only good enough for third. Braehead secured second and the second Champions League spot thanks to former Steeler Stefan Meyer's game winner in Fife to triumph 3-2 (they had beaten Hull 9-4 on Saturday night). And that was that!

So we now head into the two legged quarter final play-offs this weekend. Steelers entertain Fife, Braehead have Hull, Nottingham are paired with Coventry and Cardiff get Belfast. Form should see both Steelers and Clan progress (although upsets can happen as Steelers know to their cost in both 2012 and 2013) whilst the other two could go either way. Panthers face a tough couple of games against massively improved Blaze; the team I personally wanted to avoid; whilst Devils face a Giants side that have failed to deliver this season and will be keen to put some kind of smiles on the faces of the Teal Army. The match ups will determine who will get invites to the Final Four party the following weekend at the NIC. I ain't making any predictions though.


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The Walkeden Review - Legue Returns to the Steelers

We all thought it was the end of an Era during the summer when Jeff Legue decided to leave to join the Steeldogs well it turned out we was wrong when on the evening of Tuesday 23^rd December 2014 it was announced by the Elite League leaders that Top all time point scorer in the EIHL era Jeff Legue had re-signed for them till the end of the 2015/16 season.

I think I speak for a lot of fans when I say welcome home Jeff. Jeff will also not being wearing his usual #11 shirt as it is now back in the rafters after it was retired in honour of Tommy Plommer but Jeff has taken on the #12 shirt as his son was born in the 12^th month. Now for the question what line will Jeff play on? For me I can’t see Gerad breaking up our top two lines as they have major chemistry and are just outstanding so that leaves Legue joining the third line and what an improvement he makes to it and that’s not taking away how well they have done over the last few weeks but on a personal note a massive upgrade on Latulippe as the former Devils man just never turned out to be the player he was in Cardiff. I can see Jeff jumping on the power play unit though alongside Sarich maybe! As let’s be honest we all know what them two can do together especially on the man advantage. But we will find out on Friday as Legue makes his debut in the Boxing Day showdown with them down the road the Nottingham Panthers before the Steelers travel to Nottingham on Saturday.

Gerad had this to say about the re-signing of Jeff (From the Steelers website) “I Couldn’t be happier, Jeff Legue knows what it is to be Steeler. He knows how to win and what is expected from players here. The whole club just got a lot better today.”

Jeff had this to say himself (From the Steelers website) “This is a great opportunity for me to come back to the Steeler sand help contribute to a push for a championship. Chances like that don’t come around often, especially at this stage of my career.”

So far in a Steelers jersey since his debut in 2007 Jeff has played in 448 games scoring 551 points getting a massive 240 goals and a further 311 assists. So far this season while playing for the Steeldogs in the EPL Legue has played in a total of 20 games scoring 32 points (20+12) and he’ll look to continue his scoring form as well as add to his Steelers total this coming Friday. So get along to the Arena for the crunch game to which will be an almost near sell out and the first chance to welcome Jeff home.

So once again Jeff welcome home!

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The Retired Numbers Debate - An "Awkward" Analysis

Hello folks! It's been a while!

I hope you've all been keeping well during the off season. It's not long until the puck drops, thankfully!

I'm going to get straight to the point. It seems to me that the old chestnut debate over retired numbers has flared up again today on Twitter, so rather than send a series of incoherent tweets I thought I'd actually get back to writing a blog post about it all, so I hope you've got your feet up and a cuppa nearby.

Mark Duell - Surprise Time

Oft-time contributor Mark Duell returns with his take on the past week.

Don't you just love the off season?

Players re-signing, players leaving and players retiring. In the world we all know as Steelers World, it’s never normal. I can’t remember many seasons recently when we have had a period of smoothness. There’s always been something happening that makes you sigh, and inhale a sharp intake of breath.

Each of us collectively do this every season and wonder what the time between the first or second week of April and the start of September is going to throw at us. These last six days have been nothing out of the ordinary.

Jeff Legue - The End Of An Era

The recent rumours have now become a reality.

7 years, 421 games, 230 goals, 284 assists and multiple championships after first becoming a Sheffield Steeler, the Jeff Legue era has come to an end.

However, it comes as no surprise.

Jeff became a father for the first time this season and if you tie that in with his admittedly aging body you can see why the switch from the Steelers to the Steeldogs has happened.

His new deal provides him a solid foundation for the next chapter in his and his young family's life. 3 year contracts are somewhat unheard of in the UK hockey scene, however that is what Jeff has been dealt by the Steeldogs, and quite frankly, good on him for securing his future and good on the Steeldogs for being able to provide just that.

Jeff has played at above a point a game his entire EIHL career and he will be quite a player for the Steeldogs and the EPL in general.

The move makes perfect sense for everybody involved and will benefit everyone.

The only downside to this is some Steelers fans will feel like they've not really had chance to say thank you and goodbye to Jeff, but I sense that the world of social media will soon get that message across to him.

We have been with him, as he has been with us, through the highs and lows both on and off the ice. The electric pace and the silky smooth goals have had us on the edge of our seats. The silly slashes and penalties have had us ripping our hair out. The various stories involving Jeff have had us all laughing. The loss of his father had us all coming together as one, providing him with support and comfort. The championships have had us jumping for joy and celebrating together.

We've been very fortunate to have watched him perform at his prime playing the sport he loves to play and as fans we should all feel privileged for having been able to see that.

Above all else though, we've had the pleasure of being able to know and interact with Jeff Legue the human being.

He's always stopped and talked to people and been more than happy to pose for pictures with fans or sign merchandise. He has been a perfect example for how sportsmen and women should conduct themselves in the real world and how to be real role models for the next generation.

It has been a pleasure to have had him in a Sheffield Steelers jersey for the last 7 years and it will be good to see him play another 3 years within the city that has pretty much become his home.

Even though he is now a Steeldog, he will always be a Steeler to the fans and will always be a part of the Steelers family.

We will all wish him the best for the next chapter in his life because it is exactly what he deserves.

His time and dedication to the club, the on ice achievements and the interaction with the fans are what have made him be held in such high regard among the fan base and the Steelers organisation as a whole.

When you add everything together, you soon realise why Jeff has become something special in the eyes of a vast number of people.

When he joined the club in his mid 20's he arrived as a hockey player that most fans didn't really know much about. Some 7 years later he is leaving the club as something completely different.

A legend.

Thank you Jeff, thank you.

You know the drill folks.

@IAmMcCausland
@TomWalkeden
@AwkwardGinge
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Until next time...

Alan
@AwkwardGinge

Thank You Jeff Legue

Don't say a word. Don't try to explain it, or justify it, or read between the lines of it.

Just accept it for what it is and join me in saying:

Thank You Jeff Legue

Thank you for the championships.

Thank you for all the goals and assists.

Thank you for being loyal to the Steelers for 7 years.

Thank you for laying your body on the line and giving it your all for our team.

Thank you, Jeff Legue. You will be sorely missed in orange. Go knock 'em dead in the EPL.