Welcome once again to the views that are "From The Editor's Chair"; the weekly column where FSB Editor Mark starts talking hockey. Another twist this week, like we have been doing a bit of recently, and with a bit of a Welsh flavour to it. No, Mark is not going to waffle about his Welsh godmother, just read and find out.
On Tuesday night, Steelers hosted a testimonial (the third in as many years, who will be next?) for a guy that has become one of the best captains we have seen in our building. Fellow fans I bring you, Jonathan Phillips:
Apologies for the crap photo above, I honestly don't have a decent one of me and the skipper and that's probably the best of a bad bunch. Now back to Jono, he's a captain that doesn't shout and bawl as much as you would expect some captains (especially in other sports) to be. He's the archetypal quietly spoken type, who just looks at you to make you accountable. Obviously when he joined us in the summer of 2006 as a fresh faced 24 year old, who would have thought that he would be celebrating a testimonial with us in 2016? I bet Jono didn't.
Whilst he doesn't put up massive numbers like your Mathieu Roy's, Jono quietly goes about his business every shift he does and puts in 100 per cent. He's a coaches dream, and fellow players respect him as much as we do as fans. That's why, bar one season when Doug Christansen appointed Steven Goertzen and his initial season when Shawn Maltby wore the "C", he's been captain ever since and that respect also transmits into the national team where he has been captain for numerous campaigns.
He's a great bloke to chat with off ice and that's what makes him so popular. Like Rod Sarich, I sincerely hope that the Club finds a role for Jono off-ice when he does finally hang up those skates. He's publicly said on numerous occasions, Sheffield is his home now not Cardiff. That speaks volumes of the man if you didn't realise it already. To those who attended Tuesday, I missed it because of work commitments, I hope you enjoyed the night for such a superb Steelers servant. He deserved the appreciation.
Now the second part of the article, which I promise you will not be as long as the previous bit. Cardiff at the moment are, in some eyes, tearing the league apart. They stand at the moment, 11 points clear and depending on how we perform this weekend - could be much further into the distance. The Devils support are extremely happy, and who wouldn't be, a first ever Elite League title could be conceivably coming down to South Wales after many near misses. The last time they won a league title of sorts was 20 years ago, so it's been a bit of a wait (not as long as the Panthers and their 57 years).
So do they deserve it, and deny us the history that is a three-peat? To be frank, yes they do. They are far and away the best side in the country this season, and even when they had a slump, they bounced straight back. Hats off to Andrew Lord, he's got a roster that is capable of winning home and away and consistently too. That's how much respect I have for him and this Cardiff team, and I am not saying this just because they're beating us each time we play them.
If we finish second to them, then I'll be happy. Runners-up to one of the best Devils sides in the EIHL era would be no failure in my eyes. Of course, I would love it if we caught up on them and pipped them again in the home stretch - who wouldn't. Cardiff have set a high bar this season, so much so that even Daley Thompson would struggle to get over it. They are finding ways to win when they appear to look beaten, and that's the hallmark of a team that wins Championships. You can knock them down, but they get back up again (apologies to Chumbawumba). I can't see them failing, and I ain't no Mystic Meg.
Well that's all from me this week as regards my opinion. See you next week.
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