After a great result against Red Bull Salzburg at the
weekend, here’s our latest Frozen Steel Soapbox where we’ll bring you some
views and thoughts from a selection of Sheffield Steelers hockey fans.
It’s time to get on your soapboxes people!
We’ve got contributions from: Robert Newbolt, Glynn, Mark Duell, Andy
Roberts and Bethan so let’s crack on...
How were you feeling after
the match on Sunday?
- Robert - The game was everything I hoped for and more with the result going in our favour. I thought with Salzburg’s hectic schedule there may be a chance, but I wasn’t expecting such a sterling performance - we dominated them, and it was a change to see a European side tiring in the third: not the other way round. The best thing about it was that, at four goals up they didn’t look as though they would get back in it, and they weren’t continually camped around the Steelers’ goal.
- Glynn - Absolutely knackered & my body ached like I'd actually played the full 60 minutes.....but that's mainly due to my weekend in London & the 10 Miles of walking I did on Saturday! The only other feeling I had was pride in how we worked so hard all game & came from 0-1 & 1-2 down to beat one of Europe's big budget teams.
- Mark - Oh fabulous, absolutely delighted. The team showed the rest of the CHL that they’re not just there to make up the numbers. Each player put in a shift and by gosh didn't they get their reward? Definitely one of those "I was there" memories, and if we play like that in the EIHL...
- Andy - Rather hot and sweaty as I am sunning myself in tropical Mexico! Seriously I was proud of the team finally getting a win in the CHL - we have come a long way since last season. I was also gutted that I wasn’t at the HoS to witness it in person. At least the hotel wifi was good enough to catch a stream without buffering! A job well done by everyone involved - the team, the fans, the volunteers and more importantly Tony Smith!
- Bethan – Really pleased, I’m glad we finally have something to show for all of the hard work that has gone it to preparing for the CHL these past two years. Admittedly Salzburg probably weren’t giving us their all seeing as they had already qualified, but I still feel it was a hard won match and our boys represented themselves incredibly well. I’m very glad my prediction was off by a country mile!
What’s your one
highlight from the game?
- Andy – I have to go with Dowd’s goal to take the lead. I was nigh on cartwheeling round the pool when we scored. Good job I was at a quiet pool so I didn't look too stupid! Goal of the night was Schultz's HT goal - what a shot...whoosh it's behind you!
- Robert - The highlight from my point of view was the Jesse Schultz hat trick goal. The way he stole the puck at centre ice and strode towards the net left me in no doubt that he would score as he looked so determined.
- Glynn - Highlight of Sunday's win? Luke's goal maybe just edges out Dowdy's go ahead goal in the dying seconds of the 2nd period, although Schultz's hat trick goal was a belter too.
- Bethan – The goal that sticks in my mind is Ferrara’s to make it 4-2, mainly because from our seats we had a perfect view! Luke looked like he had the entire net to shoot into, so we were almost celebrating before the puck had left his stick.
- Mark - The hat-trick goal from Schultz. He back checked well, won possession and then administered the coup de grâce. A brilliant individual piece of play, and one that had us all out of our seats.
What's your take on the CHL experience overall?
- Glynn - The CHL for me is a nice way to kick-start the season, and it’s good to see how we compare to the bigger budget teams in Europe. Yes the EIHL has improved significantly over the last few years, but with very different budgets it's difficult to see anything other than small steps and occasional victories in improving our league's standing/importance in the CHL. It's also a great experience for fans who want to travel to watch the team in Europe, and indeed fans at the Arena when these teams & their fans come over to the UK. Overall I'm pleased we are in it, but another season of dominating the EIHL comes ahead of it priority-wise in my book.
- Mark - It's been another learning curve, and I fully expected it to be so. But now we have our first win in the competition, we move on. We know we can compete and what we need to do to garner wins now. Kick onwards to better things and we can make it to the last 32 next year. That would be an achievement.
- Robert - Great for novelty value. The fact that we have to pay to be in it makes me wonder if it is worth it. Fair enough it attracts better players to the Steelers etc. but is that enough?
- Bethan – I’ve really enjoyed the experience of the CHL games I’ve seen in Sheffield and Nottingham – it’s a great chance to see teams from all over Europe and equally their brilliant travelling fans! I think it is a factor contributing to the recent improvement of the EIHL, and it’s a great promotion of UK hockey.
- Andy - My take on the CHL is that the EIHL needs to keep entering the competition. The only way our league improves is by playing better teams and seeing how they do things. Teams are already implementing some changes already with conditioning coaches etc. I hope we make it next year as the trip to Sweden was one of my favourite away trips ever. Next year with a round robin of 4 teams it should mean an EIHL team (if invited) would have a more realistic chance of not finishing bottom of the group, although getting to the last 16 is still a big task at the minute.
Where does the EIHL rank in European hockey, and do
you think that view has changed in recent years?
- Mark - It's getting better that's for sure. Of course we cannot compete budget wise, I mean EC Red Bull Salzburg had a playing budget this season of £3.2 million. £3.2 million! That's possibly more than the entire EIHL combined. But EIHL clubs are attracting players, examples being McGrattan, Bordeleau and Armstrong. With the right infrastructures and development, it can only grow.
- Bethan – I think it’s definitely improving – hopefully we’re losing the ‘beer league’ reputation of years gone by, and are beginning to earn some credibility. Our facilities are also starting to improve, which can only mean good things for the standard of hockey, and the UK is starting to be seen as an attractive place for some good players to sign.
- Robert - This is very subjective but I do believe the EIHL has risen in the eyes of many to a higher level than a couple of years ago. The top three leagues, and I think most are in agreement, are NHL, KHL and SHL.
- Andy - We are still classed as minnows in a big pond, but I think we are slowly changing the conceptions in Europe of us being a beer league and we are seen as a more professional outfit. That said I am sure the ice problems in the HV71 game and the scoreboard issues (all of which are out of our control - I think) might have taken us a step back. The win against Salzburg and being 3-3 with HV71 in Sweden must surely have brought us forward again?
And finally, after saying goodbye to Rod Sarich at the
end of the match, any last words and what’s your lasting memory of the man?
- Glynn - Rod Sarich, thanks for the many happy memories and your contribution towards the numerous league & cup titles. There were times you frustrated us all & gained the title "NHS Rod" from some sources, but overall you were a stalwart of the Steelers defence. It's a shame you never got to play at least 1 season with your brother Corey at the Steelers, but that just wasn't meant to be. Happy retirement, unless we need you again this season...
- Robert - I was disappointed when he didn’t return under Doug Christiansen. His skating ability at that time was up with the best and his transition from defence to attack could be awesome. His shot from the blue line on the powerplay left many netminders gasping, and some of his crunching hits were phenomenal. A lot of people would have given up the sport after losing half a kidney but not Rod. It just showed what the players thought of him as they saluted him with a guard of honour on Sunday.
- Mark - Fantastic player and servant to this hockey club. Who would have known when he arrived 11 years ago that he'd still be here. He's given us everything, including as Simms said "a kidney", to continue playing. That's my best memory, the fact he came back from a serious injury to play again. Not many sportsmen would do that. Must have spent a fortune on hair products to keep it so perfect though...
- Bethan – He certainly kept up what was called with much fondness in our house the ‘Roddy average’ – he always seemed to follow moments of absolute brilliance with a daft giveaway or firing a shot into the middle of nowhere! I’ve always loved him regardless and I’m really glad he’s stuck around in Sheffield for so long. My favourite thing about him however, has to be his absolutely wonderful blogs in the Yorkshire Post, I can’t read any of them without crying with laughter! Next time you have a bad day you really have to google them!
- Andy - What a servant to the club Rod has been. He has been a favourite in our household for many seasons, I know the Mrs is going to be gutted for a long while. Yes he made some howlers but the vision pass, and that unexpected sprint up the ice to make something out of nothing far out-weighed the gaffs. The guy is a warrior, just not in a Fitzy kind of way. Loses part of his kidney playing the game which for most would have said enough is enough. Not Rod! I think it was the Continental Cup where he had his broken foot frozen and injected so he play a part for the team where most would have just said “I can't play”. Fairly sure if you cut him in two, much like Ron Shudra and Hewey, it would say Sheffield Steelers in the middle. Thanks for the memories! Hope it isn’t the last we see of you at the HoS. I have a sneaking suspicion it won’t be...
That’s all folks. Hope you enjoyed reading our thoughts, and we’d love
you to get involved too.
Help set the agenda for next week with your questions, or even better
get involved and give your views as one of the panel. We would love different
views and different participants each week. Please contact Mark
@frozensteelblog or Tony @Disgu15ed, or find us at the game.
Brief Bios of those panellists you’ve just been listening to in the
series so far :
- Alan is @frozensteelmnl for match night updates and @AwkwardGinge for everything else. Has been watching Hockey for many years, and given half a chance will regale you with tales of the London Knights. Catch him on the Breaking the Ice podcast too.
- Andy is the big man with the big horn (or VuVuzela if you prefer) who can be found at most home and away games, and propping the bar up afterwards. Andy is @ic3creamman.
- Bethan represents the younger end of the fan base, and has loved the team ever since being dragged along to her first Steelers game in 2007. Follow her on Twitter at @bethan_4
- Eric is a season ticket holder and can be found shouting encouragement to our players and scorn at the zebras alongside three generations of his family in block 115. Views can be found @greenbunch257
- Glynn can be found @glynnm76 has been watching the Steelers on and off since ‘91. Massive Ron Shudra fan and owner of an EIHL League Championship medal.
- Kevin and Fergus are a Father-Son duo that grew up watching and playing ice hockey in Europe (mainly Germany) who are both very opinionated and can be heard from block 115. Twitters are @SedgyFergus and @KevWright65
- Mark is one of the main men behind the Frozen Steel blog, being the Editor and Podcast pundit, and has watched the club since its inception. Find him at @hockeybhoy
- Nathan and his Mrs have been going to games since Feb 2014 after getting fed up with football. Another season ticket holder in 115 who tries to get to away games and refuses steadfastly to join in with Sweet Caroline. He’s @NJT75Owl
- Robert is chief architect of http://steelers-stats.com/ the go-to guy for Steelers history from days gone by, and the man behind one of the big White House spotlights! Robert is @steelersstats.
- Tony has been watching the Steelers on and off since Tony Hand arrived, and has been a regular for the last eight years or so. Enjoys contributing to the blog with his weekly five things and can be found @Disgu15ed
