Steeldogs Spotlight 16th March

Thank you to Roger Williams and Jake Oakley for their contribution to FSB, All Credit for this piece goes to them so any queries you can contact them on Twitter @SnapperJakeO and @ElGordoSteel

Steeldogs 1 Wildcats 4

After an OT loss in Peterborough on Saturday night, the Bradfield Brewery Sheffield Steeldogs took on the Swindon Wildcats. The home team played the game with Andre Payette taking a coaching role as there was a full complement of players available.

The Steeldogs had lots of the early pressure but didn't give GB net minder Lyle any real work. Disappointingly Harding beat Sedlar with a tame effort at 4.17. Persistence from Elliott saw the puck go past Lyle but Ref Boardman had blown his whistle milliseconds before. A great shift from Hirst yielded three hits and gave Squires a shooting chance that somehow didn't go in. The teams left the ice for their break after 20 minutes with Swindon going in a goal to the good.

In the second period The Dogs generated more decent opportunities in the early stages but as in the first, it was the visitors who found the twine as some snappy passing between Malasinski and Hoog saw the former score at 23.28. Sheffield had an extended session of 5 on 3 play but the power play struggled to create the killer chances and Lyle swallowed up anything that did get through. Roles then reversed and the Wildcats had the two man advantage. They were kept out by a couple of stunning Sedlar saves but Harding fired past him as the last penalty ticked down, putting the visitors up by 3 goals to nil. It summed up the Steeldogs night when Korhon finally earned a penalty shot after being dragged back but after sending the puck a little too far in front, a Lyle poke-check denied the #27.

The final period felt like everyone was just going through the motions and even at half speed Swindon extended their lead with Nell firing the puck home. With Lyle's shutout looking increasingly likely, Ozolins took another skate down the wing and somehow squeezed one past the Cats future coach at 52.07.

The game ended with a 4-1 win for Swindon on a night when the Steeldogs struggled to establish any kind of hold on the game. Man of the Match beers were awarded to Adam Harding for Swindon and Lubomir Korhon for the Steeldogs.

The final league game of the season is next weekend in Bracknell and the league campaign will be put to bed. Attention then turns to Operation Coventry 2015 when we will be preparing to play our home Play-Off Quarter Final on Friday 27th March, face-off 8pm. Keep up to date on the website and social media for news leading up to the game.

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Steeldogs Spotlight

The Bradfield Brewery Sheffield Steeldogs welcomed Andre Payette back to the bench as they took on the Swindon Wildcats in a Saturday Night home game.

The first period started at a good pace, with the puck being moved by the teams from end to end although neither team made the net minders earn their keep in the early exchanges. In the middle of the session a minor disagreement between Elliott and Harding led to a period of 4 on 4 which helped open up the game with Korhon having two chances to beat Lyle in quick succession. The game switched up a gear from here and both net minders found themselves called on to make some crucial saves as the forwards began to chip away in the defensive zones. The opening goal of the game came at 19.02 when a puck thrown from the corner went in off Lewis Bell's skate and was credited to Aaron Nell. The Steeldogs were unfortunate to go in at the break, trailing by a single goal.

The second period got underway and the Steeldogs gave a statement of intent early, getting into the Wildcats zone and creating pressure. This was finally rewarded on 39.28 when Steeldogs’ forwards really clicked as Ashley Calvert set Cam Brownley up to beat Lyle at the back post on a feed from Ben Morgan. With the period nearly over, Tom Squires skated smoothly in from the right wing and pulled a move that seemed to fox Lyle but the puck ultimately spun away from the goal. The honours were even at the end of 40 minutes.

The final period started with pace and intensity from both sides and Harding scored at 41.44 after neat work down low which pulled Sedlar out of position. The Steeldogs kept at it but a minute later an odd man break led to Nell dispatching his own rebound off Sedlar to increase the lead to 3-1. Swindon began to shut up shop, as the Steeldogs found it harder and harder to break through the defence and create clear chances. The clock was ticking down and with 2.09 left Malasinski fired home on the power play to end the game as a contest. At the following restart, Pattison and Moore dropped the gloves and both got 2+2 for roughing. On 59:12 Swindon poured salt on Sheffield's wounds with Malasinski scoring his second of the game, making it a 5-1 final score.

Stevie Lyle took the Man of the Match honours for Swindon, with a display of solid net minding, making some game winning saves. Craig Elliott was awarded the Sheffield Steeldogs Man of the Match beers, a solid performance as he continues his return from injury.

We have a double header away weekend coming up, where we lock horns with Swindon Wildcats again and the Bracknell Bees on Sunday. Back at ice Sheffield on Sunday December 7th versus the Guildford Flames.

Pics by @SnapperJakeO

Words @ElGordoSteel

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