It's Been A While, Frozen Steel!

As the title suggests; it’s been a while, in factit has been over 2 months! I suppose I should explain myself to the FSB readers whilst I can. My absence has been long and needed in regards to my degree. By no means am I doing the hardest degree in the world but all my efforts needed to go into that. Working on a short film, a film script and even working on highlights for the Sheffield Steelers Ball Hockey Club! I am now on Christmas break, so I am hoping to jump back on the FSB horse!

As I write this, we currently sit 1 point above Braehead with 2 games in hand on them too! Not too shabby I think! Saturday against Hull should be 2 points but as we have seen a lot this season, ANYTHING can happen in the EIHL. So I look forward to seeing you guys there!

One thing I did want to address in this blog post is how well the team have been performing recently. For me, we are the best team in the league right now. Our 2^nd line could easily play against the top lines of at least 7 of the other 9 teams! 

A few players I feel are very “unsung” if you will; Phil Hill and Rod Sarich. Now, Rod is like Marmite for a lot of people, you either love him or you hate him. Personally, I’d have Rod in Orange until he can’t go any longer. His reading of the play is exceptional and his strength is brilliant. Yes, he isn’t going to light up the league and become top points scorer or best D-Man, but he will always be a great asset to the Orange Army. Phil Hill, again is like Marmite. A lot of people dislike him, and sometimes I see why. On the other hand though (especially whilst Hewy has been out) Hill has stepped up his game and has been hitting (and sometimes slashing) anything that moves. He has been an absolute animal for us on the 3^rd unit and does his job very well; I for one say, keep it up Phil!

I know this was short, but let’s keep it sweet until the weekend; when I will be back writing the View from Block 105!

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Poll Results - What Needs To Change? - Plus Details of Our Latest Poll

Last week, we asked what you thought needed to change about the Steelers org, after some sections of fans were calling for widespread changes throughout. Here's the results

Yeah, we're not getting many responses, but thank you for those who did.

Roster - 12% Players' Mentality - 12% Fitness Rate - 12% Coaches - 0% Coaching Philosophy - 37% Coaching Ideas - 62% Fan's Expectations - 37% (multiple options were available, percentage is of the number of voters)

So essentially, it is believed that the coaches need new ideas and a new philosophy, but they also need to stay. Hmm. Curious. There is also a higher-than-expected vote for the idea that fans' expectations need to change. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so.

This week's poll is one related to the success of the club.

When I first started watching, we were 'enjoying' Matsos Hockey. Not the greatest to watch, but damn successful (for two years at least). Then we had Simon Hockey, which managed to mix the two. Since then we have had Finner Hockey, which was somewhat entertaining without having the success, and Christiansen Hockey, which....well...anyway.

We want to know what is more important to you. Being entertained by swashbuckling, hard-hitting hockey, or winning everything. Yes, both are possible at the same time, but there's a trail of thought that both are mutually exclusive. So...which would you prefer?

VOTE NOW!

Poll Results - Music At The Arena? + New Poll

Earlier this week, we asked you if you would like to try a game without the interruption of music during breaks in play, in order to get chants going and build up some organic noise in the arena. Judging by the low turnout, I presume it isn't much of an issue to most fans due to a low turnout, but out of those who voted, 66% said they would like to try a game without background music, and try to create a natural atmosphere. A bigger turnout, and it may have been worth mentioning the results to the club.

Our next topic.

On Wednesday night, I suggested we need a change, and speculated what the change was that we need. Well now I'm asking you.

The poll is now live on the desktop version of the site. Go onto a PC/Laptop/Mac, or select View Full Site on a mobile device, and register your vote. We want to hear from you!

Steelers releases!! Were they the right decision??

As were just about to go into the fourth month of the season what can we say other than its been a very inconsistent season for the Sheffield Steelers. Some people may argue this is one of the worst teams we've had in a long time but I completely disagree I think its one of the best teams we've had in awhile. In my eyes Doug Christiansen is putting his own stamp on the club which he said he would do and yeah were struggling to put a run together and take all four points on a weekend and been settling for two out four pretty much every weekend of the season so far but you try running a team that has had as many injuries as we have we was without 3 defenders for how many weeks one who is still out, the best backup goalie in the league hasn't even seen a match night yet, and then you look at Maxime Lacroix who unfortunately was ruled out in Nottingham back in September for 4-5 months with a broken leg and before he got injured he was outstanding and looked like he was going to be the top point scorer for the Steelers if not the Elite League, and so far we get a player back and another goes off injured. We've had to bring in Ilpo Salmivirta mid season who has since been released along with with Rylan Galiardi who was with Sheffield in Pre-Season we have also had to bring in Nate DeCasmirro, Robert Sirianni and Phil Hill mid season to fill up the team sheet because of injured basically what I want to talk about is whether releasing Rylan or Ilpo or if not both of them was the wrong decision.

We all know Rylan Galiardi did a hell of a lot of travel to meet up with his team mates in pre-season out in Europe I think it was like 26 hours of straight travelling, when Rylan was signed his stats look promising and I thought yes he could be a big player for us especially after Ryan Menei had pulled out of his contract due to family reasons but every time I saw Rylan play in a competitive match and I think I saw just about all 12 of his games he just never seemed to be the player a lot of people expected of him as some people would say but I thought (2+7) in 12 games I didn't think was bad but I do have to agree he just never seemed to fit into any of the lines and if I look at the line up now I don't think there is anyone you could take out to play him other than Phil Hill but if were being completely honest as soon as Lacroix is fit enough to play he will be back in that top line. I was one of the unlucky fans who got #39 Galiardi on my home jersey and I'd be lying if i said I wasn't gutted when he got released but looking on it now it was probably the right decision; yes he might have improved massively and start racking up the points but at the time of his release it was a case of he wasn't better than we already had and someone had to go unfortunately.

Now when it comes to Ilpo Salmivirta it didn't take him long to become a fan favourite but it wasn't a case of the Sheffield Steelers didn't want him it was a case of he was offered a better contract at Amiens in the French league, could we have done more to convince him to stay in Sheffield yes probably because the fans certainly wanted him to stay especially when he was on that line along with DeCasmirro and Sirianni accumulating 8 points in 8 games (0+8) yeah Ilpo didn't manage to score but he was getting closer and closer each game and it had been a long time since I've seen someone play so hard for the shirt. Ilpo was definatly a big loss for the Steelers and you could say that Nate and Rob haven't been the same without him but what about Rob Dowd?? since he joined them to on a line its been pretty explosive racking up points.

So guys what do you think when it came to Rylan Galiardi and Ilpo Samivirta leaving the Sheffield Steelers?

Was it a good thing or a bad thing lets hear you views get in contact on twitter @FrozenSteelBlog or on Facebook at Frozen Steel Blog or contact us by email at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com

Thanks for Reading guys don't forget to get in contact

Tom
@Tomwalkeden

Poll Results - Bring Back Farmer? - Next Poll Details

Poll Results - Bring Back Farmer?

Thank you to everyone who voted on our first poll, it helped to create a little sense of community on the site, and I hope that everyone will participate in the next one.

Onto the results.

We asked you if we should bring back Robert Farmer, after his release by the Alaska Aces of the ECHL.

The majority of voters (55%) wanted to bring him back, but the vote was split in what capacity he should be brought back in, whether at any cost, to replace somebody else or if a good deal could be made. All of which means, that with 45%, the winner of the poll is to NOT sign him, and leave the team as it is.

Of course, we have zero say on the matter, and there's no evidence to show that Doug has even looked at him - although personally I would advise him to at least take a look

Our Next Poll - Break In Play Music?
Our next poll is at the suggestion of @Steelers_Memes on Twitter, following on from my article last week about the atmosphere at the Arena. One of the points raised while discussing the piece was that when chants get going, the powers that be cut across them with loud, unrelated music. Personally, I have lost track of the times that I have started one chant going, only for Carnival De Paris to be blasted out over the PA. So the idea is this.

At the Boxing Day game with the great unwashed from near Derby, there is no break in play music to be used. Use music only for introductions and the home goal horn.

And we want your opinion on this! The poll is on all pages on the blog, which makes it easier to vote. You have until 23:59 on Wednesday 27th November to vote.

Please note we have no actual say in what happens, but if enough people show a liking for the idea, we could maybe approach the club with it.

Thank you to everyone for your continued support of the site, it's taken off better than I expected.

Liam
@IAmMcCausland

Where Did All The Hate Go? - Your Thoughts

We had a great response to my first article from Tuesday, where I covered why the Motorpoint Arena isn't as intimidating and loud as it could be. Thank you to all of those who got in touch, or shared the article.

Here are some of the best responses:

Jon Williams (via email)

"The only way to get a good atmosphere in the arena is to get the like-minded people sitting together, its embarrassing when you're sat with 300 people and you try and start a chant going and nobody joins in! 
Offer 'chanting' and 'non-chanting' tickets and turn say blocks 120 119 118 and 220 219 218 into the Sheffield Steelers Kop!
That's what i would do, also get the drummers there too! In sync like you said."

@Steelers_Memes (via Twitter)

"Interestin points. For me, too much talk from whitehouse, music breaks too loud, no chance to build up atmos...let the crowd dictate the atmos, not the announcer. Never get any atmos otherwise...its proved when we get on the ref, the chants start but soon killed with music DEAD."

@Kerry_Renshaw (via Twitter)

"I agree with some points but unfortunately we sit high up behind the sin bin and dont relish having to sit with pansie fans! I do however agree spesh when away fans taunt Doyle (nettie). They should sit next to the drums haha , and the echo from both sides of drums makes them out of sync ;)"

@Sarah86Bailey (via Twitter)

"Another to add to list .. Don't allow rivals to buy 50/50 tickets or shirt off your bk That should be for Sheffield Steelers fans only"

@Rubber_Puck (Panthers Fan Via Twitter)

"I think that at the NIC we are too friendly to opposition to be honest. Sunday was the exception to the rule. If you came to a game not built up as much like a Cardiff or Belfast you'd find the atmosphere completely different. at Coventry they used to play the muppet show when we came on, and general p*** taking went on. Builds up a not too friendly atmosphere for is who visit. sheffields problem is they give way too many free tickets to build up numbers. Loads of kids at Motorpoint on Saturday. you can't build up a none friendly atmosphere with kids. It's laughable to be honest. Might as well play at wacky warehouse. I'll add one more criticism. That woosh thing, that's got to be thought of by a kid surely."

Keep your thoughts and opinions coming, its been great to get feedback on what I wrote.

Look out for more from us over the weekend.

Liam
@IAmMcCausland