New season look, thanks Richard.

You have probably seen the above image on the front page of the site, looks good doesn't it? Well we are proud of it and so we should be.

However all the graphics would never have been in place if we didn't have an absolute genius of a graphics whizz helping us out. That genius is the man known as Richard Renshaw, known on Twitter as @CaVaLiEr666. 

Richard has kindly provided FSB with the graphics you saw last season and has continued to provide such high quality work that we are so much in his debt. He is as we say, a genius when it comes to Photoshop and creating things. We don't know where we would be without him - it'd probably be a plain and boring site if it wasn't for Richard.

Cheers for the work sir, apologies for the late publishing of this but Mark's article publish button decided to have a moment or he just didn't click the button hard enough.

The FSB Team


Thanks for reading guys. If you want to get involved please contact us on twitter or find us on Facebook and like us and leave a comment:-
@FrozenSteelBlog
@TomWalkeden
@FrozenSteelMNL
@hockeybhoy

Check out the Frozen Steel Podcast  - Breaking The Ice

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Or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com

Sheffield Steelers v Braehead Clan - Holiday Inn Cup Match Report

Pre-Season action between the Steelers and the Clan at Ice Sheffield in the Holiday Inn Cup

Saturday - Sheffield Steelers 4-0 Braehead Clan

Wearing their retro white jerseys Steelers ran out comfortable winners in their first pre-season game in preparation for the Champions Hockey League games. Tyler Plante recorded a shut-out on his debut for the Steelers and his opposite number was left out to dry at times but both netminders did have to be called upon several times to make fantastic saves.

Steelers took the lead around the mid-way stage of the first period when assisted by Mathieu Roy and Tyler Mosienko it was Colton Fretter who scored the first goal of the season when ripped a shot high past Chris Holt in between the pipes for the Clan to make it 1-0. Braehead then had a big 5 on 3 power play with their best opportunity's falling to ex NHLer Ric Jackman as he fired two big slap shots straight at Plante who held onto them comfortably. Sheffield would return to full strength and go on the man advantage themselves and Levi Nelson scored his first goal for the club assisted by Mike Duco and Robert Dowd as he fired a sweet shot over the blocker of Chris Holt to make it 2-0.

After a goalless second period Clan came into the third period trying to get back into the game and had a golden opportunity to get back into the goal but Tyler Plante made an outstanding back door leg save when a goal would have brought Braehead back into it. Steelers made it 3-0 at 49:29 when Luke Ferrara shot a back handed shot past Holt assisted by Hewitt and Moyer after the Clan goalkeeper gave up a rebound. With just under 8 minutes left in the game Roy and Coyle were in the box and Clan had a second 5 on 3 but Tyler Plante just continued to make the big saves and with four seconds left on the clock after some fantastic work by Robert Dowd it was down to Levi Nelson who dragged the puck nicely and fired a back handed effort past Holt for his second of the night and 4-0 score line for the Steelers.

It was a comfortable 4-0 win for the home side but the two sides meet again less than 24 hours later. Tyler Plante took the man of the match award for the Steelers and had to do the "Eddy" and ex Steelers Stefan Meyer received the award for Braehead.

Sunday - Sheffield Steelers 3-3 Braehead Clan (Steelers Win 7-3 on Aggregate)

Game two of the weekend, both teams un-changed in their final preparation for the Champions Hockey League that begins on Thursday. It was a goalless 1st period with the highlight being Fitzgerald dishing out the money to his former fans after being jeered by them, a real character the former Clan man that's for sure. Wasn't much to really talk about during the 1st period both Tyler Plante and Chris Holt stood up tall and made some fantastic saves.

Braehead had a lightning start to the second period scoring two in quick succession first it Braehead's Alex Leavitt who nicely tipped within a minute past Tyler Plante who has been solid for 80 minutes of hockey so far. Then not more than a minute later a poor defensive mistake by Steelers let in Stefan Meyer who didn't hesitate and slotted low past Plante. It was then old Mr Reliable Jeff Legue who stepped in to bring the Steelers within one goal as he skated down the left and sniped his shot low past the left pad of Chris Holt to break the Clans shut-out. Clan would restore their two goal lead when Scott Pitt played a nice pass to Ben Davies who slotted low past Plante and Braehead was able to take a two goal lead into the 2nd intermission.

Into the third period and again it was the battle of the goalies as they both had outstanding performances and Scott Pitt had a great chance for the Clan but his slap shot come back off the crossbar and then Bari McKenzie was called for a penalty and within 10 seconds of the power play Mathieu Roy brought the Steelers within one goal when Roy placed a nicely back handed goal past Holt as well as receiving a cross check from Aarssen for his troubles but that's what he made a living on last year. With the clock ticking down and into the final two minutes just as Tyler Plante was being pulled O'Connor fired a shot from the blue line and it was brilliantly tipped by Mike Duco to level the score at 3-3 and that's how it finished and Steelers won the Holiday Inn Cup 7-3 on Aggregate.

Chris Holt took the man of the match award for the Clan and Mike Duco was given the award for the Steelers. Next up for both teams is the CHL and it's going to be one hell of an experience and lets show Europe what we can do. Good Luck to both teams next week.

Thanks for reading guys. If you want to get involved please contact us on twitter or find us on Facebook and like us and leave a comment:-
@FrozenSteelBlog
@TomWalkeden
@FrozenSteelMNL
@hockeybhoy

Check out the Frozen Steel Podcast

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Or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com

5 Things We Learnt - Hull Stingrays

Thank you to Tony for his contribution to FSB, All Credit for this piece goes to him/her so any queries you can contact him on Twitter @DISGU15ED

Five things from the Hull Stingrays. The fifth and final Gardiner conference team in my 14/15 roundup.

1> Clouts out - All coaches have their allotted time, but moving on a local legend and bringing in two rookies to head the player coaching duties in 14/15 was a big call. Think Pacha and Lauzon can hold their heads up with pride following seventh place in the league, and a great playoff run full of shocks.

2> That Quarter Final - Beating Braehead in overtime of the second leg wasn't what the bookies expected, especially after trailing 3:2 from the first leg, and an aggregate 4:2 down with 15 minutes left. Lauzon's OT winner must have been the home highlight of the year, sending the home fans away dreaming of beating the Steelers at the NIC.

3> That Semi Final - However heartbreak was ahead for the Hull fans (and everyone else in the NIC except those in Orange apparently), as Mighty Mathieu knocked in a disputed winner with just 3.8 seconds of the game remaining with Pacha sat fuming in the box. Best game of the POFW.

4>  Home fans + Away players = ? - Back at the Hull Arena. Is anyone else worried that making the players walk-out directly in front of one block of home fans on their way to the ice is a recipe for disaster? Is it really sensible to allow those fisher wives and their partners to jaw-off inches from the away team players just as they're tossed from the game?

5> Chips 'n Spice away days - Despite everything it's always nice to see the Steelers win away, and battering the flatfish faithful is always fun as we orange-out Hull.

One final thought, after checking out their website I can't see any evidence that the rink is really very versatile, so let's hope some of the 2017 City of Culture cash finds its way into the arena.

Favourite player : Carl Lauzon by a distance.

Thanks for reading guys. If you want to get involved please contact us on Twitter or find us on Facebook and like us and leave a comment:-
@FrozenSteelBlog
@TomWalkeden
@FrozenSteelMNL
@hockeybhoy

The all new Frozen Steel Podcast "Breaking The Ice" is available on Audioboom

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Or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com

FSB Announcement - Changes at the Helm

Changes at the Helm

Hello everyone! We hope that you have been enjoying yourselves in the off-season, we have all certainly struggled without a hockey fix! There are however a few things that we would like to address before the puck drops on a new season.

Firstly, we would like to congratulate everybody involved with the UK Forums All-Star weekend that recently took place at Ice Sheffield as all their efforts have raised a mind boggling amount of money for some very worthy charities. Secondly, we also would like to say how pleased we are at not just the level but the quality of promotions being done by teams around the EIHL. It is refreshing to see that all clubs have turned it up a gear or two during the summer break. Not only that; but we are genuinely excited to see that the calibre of players coming to our shores has seemingly improved once more and this can only be a good thing for the league itself and hockey fans nationwide.

Now we have the addressed the above issues; we would like to take this opportunity to inform you of some definite and potential changes here at Frozen Steel.

First of all, there are also a couple of new ideas that we are looking to implement in the not too distant future. We are looking at introducing our own weekly podcast; this we hope to have more information shortly. The other item we are planning to introduce is a monthly competition where those of you attending Steelers games home or away, can tweet us pictures of yourselves at the game and the picture we judge to be the best, funniest or most random during the month in question - will win a prize of our choosing from either the Steelers merchandise stands or from our friends over at Cross Check Clothing. If the prize in question requires knowing a size of clothing, we will contact the winner so as to make sure you win something that fits you.

Also, during the summer Tom advised us that he would like to take more of a back seat role within Frozen Steel due to personal circumstances. This has therefore resulted in a couple of tweaks to the team and their respective roles. Mark will take over the editing role that Tom was doing and as such now has access to the FSB Twitter account alongside Alan and Tom. A lot of the other responsibilities and contributions from other sources will remain the same, including Tom still contributing with articles of his own as well as his part in our Match Night Talk Show on Audioboom.

We also have a personal message for Tom: 

"Buddy, we will always be here for you through thick and thin on this journey. You will always be part of this team. We know times are tough but please never be afraid to come and talk to either of us or any of your hockey friends, whether they are in Sheffield or elsewhere in the League. Just do us a favour in return, make sure you keep practicing the Walkie Talkie dance!"

In closing, we would like to thank you all for taking the time to read this article and for all your continued support. We look forward to seeing and hearing from all of you from around the league. If you have any questions then please feel free to tweet us at the accounts shown below and we will answer those questions/queries as best as we can. 

@FrozenSteelBlog
@TomWalkeden
@FrozenSteelMNL
@hockeybhoy

In the meantime, we are off to find some shelter. Apparently, there is a Storm coming...

Regards,

Alan and Mark

Coming soon "Breaking The Ice" - the all new Frozen Steel Podcast

Check out the Frozen Steel Match Night Talk Show

Or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com

This Month In Steelers History - August 2015

For a rundown on Sheffield Steelers history from day 1 click here

AUGUST 1995 (20 yrs)

Despite the battering and the facial cuts he took last season, Ken Priestlay came back, saying “this is going to be some year”.

Sheffield Steelers have almost reached their season ticket target for next season months before the action starts again. The club riding on the back of a double championship had sold 2,645 season tickets already. That compared with the 2,683 they sold on the first day of last season.

Andre Malo joined old favourite Tim Cranston, who has re-signed, in a public ceremony in Orchard Square where more than 1,000 fans turned up for the event. The Sheffield Steelers today shook the ice hockey world to its foundations by pulling off the sport's biggest ever double signing of the Edinburgh Racers Tony Hand and the Cardiff Devils Nicky Chinn.

Wayne Cowley, netminder, has agreed financial terms with Steelers.

Tony Hand revealed that Edinburgh Racers were now demanding compensation for him despite the club being scratched from the British League and his teammates having gone their separate ways. Now it's believed that Racers directors have put a £20,000 price-tag on Hand's head which would set a British record.

Hand sorted out the hitch himself and such was the power of his argument that the Scots backed down and not a penny was paid by Sheffield.

Sheffield Steelers have been forced to stop using the Thunderbirds theme tune, the Arena has warned the club they maybe infringing copyright, and ordered them to come up with something else.

Dave Simms quipped "This is diabolical. I'm taking this all the way to the top, I've asked Parker to have a word in the ear of Lady Penelope."

The pre-season began with a novel new hockey tournament of four teams in Milton Keynes, Bladerunner Arena in front of capacity crowds with the Manchester Storm and Nottingham Panthers joining the hosts - Milton Keynes Kings - as Sheffield Steelers, now beating everyone before them, ran out eventual undefeated winners: scoring twenty two goals in the process.

Priestlay got 4+3 in the first game, with Hand scoring 2+5, perhaps they were trying to outdo one another.

Ken Priestlay was voted player of the tournament

In the Benson and Hedges cup they played two games in Swindon and Peterborough, both resulting in resounding victories, one of them by no less than eighteen clear goals.

AUGUST 2000 (20 yrs)

Mike Blaisdell had inherited part of Don McKee’s team and wanted defence and toughness so he set about recruiting his own team.

Steelers kept their most important close season promise today, by re-signing the man who puts the backbone into the team. Muscleman Dennis Vial wanted by teams across the world, agreed a new one-year-deal with the Steelers, and they made him captain.

Ed Courtenay quits the Steelers. Blaisdell prepared to offer long-time target Rick Brebant assistant coach's role to lure him to Steelers. Steelers break own rules to offer McCosh extended deal.

Ed Courtenay dropped the gloves to launch a savage attack on Sheffield Steelers bosses David Simms and Mike Blaisdell. The Ayr bound winger is furious that Sheffield have publicly justified their actions in refusing him a two year deal by blaming salary demands and unreasonable conditions.

Steelers announce the signing of Steve Carpenter from Nottingham Panthers and two great signings: Rick Brebant from Manchester Storm, and Steve Roberts from Nottingham Panthers.

They also pulled off a spectacular signing coup today by landing former NHL goalie Mike O'Neill.

Sports Boss Darren Brown resurrected the spectre of building a new purpose-built stadium for both Steelers and Sharks. The businessman may jet to America to study proposals by a company to erect a building for both parties. It is a plan for a minimum 6,500 seater, first thought off in the early days of Steelers, under Ronnie Wood.

Thanks for all the memories say sacked skipper Rob Wilson. After six seasons patrolling the Arena blue line, Wilson was deeply hurt by his release in favour of a younger defence.

Veteran ice hockey Scott Metcalfe signed for the Steelers and they take a chance on Paul Beraldo, the Canadian has a rocket shot and a tough aggressive streak says Simms.

The position of backup goalie is going to Mike Torchia, a 28 year-old from Toronto.

A Sports marketing firm which has acquired half of Newcastle Superleague ice hockey club could buy Sheffield Steelers. The Eye Group, which describes itself as a sports exploitation company, is poised to make a cash offer to Steelers owner Darren Brown.

Steelers today confirmed they had received a "very attractive offer" from a company wanting to buy the club, it believed from Eye for £1,000,000 pounds.

A Bitter row broke out today after Sheffield International Venues locked Sheffield Steelers personal out of their own merchandising store. Steelers, now thought to be on an even keel, financially owe around £5,000 rent for the building opposite the Sheffield Arena on Broughton.

AUGUST 2005 (10yrs)

The Star Sheffield Steelers got the news they most wanted to hear, mercurial centreman Mike Peron has recommitted for another season.

For a fifth season they retained the services of forward Mark Dutiaume and brought in Martin Masa, the Czech who had got 46 points for Bracknell last season. They also gave a debut to Rodney Sarich from Augusta Lynx in the ECHL. They retained the services of Englishman Paul Sample and brought in Swedish defenceman Jonas Lennartson from Italy. They also poached Nottingham-born wingman Warren Tait from Cardiff Devils. But probably the biggest coup was getting netminder Jody Lehman, who backstopped the Coventry Blaze to a play off victory the season before.

Controversial ice hockey entrepreneur Bob Phillips declared himself the new owner of Sheffield Steelers. Phillips, who like Lea has had run-ins with hockey fans, says he and his company Arena Sports Cardiff are the new owners.

AUGUST 2010 (20yrs)

A SYNOPSYS OF A TURBULENT CLOSE SEASON:

Sheffield Steelers ice hockey club's operating company is going bust. The Star can reveal today. Yorkshire Sport(YS) called Insolvency Practitioners Wilson Fields after becoming unable to pay their debts. There is an underlying dispute relating to a sponsorship, but all player wages have been paid. There is confusion over exactly what happened to season ticket money paid by fans before the collapse of Sheffield Steelers operating company Yorkshire Sport (YS).

Steelers owner Bob Phillips last night assured 200 fans that a "little bit of a hiccup", his description of the liquidation of the club's operating company, would not endanger their season ticket money. Speaking at a forum at Abbeydale Sports Club he said "The money is in safe hands”. Phillips accepted there had been a 'mis-wording' on Steelers website that the money had been "ring fenced" from the liquidator, explaining the cash was in a Steelers ‘trust account’ which could not be touched.

Steelers’ owner Bob Phillips has been stunned by the resignation of almost his entire staff.

Co-founder Dave Simms, who has piloted the club since 1991, coach Dave Matsos and general manager Mike O'Connor have all refused to work with Phillips, following the liquidation of two operating companies running the club in the last five years.

A joint statement read, "It is with sadness and regret that the management team on O'Connor, Matsos and Simms have decided to resign from the club with immediate effect. They will be joined by office manager Betty Waring and promotions and marketing assistant Luke McDonald. O'Connor, Matsos and Simms advised Bob Phillips of their decision on Wednesday.

Sheffield Steelers is up for sale. Owner Bob Phillips has agreed to sell Steelers after weeks of criticism from fans, sponsors and creditors. A stumbling block may be how much Phillips wants for the club he bought for around £200,000 from Norton Lea, the former Chesterfield FC owner.

Sheffield Steelers owner Bob Phillips is blaming the management team that walked out on him of being guilty of incidents of poor administration and financial bungling. Bob Phillips, who is selling the club after two Steelers operating companies went into liquidation, earlier promised hundreds of fans at a public forum in Abbeydale that their 2010/11 season ticket money was safely held in a "Trust account". But, last week, Phillips was forced to write to fans saying that 'volunteers' in the club office had now discovered that season ticket money HAD gone into YS by mistake and "against strict instructions". Cheques made out by fans to Sheffield Steelers had been banked in YS trading as Sheffield Steelers he admitted “sadly that money is now lost to the club forever”

Steelers’ owner Bob Phillips is turning to one time Cardiff Devils compatriot Troy Walkington as a possible new Sheffield coach. With Steve Munn turning him down this week, Phillips needs to find someone to run the 2010/11 team, and help him with some administrative tasks as he attempts to sell the club.

Then Bob Phillips says he has taken the club off the market and also signed a new player coach. The Welshman says ex NHL centre Ben Simon will take over coaching reins from Dave Matsos. While the player has yet to sign a contract, Phillips said Simon was a "100 per cent certainty" to join up.

Steelers’ owner Bob Phillips stepped down today. He said he was walking away from duties as non executive chairman and his wife Maraini would be general manager of the club. We have an outstanding player in Ben Simon coming in to take over as player/coach and a well respected explayer in Neil Abel running the bench, Ben has been in contact with most of the players and has been given their commitment to return.

BUT NOW BACK TO AUGUST.

Sheffield Steelers have yet to sign an agreement for ice time at the Arena for the season which starts with a home game in 34 days time. Recently, owner Bob Phillips admitted the club's relationship with their landlords was "not great".

Dave Simms told nearly 200 fans at a forum in Dronfield this week that he had been "gutted" to quit alongside general manager Mike O'Connor and coach Dave Matsos, but he still felt it had been the right thing to do. Simms made a number of other public criticisms, but also went out of his way to persuade fans to continue to support the club. "Owners come and go, but fans should support the shirt. We, the fans, own the hockey club, not any one person. Ben Simon comes across well and has my support."

Ben Simon began the season as player/coach and began recruiting immediately, his job made easier by the fact that Dave Matsos had already signed the bulk of the squad.

Free-scoring partners Joey Talbot came and Jeff Legue came back for a fourth term and they were to be helped by Ashley Tait returning for a second stint with Sheffield after trying Italy for a year. Neil Clark, an import forward from Wichita Thunder in the CHL, joined Steelers to bolster the forward line as did Great Britain international Robert Dowd.

Rob Globke came in from Krefeld in the DEL and with the ‘British Bulldog’ Jason Hewitt returning Steelers had a handy mix of forwards.

Jerramie Domish and Kevin Bolibruck came in to shore up the defence along with Steve Munn.

But, perhaps the key signing, was netminder Ervin Mustokovs tempted from Latvia to start with Geoff Woolhouse backing him up.

Thanks for reading guys. If you want to get involved please contact us on twitter or find us on Facebook and like us and leave a comment:-

@FrozenSteelBlog

@FrozenSteelMNL
@hockeybhoy
@TomWalkeden

Check out the Frozen Steel Podcast

Check out the Frozen Steel Match Night Talk Show

Or Email the team at frozen.steel.91@gmail.com