Elite Report - Weeks 17 and 18 Reviewed

A bit of a double helping this week as we look back on the last TWO weekends of action in one fell swoop. Did we continue on the slightly upward spiral of success or have we bitten off more than we can proverbially chew with some dismal results. Only one way to find out then, read onwards...

Week 17:

Seven games predicted over a space of four nights as the teams ramped it up before the all important Christmas and New Year period. We ramped it up too, with four successful predictions. Not bad at all you may think. So who let the side down. Belfast started it with that last gasp overtime win against Manchester Storm, Storm surprised us (and most of all the Devils) with a IAW which nobody saw coming and Clan saw off Fife in regulation when we thought it would go to overtime.

Still that's a decent start, could we maintain it?

Week 18:

Probably the most congested period games to predict with 17 matches in the space of seven days. If that's not a marathon, then hey what is? We came out of it reasonably well but overall not brilliant, with seven correct. Just a shade under halfway. It could have been better, but it is what it is.

Adding the tallies together that gave us a rather creditable 11 out of 24 matches in two weeks. Overall we go into this weekend with 58 out of 147! That also improves the old percentage rate as we inch closer to the .400 mark; we're on .395 as it stands. Can we continue to go in the right direction? This week's predictions are already made and online.

Thanks for reading everybody. Remember if you want to be a part of Frozen Steel you can get into touch with us on Twitter or find us on our Facebook Page, remembering to like us and leave a comment. We will then get back in touch:

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@DISGU15ED

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It's available on iTunes to listen and download, also on Soundcloud

Or drop us an email to Frozen Steel Blog

Elite Report - Week 19 Preview

Well then all and sundry, the second weekend of action in the New Year is a shade under 48 hours away as this article goes online. Time once more to get the cloth out and dust off the old FSB crystal ball. Can we go an entire matchday with a full house of correct predictions? Of course that's the aim but as you know it seldom does happen.

So without further ado as they say, time to unleash them:

Saturday 7th January 2017:

Cardiff Devils v Coventry Blaze: A Devils regulation home win.

Edinburgh Capitals v Dundee Stars: Basement battle, both teams wanting the points, Caps in overtime.

Manchester Storm v Fife Flyers: Could be a close one, but Storm to find a way home in regulation.

Nottingham Panthers v Braehead Clan: The Neil Black clubs clash, the home side to win in regulation. Clan need to step it up but will fall short.

Sunday 8th January 2017:

Braehead Clan v Cardiff Devils: Could be a banana skin for Cardiff, so Clan in overtime maybe?

Coventry Blaze v Nottingham Panthers: Spicy local derby, Blaze to burn Panthers in regulation.

Dundee Stars v Edinburgh Capitals: Return fixture, Stars to shine with a regulation triumph.

Fife Flyers v Manchester Storm: Another return game, Flyers to get a home regulation win.

So that's this weekend. How do you see the above games panning out?

     

Thanks for reading everybody. Remember if you want to be a part of Frozen Steel you can get into touch with us on Twitter or find us on our Facebook Page, remembering to like us and leave a comment. We will then get back in touch:

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Big Match Preview - Giants Double Header

After getting a welcomed four point weekend either side of the New Year, Steelers continue with their quest to haul in both Belfast and Cardiff whilst keeping those pesky Panthers behind them. The first actual weekend of 2017 is around the corner.

Facing Paul Thompson and his battered and bruised Steelers this weekend, are these guys:

Yeah it's those above in the table, Derrick Walser and his Belfast Giants. It's a team we very much know that we can beat and beat in the confines that is the Odyssey. It's only called the SSE Arena for naming and corporate reasons, right? Even the Giants fans I know, call it the "O" or Odyssey. So that's that then.

We actually played the Giants on a double header this time just 12 months ago, and won both games. First game was a 6-2 win when we blew them away in a sensational first period, second game we came from behind and won 3-1. It was also the first dates I took my girlfriend too; so who says romance isn't dead? 

Both teams are slightly changed this season in personnel and are capable of coming away with a share of the spoils or a four point weekend. Former one season Steeler centre Mike Forney hasn't had much luck against his old team, looking like little boy lost on many occasions but he could be one to watch out for as will Colin Shields, another former Steeler. Giants have depth and scoring in all positions, and watch too for the powerplay which Shields and Walser will be involved in for sure. Stephen Murphy and Jackson Whistle (Dave's lad) will be jostling for the start in the cage and are both capable whoever Walser calls upon.

This weekend could conceivably put the loser out of the title race daft though it may sound.

So what do I predict? I'm going for us to win 4-2 on the Saturday, but lose 3-2 after overtime on the Sunday. Although four points would be awesomes, I'll be more than content with the three. How about you?

 

Thanks for reading everybody. Remember if you want to be a part of Frozen Steel you can get into touch with us on Twitter or find us on our Facebook Page, remembering to like us and leave a comment. We will then get back in touch:

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@DISGU15ED

Don't forget to listen to our weekly podcast  Breaking The Ice

It's available on iTunes to listen and download, also on Soundcloud

Or drop us an email to Frozen Steel Blog

From The Editor's Chair - Edition 18

Welcome again to the views "From The Editor's Chair". I've made the first one of the new year a kind of look back where some of you have kindly offered your hockey highlight and lowlight of 2016. Thanks to all that have contributed, I really appreciate them. Here we have 2016 thanks to you:

First up is Andy Roberts (@ic3creamman):

Highlight - The away trip to Jönköping, Sweden for the CHL game there.

Lowlight - Any from witnessing the blow up bear, Roddy's retirement, the increase of the football mentality idiots at games.

Glynn Birkett-Morley (@glynnm76):

Highlight - Steelers winning back to back league titles.

Lowlight - Getting hammered by the Panthers in the Challenge Cup semi-final first leg.

Nathan Turner (@NJT75Owl):

Highlight - Winning the league.

Lowlight - The surge of the idiot brigade at certain games when hockey is supposed to be a family sport.

Jo The Greek (@geraldhenders14):

Highlight - Beating EC Red Bull Salzburg in the CHL.

Lowlight - Eddy retiring.

Tony (@DISGU15ED):

Highlight - Belfast weekend, January 2016, where I took part in the beach ball interval game and people doing the conga in Rockies.

Lowlight - Losing 8-1 to second tier EC Red Bull Salzburg was pathetic.

Carol Ibbotson (@ladygrey30):

Highlight - Seeing how happy my daughter was when she was on the ice for Hewy's testimonial as a mascot. #ProudMum

Lowlight - When Blaze split the away fans. Their fans were swearing and arguing and it's the only time I've ever felt so uneasy at a game.

Kev (@richardwilcock4):

Highlight - The trip to Fife when we won the league, an absolutely fantastic effort by our fans to get up there and fill their away blocks.

Lowlight - The same as Carol's.

Roxanne Reynolds (@roxanneangelmum):

Highlight - Winning the league.

Lowlight - The fighting between fans which seems to have reared its ugly head.

Steve Owen (@steowe1968):

Highlight - Fife with Chloe being snapped in background whilst our friend Cullen Eddy celebrated.

Lowlight - Not getting to the play-off weekend by choking against the Chavs consistently, oh and Valaprick!

Nicki Blueitt (@owlsteeler):

Highlight - Winning back to back league titles in Fife. That was special.

Lowlight - I'll go along and agree with what Carol said.

Bryan Ibbotson (@bryibbo):

Highlight - Watching Amy-Leigh being mascot for Hewy's testimonial and seeing how happy she was.

Lowlight - Having to work when Steelers won in Fife and the league as a result.

Samantha Dale (@sam_26)

Highlight - Winning the league and the Belfast double header weekend

Lowlight - No Plan B from Paul Thompson

Jo-Anne Mullins (@JoAnneMullins5):

Highlight - The Belfast double header weekend.

Lowlight - Crashing out of every Cup.

Myself (FSB Editor) ....

Highlight - Fife away to win the league was amazeballs, I even got on the EIHL website the following day. 

Lowlight - The lack of a phone signal in Cardiff's new rink, sort it out "Killer!"

Thanks for reading everybody. Remember if you want to be a part of Frozen Steel you can get into touch with us on Twitter or find us on our Facebook Page, remembering to like us and leave a comment. We will then get back in touch:

@FrozenSteelBlog

@FrozenSteelMNL

@hockeybhoy

@DISGU15ED

Don't forget to listen to our weekly podcast  Breaking The Ice

It's available on iTunes to listen and download, also on Soundcloud

Or drop us an email to Frozen Steel Blog

Game Highlight Links - December 2016

Thought I'd add up a rolling post where we can share links to Steelers highlights from across the league - if you want links, we've got you covered!

Away win against the Panthers (here) in the league

Home win against the Panthers (here) in the league

Away loss in Belfast (here) in the league

Away loss in Cardiff (here) in the league

Home win against Dundee (here) in the league

Away loss in Cardiff (here) in the league.

Home win against the Blaze (here) in the league.

Away win in Coventry (here) in the league

Home loss against the Panthers (here) in the league

Away loss against the Panthers (here) in the league

Home win against the Storm (here) in the league

That's all so far


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