From The Editor's Chair - Edition 55

"And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain..."

This is probably the hardest article I have ever had cause to write for Frozen Steel, and that's because it's my last one. Yes you read that right.

I've always enjoyed writing things, whether it be a fictional story or a creative article about something that I am interested in. My English GCSE assignments were always long winded efforts, if it wasn't at least eight pages long then there was something desperately amiss that's for sure. Some people like doing art to keep themselves focused and relaxed, I was always writing.

Well I first came to Frozen Steel in the close season of 2013-14, writing more and more regularly the following season. I had done pieces on hockey before, writing a column for British Ice Hockey when encouraged by now Braehead Clan General Manager Gareth Chalmers to do and had a regular piece in the then Sheffield Scimitars matchday programme as well. However, it wasn't good enough for a certain someone when the Steelers matchday magazine was looking for new contributors. I was told by this person that: "I knew nothing about hockey and that was it." - a bit galling when I've watched the sport since I was 8 and the Steelers from the very first season. Yes I remember Paul Thompson the player!

But I was undeterred and if the Club programme didn't want me, then FSB definitely did. So I started to write articles quite often. Then in August 2015 I was asked to take over the running as Editor of the Blog after Tom decided  he needed time out to focus on other things and Alan thought as I would be a natural fit for the role. I didn't need much talking around that's for sure so on August 11 2015, I became the third editor of the Blog.

During my time I have seen the evolution of popular articles such as the "Hockey Soapbox" . I've also taken part as a regular pundit on the "Match Night Talk Show" which eventually morphed to into another success story that being "Breaking The Ice": our podcast. I've written endless articles (some say too many haha) and tried to keep the blog ticking over especially in the summer when things are naturally a bit quieter.

However, I've had juggle this with a full time job and also doing freelance media for the Star newspaper writing about local amateur football. It's certainly kept me busy. Yet all good things must come to an end, and this is it. I started off this article with a line from Frank Sinatra song, and will finish it with one from the same one:

"The record shows I took the blows, and I did it my way. Yes I did my way."

Thanks everyone, that's definitely all folks.

Mark (Mad Dog)

From The Editor's Chair - Edition 54

You've had the official Elite League awards where Cardiff managed to bag everything on offer; and to be honest I felt that there were other creditable candidates who could have taken away some of the awards. Obviously you're not going to all agree with that. Therefore I've decided to host my own end of season awards in one of the last articles I've penned for Frozen Steel.

Grab the smart frock and tuxedo ladies and gentlemen, it's the FSB End Of Season Awards Show:

Netminder of the Year: The EIHL awarded this to Bownsy, is that because he was the league champions netminder? Not that Bownsy is a bad goalie, he is quite good in fact but I'm awarding this to Steelers very own Ervins Mustukovs. Top of all the stats plus nine shutouts in a season where his team underachieved. Sure he's had a few dodgy games, all goalies do, but he gets my vote. Special props to Jackson Whistle of Belfast and Andy Iles of Fife who also had decent seasons and always looked to give their side a chance to win every night.

Defenceman of the Year: Again Cardiff won this one in the EIHL awards with them awarding it to Andrew Hotham for the fourth consecutive term, and once again I'm going to disagree with them. I've decided to award my version of it to a guy who shares the same nickname as me, Mad Dog, that being Steelers' Mark Matheson. Matheson was one of those players that was consistent every night and was comfortable at both ends of the ice; doing the simple things right which some don't notice. Pushing him close in my eyes were Guildford duo Jesse Craige and Calle Ackered as well as Storm's Dallas Erdhardt who is maturing into a dependable player so much he has been called up by GB.

British Player Of Year: Another one that went Cardiff's way and to Bownsy. I'm again going to go against that myself and award it elsewhere. I've gone for actually one of Bownsy's team-mates in Mark Richardson, who has been a stalwart of the Devils blueline and deservedly got a testimonial this season. Pushing "Rico" close are Ben O'Connor of the Steelers who enjoyed one of his best goalscoring campaigns, his Steelers team-mate Davey Phillips who has become a steady performer as well as the evergreen that is Colin Shields of Belfast.

Forward Of The Year: EIHL award went to a Cardiff player in the shape of Joey Martin, but yes I'm going against it. I've decided to hand it to Mike Hammond of the Manchester Storm, and he richly deserves that. Hammond has come back from a potentially career ending knee injury and topped the points charts, scoring an impressive 32 goals and 85 points. How can you argue against that? Also in contention for me would have been his Storm team-mate Dane Byers who was signed as a "policeman" but put up some incredible numbers, Flames John Dunbar and despite his hotheaded temper Giants Sebastian Sylvestrè.

Coach Of The Year: Andrew Lord scooped that at the EIHL awards for the second season in a row, well he did do the Panthers "Grand Slam" again didn't he? But he doesn't get my vote, mine goes to a guy who two seasons ago might have been on the verge of the sack and ending a long running love affair with a club that he joined in 1998. Step forward Todd Dutiaume of Fife. He recruited a team that at one stage might have challenged for the big prize but also made the final four weekend too. He is certainly building on a legacy there in Kirkcaldy. Statue in the town next? Also a big well done to first year EIHL coaches in Adam Keefe of the Giants and Paul Dixon of Guildford for me.

Goal Of The Season: There's been a few contenders but my vote goes to John Armstrong of the Steelers for his effort against the Flames in the first leg of the play-off quarter final. Picking the puck deep inside his own defensive zone, John went coast to coast like a knife through hot butter in the Flames defenceman before driving the net and finishing with the coup de grace over Brian Stewart. Now if that had been someone like Sidney Crosby in the NHL, they would be salivating and creaming themselves. 

Finally...My All Star Teams Of The Season:

1st Team 

Mustukovs

Matheson --- Ackered

Hammond --- Dunbar --- Byers

2nd Team

Iles

Craige --- Erdhardt

Vallerand --- Moffatt --- Sylvestrè

The Junior Report - Edition 24

Warm appreciation to George for his latest contribution to FSB, All credit for this piece goes to him.

The Arena season finale came against a Guildford Flames side in the first leg of the playoffs. Both sides went into it into good form, but over the course of the weekend it ended up being the Steelers who progressed to the finals weekend. The game started very badly for the Steelers. Going one nil down because of a tipped shot out in front of Mustukovs on a delayed penalty to make it 1-0. It remained the same scoreline for another 1 and a half periods.

John Armstrong was the first scorer of the night for the Steelers, picking up a loose puck in the end zone to snipe one past the impressive one man show stopper Brian Stewart. The joy was cut short when a Geoff Walker feed was tapped in at the back door by Brett Ferguson, however a 5 on 3 powerplay ripper from Robert Dowd cancelled out the goal moments later, he sniped one low past Stewart.

Then came goal of the season from Armstrong, whose skating skills proved dividends past 5 skaters of the Flames, before nice stick handling and an excellent chip shot beat Stewart to make it 3-2. Soon after Valdix made it 4-2 after excellent patient skating from Fretter made it possible to deliver an excellent back door feed, for an easy tap in past the wall. The game was rounded off by Matheson, who effectively put Guildford out of contention, his low snipe beat everybody including Stewart, to end the Flames season. 

Final score Steelers 5-2 Flames

Flames win but Steelers progress to semi-final

Welcome to our match report from Sunday's game at Guildford.

After produced an explosive final 10 minutes in the first leg of the play-off quarter final; Steelers headed into the second one with a 5-2 advantage. The team news was the same as it was the night before which meant that Matt Marquardt and Tim Wallace were absentees. For Guildford, they made two changes from the first leg. Chris Carrozzi replaced Brian Stewart in between the pipes, whilst Brett Ferguson was suspended for his check from behind on Steelers' Eric Neiley. Ian Watters was out injured and Richard Krogh was away on GB Under-18 duty alongside Steelers' very own Liam Kirk and Kieran Brown.

Steelers made a stellar star in the Spectrum with two goals in the first 3:22 of the contest to virtually put the contest beyond doubt. At 1:51 John Armstrong scored his third of the play-offs when Colton Fretter and Scott Aarssen combined to set up the big centreman. Then the lead went to 2-0 on 3:22; Robert Dowd and Joonas Ronnberg with the assists and Mark Matheson scored his second goal of the play-offs. It was an even contest, so it was no surprise that Guildford got a marker of their own. With Zack Fitzgerald, again playing winger, sitting an additional minor for interference - Flames well executed powerplay came off to make it 1-2 on the night: Jesse Craige lighting the lamp.

The score was still 1-2 in the Steelers favour as we began the second period, and we then had a quick rush of goals in that middle section. At 21:08 Guildford made it level on the evening when Rhett Rachinski scored but just 35 seconds later, Steelers were back in front when veteran winger Fretter netted from Eric Neiley and Matheson. The on-night lead was extended back to two at 33:44 when Neiley scored with Ronnberg and Fretter getting the helpers. Realising they had nothing to lose, Guildford looked to push and finish the season on a high with a home win and they entered the final period on an extended powerplay given against Fitzgerald for a high sticking double minor.

This extended powerplay proved very fruitful as it helped them back onto parity on the night with Ben Davies and Kruise Reddick scoring. By the time Reddick there was still 17 minutes left in the game, could the Flames do the unthinkable and pull it back further which might leaving the play-off trophy holders on the brink? As much as they did try, it proved to be a mountain they just couldn't scale and that margin in the final stages of the first leg proved to be ultimately pivotal for the Steelers. However, the Flames finished a hugely successful opening season in the EIHL on a winning note. With Carrozzi sacrificed for an extra skater, Flames pushed and Davies scored his second of the night for a 5-4 scoreline. Despite Ronnberg leaving blooded, Steelers saw the remaining 38 seconds out and a place in the final four where they will face old foes Nottingham in the second semi-final.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Flames 5 Steelers 4 (7-9 on aggregate)

Steelers Scoring: Fretter 1+2, Matheson 1+1, Neiley 1+1, Ronnberg 0+2, Armstrong 1+0, Aarssen 0+1, Dowd 0+1.

Flames Scoring: Ackered 0+3, Davies 2+0, Reddick 1+1, Lidhammar 0+2, Walker 0+2, Craige 1+0, Reddick 1+0, Campbell 0+1, Dunbar 0+1.

Shots On Goal:  Steelers 27 Flames 43 

Powerplay: Steelers 0 from 2 (0% conversion), Flames 3 from 8 (38% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Steelers 20 Flames 8

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 38 Saves (68), GAA: 5.00 (3.50), Save Percentage: 88.40% (90.70%). 

Big John douses the Flames

Welcome to our match report from the latest Sheffield Steelers game.

Steelers started their defence of the play-off title with the opening leg of their quarter-final against Guildford Flames who finished sixth in the regular season rankings. The team news saw Paul Thompson having to sit two imports as the roster holds 16 compared to the maximum 14 which they are allowed to ice in a game. The ones to miss were high scoring winger Matt Marquardt and the enigmatic Tim Wallace. This meant that both Mathieu Roy and Andreas Jämtin both were back in the line-up whilst Ervins Mustukovs returned in goal. Liam Kirk was absent on GB Under-18 duty in Estonia. Flames, whilst not having the depth on the bench which Steelers had, started with Brian Stewart in goal and included former Steeler Geoff Walker in their line-up as well as Davey Phillips' brother Kevin.

The opening period was a bit scrappy it has to be said, Steelers finding Stewart a barrier like he has been before during his time at Coventry. That and sending some shots straight into the chest of the tall Canadian. You just knew that Guildford might edge something and from one of their opportunities they got the opening goal. With the arm up for a penalty, Brett Ferguson found high scoring defenceman Jesse Craige and his shot was excellently touched home from in front by Charles Wells. The penalty was an interference minor against Davey Phillips. 

That period ended 1-0, and so did the second despite both teams having plenty of opportunities. Both Mustukovs and Stewart performing well when called upon and keeping this game close and very evenly poised as we entered that final twenty. Could the breakthrough happen? Yes it could with 2:45 played in that period, Scott Aarssen with the helper and John Armstrong skating into fire the puck top beans over the resilient Stewart to tie the game. A massive sigh of relief enveloped the majority of the Arena crowd. Yet with just under four minutes later, the Flames were back in front. With Robert Dowd in the box for a kneeing minor, Flames powerplay went to work and some good work ensued for Walker to superb set up Ferguson who finished well.

Then Flames picked two penalties at once and it proved to be the catalyst for the Steelers to kick on. With Craige and John Dunbar both penalised, Steelers had a 5 on 3 opportunity and they looked like squandering it but with eight seconds left on it: they netted an equaliser. A superb blast by Dowd that fizzed past the former Blaze netminder with sheer accuracy from the GB internationalist. Buoyed by that, Steelers had momentum and took the lead with probably one of the goals of the season. Armstrong picked up the puck deep inside his own defensive zone and then proceeded to go through the Flames defence like a knife through hot butter before adding the coup de grace and sending the home support delirious. What a goal!

This knocked the stuffing out of the Flames on the night and with just under five and half minutes left, Steelers scored a fourth: this time Andreas Valdix being in the right spot at close range to net. It got to Ferguson who got an early shower at 57:46, a late check from behind on Eric Neiley earning the Flames winger a 2+10 on the night penalty and as announced today: a two game suspension. Stewart was still making good saves and keeping the Flames within reach but the Steelers head to Surrey tonight (Sunday) with a three goal margin as they netted a fifth goal 24 seconds left, the ever dependable and impressive Mark Matheson took advantage from a screen and lighting the lamp.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Steelers 5 Flames 2

Steelers Scoring: Armstrong 2+1, Matheson 1+2, Valdix 1+1, Aarssen 0+2, Dowd 1+0, Fretter 0+1, Nelson 0+1.

Flames Scoring: Ferguson 1+1, Wells 1+0, Walker 0+1, Craige 0+1, Lundin 0+1.

Shots On Goal:  Steelers 32 Flames 30 

Powerplay: Steelers 2 from 6 (33% conversion), Flames 1 from 3 (33% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Steelers 6 Flames 22

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 28 Saves (28), GAA: 2.00 (2.00), Save Percentage: 93.30% (93.30%).