Five Things from the week ending 25 October 2015

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

 

Another quiet week with very little to talk about in my five things this week…

 

1> CheerUpLoveGate – Encouraging fans of one club to take the pi$$ out of an individual fan from another club, and refusing to apologise when correctly sanctioned by the league, was taking €rap social media management to another level. It’s hard to be a Steelers fan sometimes when Simmsey’s dinosaur approach to 21^st Century life continues to provide other clubs fans with the bricks to throw at us. He does much more good than bad, but more bad than he should do.

 

2> 1DGate – We know our sport is minority, but when the SSE / Odyssey trust decide to bank their £££ and favour a transient boy-band over the regular tenants in the hockey club it does stick in the craw. I sympathise with any travelling fan who took extra time-off and had wasted time and costs, but I’d be amazed if there was any sanction or compensation. How about a 5:0 default loss for the Giants, based on it being a short-notice commercial decision, rather than an emergency measure?

 

3> LawrenceGate – Crisis time already – I understand he went 60 minutes without scoring in Belfast, and then another 59:21 dry spell last night, which simply isn’t good enough! That takes him to third in our Elite league goal scoring charts, 3 behind Mosi and Roy (who are both in the top 5 goalscorers in the league) with 10 games in hand. I hope we don’t need to release someone when we add him to the regular roster.

 

4> PlanBGate – Which was the bigger surprise on Sunday: The first period where we played fast flowing hockey and could have been 6 or 7 up; or the second period where we fell apart to so many breakaways I worried about Plante having a nervous breakdown? Did Pacha outsmart Thommo by switching to a more defensive / counterattacking Plan B before we did, or were we hung out by some individual lapses (Yes, I’m looking at you Mr Moyer). Guess we will find out in the Small Grey Tin-Shelter on Wednesday.

 

5> PowerplayGate – It’s official, we are now worst in the league on the PowerPlay with 7 goals from 61 opportunities an 11.5% strike-rate, and that’s before you count the 2 we’ve given up!

 

 

A final thought for you, have you noticed that the Clan are languishing at 6th in the league after 15 games. Many have them top of their predictions, but with Dundee already above them, and losing to the likes of Edinburgh already (cough) many are beginning to write-them-off a little. To those people can I remind them that Disney have stolen many of their home games, and they’ve played 11 games away (to our six) and only 4 games at home (to our 9) so expect a late charge from the boys in Purple.

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Big Match Preview - Manchester (Away)

After squeaking home it has to be said on Sunday evening against the Storm, we conclude our Challenge Cup qualifiers against ironically the same outfit; albeit this time in the Silver Blades Ice Dome at Altrincham. Storm will be icing one import short as new signing and former Devil and Steeler Devin Didiomete has not been signed in time to take place. Didiomete replaces Slovenian Gal Koren on Omar Pacha's Storm roster.

Will he be the Did-iot that was gassed by Cardiff or the actually decent one that did quite well in the five games he iced as cover when Tyler Mosienko was unfortunately banned? We will find out in due course.

Last Meeting:The two teams last met in Altrincham as part of the Storm's pre-season schedule. Brad Day was between the pipes for the Steelers that evening, and despite trailing to Matt Sisca's early goal, Russ Moyer levelled matters for a shared first period. Vinny Scarsella scored the lone goal of the second stanza and Storm fans were dreaming of a quickfire double having beaten Corey Neilson's Panthers there just a few days previous.

Yet Steelers scored three times in the final 20 through Fredrik Vestberg, Colton Fretter (just three minutes separated those strikes) and after Zane Kalemba had been sacrificed for an extra attacker, Tyler Mosienko found the empty netter for a 4-2 road win.

Links Between The Sides: We've mentioned him previously, and the only current link between the two teams is the afore mentioned Devin Didiomete. On his day, he can be either a liabilty or a class act. Let's hope that Mr Pacha gets the good version as opposed to the one that annoyed the hell out of the EIHL when in South Wales. Suppose the penalty box attendants best get ready for his impending arrival...

How Deeds looked in Orange, decent player on his day

Overall Record: Sunday's game was the second meeting of the sides since Storm's rebirth this summer, and Steelers have won both. However if you look at the previous incarnation, the record read 29 wins to the Steelers, 22 wins for the Storm and 8 draws. Quite close contests these Wars Of The Roses don't you think?

The Players To Watch: Matt Sisca (Storm) - Definitely the stand out player for Storm in my (and a few others too) eyes on Sunday evening. He has the skills, and alongside Scarsella and Salazar, will lead the Storm in points scoring this season. He iced for Bolzano last season and played in the Champions Hockey League for them as well. He is definitely the one we need to pay some special attention, if Sunday is anything to go by. Oh and his birthday is the day before mine, 30 October haha.

Mathieu Roy (Steelers) - Our very own Mathieu is due a multi point night soon, and it could be Wednesday in Altrincham actually? That aside he's still averaging a point a game so far, 9+6 in 15 games iced. Storm will have their work cut out keeping him quiet if he's on his "A" game, but then again we have plenty of other offensive threats in that roster.

Prediction: As we said before Brad Day played in the pre-season encounter, and with top place in the group almost guaranteed (well we need a point to be mathematically sure), I can see Thommo giving Brad some more ice time on Wednesday night and rest Tyler ahead of another huge weekend ahead. If we play as well as we know we can, it's an away win but we can't underestimate the hosts. I think we will do it, say 4-2 again in the Ice Dome.

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Big Match Preview - Manchester (Home)

Hastily put together due to Mark's work commitments, FSB brings you the Big Match Preview of this evening's game at the Arena against Omar Pacha's Manchester Storm. Last time the two sides faced off here, Steelers worked hard to secure a 3-1 win in the Challenge Cup with Mike Duco's empty netter securing the two points.

Both teams go into the game having lost last night. Storm came out on the wrong side of a seven goal game against the Fife Flyers whilst Steelers are on their way back from Belfast after being beaten 4-1 in the SSE Arena there. So both teams will be keen to return to winning ways as soon as possible. Winning this game could give either side a psychological boost as the sides reacquaint again on Wednesday night at the Altrincham Ice Dome.

Storm have since their last visit, released Slovakian defenceman Igor Bobcek and replaced with Latvian Ricards Birzins. Birzins was playing in the ECHL last season with Tulsa OIlers and is said to be a decent puck handling offensive defenceman who isn't afraid to mix it up; that should fit in perfectly with Pacha's style of play. Steelers welcomed Duco back last night which meant player-assistant coach Darrell Hay dropped out. They are still without injured duo Robbie Dowd (wrist) and import Colton Fretter (hernia).

I fully expect this game will be another physical game but Steelers will get themselves another entry in the W column. Scoreline? I'm going for 4-1 to us.

 

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Big Match Preview - Belfast (Away)

Three games in the space of three nights awaited Paul Thompson and the Steelers this weekend coming, and it was all supposed to start with back to back games in the SSE Arena Belfast. This was to be the first of the two double headers until it was scuppered today (Wednesday) by the band One Direction leaving hockey fans inflamed. And who can blame them?

Disappointment aside, Giants will still be smarting from their losses over here. They have had decent success in the House Of Steel and quite simply didn't turn up for Game 1. A much closer contest for Game 2 showed us that they are a team we cannot underestimate lightly. However after picking up only one point last weekend against the Devils; they will be keen set the record straight in front of their own fans. Steelers go there with confidence coming back after a successful weekend of their own. Anything could happen..

Last Meeting: Steelers last trip over the water came in February, and it resulted in an incredible road win. With a equally clearly injured Geoff Woolhouse between the pipes due to injuries to both import goalies Frank Doyle and Josh Unice, few would have expected us to get something. However the lads tore into the Giants from the get go and went 3-1 up at the end of the first thanks to goals from Colton Fretter, Mike Forney and Robbie Dowd - Craig Peacock with the sole Giants goal that period. 

Fretter's second made it 4-1 midway through the second and a few might have thought that would have read game over but hell no. It simply woke the Giants up from their slumbers and Nathan Robinson pulled one back a couple of minutes later. Giants continued to press in the third, and forced overtime thanks to further goals from Calvin Elfring and Peacock's second. But cometh the hero 69 seconds into the extra session, Cullen Eddy finishing off a superb solo breakaway to secure us the points.

Links Between The Sides: Quite a few to choose from here as we have had a few who have donned the Giants and Steelers colours. Defenceman Shane Johnson is one, and his number 4 is proudly retired by the Northern Irish team. Also featuring for both sides are our very own Robbie Dowd and Mike Forney; the latter having become a Giant after spending last season here on the famous FFR line. Another who some might forget is Colin Shields who had an ill-fated spell here in 2012 before going back to Belfast for whom he has now appeared almost 400 times for. Scott Champagne, "Magical" Mark Dutiuame, Steve Roberts and Mark McCoy have also served both teams too whilst Rob Stewart had an unsuccessful spell as Steelers coach in 2004-05 before being relieved of his duties and replaced by Paul Heavey.

Colin Shields: Pictured here celebrating a goal whilst a Steeler

Overall Record: Saturday will be the 131st game between the sides since the Giants started up in 2000. The first ever game between the sides saw the Steelers win that one 6-1 in late September that year and that was played over in Belfast too. Overall Giants hold the better record with 65 wins to 54 and 11 tied.

The Players To Watch: Colin Shields (Giants) - As mentioned previously, the Glaswegian born winger has featured for both sides but it's safe to say that he has more success in Northern Ireland than he did in the Steel City. One thing is for sure though is that Colin always seem to be on the scoresheet against us whether it be actually lighting the lamp or providing an helper for someone else. Very dangerous on the point on powerplays, he will be keen to put one over us again. Won't you mate?

Tyler Plante (Steelers) - I think that Tyler is the real key to how we do in the SSE this weekend. He is going to face probably a great deal of rubber from the Giants, and it's how he deals with that. If he is in top form, and face it folks he has been incredibly good so far, this will give us a way to win. It will then be up to those outskaters to put the biscuit away. But Tyler's performance is going to be very crucial indeed.

Prediction: Coming off a bad weekend double header against Cardiff, Giants are sure to be fired up for our visit and Adam Keefe will be the inspirational skipper that he is. He is their flag bearer, the one that makes those around him accountable for themselves. But Steelers had a good weekend of their own after that mini-blip of their own so will feel confident that they can get something out of their trip.

I am going for a 3-2 overtime win to us despite the Giants being short on numbers, they will have a point to prove to themselves and their fans.

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5 Things: Week Ending 18 October 2015

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

Here another five things I learnt this Steelers week:

1> Lawrence love - Can't do anything but start with our new favourite forward. Even though everyone's raving about his 5 goals in 4 days over 3 games, even if he drops back to his 0.95 ppg from last year he'll earn his corn and be a great addition. (Looks like you were right Liam!)

2> Eddy lap - When your reputation precedes you like it did with Laury, you may as well ham it up and turn it into a joke. So a super slow mo entrance under the Arena spotlight, and the weirdest skating since Sgroi on his Eddy, left us all lapping it up.

3> Winning away - Always nice to win at the NIC, and even Rick Strachan admits Wiikman kept the score down. If you've not caught the Sarich heel drag goal, then check out EIHL Films on YouTube - as I don't suppose GM the GM will be rushing those highlights out, as his boys took a beating for most of the game.

4> Milestones - Hardly a week goes by without another milestone for Hewey and Leggy, but this week was a big 627, 628 and goal scoring 629th Steelers appearance for Jason, and Elite league goal number 250 for Jeff. Steelers legends both.

5> Props for the opposition too - mighty impressed with Hayes (Caps) and Schultz (Panties) this week, both look like awesome pickups in front of goal. Wouldn't be too surprised if they're second and third in scoring charts this year.

 

Storm watch for the final time as were now 15 games in, and they're not newbies anymore even though they've only got 4 wins. A bizarre week with a 5:1 loss to Dundee, a 6:4 win against the Blaze with 4 final period goals, (but no one loses to the Blaze do they Nottingham) and then a 4:3 loss at Braehead after conceding 3 in final period. Consistently inconsistent.

One final thought about Sunday's' game is that we need to keep out of the penalty box -  Manchester are top of the PP stats knocking in goals at over 28%, more than double the Steelers 13%! Oh and a small matter of a Belfast double header beforehand - so a four point weekend would be fine by me.

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:-

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