Sheffield Steelers and Belfast Giants Crush Opponents (UK Round Up 26th February)

With the title race well and truly on in the EIHL there were crucial games to be played across the country.

Edinburgh Capitals 0 Sheffield Steelers 7

The Steelers coach Ryan Finnerty had said that his side needed to be more potent in front of the goal following two less than convincing games in Scotland. Finnerty also gambled by resting John De Caro to be replaced by British goalie Geoff Woolhouse.

The gamble paid off as the Steelers’ dominated the game from start to finish. A brace from Finnerty was backed up by goals from King, Huttel, Birnstill and Legue whilst Woolhouse stayed strong in front of some spirited Capitals attacks.

It was a vitalising victory for the Steelers who needed a boost after two shaky performances.

Belfast Giants 5 Coventry Blaze 0

Coventry returned to the rink looking for some points after their pointless weekend less time out. However Belfast were on again a hot streak.

The Giants picked up a 4-point lead with 13 goals scored and non conceded.

Braehead Clan 5 Dundee Stars 6 (APS)

The Stars – Clan game was the game of the round with the Stars looking to take advantage of the Capitals poor run and the Clan on some good form.

The Stars took the lead twice early only to find themselves 3 goals behind going into the last ten minutes. It was Kolanos, Maclean and McIntosh who netted within a minute of each other to level the scores and send the game to overtime.

No overtime winner was found and it fell to Chris Whitely to save from the usually reliable Jade Galbraith to win the game for the home team.

Nottingham Panthers 4 Fife Flyers 3

The Flyers were missing 3 players in their match up but again the Kirkcaldy side made it difficult for the visitors. But it was the visitors who showed the skill and took an advantage through Benedict and Francis.

It was a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish but a third period double from Gunn meant that the Panthers couldn’t relax.

Hull Stingrays 3 Cardiff Devils 5

The Devils maintained their good run of form to remain in contention for a top 4 finish with a controlling display against the Stingrays.

However it was the Stingrays that took the lead through former Devil Jason Silverthorn but a double from Matzka and 1 from Gerard Adams meant the Devils were in control of the tie.

Hull remained in contention with a Sylvan Cloutier strike but 2 in a minute from Pierce and Scott Matzka (for his hat trick) put the game beyond doubt even though Osman came in with consolation for the Stingrays.

English Premier League

There were just 3 games in the EPL on Sunday night and with Guildford not in action it was a chance for the Manchester Phoenix to close the gap. The Phoenix were missing Slava Koulikov to an injury picked up in the tie at Bracknell on Saturday night but looked to have done enough to beat the Berkshire outfit for the second night in a row. But with 90 seconds to go the Bees found an equaliser that appeared to be taking the game to overtime until James Archer netted his second of the game with 18 seconds left on the clock to win it for the Manchester Phoenix.

The 3^rd and 4^th placed sides also meant at Ice Sheffield with both sides having lost the night before. The Jets took the lead but it was Sheffield who came away with the spoils and leapfrog their opponents into third spot.

The final game of the night was in Peterborough where the Phantoms were involved in another high scoring match up this time against the Milton Keynes Lightning. This time though it was the Lightning who did the majority of the scoring to beat the Phantoms who remain outside of the playoffs but tied on points with the Bracknell Bees.

Scores

Sunday 26^th February

EIHL

Hull Stingrays 3 Cardiff Devils 5

Edinburgh Capitals 0 Sheffield Steelers 7

Belfast Giants 5 Coventry Blaze 0

Nottingham Panthers 4 Fife Flyers 3

Braehead Clan 5 Dundee Stars 6 (APS)

EPL

Bracknell Bees 2 Manchester Phoenix 3

Milton Keynes Lightning 9 Peterborough Phantoms 3

Slough Jets 3 Sheffield Steeldogs 5

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

Big Night of Wins and Upsets in the EIHL and EPL (UK Round Up 25th February)

It was a big night in the title races as wins, upsets and almost caused a shake up in the league titles of both the EIHL and EPL.

Sheffield Steelers 1 Braehead Clan 2

It was a Friday night start for the weekends EIHL fixtures as the Steelers played another of their games in hand in Braehead. It was all going to plan when Colt King put the Steelers ahead at he end of the first period but Adam Walker tied the game after the first intermission. It was a tight game thereafter but it was Drew Bannister that broke the deadlock and the spoils for the home side.

Saturday 25^th February

Braehead Clan 5 Edinburgh Capitals 4 (APS)

Hot on the heels of their win over Sheffield the Clan headed to Murrayfield for their second of 3 games this weekend.

It was a first period full of action with the Capitals taking a 2-goal lead before the Clan equalised and fell behind by a 2-goals again by the mid point in the middle period. But the Clan weren’t done as they equalised through Wirill and Campbell.

No winner could be found in the extra period but Galbraith and Krestanovich hit the winners in the shootout.

Belfast Giants 8 Hull Stingrays 0

With the Steelers loss the night before the Giants knew this was their chance to take full control of the title race.

After a slow start the Giants got into their strand without a let up. A brace from Dowd and Mason was backed up by goals from Pelle, Peacock and Keefe in a game where nothing went the Stingrays who including mussing a penalty shot.

Sheffield Steelers 5 Fife Flyers 3

The Steelers knew that they couldn’t afford to slip up again but the Kirkcaldy ice rink has not been the kindest on the Steelers. The second period was that slip up for the Steelers as they found themselves goal behind by the end of it.

Hard work and a bit of luck in the third period were just what the Steelers needed and what they got. Firstly De Caro saved a penalty shot before Fulgham and King gave the Steelers the lead. Fife then thought they had saved the game through Todd Dutiaume only for Mick Hicks to rule it out.

A frantic last few minutes from the Flyers did not produce the equaliser but a Steelers insurance marker through Jeff Legue

That win leaves the Steelers and Giants head to head in the title race.

Cardiff Devils 3 Nottingham Panthers 6

It was a run and gun game in Nottingham as both sides racked up the chances. But it was Nottingham took theirs. The Panthers out scored the Devils in each period with a brace from GB international David Clarke.

English Premier League

The Guildford Flames showed the rest of the EPL why they are in the hot seat for the title as they brushed aside their cup final rivals the Sheffield Steelers. Manchester however did keep up the pressure on the Flames with a win in Bracknell. But it is now looking like a two horse race as the Jets went down 4 – 0 to the up and down Milton Keynes Lightning.

Peterborough’s win in Basingstoke was a big step towards their playoff push as Swindon’s at home to Telford also boosts their chances of making the end of season party.

Results

Friday 24^th February

EIHL

Sheffield Steelers 1 Braehead Clan 2

Saturday 25^th February

EIHL

Sheffield Steelers 5 Fife Flyers 3

Cardiff Devils 3 Nottingham Panthers 6

Belfast Giants 8 Hull Stingrays 0

Braehead Clan 5 Edinburgh Capitals 4 (APS)

EPL

Telford Tigers 2 Swindon Wildcats 7

Manchester Phoenix 5 Bracknell Bees 3

Sheffield Steeldogs 1 Guildford Flames 4

Peterborough Phantoms 8 Basingstoke Bison 5

Slough Jets 0 Milton Keynes Lightning 4

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

EPL and EIHL Action (UK Round Up 18th February)

Elite League

Sheffield Steelers 1 Nottingham Panthers 5

The Steelers and the Panthers met for the second time in a week. The Steelers had won the Valentines clash in Sheffield before heading to Dundee to scrap a victory.  The Panthers however were fresh and out for revenge.

However it was the Steelers who took the lead first through Jonathan Phillips but that proved to be the kick that the Panthers needed and scored 5 goals without reply. The Steelers looked to have run out of gas as they entered the third period.

The Steelers now have 4 games in hand over the Giants and 7 points to make up.

Fife Flyers 1 Belfast Giants 7

Meanwhile in Belfast the Giants were looking for their second win of the weekend after beating the Hull Stingrays on Friday. The Giants knew that nothing but a win would be needed to keep the pressure up and maintain their advantage at the top of the EIHL.

The Flyers always knew this would be a difficult tie but set about their task in well-disciplined fashion but the Giants were clinical. 3 first period goals were followed by a forth in the second from Craig Peacock.

There was no let up in the third period as the Giants continued their ruthless display. But a penalty shot from Stephen Gunn meant the Flyers head back to Kirkcaldy with a consolation goal.

The game was marred by an incident between Dan Ceman and Adam Keefe after the hand shakes.

Dundee Stars 6 Edinburgh Capitals 3

In the Murrayfield Ice Rink there was a east of Scotland derby with the Stars chasing the Capitals for the last playoff spot.

With both teams needing the points it was the Stars that stole a march in the second thanks to 2 goals in a minute at the start of the period. Dundee continued that momentum in the third to move within 3 points off of the Edinburgh Capitals and eighth place in the table.

Coventry Blaze 4 Braehead Clan 5

On the other side of Scotland the Clan were in action against the Blaze looking to move closer to the top four.

In form Jade Galbraith gave the Clan a first period two goal lead before the Blaze fought back to tie the game. However the Clan regained their 2-goal lead before the end of the second.

A very late Robert Farmer goal did cut the deficit but as the home side took the spoilers.

English Premier League Cup

It was a big night in Manchester as the top 2 put their league differences to one side to meet in the Semi Final 1^st leg with the winners going through to the final to face the Sheffield Steeldogs.

It was a nervy and edge start as the Manchester Phoenix looked to have taken the lead when the puck appeared to have hit the top corner netting only to be ruled out. The luck continued to go to the Flames as they then twice took the lead but Long’s equaliser tied the scores at 2 heading into Wednesday’s second leg.

English Premier League

There were 3 other games in the EPL with the Slough Jets looking to get their title challenge back on track. However Slough near lost their opportunity coming back to beat Peterborough in overtime. Basingstoke also got an important 2 points against Bracknell. Whilst the Milton Keynes Lightning gained a valuable win over Swindon before they head to Manchester for Sundays clash.

Results

Elite League

Dundee Stars 6 Edinburgh Capitals 3

Coventry Blaze 3 Braehead Clan 4

Fife Flyers 1 Belfast Giants 7

Sheffield Steelers 1 Nottingham Panthers 5

English Premier League Cup 1^st Leg

Guildford Flames 2 Manchester Phoenix 2

English Premier League

Peterborough Phantoms 4 Slough Jets 5 (AOT)

Bracknell Bees 1 Basingstoke Bison 3

Swindon Wildcats 3 Milton Keynes Lightning 6

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

UK Round Up 14th February – Tendler Suspended and No Valentines Love Between the Steelers and the Panthers

It was an important day for the Elite League and British hockey as there were two big news stories in the EIHL today both coming out of Yorkshire.

Firstly in Hull the Stingrays have announced they will be without top scorer Jerome Tendler for some time as the forward has failed a drugs test.

Tendler has been missing from the Stingrays line up for 4 games since being informed of the news that he had tested positive after a game against the Coventry Blaze on January 15^th. The actual substance the Canadian was found to have taken has not been released yet but was described by the organisation as a ‘specified substance,’ which according to the World Anti Doping Authority, WADA, is one that is ‘more susceptible to a credible, non-doping explanation.’

Tendler will remain suspended from playing duties until his case is heard by the UK Anti Doping Agency however if found guilty Tendler could face a punishment of anything from a warning to a 2 year ban. The EIHL has not announced whether or not it plans to take its own disciplinary measures against the player or not.

It is a huge blow for the Stingrays who currently lie 7^th in the table and are looking to secure their playoff spot.

On the other side of Yorkshire there was no Valentines Day love to be shown at the Motorpoint Arena as the Sheffield Steelers faced their biggest rivals the Nottingham Panthers. Eleven years after a mass brawl on the ice in the NIC between the two sides there has been little love ever since.

Tonight’s meeting was important for both sides, as both need a win to keep the pressure up on Belfast at the top of the table. The tone was set early as David Clarke put the Panthers ahead after just over a minute only for Colt King to reply for home side less than a minute later.

The second period followed a similar pattern as Birnstill this time put the Steeler’s in front before Robert Lachowicz replied for the Panthers. The deadlock was finally broken in the third period as the Panthers penalty troubles caught up with them with Steelers player coach Ryan Finnerty notching the gaming-winning goal after fighting with Brock Wilson earlier in the game.

Jonathan Philips netted with just over a minute remain to seal the victory, move the Steelers 3 points clear of the Panthers in second place and 2 points closer to the Giants but also seals a first win in 5 attempts so far this season against their arch rivals.

Results

Elite League

Tuesday 14^th February

Nottingham Panthers 2 Sheffield Steelers 4

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

The Get Real Guide to The Sheffield Steelers

League: Elite League

Founded: 1991

Home: Motorpoint Arena (Sheffield Arena), Sheffield

Colours: Orange, White, Teal

The Sheffield Steelers have become one of the biggest names in British ice hockey as famous on the ice as they are their antics off the ice. Take their name from the product that Sheffield exported to the world the Steelers were the first arena team in Great Britain as they moved into the new Sheffield Arena.

After entering the British league the Steelers spent big and won big by winning the last ever British League title in 1996. The season after the Steelers became founder members of the new Independent Superleague. Despite struggle somewhat in the early days of the Superleague the club set attendance records and in 1998 the Steelers played the Manchester Storm at the MEN Arena in Manchester in front of a capacity 17,500 people; the highest ever attendance in British ice hockey.

Despite struggling in the league the Steelers did win the challenge cup in 1999 and 2000 as well as the playoff title in 1997 before their first Superleague title. That title came in 2001 along with 2 cup titles although it was at a cost to side after the club were found guilty of financial misdealing’s and fined £20,000. It was a controversial decision as the Steelers were allowed to keep the titles and had reportedly won more in prize money than the fine. Before the end of the Superleague in 2003 the Steelers would add another league, playoff and cup title.

With the start of the Elite League in 2003 the Steelers became founder members and were instantly successful. The Steelers were the first Elite League winners and added the playoff title that same year.

After some lean years with silverware the Steelers bounced back. Firstly winning the back-to-back playoff titles in 2008 and 2009 and then league titles 2009 and 2011.

This season the Steelers are once again in contention for the league title but have missed out on the challenge cup semi-finals. Despite their troubles in the past with money that included 3 owners in 2 years the Steelers seem to again be on a sure footing and looking to the future.

Honours

League Championships

§  1994–95, 1995–96, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2010-11

Play Off Championships

§  1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2008–09

Autumn Cups

§  1995–96, 2000–01

Challenge Cups

§  1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03

20-20 Hockeyfest Tournament

§  2009-10

Websites

Official www.sheffieldsteelersihc.com

Forum http://www.steeltalk.hockeytweets.co.uk/phpBB3/index.php

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

British Ice Hockey League Season Could Be in Jeopardy

The end of the British league season could be thrown into doubt at all levels as Planet Ice was served with a winding up order by HMRC over unpaid taxes. Planet Ice and its parent company the Arena Group are fighting the decision but the action by Revenue and Customs could close the rinks the company operations. This could leave clubs at all levels of British ice hockey homeless before the end of the season.

Planet Ice is the operator for 7 rinks and arenas that currently house hockey clubs at one level or another in British ice hockey. The rinks in Isle of Wight, Basingstoke, Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Gosport, Coventry and Peterborough could all be closed down following a court hearing in February.

It could be a massive blow to British ice hockey and one that would cause chaos to the league season as there would be little hope of housing all the clubs in other rinks to allow them to at least finish the season.

The Arena Group who owners the Planet Ice brand has said however that it is confident that the issue will be cleared up before the case goes to court and that in the meantime all rinks will remain open as normal. However the news is yet another hit for British hockey clubs trying to attract sponsors, investment and new fans as the negative story will hit confidence at an already low time.

Even if the issue is cleared up the negativity around the story will reflect badly on all clubs even those who do not operate out of those rinks under the Planet Ice banner. This because of the stigma these kinds of stories create and will pass on around all rinks in country making it that much harder for any hockey club to win new sponsors and invest at time when it is much need and also when clubs are looking to next season.

Elsewhere it was business as usual for the Cardiff Devils in their Planet Ice ran rink as they hosted the Sheffield Steelers. The Steelers were icing new signing Nick Duff after the defenseman arrived in time to be on the coach to Cardiff. However it was the Devils who took the lead in the first period before a Colt King double sent the game into overtime. It was then left to Jeff Legue with just 11 seconds left in the extra period to send the Steelers home to Sheffield with 2 points. It is also a win that moves Sheffield level on points with Nottingham in second place in the table.

At the Braehead Arena there was another come from behind victory as the Fife Flyers moved level on points with Dundee at the foot of the EIHL table. A brace from Hartmanis backed up with goals from Maxwell and a first goal for new signing Kadic were enough despite Jade Galbraith’s late goal.

Results

Wednesday 18^th January

Sheffield Steelers 3 Cardiff Devils 2 (AOT)

Fife Flyers 4 Braehead Clan 3

Neil Tucker

www.bluelinehockeyblog.wordpress.com

Sheffield Steelers Come Out on Top Again

Friday night saw a rare televised game over here in the UK as the Sheffield Steelers visited the Blaze at the Sky Dome Arena in Coventry.

An entertaining 1^st period saw Coventry have the better of the early exchanges but it was Sheffield who took the lead as ex Blaze forward Luke Fulgham pounced on a puck after good pressure from Phillips and Finnerty,  deked around Hirsch in the Coventry net and finished from a wide angle.

Sheffield had to then kill off their first 2 minutes of the night as Jason Hewitt sat for tripping but Coventry couldn’t force an equaliser as they pressured the Steelers net.

Infact it was Ramsay who made it 2-0 for Sheffield at 8.37. Jeff Legue led from the red line on a 2 on 1 and his pass to Ramsay was just about directed towards net and the puck seemed to squirm up and over Hirsch on his stick side.

It was soon 3-0 as Jason Hewitt picked up a rebound off a Matt Stephenson shot at 10.05 as Paul Thompson called a time out from the Coventry bench.

This stemmed the flow of goals from Sheffield who in all honesty were lucky to be leading by 3 so early. The game had been pretty even with the Steelers seeming to be getting the bounce of the puck as well as being clinical with their chances.

The first minute of the third period saw Birnstall and Hewitt in the box for Sheffield whilst Farmer went for Coventry which gave the Blaze another powerplay opportunity that they couldn’t capitalize on.

Coventry would come to rue some bad powerplay time as the game went on as Sheffield made it 4-0 at 10.45 of the 2^nd. It was Mike Ramsay’s 2^nd of the game on a Steelers powerplay as Ashley Tait found the inform wingman all alone and he buried the puck low past Hirsch.

Robert Farmer then decided he would try and get the Blaze team going after a little skirmish infront of the Steelers net. He dropped his gloves in anticipation Mark Thomas was going to dance with him but his ex team mate declined. Amazingly Farmer wasn’t called for his actions and only Jason Hewitt was called for  his 3^rd 2 minute penalty of the night, this time for a hook in the build up before the fracas. However, Coventry still couldn’t get anything going to get back into the game.

They did finally manage to get on the board with 6.30 left on the period as Bryan Jurynec tucked the puck in quickly after a big rebound was given out by John DeCaro off a Jeremie Domish blast from distance.

There was an immediate chance for a 2^nd as Mike Ramsay gave up a puck infront of his netminder but this time DeCaro made a great glove save to deny the Blaze. DeCaro then made his 2^nd great stop of the period as he got a piece of one shot with his glove and as it went over his shoulder he manged to get back down to deny the Blaze forwards crashing the net trying to force home the loose puck.

There was certainly a momentum change after the Blaze goal as Coventry tried but failed to get a 2^nd before the end of the period.

Coventry would however come out for the 3^rd period with around 1 minute 20 left on a powerplay opportunity but yet again they couldn’t click on this as the period had an extremely scrappy start to it.

The Blaze would then have 4 consecutive powerplays from 7 minutes into the period without managing to create too many great chances on them.

Mike McLean had the best chance of all but he somehow managed to hit the post with the cage wide open infront of him.

The Steelers saw out the remainder of the game and despite being outshot 33-25 and taking 20 PIMS to the Blaze 8 they held on to that 4-1 scoreline and the 2 points were heading back to Sheffield.

The Steelers now head to Kirkcaldy for a Saturday night game against the Fife Flyers and then over to Edinburgh on Sunday to finish off 3 games in 3 nights with a tough tie against the ever improving Capitals.

- Adam Yates