Breaking News: Patrick Watling re-signs for Sheffield Steelers - Confirmed
NEW SEASON
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greeny
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Now the roster is complete it would be nice to sit back and read users views on the upcoming season,,,,,,,, expectations, worries etc. My personal view is that we have a team that knows what it takes to win and has the quality to do so as well. I feel we will have the strongest chance of retaining the league title as i feel we will be consistent over the season. The one off finals challenge cup/ play offs are more of a lottery on the day and more hard to predict.. I feel it will be alot harder and closer season than last for sure. {Dare the back to back grand slam be mentioned]. But the BIG BIG factor for me in wining any silverware especially league title is staying injury free,,,,,,,enjoy the season folks
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ginger
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Going to be a really tight season - certainly looks like a 3 horse race on paper for the league, with us, Cardiff and Belfast all looking very strong.
Cup I think Belfast have to be favourites based on groups, but there's probably 6 teams who all have a good shot at winning that and the playoffs.
Questions for the big 3:
Sheffield - can we repeat last year's highly consistent form? If so, then will be the team to beat.
Cardiff - the D. Top 4 are fine (on paper of course), but Richardson is another year older as is Mosey. Forwards - the top 6 looks strong. ZOB should rack up points. A lot depends on their 3rd and 4th lines, and their performance along with the bottom pair D will determine whether they are contenders for the league or more likely to be 3rd and in the hunt for CC or playoffs.
Belfast - can the returnees pick up where they left off? If they do, then Belfast could easily win the league. Also a lot of pressure on the Goaltending. Can Whistle stay healthy and replicate his second half of last year in performance terms? Also how good will McCollum be? Neither is prime Besko level imo, but might not need to be as long as perform well.
Cup I think Belfast have to be favourites based on groups, but there's probably 6 teams who all have a good shot at winning that and the playoffs.
Questions for the big 3:
Sheffield - can we repeat last year's highly consistent form? If so, then will be the team to beat.
Cardiff - the D. Top 4 are fine (on paper of course), but Richardson is another year older as is Mosey. Forwards - the top 6 looks strong. ZOB should rack up points. A lot depends on their 3rd and 4th lines, and their performance along with the bottom pair D will determine whether they are contenders for the league or more likely to be 3rd and in the hunt for CC or playoffs.
Belfast - can the returnees pick up where they left off? If they do, then Belfast could easily win the league. Also a lot of pressure on the Goaltending. Can Whistle stay healthy and replicate his second half of last year in performance terms? Also how good will McCollum be? Neither is prime Besko level imo, but might not need to be as long as perform well.
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wakefieldsteelersfan
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I'm quietly confident this year. We've strengthened in defence and up front (on paper anyway) and will be coming into the season with a group that in the majority all know each other so should settle quickly and hopefully pickup where we left off last year. We look solid again at the back and have scoring depth throughout all the lines.
Long as we stay healthy I reckon we'll be challenging. Don't think we will do another grand slam but reckon we'll have one of the trophies come the end of the year.
Long as we stay healthy I reckon we'll be challenging. Don't think we will do another grand slam but reckon we'll have one of the trophies come the end of the year.
I'm very happy with the completed squad, but I do think I'm seeing it slightly different to others.
The bar was set so high last season it was always going to be difficult to match it, never mind surpass it.
I look at it like this:
Netminding we're about level with last season. Although he was only around 89%, I do quite like the look of De Filippo. The other netminder on his team has previously been around 91% in the ICEHL, but he was less than 88% last season. This suggests to me the team they were on couldn't defend for toffee.
Defensively we're about level with last season. That's not a negative by the way, because I'd suggest our defence last season was probably the best we've had in the EIHL era.
For me Nev has arguably been the most consistent defenceman in the whole league over the last two seasons, he was always going to be incredibly difficult to replace, but with Huttula I think we've done it. His CV is outstanding and I expect him to be one of the best in the league. If he's as good as I hope, we'll be replacing a 9/10 with another 9/10.
Gui I remain to be convinced by. His career is certainly sliding, but he should still be a very solid 6th d. Maybe because he's British, but at times I think Jones was underrated. 3 seasons ago he finished top of our +/- for d men. I'd probably look at both as 6/10.
After the playoff final I would have snapped your hand off to have a defence next season which on paper looks as good as the Grandslam defence.
In the forwards I see a slight downgrade. Putting Miceli in the same role as Kiely we're effectively looking at Janatuinen/Leavens/Ulrick replacing Neumann/Allen/Nicholls.
At best I see this as a break even, but probably a slight downgrade. I'm not as sold on Leavens as some supporters, I think he'll be similar level to Allen or Nicholls and probably be good for 20 goals.
Janatuinen is tough to call because of the last 2 seasons, but if he has got fully fit then I would suggest a slight upgrade on Neumann.
You're then left with Ulrick compared to Allen or Nicholls. With the best will in the world, this is a downgrade.
Overall I think we're close to where we were last season, which is a fantastic place to be.
As for our rivals, I think Nottingham have upgraded hugely with a very good looking defence. I think they might surprise a few, but I think we still have the edge.
Cardiff also look to have upgraded, but I'm not convinced they have the depth to go past us.
Belfast look frightening offensively and well ahead of the rest in terms of firepower. I'm not convinced they'll be as strong defensively or in goal, but I'd still make them slight favourites for the title.
As ever, a lot will depend on injuries and how quickly clubs react to them.
Regards
Doom
The bar was set so high last season it was always going to be difficult to match it, never mind surpass it.
I look at it like this:
Netminding we're about level with last season. Although he was only around 89%, I do quite like the look of De Filippo. The other netminder on his team has previously been around 91% in the ICEHL, but he was less than 88% last season. This suggests to me the team they were on couldn't defend for toffee.
Defensively we're about level with last season. That's not a negative by the way, because I'd suggest our defence last season was probably the best we've had in the EIHL era.
For me Nev has arguably been the most consistent defenceman in the whole league over the last two seasons, he was always going to be incredibly difficult to replace, but with Huttula I think we've done it. His CV is outstanding and I expect him to be one of the best in the league. If he's as good as I hope, we'll be replacing a 9/10 with another 9/10.
Gui I remain to be convinced by. His career is certainly sliding, but he should still be a very solid 6th d. Maybe because he's British, but at times I think Jones was underrated. 3 seasons ago he finished top of our +/- for d men. I'd probably look at both as 6/10.
After the playoff final I would have snapped your hand off to have a defence next season which on paper looks as good as the Grandslam defence.
In the forwards I see a slight downgrade. Putting Miceli in the same role as Kiely we're effectively looking at Janatuinen/Leavens/Ulrick replacing Neumann/Allen/Nicholls.
At best I see this as a break even, but probably a slight downgrade. I'm not as sold on Leavens as some supporters, I think he'll be similar level to Allen or Nicholls and probably be good for 20 goals.
Janatuinen is tough to call because of the last 2 seasons, but if he has got fully fit then I would suggest a slight upgrade on Neumann.
You're then left with Ulrick compared to Allen or Nicholls. With the best will in the world, this is a downgrade.
Overall I think we're close to where we were last season, which is a fantastic place to be.
As for our rivals, I think Nottingham have upgraded hugely with a very good looking defence. I think they might surprise a few, but I think we still have the edge.
Cardiff also look to have upgraded, but I'm not convinced they have the depth to go past us.
Belfast look frightening offensively and well ahead of the rest in terms of firepower. I'm not convinced they'll be as strong defensively or in goal, but I'd still make them slight favourites for the title.
As ever, a lot will depend on injuries and how quickly clubs react to them.
Regards
Doom
I'm certainly looking forward to the new season.
We have re-signed some very important players and as mentioned before I have never seen as many returnees. This is likely to help us hit the ground running.
The CHL will be an enormous challenge for us, but I'm still very much looking forward to see how we get on. Remaining injury free would be the main hope. Let's see if we can cause one or two shocks
As for our new signings they're all a very much wait and see for me. Hopefully we'll have picked up a couple of very good players as well as taking the odd risk which might pay off or it might not.
Last season we were well ahead of all our main competition. I expect that gap to have been closed significantly. That should bring some exciting entertaining games is my hope.
As a club we must be the most stable we have ever been, and it's been great to see calm off-seasons with no financial dramas of seasons past.
Bring on the new season!
We have re-signed some very important players and as mentioned before I have never seen as many returnees. This is likely to help us hit the ground running.
The CHL will be an enormous challenge for us, but I'm still very much looking forward to see how we get on. Remaining injury free would be the main hope. Let's see if we can cause one or two shocks
As for our new signings they're all a very much wait and see for me. Hopefully we'll have picked up a couple of very good players as well as taking the odd risk which might pay off or it might not.
Last season we were well ahead of all our main competition. I expect that gap to have been closed significantly. That should bring some exciting entertaining games is my hope.
As a club we must be the most stable we have ever been, and it's been great to see calm off-seasons with no financial dramas of seasons past.
Bring on the new season!
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Keith Sheppard
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Without repeating the comments already posted, (which I agree with), and on a slightly different tack. I'm looking forward to seeing how the joint ownership of the Dogs helps both clubs. With seven 'two way' players signed, it will be interesting to see how they fit into the Steelers line up, as well as the improvement they bring to the Dogs. It should be an interesting, (and hopefully a successful), year for both sets of fans.
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BontSteeler
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The one thing that is a concern for me is the amount of games that we will have to play, now as much as I love a UK team in the CHL, I personally don't like to see it at the extent of it harming our overall chances of a trophy.
If we can keep injury free, I don't see why we can't win at least 1 of the 3 trophies on offer.
If we can keep injury free, I don't see why we can't win at least 1 of the 3 trophies on offer.
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DimTim
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Very disappointed that both Steelers website, Facebook & Twitter have not given any indication that the team have arrived fit & well.
It took to last Wednesday to finally announce the full roster. Usually we have photos of players arriving at the arena, the induction day, initial fitness tests etc.
Supposedly we are putting out a team on Saturday in Manchester but at present the club have given no indication if all have arrived safely!
It took to last Wednesday to finally announce the full roster. Usually we have photos of players arriving at the arena, the induction day, initial fitness tests etc.
Supposedly we are putting out a team on Saturday in Manchester but at present the club have given no indication if all have arrived safely!
I'm quite surprised by this.DimTim wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:10 amVery disappointed that both Steelers website, Facebook & Twitter have not given any indication that the team have arrived fit & well.
It took to last Wednesday to finally announce the full roster. Usually we have photos of players arriving at the arena, the induction day, initial fitness tests etc.
Supposedly we are putting out a team on Saturday in Manchester but at present the club have given no indication if all have arrived safely!
I was also expecting an interview with Fox after the final few signings, but nothing to date.
The website hasn't been updated to the new squad members. Currently we only have 4d with no back-up netminder.
I can only assume the backroom staff are flat out sorting player paperwork or somebody within the office is currently off work ill, because normally they'd be all over this.
Regards
Doom