My main worry is because of the season being so long, does the more games prior to domestic starting catch up fatigue wise further down the line
Yes , Belfast did well in the CHL but then picked up injuries which cost them in the league. Personally I want to win another UK grand slam rather than enter a competition we cannot possibly win with its travel, tiredness and possible injury elements. Some of these European teams are on another planet skill-wise and I don't think its great for your confidence if you get thrashed early on in the season. Added to that it takes away money we could use for better players or easier travel .
I can understand that its exciting for the Steelers fans who go to these games but they are a minority and I ask whether the downsides are worth the ups. Just my personal opinion of course.
Have you had a change of heart at all here Brian from your pre-tournament comments from your post above? Do you think we should have still entered the competition?
I think the Steelers have surprised everyone and I have personally loved watching all the games in the CHL.
I was wrongly expecting that our CHL form would translate into domestic form, but we look off the pace and can see that we've been saving ourselves for the CHL games IMO.
I bet there is no financial gain for the club making the round of 16 either. I would imagine it's cost us financially to play in it, which is baffling to me in a supposedly premier competition. Imagine that in the Football Champions league if there was no financial reward for playing in it! There'd be no competition!
The presumption that the Steelers would be harmed after being thrashed by superior opposition was a reasonable one for me given the teams we drew in the first round of games, it's to the credit of the players and coach that we have so outperformed expectations. As far as any impact on domestic performances is concerned I think it's too early to make a definitive call just yet. Apart from some short periods of play I don't think we have brought the CHL speed to EIHL games, hopefully that is something that the coach can remedy.
Yes SMB I am glad we entered now but the worry about an effect on our eihl season is still valid .
We now have even more fixtures to fit in and play. Its been great so far in the CHL but I still can't believe we can win it. I do believe however that given a clear injury free run, we can win 3 cups again. That is still my priority. Fleeting glory is good but those championships in the record book mean more to me, in my view.
