Steelers signings and departures

[Clear The Zone]

Seen this also...



Jayboy

Apparently this is denied by the man himself on social media.

[smbmetal]

No issue on Juusola being back but expect we've only got 1 more returnee max (Diffley).

Any more and we won't have progressed the squad enough imo

I was undecided on Diffley, leaning towards releasing. I wouldn’t be upset if he did re-sign though.

I’d also take Tait back. After those potential two returnees, I’d agree any more and we won’t have progressed the squad enough to challenge for the league title.

I notice Belfast have re-signed, Conway, Goodwin & Piccinich and with yet another CHL place, should be able to attract some good players.

[ginger]

No issue on Juusola being back but expect we've only got 1 more returnee max (Diffley).

Any more and we won't have progressed the squad enough imo

Diffley would be top of my list for defencemen to retain.

I wouldn't have an issue if we brought Dougherty back as well. He came with a lot of expectation and had a slow start, but by the end of the season was 3rd on our +/-, which suggests he's had a very strong 2nd half of the season (just checked his game log = +7 in 2025 and +19 in 2026.....which confirms this).

Regards

Doom

Think Fox said in an interview that Dougherty was playing through injury first part of the season so I think that probably is understandable in context.

I'm torn to be honest on him. For every good bit of work he did, I didn't think he offered enough in terms of breakout. I'd like to go back and watch a few games, but I think teams started to try and force Dougherty to have to breakout rather than allowing his D partner (mainly Cormier) to do so when they could. GS season Tansey worked great with Cormier as he could also start/lead a breakout to a good standard, so teams got no real preferred corner to dump to.

We need an offensive D to take the load from Cormier. I would consider pairing Diffley and Steele assuming Diff stays. That means 1 new OFD and 2 new DFD, but more 2 way, where possible. I'm not sure Dougherty quite fits the bill. Shame, because he's not bad by any means, but just not what we need to really push for trophies. Gutted Cardiff have signed Welsh. That's the quality we need from at least 2 of the remaining D (assuming Diffley does return, otherwise 3 of 4)

[ginger]

No issue on Juusola being back but expect we've only got 1 more returnee max (Diffley).

Any more and we won't have progressed the squad enough imo

I was undecided on Diffley, leaning towards releasing. I wouldn’t be upset if he did re-sign though.

I’d also take Tait back. After those potential two returnees, I’d agree any more and we won’t have progressed the squad enough to challenge for the league title.

I notice Belfast have re-signed, Conway, Goodwin & Piccinich and with yet another CHL place, should be able to attract some good players.

Belfast aren't in CHL - apparently couldn't agree dates, so no EIHL representative next year.

Conway etc al always staying in Belfast. Basically same as Balmas/Dowd etc here (Balmas is 30 when his new deal ends, he's staying as long as he wants/keeps producing).

I like Tait, but we can't re-sign too many who didn't score enough. It was probably him or Jasper but not both. Jasper probably edges it given he already had another year on his deal, plus slightly more physical whilst not being as quick, but still quick (Tait is a bit of a freak in that sense).

Need a clever 2 way centre for Dowd and Jasper - or at least a lefty winger who's good on draws on his backhand, so can share duties with Dowd (fine on his backhand). I'd prefer a proper centre though.

[greeny]

juusola returning is certainly fine with me,,,,,

[Doom]

Our to stay list from playoff weekend was:

Greener- signed
McAdam - retired
Warburton - ????

Cormier - signed
Diffley - fingers crossed
Dougherty - ????
Steele - signed

Balmas - signed
IBN - signed
Dowd - signed
Juus - signed
Tait - ????
Tremblay - retired

To date the only one who has re-signed who wasn't on our list is Jasper and he only missed out by 1 mark.

I'm quite happy with those we've brought back.

Of the remaining 3 (Diffley, Dougherty and Tait), Diffley would be top of the list.

I'd be pleased with Dougherty and Tait, but not overly concerned if they didn't come back.

I get where ginger is coming from. I love Tait's speed and he does make team's have to consider how they play against us because of it, but there is a lack of end product. We can only carry so many mid to low teens scoring forwards.

Regards

Doom

[smbmetal]

No issue on Juusola being back but expect we've only got 1 more returnee max (Diffley).

Any more and we won't have progressed the squad enough imo

I was undecided on Diffley, leaning towards releasing. I wouldn’t be upset if he did re-sign though.

I’d also take Tait back. After those potential two returnees, I’d agree any more and we won’t have progressed the squad enough to challenge for the league title.

I notice Belfast have re-signed, Conway, Goodwin & Piccinich and with yet another CHL place, should be able to attract some good players.

Belfast aren't in CHL - apparently couldn't agree dates, so no EIHL representative next year.

Conway etc al always staying in Belfast. Basically same as Balmas/Dowd etc here (Balmas is 30 when his new deal ends, he's staying as long as he wants/keeps producing).

I like Tait, but we can't re-sign too many who didn't score enough. It was probably him or Jasper but not both. Jasper probably edges it given he already had another year on his deal, plus slightly more physical whilst not being as quick, but still quick (Tait is a bit of a freak in that sense).

Need a clever 2 way centre for Dowd and Jasper - or at least a lefty winger who's good on draws on his backhand, so can share duties with Dowd (fine on his backhand). I'd prefer a proper centre though.

Well then the CHL place should be offered to another EIHL team.

How can the EIHL not have presence in one of Europe's Premier Trophy competitions, when there is a place available?

I believe the EIHL being in the CHL helps grow the popularity of our league as an 'alternative' league to attract better players, especially when the likes of us and Nottingham have got through to the knock out stages in the past. Greenfield even won the goalie of the entire competition!

Imagine Man City saying, sorry lads, can't play in the Champions League this year, couple of concerts on at the Emptyhad when you want to arrange some fixtures. Appreciate that would never happen due to the financial benefits the Champions League brings, but I'm sure you get my point.

I'm sorry, but the EIHL just comes across as completely amateur, yet they boast about 1.3 million people coming through the doors (which is good). Imagine how many more would come if the league was run more professionally.........

Rant over.

[Clear The Zone]

Too late, the CHL have already filled the slot with a team from another country.

I must say you're very quick to point the finger of blame at the EIHL there, whereas it could well be that the league did their best to meet the CHL's requirements (who are, to be fair, holding all the cards here).

I don't really think the CHL is going to offer a berth to the second placed team in a wildcard league like ours either. The league winners rarely have the quality to compete as it is, bearing in mind the mighty Belfast got pasted in the CHL this year. What if the second place team didn't want to go, because they had not earned it and Cardiff (with Thommo having been there before) know it would be a drain on resources? Steelers have passed on a consolation-prize continental cup entry before. Send Fife for the laugh? As I say, not going to happen.

[Keith Sheppard]

The CHL decision looks a strange one if you look at the Belfast Arena website. (If it is accurate).The last couple of weeks in August has 1 event booked, September has 3 events, October 5 events and November currently 3. Surely dates could have been found for CHL games to be played during those months?

[smbmetal]

The CHL decision looks a strange one if you look at the Belfast Arena website. (If it is accurate).The last couple of weeks in August has 1 event booked, September has 3 events, October 5 events and November currently 3. Surely dates could have been found for CHL games to be played during those months?

It does look strange and I'd missed the official statement from the EIHL:

https://www.eliteleague.co.uk/article/5 ... ticipation

Something doesn't sit quite right with me there.

Now that the EIHL has no representation, we might be able to compete better with Belfa$t when it comes to new potential player signings (trying to put the thread back on topic, sorry mods) as there is no CHL place advantage.