SWINDON, UK – A livelier Roundup this week and mainly thanks to the Steeldogs who, for anyone who missed the news perhaps from holidaying somewhere remote, took on the Elite League’s Hull Stingrays and put on a most creditable performance drawing 5-5.
Not only is that a decent scoreline but within its murky depths there lies a few note-worthy facts, the first being the opening goal which went to Hull in under a minute. OK, that must have put a few Stingrays’ tails up which is a bit of an anomaly as they normally only bring their tail into play when threatened and under pursuit, just ask any one of the fifteen-hundred injured in the US every year. But I digress, so let’s be honest there must have been at least a few people whose minds were crossed with the thought that such a start was no more than expected. So the first hurdle for the Sheffield side to overcome was to, basically, start an hour’s match at a goal disadvantage. Next, when the Steeldogs’ first goal came it was respectably quick just ten minutes later and supplied by Janis Ozolins who had almost had to dress in the taxi on the way from the airport. And then, after a further five minutes the Steeldogs took the lead to end the first period. Who would have expected that? The Stingrays started to pull away afterwards, but not for long and seconds into the final period it was all equal again and how it remained meaning the Steeldogs also fought back from two goals down.
Now while there are many factors inherent in ‘challenged’ games other than simply winning, I am sure the pointers from this game have been recognised in the nine other locker rooms where it matters. And for any eyes not focused on this performance in the rest of the Premier League it must have been a bit of a wake-up call, so is this a taste of things to come? Let’s hope so.
The Steeldogs go on to meet their neighbours the Sheffield Steelers this coming Tuesday, so it will be interesting to see how that compares as they are likely to be tougher opposition. The meeting will also be something of a diplomatic mission as the two clubs continue to forge closer links, so it will be interesting to see if it results in the eventual exchange of ambassadors once the blood has been washed away.
As a footnote to the Stingrays’ game 18-year-old Jack Watkins, younger brother of Tigers’ coach Tom who signed for Hull in May was ruled out of the encounter with a suspected broken collar bone. Hull netminder Christian Boucher, on the other hand, did manage to start the game but after nine minutes had the misfortune to find his helmet unseated and an incoming puck inches from his head. Boucher was immediately replaced and required stitches, but the puck was able to continue the game.
Other news from the Steeldogs was the signing of British netminder Dimitri Zimozdra who made eighteen appearances for the side last season and joins as backup to Ben Bowns. The club said that just about completed to roster with Coach Andre Payette adding, ‘I managed to bring in every player I wanted to over the summer, and I am optimistic.’
Elsewhere, in Telford after weeks of speculation Canadian netminder Greg Blais was brought on board from recently playing in France and will also fulfil the role of assistant coach; a sort of bench coach when Watkins is ice bound. Blais becomes the fifth import in the Tigers’ camp which not only looked unlikely a year ago but is sure to cause some player juggling as foreign netminders do in this league. While it has been stated Blais is expected to play, and he undoubtedly has knowledge to pass on as a coach, it makes you wonder how this will work as his time on the bench will be severely limited unless he is predominantly backup. If he isn’t, though, then the Tigers are faced with the oft-mentioned issue about having the expense of an imported player having to be weighed against the expected results on the ice. But maybe that will come via his tutelage.
While on the subject of juggling players, the Tigers’ recently signed Dean Holland added a two-year two-way contract with EIHL Dundee to his CV. The Tigers confirmed the British forward would be available for the Stars when not required to ice in Telford, which isn’t a bad arrangement for them.
Also engrossed in a juggling act have been the Phoenix where the choice of a backup netminder has been causing some angst. Well, those balls finally fell into place this week with the announcement Jorge El-Hage, recently with the ENL Metros, had been picked. Owner Neil Morris also revealed the team were considering ‘3 D-men with offers on the table’, and would make their decision in their own good time. Also not revealed was the intended destination of Andrew Sharp, although what must now be clear is with the Flames declaring their roster complete, it ain’t gonna be Guildford – maybe.
Another completed roster was confirmed by the Jets’ with the signing of British forward Dan Davies. Jan Krajicek, however, their Czech Republic D-man of last season was reported to have confirmed his career complete and his skate duly hung up. At thirty-nine you can understand Krajicek might well be looking to his pipe and slippers as a less energetic option to the Jets, but having played in the UK for some nine seasons at places as far flung as Edinburgh and Swindon and many stops between, he’s probably earned a rest. Shame, because his hard-grafting, entertaining style will be missed. What we don’t want now, of course, is for someone to ring up and say he is on a skiing holiday in Bulgaria.
Officially, only four teams have so far declared completed squads – Flames, Steeldogs, Bison and Jets. Apart from the Phoenix, who have made it clear they aren’t done yet, the Lightning this week confirmed they too still have a way to go, while the Bees on eighteen and what appears a full compliment must be close.
That leaves the Tigers, who look as though they still have a hole to fill in the defence, and the Wildcats where the backup netminder slot and something more up front need names adding.
The Phantoms on seventeen announced this season’s ‘prospect players’ in the shape of D-man Jon Williamson, forwards Mitch White and Luke Barber, with Dan Lane between the pipes. Bearing in mind twin bothers Connor and Nathan Pollard and Connor Stokes, who were all previous prospect players and clocked up about half a season each for the senior team during the last campaign, at least one of these lads will surely receive his call-up papers this time out too.
So that’s it for another week and while the Steeldogs, as mentioned, play again on Tuesday it will then be Saturday when the Bees and Bison join ENL League Champions Wightlink Raiders and the Bristol Pitbulls in a charity fund-raising tournament. So while no more hockey-free weeks this year, I’m afraid, with just two more complete weeks to go until the league gets under way, the time is going to fly by now.
Can’t wait.
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Contact Bill.COllins@prohockeynews.com
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