Steelers claim Elite league title

SHEFFIELD,U.K- The Sheffield Steelers were crowned the 2008-09 BMI Baby Elite League champions with four league games remaining in the season. The Steelers trophy success,thier first in five years came after an away victory against the struggling Newcastle Vipers. Sheffield won the game 4-1 with goals from Joey Talbot, Jeff Legue and British duo Ashley Tait and Robert Dowd. The Steelers success was announced as the players were in a bar in Newcastle eagerly awaiting the result of title challengers Coventry Blaze delayed face-off game against the Hull Stingrays. Hull Stingrays gained a shock road win beating the Blaze by 4-1, which not only boosted their hopes of gaining the last playoff spot but indirectly handed the Steelers the title. The players were in a buoyant mood and headed back to the Sheffield Arena in a long-standing tradition to celebrate their success with the fans, who eagerly awaited their return. The players were in for a treat as there were around 1000 fans that braved the freezing temperatures to speak and celebrate with their hero’s. Steelers forward Ryan Finnerty also added his own personal touch to the celebration by driving the team bus the final 100 yards topless, much to the delight and amusement of the Steelers fans.

Sheffield Head Coach Dave Matsos spoke about his victorious team, “We needed to build a core and we did that, we had a great balance of experience, youth, speed and skill,” Matsos said “We had a great defensive core and a goalie who had the year of his life. Most importantly we had character in the dressing room, guys who stuck together, won together and that combination means we became winners.” The South Yorkshire side had great form coming into the Vipers game, having lost only twice in their last 16 games, including a 12 game winning streak. Several contributing factors played a part in Sheffield’s success. One of these factors was the performance of the teams defence, including that of goaltender Jody Lehman, proving the hypothesis of the old saying ‘Defence wins championships’. Another key factor was the surprise impact of young British player Robert Dowd, and mid-season arrival Brad Cruikshank. Dowd has undoubted talent, but he defied all expectations with his playing ability chalking up 46 points in 52 games, and even fighting former Steeler icon Dan Tessier now with rivals the Nottingham Panthers.
Dowd, 20, is now likely to attract the attention of rival teams within the league during the off-season, especially if the rumours of a lower import quota are to be believed, thus placing more importance on British talent. Brad Cruikshank was another player who played a pivotal part in securing the Elite League crown to the Broughton Lane outfit. Cruikshank, a native of British Columbia, was brought in mid season to replace the injured Nathan Gillies, and proved his worth by picking up 32 points in 42 games and acquiring 170 penalty minutes along the way. The former Basingstoke Bison captain was modest when talking about his impact on the team, “I gave the team a bit of a spark and competitiveness because sometimes when an extra guy comes in it shakes things up and people start playing for their jobs,” Cruikshank said “But if Gillies had stayed healthy he would also have contributed to what is a great team, built around a good defence and Jody (Lehman) and they would have won the title regardless. Gillies was a great guy and it was a shame he had to leave. You don’t like to see anybody in that position, he had an opportunity to stay but wanted to play and left.” The success was Steelers forward Jason Hewitt’s first experience of being a league champion, “I have waited all my playing days to experience that feeling, that feeling of knowing that you were a Champion. Winning the play offs last year was incredible but this feeling just surpasses it, we are British after all and winning the league to us is everything. Knowing that you are the best, it’s just the best of feelings.” Hewitt said. The Manchester-born forward also spoke of the pressures of being part of a winning team, “I felt it hard at times dealing with the pressure, since we arrived back here in August all that was being talked about was winning the league, from game one it was almost win the title or failure. Then we didn’t get off to a good start and it seems like there was panic outside the room, inside the room we were thinking Its only September.” The Steelers will now look to add to their silverware by retaining the playoff trophy in Nottingham come April 4th and 5th. Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com