SHEFFIELD, UK – It is worrying times in the Steel City. The Sheffield Steelers are once again suffering from an injury curse, which plagued the goaltenders of the Steelers last season. Top end Brit and Steelers captain Jonathan Phillips has been enjoying a very successful start to the season that has seen him rack up 15 points from 14 games. However, his season could be ended prematurely as he unfortunately suffered a nasty injury in the home defeat against expansion club; the Braehead Clan.
As Phillips drove the back post, he received a deliberate slash from Clan D-man Jon Landry. Phillips immediately dropped to his knees in pain before colliding with the goal frame. It was clear to see Phillips was in a lot of trouble as simply skating off the ice proved a huge challenge. After spending 5 minutes walking up and down the tunnel to get some weight on his leg, the doctors called it a night on Phillips’ game. Seconds before the incident, D-man Kevin Bolibruck blocked a big slap shot with his skate, and fell to the ice before hobbling to the bench. Fortunately, Bolibruck returned to the ice shortly after, relieving the Steelers of further injury woes.
Phillips however joins a growing list of Steelers injuries, including British net minder Geoff Woolhouse. Woolhouse is yet to make the bench this season, after suffering a groin injury in pre-season training. This has led Steelers to call up recreational goalies Neil Edwards and Richard Adams. Another British injury for the Steelers sees Mark Thomas out for a minimum of a month after suffering a broken foot in a training session. He did however ice against the Belfast Giants, but his pain was easy to see.
The injuries to Phillips and Thomas rule out 2 of the best British players for a considerable chunk of the season, including a crucial game against arch rivals Nottingham Panthers on 29th October. Injury to Thomas leaves the Steelers with 4 D-men, including Rod Sarich who is actually registered as a forward this year.
The only current injury to a Steelers import is to former Florida Panthers forward Rob Globke, who is out indefinitely after suffering a concussion following a hit from Panthers D-man Guillame Lepine. Globke was skating out of his defensive zone when he received a pass. Globke was looking down to see if the puck was on his stick, when Lepine landed a huge hit which sent Globke into a spin before landing face down unconscious. Lepine was handed a 4 match ban for the incident. Doctors continue to monitor Globke and no date for his return has been set.
Steelers have also been without import forward Derek Campbell, who has just finished a 4 match ban. 3 of the games were for allegedly biting linesman James Kavanagh, and the additional 1 game was for an incident Campbell was involved in whilst playing in Australia during the British off-season.
The problem for the Steelers is to find a suitable British player to fill the skates of Phillips, which is to be a tough ask. Steve Duncombe of the Peterborough Phantoms in the EPL stepped up to the Steelers ranks for one game only against Hull Stingrays, and had a very good consistent game replacing the injured Mark Thomas. He is a suitable candidate to make the move and a return to the Sheffield Steelers until Thomas returns to the ice. Other names mentioned include Ben Morgan, formerly of the Steelers but now playing at Manchester Phoenix.
Many fans feel that Sheffield Steeldog’s forward Tom Squires is ready for the move up. The decision is up to Steelers player/coach Ben Simon on who to ask to make the move. When asked in an earlier interview this week about a replacement, the former NHL forward responded with “Sorry but that’s none of your business”. Many fans have full faith in Ben Simon and the Steelers management to bring British talent to the team, but who this will be is currently a mystery. That is until Simon reveals the cards he has previously kept very close to his chest.
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