DURHAM, UK – This year’s Elite League may not have been quite as competitive as last term when the Sheffield Steelers, Belfast Giants and the Cardiff Devils all went into the final game of the season fighting for the championship. There has still been plenty of drama at the top of the standings this time round as the Belfast Giants were just able to get the better of Ryan Finnerty’s Sheffield Steelers. This campaign has been slightly different from my own point of view given that the side (Newcastle Vipers) I have previously followed in the league are unfortunately no longer competing against the best sides Britain has to offer. The loss of my local team has meant plenty of trips down to Sheffield to see the Steelers in Elite League action and also a break in Belfast to see the Giants in action in their impressive Odyssey Arena. 
With no team to support I have found myself paying particular attention to the individual players who have shone this season and a number have stood out for me over the past 6 months or so.
In between the pipes, Stephen Murphy has to be my selection for the top netminder of the 2011/12 campaign. Murphy has proven himself to be one of the best if not the best British goaltender of recent times during his time with the Giants and he will no doubt be backstopping Britain’s world championship hopes in Slovenia this summer.
Backing up Murphy I have decided to go with Geoff Woolhouse as the Steeler’s young netminder has taken every opportunity that has come his way this campaign. Woolhouse has been entrusted with starting a number of games in the Elite League and he has repaid the faith shown in him by the Steelers organisation with a string of top class displays. Geoff currently has a phenomenal save percentage of over 97% from the 400 minutes of hockey he has played and he has also been able to shut out Elite League opposition. His stats would no doubt flatten out if he had played more hockey however his displays this campaign have made him one of the most up and coming home grown players which has led to him being included in the provisional Great Britain squad for the world championships in April.
My defensive selections are a little tougher to make but after some thought Corey Neilson and Jeff Mason would be my preferred blue liners. Neilson as ever has contributed to Panthers cause at both ends of the ice while also leading his team forward with a great deal of desire and passion. Corey’s impressive points tally of more than a half century of points is a great return for him and he will no doubt be hoping that he can inspir his Panthers side to glory at the Play Offs at the NIC in early April.
Partnering Neilson on my top d line would be the Belfast Giants Jeff Mason. Jeff is the League’s top defenceman points wise this season while he is 3rd in the Giants overall points charts this term a superb achievement given just how much offensive talent that is packed into Doug Christiansen’s roster. As well as contributing offensively Jeff has proven himself at his own end of the rink and not many Elite League forwards have got the better of him this term.
On my 2nd d unit I have gone for Danny Meyers and Matt Stephenson. Meyers has proven himself year after year to be one of the top home grown defenceman in the Elite League. His will to win and commitment to his side is clear to see every time he leads the Panthers out onto the ice and his offensive game has also been pleasing this season as Danny has had his best campaign to date in the Elite League points wise.
The last defensive spot on my roster has gone to the ever dependable Matt Stephenson of the Sheffield Steelers. Matt has been one of the Steelers main blue liners this season stepping up to the plate when veteran Rod Sarich had a lengthy spell out of action due to a horrific injury. Stephenson has been able to tally almost 40 points so far this season which is a more than creditable total for the former Iowa Star.
Offensively there are so many top players to choose from and if truth be told I could easily select 5 lines of exciting talent however I have limited myself to just 2 forward lines. On my top line I have opted to go for Jeff Legue of the Sheffield Steelers, Jade Galbraith of the Braehead Clan and Rene Jarolin of the Edinburgh Capitals. All 3 players have had excellent campaigns as their point’s tallies show however I feel Galbraith has been the top forward over the course of the season.
Jade had plenty of doubters following his release from Nottingham Panthers last summer he has answered all of his critics by firing himself to the top of the points charts almost 20 points clear of his nearest rival at the time of writing. It also has to be noted that Galbraith’s prolific form has come for a mid table side who he has inspired to many great victories over the bigger organisations in the Elite League.
Alongside Galbraith is another player plying his trade north of the border, Rene Jarolin of the Edinburgh Capitals. Few fans will have heard of Jarolin before he came to these shores to join up with the Caps however most Elite League fans will now have seen him score against their side as Rene has been able to bag over 40 goals for a transitional Edinburgh outfit. Jarolin has already commited his future to the Capitals and he will no doubt be hoping that his side can progress even further next term after a solid showing this time round.
My final forward slot on my principle scoring line has to go the one of the most consistent players in the history of the Elite League Jeff Legue. Legue has been Steelers main offensive threat for the last few campaigns and his playmaking ability is there for all to see. Jeff currently occupies 2nd position in the scoring charts (behind Galbraith) as he has been able to post over 30 goals and 40 assists at the time of writing. 
Selecting my 2nd forward unit has been a very tough task as many players could have easily been included. British guys such as Craig Peacock and Robert Dowd have had great seasons while Jon Pelle has been instrumental for the Giants since his return from injury while Brad Voth could also have been included given just how much influence he has had on hockey in Wales before his recent retirement. However I have opted for a 2nd line Cardiff’s Jeff Pierce, Coventry’s Shea Guthrie and Nottingham’s Jordan Fox.
Pierce is one of those players who can turn a game in a matter of seconds with a breath-taking peace of skill or vision. Jeff currently leads Devils scoring on goals scored with over 30 strikes this term and if Cardiff are to progress in the end of season play offs Pierce will no doubt be heavily involved. It does have to be noted that Jeff can go missing from games on occasions which made me think twice about his inclusion in my side but his talent won him the slot in the end.
Alongside Pierce is Coventry Blaze’s Shea Guthrie. Blaze have had a disappointing season by their own very high standards with few of their players performing well night in night out one exception to that statement is Guthrie who has been Coventry’s go to guy for the majority of the campaign. Blaze head coach Paul Thompson has already secured Shea’s signature for the 2012/3 term and Thommo’s desire to build his new team around Guthrie demonstrates just how highly rated Shea is in the UK.
Jordan Fox completes my Elite select side, Fox has certainly enjoyed his time in the UK since linking up with Corey Neilson’s Panthers. He currently leads his sides scoring and is 3rd highest on points throughout the entire Elite League however it is Fox’s all round game play and tenacious approach when out on the ice rather than his points production which make him stand out for me. I have seen few players in Elite League action over the past few seasons who have shown as much desire as Fox displays out on the ice and if Jordan became available I am sure there would be a number of top sides clamouring for his signature.
Elite Select 2011/12
Top Line
Netminder
Stephen Murphy (Belfast)
Defence
Corey Neilson (Nottingham) Jeff Mason (Belfast)
Forwards
Rene Jarolin (Edinburgh) Jeff Legue (Sheffield) Jade Galbraith (Braehead)
2nd line
Netminder
Geoff Woolhouse (Sheffield)
Defence
Danny Meyers (Nottingham) Matt Stephenson (Sheffield)
Forwards
Jeff Pierce (Cardiff) Shea Guthrie (Coventry) Jordan Fox (Nottingham)
Photos courtesy of Ian Buchan
Contact the author – chris.mackenzie@prohockeynews.com
