Steelers win playoff title

SHEFFIELD,U.K- The Sheffield Steelers have once again retained their playoff crown after beating arch rivals, the Nottingham Panthers, 2-0 in a much-spirited game. The game had the usual feisty tempo with which you would expect from this great rivalry, with players even trading punches in the pre-game warm up. Steelers clinched the game with goals from fan favourites Steve Munn and Ryan Finnerty. Steelers goaltender Jody Lehman recorded his tenth shutout of the season, and expressed his delight at the final buzzer by skating to the Nottingham fans and jumping on the plexi glass in front of them. He later explained his actions, “I didn’t like the way they were on Saturday night, both the team and the players. They showed no class or respect to Coventry, that’s my old coach, old team and many of their players are my friends. For years now I have put up with rubbish from them and I guess this was my way of giving it back,” Lehman said 

“I think I may have ruined their summer, some of those fans give it but can’t take it. What have they ever won? Our fans were brilliant all weekend, I think they all realised from game one on Saturday afternoon that we were ready and all being well we would finish the job. Well we did that OK!” Nottingham Panthers had made it through to the final with a 6-2 demolition of last year’s finalists, the Coventry Blaze. Steelers route to the final was a turbulent one which featured a tough game against the Cardiff Devils. Steelers won the game 5-2, but were drawing 2-2 at the midway mark. Goals from Jonathan Phillips, Doug Sheppard, Rob Dowd, Jeff Legue, and an empty netter from Randy Dagenais wrapped up the contest. Two of the goal scorers, Jeff Legue and Jonathan Phillips, played a major part in the post match celebrations after the final on Sunday. Legue was handed the playoff title to lift first, from captain Jonathan Phillips, which was a personal gesture from Phillips and the team. Unfortunately Legue couldn’t lift the league trophy in March with his teammates as he was back home in Canada visiting his terminally ill father. Legue spoke about the touching gesture from Phillips and about his future, “I was touched, it was a great gesture from a great captain. It shows what a great guy he is and what a great team we have here that they would even think of that. That’s why I want to come back because of these guys. I have a great family in Canada and an incredible one back here in Sheffield, it’s a special place and they are all special people,” Legue said  “This has been a very difficult time for me but these players, this club and everyone who supports the team has helped me through, I want to come back here in September, I’m sure we can make it happen and I’m sure we can do this all over again next year as well.” Steelers Head Coach Dave Matsos was full of praise for his players after the final, “I thought we were outstanding. We were clinical, from shift one we were all on the same page we didn’t give them much at all and when we did Jody shut the door I thought the incident in warm up helped us, when the guys got back to the room they were all so pumped, I think they enjoyed that,” Matsos said “We showed Nottingham that we were ready, after that we didn’t really see too much from some of their big guns. The game was pure Steelers Hockey we gave Nottingham very little, and we pressured their players and took advantage of our chances when they came. Steve Munn shocked the life out of us all with that goal, he was the only guy in the building who didn’t think he was going to pass that puck.” Matsos also spoke about the future, and retaining players in his current squad, “This isn’t the end. Sure some players will leave us, but they will go for the right reasons, going to European Clubs who pay the big wages that we can’t get close to. You can’t stand in their way, they go with our blessing, and we wish them luck that’s what makes us different, special,” Matsos said  “I think the majority will stay and we will add where we need and try and do this all over again next year, I’m getting to like this feeling.” Following Dave Matsos statement isnt was to long for the Steelers to announce a change for the 2009-10 season. Star goaltender Jody Lehman has put pent to paper for Danish outfit Aalborg, and with rumours of others following suit to secure more lucrative European contracts. With the uncertainty about the league for next season and the current financial climate, it will be sure to be a long summer for Dave Matsos’ men. Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com