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Has Corey unlocked the magic formula?
I know it’s been a while since my words of wisdom (or is that nonsensical rubbish?) adorned the site, but when you have covered most angles already then you need to find a fresh approach to things. That’s why I don’t appear as often as I used to these days, but I am still around kicking and telling everyone who comes across my path that hockey is the best sport in the entire world.
As a Steelers fan, nothing upsets me more than losing to the Panthers. Challenge Cup, League, Play-Offs: well it’s all the same and it’s a god damn awful feeling that nauseates in the pit of your stomach for a while until you play them again. Recently, Steelers and Panthers have played each other home and away in the Challenge Cup group stages (funny how it always happens, guess it’s a geographical thing) and both times has seen Corey get the win over Finner. And to be honest, they are deserved.
Let’s look the squads first, both look strong but painfully enough to say – the Panthers squad has that bit of an edge about them: the desire to win mentality. There doesn’t seem to be a weak link so far, I mean they have a netminder who is playing right on the top of his game now, a defence that seems to have been tightened up (thank Rick Strachan for that) and a forward offence that has goals in them. We have parts one and three but the defence leaves DeCaro out to dry a few times. The only thing that could hurt Corey is if his alleged ego gets in the way and causes complacency to set in. Which has happened many a time before...
In both games, Panthers controlled everything and deserved to win both times. I wasn’t at the fabulous NIC, caught at an engagement party, but we competed well in the first but apparently heads went down as soon as the light was lit for the first time by a Panther. Not what the Steelers fans want to see, especially in the games against the old enemy. The home game though was a massive let down as if someone had let the air out of the balloon. A proper damp squib only enlightened by Kinger’s owning of Lepine and two late goals which bust a K-Wall shutout. We simply have been behind the eight ball to Corey this season so far.
So has Corey unlocked the magic formula? Coventry loss aside, the Panthers have been in great form so far and obviously those in NG1 are delighted. Yes it did pain me typing those words. The team is producing so maybe the curse may finally be lifted from 1956. Yet the cynic in me can only hark back to seasons in the past when a great start has been deflated considerably come the business end of the campaign. Panthers fans will be hoping the momentum continues but I still have reservations especially as if I said the alleged ego takes over and causes distruption.
So it’s Dundee and Coventry this weekend for us and hopefully we can build on the work ethic that saw us beat Cardiff last Sunday, and give me an early birthday present. Remember to come and say hello, whilst buying a 50/50 ticket off me, if you are at the House of Steel on Saturday - I don’t bite! Oh and to my Panthers readers, yes I will be in town this season at some point.
I will offer you more thoughts shortly from the depths of my mind, but I can always be followed also on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/hockeybhoy
Yours in hockey,
Mark
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-3 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-5 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
1-4 |
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| 12th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-4 |
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| 11th March 2006 19:00 | ||
2-4 |
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| 11th March 2006 19:00 | ||
| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|
5-8 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
4-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
5-2 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
3-7 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
1-1 |
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| 19th March 2006 19:00 | ||
| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|
- Adam Walker
- Alex Birch
- Andy Pierce
- Chris Gent
- Christopher Beal
- Craig Simpson
- Dave Simms
- Elliott Stanley
- Gareth Chalmers
- James Broughton
- James Gordon
- Katy Madgwick
- Luke Catterson
- Mark Briggs
- Mark Duell
- Mat Young
- Patrick Smyth
- Promotion
- Russ Morrell
- Seanna Murdock
- Stephen Dowson
- Stewart Roberts
- Tom Forster
- Vicki Smart
- William Lyon
