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I can't wait to see the old faces
Over the weekend of 27/28 August, Sheffield Steelers and Cardiff Devils join forces to present what is called “A Festival of Hockey” and I for one, cannot wait until the game on August Bank Holiday Saturday at the House of Steel or to give it its corporate title the Motorpoint Arena. It’s going be an all day event which encompasses all levels of the game. Starting with the juniors, the current senior squads and the one that whets the appetite a lot, a veterans game between some of the famous names of the past from both sides.
I guess I am pretty hooked on waiting to see that more than the 2011-12 squads match which ends the day’s proceedings, after all these names were one that I saw playing first. Cardiff haven’t been as quick in announcing their all-star team as what as Steelers have, but you can say that the Sheffield organisation is very keen to attract some of the biggest and most revered names to their squad’s history to ensure a bumper attendance is in residence. Let’s look at some of them.
Starting with the goalies. Wayne Cowley was one of the best early year import goalies I’ve ever seen play to be honest, and it will be great to see him back. Now an owner of his own bar and restaurant in Toronto (must go there and visit), I jokingly wonder who’s gonna be looking after it whilst Wayne is here – hope they don’t burn the place down! Andy Havenhand is a name from the early days, the really early ones, and is a legend – shame he can’t play because of his knees. Then there’s Pasi, a more than made replacement for Martin McKay, who can forget the Finn’s debut? Panthers fans’, you know exactly what I mean. One word, shutout!
Now onto the defencemen playing. Names such as Neil Abel, Chris Kelland, Mike O’Connor, Ron Shudra, and Andre Malo are all worthy additions in their own right but the announcement of one of my all time heroes has really got the adrenaline pumping and generated excitement in me akin to a small kid going into a sweet shop. Yes Dennis Vial is coming back to play! I was a massive fan of his in his two year stint here, and I’ve its safe to say, never relinquished that. As mean as a defenceman as they come, he is a warrior and you only have to look at the (in)famous Nottingham bench clearance in 2001 video to see why. I do wonder though, is the General (Mr Kelland) going to arrive in his fire engine direct from Mansfield Road station though?
The forward line up so far looks impressive too. Blaisdell, Lafreniere, Plommer and Cranston for sure but add the all star Brits we’ve acquired to play as well – namely Neil, Millie, Hand and Longstaff. I guess my friends from Guildford will be wearing their Flames shirts in homage to “Lobby” after he plays for them now and to have GB’s version of “The Great One” aka Manchester player-coach Mr Hand also involved, means we might see a fair few from across the Pennines come across watching as well. Mike Peron is one of the nicest hockey players I’ve met too so I’m pleased he’s coming as well. The side being assembled is rather awesome to say the least, just hope Cardiff can match us in what they’re assembling.
For some this will be new as they may have never seen some of the names play as they are just recent additions to the “family” that is Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey Club, but once they see Vial, Malo, Cranston etc. play then they’ll be as big fans of them as what people like me are. For me personally, it’s as the title of this blog says: “I can’t wait to see some old faces again.” , and you can bet these veterans will be taking it seriously even though it’s nothing more than an exhibition game in most people’s eyes.
Sheffield Steelers may only be a youngster in hockey circles as regards length in comparison to places like Fife and, dare I say it, Nottingham but so much has been achieved so far in such a short of time. The amount of players we could all class as legends could fill out as many rosters even if the opposition failed to show up. Imagine if the Steelers management had left it all down to us to pick the roster and all they were going to do was to sort out the travel costing, you’d have an A team and a B and so on…
August 27 2011 is going to be a really good day, I can feel it – and yes hockey Mom has said she won’t miss it for the world either! Just goes to show one thing, when it comes to hockey it’s as Sister Sledge said: “We are family!” And who can doubt that…
Mark
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| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
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- 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
