Round 15 of the Elite League season was packed with fireworks, as goals flew in, points piled up, and players seized the spotlight.
From red-hot scorers to difference-makers at both ends of the ice, these performances stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Elite League Team of the Week: Round 15
Scott Conway, Belfast Giants
Scott Conway, Belfast Giants (Image: William Cherry)
Scott Conway’s four-goal performance against the Dundee Stars sets him apart from the rest of the pack.
After a relatively slow start to the season, the Canadian is up to 14 points (10 goals, four assists) in 17 league appearances, including seven points in his last four games.
“I’m happy for Cons,” said Belfast head coach Adam Keefe. “He’s had his head down and was a bit snake-bitten earlier in the season. For him to break out with four goals was really well deserved.”
Mitchell Balmas, Sheffield Steelers
Mitchell Balmas, Sheffield Steelers (Image: Scott Wiggins)
For Mitchell Balmas and the Sheffield Steelers, the points just keep flowing.
The Canadian led the way on Saturday [20 December], bookending Sheffield’s overtime win versus the Cardiff Devils by scoring the game’s opening and deciding goals.
He also tallied three points in the Steelers’ 3-2 win over the Coventry Blaze a night later, scoring the opening goal and providing the primary assist on the game-winner.
Clutch.
Nick Seitz, Guildford Flames
Nick Seitz has rediscovered his mojo.
For the first time this season, the American scored in back-t0-back games, playing a crucial role as the Guildford Flames took the Coventry Blaze to overtime and stunned the Nottingham Panthers with a scintillating 6-2 road demolition.
Since joining the Flames from Sheffield, Seitz has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 12 games.
Mike Lee, Belfast Giants
Mike Lee scored a hattrick of assists in Belfast’s 7-1 takedown of the Stars, icing his spot in the Team of the Week.
The American’s puck-moving ability is often the difference-maker for the Giants — and his class was on full display on Sunday [21 December] night.
Lee etched his name on the scoresheet with two secondary assists (both to Conway), before feeding Nicolas Guay with a perfect dish from the right circle.
Guay hammered his one-timer over the glove of Jarrett Fiske and immediately pointed to Lee.
It was all about the assist.
Joe Hazeldine, Glasgow Clan
Joe Hazeldine continues to make impressive strides with the Glasgow Clan, playing a crucial role as Corey Neilson’s side swept the Fife Flyers in their home-and-home series in round 15.
The 24-year-old, who is averaging more than 20 minutes time on ice for the first time in his career, had the secondary assist on Deven Sideroff’s Saturday night game-winner.
Matthew Greenfield, Sheffield Steelers
Matthew Greenfield made 46 saves on 49 shots to best Ben Bowns and the Devils in their primetime showdown.
The American is playing some of the best hockey of his career and is already repaying the Steelers for their decision to sign him to an unprecedented three-year deal.
Greenfield saved all four of the high-danger scoring chances he faced in Cardiff, robbing Cedric Lacroix from close range on three occasions.
The 30-year-old is 4-1-0 through his last five starts, with a .950 save percentage over that span.
Goaltending wins championship — and the Steelers have an all-worldly tandem in Greenfield and Eamon McAdam.
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