Frozen In Time

Elite League Champions 2008/2009.

The Sheffield Steelers completed their biggest achievement in five years after they completed the Elite League and play-off double. The Steelers beat the Nottingham Panthers 2-0 in the final game of the season to claim their second trophy of the campaign. They are the first team to retain the end of season competition since they did it in 2002.

In fact the Sheffield Steelers are the only team to win the play-off championship more than once since they first won it in 1995. Since then the Steelers have won it eight times, seven other teams have won it once.

Devils v Steelers. Never a dull moment

It has been a season where the Sheffield Steelers built their success on a team ethos, with head coach Dave Matsos proving that defensive minded play can be the most effective way of getting success in this league. For Matsos it has been a three year process to move from young rookie coach to all conquering coach of the year.

The league

Amazingly the league season started with the most disappointing of starts for the Sheffield Steelers when on opening night, the Edinburgh Capitals backstopped by Finish netminder Pasi Raitenen beat the Steelers. Raitenen who had a spell with the Steelers, the last time they won the double in 2004 put in an astonishing performance turning away 50 of 51 shots on goal to hand Sheffield a surprise defeat.

The first weekend did end with some consolation for Steelers fans with the team showing plenty of guts and guile to win, Joey Talbot scoring both goals in the victory. The game will be remembered for a mass brawl that saw Devil's Captain Brad Voth suspended for 20 games, that was eventually reduced on appeal. It also set a season long rivalry between the Steelers and Devils which provided some of the most entertaining hockey throughout the campaign.

The Cruickshank family celebrating

There were without doubt some teething problems for the Steelers in the early stages of the campaign as they got knocked out of the two cup competitions at the first time of asking. This though allowed Matsos to fully focus his players attentions on the trophy that had eluded the Steelers since 2004, it is also the title the fans have craved the most during the recent fallow years.

After a nasty elbow injury to Nathan Gillies the Steelers bought in tough forward Brad Cruikshank from the Basingstoke Bison and he became a steadying influence at the club.

In November the Steelers took over at the top of the Elite league and it was a lead that would not be surpassed. It was becoming clear that the Steelers were not giving any points away and on the odd occasion they did lose, it was in overtime or after penalty shots so they kept collecting the points.

Coach Dave Matsos won Coach of the Year

Christmas time came and with back to back games against arch rivals Nottingham the Steelers took three points out of a possible four as they won the first match, but lost in overtime at the NIC. In fact this was the early stages of a run of form that saw the Steelers lose just three times in regulation time between the end of November and when they won the title in Newcastle in March. This run included an amazing 12 wins in a row that propelled the Steelers clear of all comers to clinch the Elite League title.

Dowd, 29 goals in his rookie season

The Play-offs

After three weeks of celebrations for the Steelers it was back down to business for the play-off's and the quarter finals against the eighth seed Edinburgh Capitals at Ice Sheffield. It was a game that for thirty minutes could have gone either way with the Scottish side fighting back to 2-2, but three goals before the end of the second period ended the match and the tie as the Steelers eventually stretched their lead to 8-2 at the end of the first leg. There were no problems 48 hours later north of the border as the Steelers clung onto their advantage to go through to the final four weekend booking their place a semi against the Devils.

Cardiff caused the Steelers problems all season long and it was a tense and exciting semi final between the two sides that was physical in the extreme, but after an early two goal advantage the Devils hit back to level. Once again the Steelers managed to find an extra gear to win 5-2 and move into the final.

Jody Lehman had an outstanding season

Nottingham thrashed Coventry in the semi to leave the mouth watering prospect of a Steelers-Panthers final in front of a sell out crowd at the National Ice Centre. It may well have been Sunday afternoon, but both teams were ready for the biggest game of the year and in fact they clashed in warm up before the game had even begun. 

In ice hockey the play-offs are the event the players love to win because it is last man standing and it is a competition that provides the chance for the unsung heros to take centre stage. In the 07/08 season it was Captain Jonathan Phillips who scored. This time it was defenceman Steve Munn who scored the Championship winning goal by blasting the puck home in the first period. Ryan Finnerty added a second and that proved to be more than enough for the Steelers to become the first team to win back to back play-off titles in the Elite League era.

The team

Jody Lehman completed his fourth season in teal and orange by backstopping his side to play-off glory for a second successive season. Lehman won man of the match in the show piece event for the second year in by shutting out the Panthers as had the Blaze twelve months previously.

Championship winning goal from Munn

The defensive unit has become widely accepted as one of the best that has ever played in this country. Steve Munn gave defensive maturity, solidity and toughness to the blue line, Rod Sarich the Elite League's defenceman of the year for his outstanding offensive contribution, but it was his amazing shot blocking and body on the line defence that helped win both trophies. Randy Dagenais scored 11 times from the back end and new addition Scott Basiuk showed all the heart and desire you need to be a champion having to fight most of the league's tough guys at one time or another even though that is not his game. Special mention must go to British blueliner Mark Thomas who improved drastically as the season went on and putting his best performance in a Steelers uniform in the play-off final.

The forwards included the dependable Doug Sheppard who worked tirelessly every night, captain Jonathan Phillips who lead by example, the firey Ryan Finnerty who in the play-offs became the team's heart beat. Jeff Legue showed all of his offensive prowess and showed mental strength to return from his terminally ill father's bedside to raise the play-off crown. Joey Talbot, who again top scored with his hard work and winning attitude had another outstanding season. 

Joey Talbot and Jeff Legue

Brad Cruikshank added toughness and goals after joining in October from Baskingstoke, Great Britain International Ashley Tait continued his glittering career with another strong season and winger Jason Hewitt improved his defensive game and matured during the campaign. The one surprise package was 20-year-old rookie Robert Dowd who arrived from nowhere to become one of the most important players in the organisation. Dowd struck 29 goals which is unheard of for a young Brit in his first season as a professional, his performance also earned him international honours with GB. 

Other players that featured included Dan Green who showed his skill as Jody Lehman's back up and was always a positive influence around the locker room. Nathan Gillies, struggled in front of goal, but appeared to just be finding his form when injury struck. The last player is perhaps the Steelers most controversial with Andrew Sharp, an enforcer who amassed a large number of penalty minutes and picked up a 20 game ban for his role in a massive brawl in Cardiff where he appeared to strike an linesman.

The Coach

In his three years in charge of the Steelers Dave Matsos has gone about his business in an calm and unflustered way that has allowed him to follow his own convictions to glory. Matsos built this team on a strong work ethic and will to win and built a side with no overt superstars. Coach of the year is a fitting award to Matsos who has proved that you don't have to be a ranter and raver on the sidelines to be successful, you just have to have a good plan and a good team.

* Thanks to ddimaging and Rik Raynor for the images.

Seth Bennett.