Sponsored by
Bloody marvels! Steelers score 11
Dundee Stars 0 Sheffield Steelers 6 (Sunday) Sheffield Steelers 5 Cardiff Devils 1 (Saturday)
TIME will tell whether Ben Simon will be one of the great Steeler coaches, following in the footsteps of the likes of Alex Dampier and Mike Blaisdell.
One thing, for now, is certain. This boy is one hell of a hockey player.
The American newcomer led by example from first to last shift to launch Steelers' season on home ice, on Saturday. Then he scored the first in a 6-0 road drubbing of Dundee last night.
Simon is fast, tough, good on the draw, an effective penalty killer, intelligent, unselfish, an offensive threat and seriously-well organised.
Steelers' supporters suffered largely in silence in a rubbish season last year and has then suffered some more during the financial catastrophes of the Summer.
But they immediately warmed to him, goaltender Ervins Muskotovs and winger Neil Clark ?who was badly cut in a scrap with Brad Voth - as Simon's rookie year in charge got off in the best possible way. The players have succeeded in putting the pride back into a club damaged by months of inner-conflict. And Simon vowed the wins would only be a start ? and that the displays epitomised the fighting qualities the team would show throughout . ?We are going to battle till the end whistle? he said. ?This is just a taste of what we are going to do.? Simon hopes have two more imports, Derek Campbell and Rob Globke in by next weekend.
On Saturday, with 3,807 fans in the Arena, Ashley Tait celebrated three minutes into his return to the fold by scoring; punishing a boob by d-man Alex Symonds. With Jeff Legue and Jerramie Domish two tiny tearaways roaming the ice, and the defence generally more assertive than last year,Sheffield soaked up the pressure during a stream of penalties.
A 2-0 second period saw some excellent Muskotovs saves and the second 3-on-5 penalty kill of the night. A mis-hit shot from close-range by Joey Talbot doubled the lead, he hit the post shortly afterwards, before the strike of the game from Domish, who out-raced everyone to convert cleanly on his debut.
With Jason Hewitt ejected for a double-handed slash and Rod Sarich taking a 2+10, a big effort was needed to protect the lead. Yet, instead of any defensive mind-set, Sheffield killed the game off with a Jeff Legue thunder-bolt one minute into the last session. And while a deft wrist shot from visitor Scott Matzka brought a consolation, the deeply troubled Stevie Lyle concluded a lousy night in the Devils' goal by gifting a fifth for the effervescent Rob Dowd.
Some fans thought they may struggle to reach anything like the same tempo after the long journey to Dundee. But the Tayside squad, who have stepped-up from the Northern League, proved no match for them.
Sheffield roared to a 4-0 first period lead and they never looked back, closing the game out with singles in the next two periods. Charlie Ward, Stars' director, admitted: "We felt it was going to be a baptism of fire against such an experienced team – and it was. My guys were nervous and the crowd seemed nervous too. They scored a lucky first goal and a scruffy second. By the first break the damage was done and was a really steep learning curve for the guys.
Steelers took only 3min 40sec to open their account when Simon netted unassisted on a power play. Talbot made it 2-0 less than six minutes later also on the power play and Clark extended the visitors' advantage in the 18th minute.
Tait popped in the fourth with 11 seconds remaining in the opening stanza to close the door on Stars. Skipper Jonathan Phillips increased the agony for the league rookies when he scored the fifth at the mid-way point. Hewitt completed the scoring.
Got a view? Leave a comment below.
Follow The Star on Twitter and Facebook:
For breaking news and sport follow The Star on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sheffieldstar and Facebook at www.facebook.com/sheffieldstar.
JOIN THE STAR READER PANEL: The Star is YOUR newspaper, so tell us what you think about it and what you want to see - CLICK HERE.
Don't miss our daily pull-outs - only in the The Star: Monday Star Sport, Tuesday Class Act; Wednesday Business; Thursday Grassroots; Friday Time Out; Saturday Retro. Subscribe to The Star - CLICK HERE
READ MORE
Subscribe to The Star or Green 'Un
Visit our Matchday Centre for free live coverage of every match
Football headlines. Football gossip. Blades news Owls news Reds news. Millers news. More rugby. More boxing. Sports columnists.
All sport categories
Watch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much more - click here
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
