Sheffield Steelers bid farewell to two superstars

Two superstars retire through injury, the club announces two new players with a 3rd tomorrow, two more signings made that will be announced in the near future and Swedish giants Leksands about to make a signing that will guarantee a sell out for our first two pre season games in August.

Don’t tell me its been a quiet summer.

Let’s start with the retirements of Levi Nelson and Mathieu Roy. We use the words superstars far too easily but both of these players were “Steelers Superstars”

Both players, in very different ways, gave us everything they had and perhaps more than they should have at times.

It’s why we loved them. Both announced their retirements this week for the same reason – their bodies had ground to halt and told them “No More”

Be honest, are you really surprised with this news? You watch the same game I do. You have seen the pain on Mathieu Roy’s face for two years.

On Monday I spoke with him and he was close to tears giving me the words for his statement. It was when he said: “Simmsey I struggle to pick up a pen to write with my wrists, they are so bad” that I realised that the time was right.

I remember back to a game last year when I took a young boy into the dressing room for the players to sign his shirt. His Father came with him. The young lad got around to Mathieu who was sat with his foot in a bucket of ice, his shoulder taped with several ice packs and his wrist in another bucket.

The Father said to me: “God he will be out for a while won’t he” – Mathieu played the next night and the games after. Warrior. The punishment he took night in and night out was phenomenal.

Levi the same, he hated to miss a training session let alone a game. Injections, ice packs, treatment galore but he played on.

Both guys went far beyond what mere mortals would, they gave us super human efforts.

The story is legendary about Levi before period 5 of the play off final. The physio said ‘no more’, the Dr said ‘no more’ and the coach said ‘no more’ – a needle came out that made me feel faint just looking at it. Into the knee it went and Levi manged those few extra shifts including the final one that saw him score the most dramatic goal in our history.

Levi was pure theatre. The play off goal, the game winner against Nottingham at 59-59, the game tying goal against the Panthers in the last minute of this year’s semi final – it always had to be Levi.

It was Levi who was always first out of the room and in the line up, we used to chat there before road games would start, he would be getting hyper and I loved being around him in those moments. When I walked into the dressing room after the semi final victory against Nottingham he was so happy, jumping around “Did you see me climb the glass Simmsey” he shouted, knowing I would have loved that, which I did.

I love players who want to be that guy. In those big moments players who don’t disappear, players who demand the puck, want to be the difference makes.

Mathieu Roy wanted to be the guy and for so long he was. I loved the way he almost demanded the puck and then when he shot it he wanted to put it through the net. I loved the way our top goal scorer was our best shot blocker though this was something he may regret now after the injuries those blocked shots gave him.

I loved the way he was prepared to be hit, whacked and abused if it meant getting to the net for a tip or a rebound that would lead to a goal. He did everything he could to score and to help his team win.

Both Levi and Mathieu made the decisions themselves to retire. The club gave them both every ounce of time to consider their future. Mathieu even had a contract, he could have come back and just collected a pay packet but chose to call it a day because people like him do it the right way.

Levi Nelson and Mathieu Roy never cheated the club and those who support it out of 1 penny. I will miss them both massively but will also welcome their replacements with excitement and anticipation.

McFadden, Pitt, Eberle and the Whistles already confirmed. Another signing and a really good one on Thursday, a defenseman.

Then next Tuesday a high quality forward. That’s not it as we have another two to add to those all signed and sealed.

They will be confirmed the week after. The reality folks is that we only have 6 players to sign as we stand, the Steelers are a lot further down the line than many think.

Good young and hungry players. I’m gutted we are losing some old friends but excited we will be making many new ones shortly.

Have you bought your tickets for the two Leksands exhibition games on the 11th and 12th August? No? Well I’d buy mine pretty quick if the rumour mill is to be believed (and folks it is to be believed) as this Swedish giant of a club is about to make a player signing that I assure you that you will want to see. Trust me on this one...

A final point on the team. I’ve read some really good social media posts from people who get it.

On the flip side I’ve read some junk from people who just don’t get it. With every player that leaves comes an opportunity to bring new, fresh talent in.

Uproar when Mark Mackie left and then comes Ken Priestlay. Plommer and Cranston go and then comes Mike Peron.

Ron Shudra leaves us and Shayne McCosh arrives, he goes and Steve Munn comes in. Have we seen better than Mark Matheson? Perhaps not.

Ed Courtenay leads the team in goals, leads the league in goals and the club refuses a new contract, uproar as we will never see another like him – the club goes on the following year to win a Grand Slam with Paul Beraldo the star.

I guess the point is life goes on. Players become heroes, not just to you. The King is one of my all time heroes. Levi was on the true warriors but maybe Scott Pitt, Tanner Eberle or Josh McFadden is the next superstar or hero?

Roll on the next week, you will be even more excited with some of the news we have to come.

The King is dead but God Save the King.