STEELERS END SEASON WITH STRONG EFFORT IN LOSS

The last time the Steelers met the Strangers, the Steelers iced a skeleton squad and were pounded 6-1. This time around, the Steelers had a full bench and the game was a nail-biter to the end. Despite a full bench, the Steelers were without Anthony Lam and Don McCartney but did have Northern Ontario Jr. A. Hockey star Mike Didulka in the line-up to bolster the beer fund. The game was a penalty filled contest with both teams taking their fair share of penalties (some of the questionable variety). In fact, 54 penalty minutes were called during the game including 26 to the Strangers #77 who took a roughing double minor and a double misconduct on the same play. Former Lady Byng candidate, Marco Jones led the way for the Steelers with two double minors of his own during the game. The parade to the penalty box played havoc with the lines as many on forward and on defence missed several shifts…'what are you going to do?'. The Strangers jumped all over the Steelers with 3 goals in the first to open up a 3-0 lead. It seemed bleak for the Steelers as the team continued to take penalties while trying to get back into it. However, while shorthanded, the Steelers' Didulka scored to make it 3-1. The Strangers regained the 3-goal margin with a goal of their own before the final frame. The third period belonged to the Steelers as Warkentin scored to narrow the lead to 2 and with the net empty Didulka scored his second of the game with just under 40 seconds left. The Steelers kept Pouliot pulled for the last 40 seconds and had some chances to pull even but in the end just fell short 4-3.

Of note, during the last few minutes of the game, Larry 'Colliacovo' suffered what seemed to be a mild concussion as his head collided with a Strangers knee. This is Larry's 8th injury of the year. Team doctors are optimistic he will be ready to go for the team's first playoff game this week.

Scoring Summary

Didulka G 2 (6) A 0
Warkentin G 1 (10) A 0 (got robbed)
Beausejour G 0 A 1 (7)
Lindsay G 0 A 1 (8)
Durigon G 0 A 1 (7)

6-1 LOSS LEAVES WRITER AT A LOSS FOR WORDS

Alright, it wasn't that bad - I just don't have time to write a summary for last week's game, even though we got our *** kicked 6-1 by a pretty good team (no wonder they are in 1st place).

Scoring Summary (very brief)

Didulka G 1 (4) A 0

Next Game - Tuesday, Mar 18 at 10:15pm against the 7-12-2 Strangers. Don't let their Steeler-like record fool you, they wiped the floor with us last time we faced them 6-1.

THE CANADIAN WAY

A Newfie, a little man, was sitting at a bar in Toronto when this huge, burly American guy walks in. As he passes the Newfie, he hits him on the neck knocking him to the floor. The big, burly Yank says, 'That's a karate chop from Korea. Well, the little Newfie gets back on his barstool and resumes drinking his beer. The burly American then gets up to go to the bathroom and, as he walks by the Newfie, he hits him on the other side of the neck and knocks him to the floor. That's a judo chop from Japan', he says. The little Newfie decides he's had enough and leaves. A half hour later he comes back and sees the burly American sitting at the bar. He walks up behind him and whacks him on the head, knocking him out cold. The Newfie says to the bartender, 'When he wakes up, eh!, tell him that was a fuckin' hockey stick from Canadian Tire'

Summer Steelers, check out the notice from the league and register before the season starts. The coaching staff has already made it's initial line up (of course subject to slight change as the year goes on).

G	Shipticki
D1	Durigon	Sidey
D2	Romaniuk	Battle
	RW	C	LW
F1	Nicholl	Jones	Lindsay
F2	Lam	Neild	Carvahlo
F3	Hirschman	Colterman	Garner
Depth Chart
G	Pouliot
F/D	Didulka
F/D	Warkentin

The team name is Steelers (registration # is 2186). I have set us up in 'C' division. (yeah, so what if we get bumped to D...or E)

LINDSAY LEADS STEELERS TO WIN FROM ANYWHERE

On a night when the roads were snow covered and the start time was making it's way towards mid-night, Steeler management wasn't quite sure of what the line-up would look like until the drop of the puck. If the past few weeks were going to be indicative of last minute no-shows, the Steelers could have been in for a very depleted line-up. But this week was different, in fact, everyone of the 10 skaters that had committed to show…actually showed up! Well done boys! The line up decisions were once again difficult this night as all season there really hasn't been a consistent turn out leading to different line combinations game after game. Well, after this game, the Steelers may have set up their line-up for the rest of the season. Prior to the game Coach Lindsay and GM Durigon were creating with the line up and when it came to where to play Coach Lindsay, the Coach simply said…"Ah, I don't care, I'll score from anywhere". A pretty cocky statement from a guy who has seen the back of the net since Santa came to town. But on this night Coach Lindsay stepped it up, notching not one, but two goals on his first shift of the game and handing the Steelers a lead that they would not relinquish. In fact, Lindsay got credited with the Steelers 5th goal (but the league is reviewing that one again as Carvahlo was seen going top shelf on a rebound in front on the net on that one) and added 2 assists. It was Lindsay's first 5 point night as a member of the Steelers (Ok, I didn't really look that up, but I'm pretty freakin' sure I'm right). Now beyond Lindsay, the rest of the line including Didulka and Warkentin were on fire and the rest of the team played very solid in front of Pouliot who once again came up with some big saves. Other big scorers included Larry Romaniuk who had 3 points and Warkentin and Didulka each had 2 as the team filled the net against the Rexdalians in a 6-3 win.

Scoring Summary:

Lindsay G 3 (5) A 2 (7)
Romaniuk G 1 (3) A 2 (11)
Warkentin G 1 (9) A 1 (7)
Didulka G 1 (3) A 1 (3)
Durigon G 0 A 1 (6)
Carvahlo G 0 A 1 (6)

Team Standings

Team Name	GP	W	L	T	OTL	PTS	WPCT	INDIV
Ex Blues	21	13	7	1	0	27	.676	11-5-1-0
Toronto Hitmen	22	11	7	1	3	26	.618	9-5-1-2
Toronto Stingers	21	12	8	1	0	25	.607	8-5-1-0
Black Plague	22	12	10	0	0	24	.500	8-8-0-0
Strangers	20	7	11	0	2	16	.500	5-5-0-1
Ice Dragons	20	8	10	1	1	18	.462	5-6-1-1
Steelers	21	8	12	1	0	17	.438	7-9-0-0
Rexdalians	21	7	13	0	1	15	.292	3-8-0-1

DURIGON'S SCORING TOUCH IS ALL STINGERS NEEDED

Following a day of trades at the NHL's trade deadline, the Steelers took to the ice against the Toronto Stingers with a fairly healthy bench, minus Coach Lindsay, Justin Warkentin, and Marco Jones (all out of the line up with varying ailments). The NHL trade deadline must have really took over GM 'Fletch' Durigon's mind for the better part of the game as it just seemed like Durigon thought he had been traded to the Stingers, after all what else could explain Durigon potting 2 clean goals past Pouliot. Durigon explained, "I guess I just had his number…he [Pouliot] taunted me in warm up because I wasn't even close to hitting the net. I guess I wanted to show him what I could do in a real game".

The Stingers knocked off the Steelers 4-1, but the team did play hard and didn't merit a 3 goal loss - it really could have gone either way. Durigon vows to turn himself around (literally) so he faces the opposing net next week and that should take care of it.

Scoring Summary:

Carvahlo G 1 (4) A 0
Beasejour G 0 A 1 (6)
Durigon G 0 A 1 (5)

Next week's game is at 11:30pm vs the Rexdalians

NO LEGS FOR STEELERS IN 6-2 LOSS

The Steelers were unable to extend their current winning streak to three as the Black Plague jumped all over the Steelers for a well earned 6-2 victory. There wasn't a lot of jump in the line up on this night as the Plague dominated and with domination also comes luck. It seemed like everything was going against the Steelers on this night as the team was fighting deflections, bad bounces, less than ordinary goaltending, the clock, traffic, etc…but the main excuse seemed to be mainly energy. Coach Lindsay was not in a mood for explanations after this game after being tossed with less than 5 minutes in the game after riding a Plague forward into the boards to prevent a scoring chance. The Steelers were never in it and were out of it early as the Plague built their 6-1 lead before the 2nd period was over. The one bright spot was a better 3rd period which the Steelers actually won. The team expects to be fired up for their next game against rivals the Toronto Stingers.

Scoring Summary

Romanuik G 1 (2) A 0
Carvahlo G 1 (3) A 0
Lindsay G 0 A 1 (5)

Next game - Tuesday, Feb 26 at 10:15pm