Double Overtime, November 9th: The Only Way Is Up...

...especially if you're from Sheffield. Thank you, thank you, I'm here all week.

Right, now we've got the mean-spirited digs and gloating out of the way, let's move on to the review of the weekend...

Oh, all right then..one more mention: Of course, we couldn't really start this review without looking at the current plight of the Steelers-after losing 6-3 to Nottingham in the "Biggest Derby In The Whole Universe, Even The Bits We Haven't Found Yet" ((c) D.Simms and G.Moran) on Saturday, the South Yorkshire faithful are finally beginning to turn on their team in proper teeth-grinding fashion-after all, the loss to Newcastle beforehand could have been glossed over with a win in the BDITWUETBWHFY on Saturday in the NIC. However, it wasn't, and so one of the most successful clubs in British hockey are currently sitting 12 points off the lead and 10 points off fifth place. As you can imagine, this has not gone down well...

Rope...check. Petard...check. Hoisting...being done as we speak: Meanwhile, the major controversy of the week comes from over the Irish Sea, as reports are circulating of a fan attacking referee Michael Hicks and Coventry captain Adam Calder during the Belfast-Coventry game on Saturday night. This instantly brings to mind the furore kicked up by Belfast and other fans over Theo Fleury being shouted at very loudly at the Skydome a few seasons ago, and the widespread damaging of Blaze fans' reputation that caused. Strangely, there is relative silence coming out of the Northern Irish city this time-indeed certain forum posters are even trying to focus the whole issue on Calder defending himself by lifting his stick in the air while children were within ten feet of the end of the blade. One assumes, therefore, that that minority (and it must be emphasised that it is a minority-most Giants fans are coming out in full condemnation of the alleged punches) of posters trying to at least justify such a stupid action would be the soul of courtesy if struck on the top of the head while doing their job.

And if you believe that...there's some "Sheffield Steelers: EIHL Champions 09/10" t-shirts I can do you a great deal on...

For the record, the Blaze won the game 2-1 on a Calder penalty-shot called after Evan Cheverie threw a stick to prevent a scoring chance for the Blaze captain...

One game (or even eight) still doesn't make a season...a lesson the Nottingham Panthers, complete with new defenceman Mario Larocque playing and Nick Toneys sitting out (and reportedly not being happy about it) followed up delighting their fans on Saturday by...losing to Newcastle on Sunday, thus sacrificing their top spot thanks to Coventry's win against Hull.

And, speaking of the Vipers (and Devils)...:...they're both fast becoming teams worthy of some serious respect this season...the pair of them appear to have turned "winning ugly" into something of a matter of pride. On Sunday night they both pulled off superb 2-1 wins against arguably more skilful opposition (Nottingham and Belfast respectively) with Newcastle also, as previously mentioned, turning over Sheffield on Friday...

Burns after Skating: On Sunday night in Coventry, meanwhile, Stephen Burns showed himself to be one of the most under-rated players in the Elite League-despite his team losing 5-2 in a chippy game which saw both Adam Knight and James Sanford lose their heads in the face of physical play on both sides earn themselves fighting majors against Derek Campbell and Danny Stewart, the Canadian showed leadership skills belying the fact that this is only his second pro-season, throwing hits all over the ice, blocking shots and hitting everything with a dragon on its chest-some in the crowd even swear he was lining up Scorch, the Blaze mascot, in the pre-game skate. The man is an absolute machine, and would have earned man-of-the-match honours even without counting the fact he scored both goals for the Stingrays...

At least they won one...: And the weekend had started so well for Sylvain Cloutier's team, too, as they beat Edinburgh in a hard-fought scrap by the Humber on Saturday to pull themselves off the bottom and send their more illustrious Yorkshire neighbours to the bottom of the pile, as well as handing the Caps a defeat in their only game of the weekend...

Capitals show their pride...:...due to Edinburgh's home game being against Nottingham on Tuesday-a game which sees the Caps mark Remembrance week with a fine gesture, allowing all serving members of the Armed Forces in for free tomorrow night at Murrayfield. Superb work, especially coupled with their much publicised support of the Help for Heroes veterans charity...

And there you go...that's your weekend review...